Week 10 Journal 3 Olivia Bouchard NURS 6640 Walden Universit

Week 10 Journal 3 Olivia Bouchard NURS 6640 Walden University

The purpose of this paper is to explain whether or not my therapeutic approach has changed since starting my practicum experience based on the theories I chose to use as a therapeutic approach in week one. I will describe the ways in which I applied the therapeutic approaches I stated I would use and how that helped me achieve my goals. The ways that I will impact social change with patients who have mental illnesses will be included, and evidenced-based practice will be included. There is not one correct method or therapeutic approach to apply, which is important to keep in mind as a new PMNHP. There are numerous psychotherapy approaches that have been proven effective, however, considering all of the factors including the patient, the theoretical model, the length and frequency of therapy, and the type of therapy can help determine the most effective approach to use for each situation (Zacho, 2016).

Therapeutic Theory

The number one therapeutic approach and idea that was leaned in this course to help me for my future career as a PMHNP and counselor is self-awareness. Being aware of one’s own thoughts and being mindful can help the PMNHP to be nonjudgmental and allow inner experiences and actions to be observed (Wheeler, 2014). Practicing mindfulness and self-awareness can be done by practices including spirituality, prayer, chanting, meditation, journaling, and seeking personal therapy (Wheeler, 2014). By performing such exercises and activities to improve self-awareness, PMHNPs can be more mindful and aware when they start to become frustrated with a lack of client’s progress.

Therapeutic Approaches

A major therapeutic approach from this course that was used is self-awareness. Being aware of one’s own thoughts and being mindful can help the PMNHP to be nonjudgmental and allow inner experiences and actions to be observed (Wheeler, 2014). Practicing mindfulness and self-awareness can be done by practices including spirituality, prayer, chanting, meditation, journaling, and seeking personal therapy (Wheeler, 2014). I integrated such exercises as a way to help improve my self-awareness. The exercises I practiced included prayer, spirituality, journaling, and seeking personal therapy since starting the practicum made me feel calmer and more in tune with myself, my behaviors, my thoughts, and my actions/reactions. Seeing clients have their own self-awareness and realizations about themselves was humbling and motivating making me want to be better for my future clients.

This helped me reach my goal of feeling more confident about educating patients, conducting therapy sessions on my own, and adding input during the sessions more frequently. Another therapeutic approach generalization I learned from this course and applied to my clinical practice was the details and specifics about various psychotherapy techniques. Before this course, I was unaware of all of the different methods of psychotherapy and when to apply them to patients based on their diagnosis, presenting issues, and personal goals for therapy. For example, CBT can be used for a variety of conditions including eating disorders, depression, anxiety, self-esteem issues, adjustment disorder with the goal of providing insight and identifying cognitive distortions allowing the patient to adjust their perception and develop skills on their own to manage destructive thought patterns (Davis, 2018).

Social Change

One of my major goals as a PMHNP is to help reduce stigma in society related to mental illness. The negative responses that society creates related to seeking help for mental illnesses has been recognized as the number one barrier to mental health programs across the world (Stuart, 2016). I can do my part to help impact social change by educating patients and society, as a provider. I will utilize media and other popular resources to attract public attention. I will establish committees, help launch campaigns, advocate for festivals, and gather willing patients who have recovered to share their stories (Taghva, 2017).

Secondly, I will impact social change by advocating for cost-effective treatments which will require me to become more educated on political details by doing research and then becoming a part of political committees. This will also expand my connections with societal influencers and local organizations (Regis College, 2019).

Conclusion

In conclusion, I have gained an incredible amount of knowledge, insight, and motivation after completing this practicum course. I have expanded my self-awareness by practicing exercises such as mindfulness, prayer, and individual therapy. This course provided me with a clearer understanding of the different therapeutic approaches available and when to apply them. In addition to the knowledge learned, being an advocate as a PMHNP is a major goal. This will include becoming involved in committees, starting campaigns, personal advertising, and always expanding my research and resources. I am confident that I have the passion and skills to become a great provider and an influential advocate for the mental health community.

References

• David, D., Cristea, I., & Hofmann, S. G. (2018). Why Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Is the Current Gold Standard of Psychotherapy. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 9, 4. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00004
• Regis College. (2019). Ways Nurse Practitioners Are Becoming Community Advocates. Retrieved from advocates/
• Stuart, H. (2016). Reducing the stigma of mental illness. Global Mental Health, 3, e17. https://doi.org/10.1017/gmh.2016.11
• Taghva, A., Farsi, Z., Javanmard, Y., Atashi, A., Hajebi, A., & Noorbala, A. A. (2017). Strategies to reduce the stigma toward people with mental disorders in Iran: stakeholders' perspectives. BMC Psychiatry, 17(1), 17. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-017-1224-y
• Wheeler, K. (2014). Psychotherapy for the advanced practice psychiatric nurse: A how-to guide for evidence-based practice (2nd ed.). Springer Publishing Company.
• Zarbo, C., Tasca, G. A., Cattafi, F., & Compare, A. (2016). Integrative Psychotherapy Works. Frontiers in Psychology, 6, 2021. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2015.02021