Ethical Issues in Human Services

Sample Solution

1. The psychodynamic approaches

Psychodynamic approaches to therapy emphasize the importance of understanding how childhood experiences influence the person you are today. This is based on the belief that early childhood experiences can have a profound impact on our personality, relationships, and mental health.

I do value understanding the past as a key to the present. I believe that by understanding our past experiences, we can better understand ourselves in the present and make more informed choices about our future.

Full Answer Section

When working with clients from a psychodynamic perspective, I would typically start by exploring their childhood experiences. I would ask them about their relationship with their parents, siblings, and other important caregivers. I would also ask them about any traumatic or difficult experiences they may have had in childhood.

As we explore the client's past, I would help them to identify patterns in their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. I would also help them to understand how these patterns are connected to their childhood experiences.

Once the client has a better understanding of their past, we can begin to work on changing their present patterns of thought, feeling, and behavior. This may involve helping the client to develop new coping mechanisms, to build stronger relationships, and to resolve any unfinished business from their past.

Working with a client from the perspective of the past, the present, and the future

When working with a client, I would typically consider all three perspectives of the past, the present, and the future.

From the perspective of the past, I would help the client to understand how their childhood experiences have shaped them into the person they are today. I would also help them to identify any patterns in their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that may be connected to their past.

From the perspective of the present, I would help the client to focus on their current challenges and goals. I would also help them to develop new coping mechanisms and strategies for dealing with stress, anxiety, and other difficult emotions.

From the perspective of the future, I would help the client to visualize their ideal future and to develop a plan for achieving their goals. I would also help them to identify any obstacles that may stand in their way and to develop strategies for overcoming them.

2. Family systems approaches

Family systems approaches to therapy view the family as a system in which each member is interconnected and affects all of the other members. This approach is based on the belief that problems that individuals experience are often related to the functioning of the family system.

I see unique value in working with a client's issues based on their family of origin. I believe that by understanding the client's family system, we can better understand the client's own functioning and relationships.

When meeting with clients, I would typically give some emphasis to family-of-origin work. This may involve asking the client about their relationships with their parents, siblings, and other important caregivers. I may also ask the client about any significant events or experiences that occurred in their family of origin.

The amount of emphasis I would give to family-of-origin work would vary depending on the client's individual needs and goals. If the client is struggling with a specific issue that is related to their family of origin, I would likely give more emphasis to this area. However, even if the client is not specifically struggling with a family-related issue, I believe that it is still important to have some understanding of the client's family of origin in order to better understand the client.

Conclusion

Psychodynamic and family systems approaches to therapy are both valuable ways to help clients understand and address their mental health challenges. By understanding the past, the present, and the family system, we can better understand ourselves and make more informed choices about our future.

Additional information on family systems approaches

Family systems approaches to therapy are based on the following assumptions:

• Families are systems in which each member is interconnected and affects all of the other members.
• Problems that individuals experience are often related to the functioning of the family system.
• Change in one member of the family can lead to change in other members of the family.

Family systems therapists typically work with the entire family unit, or at least with a subsystem of the family, such as the parents or the children. The therapist will work with the family to identify the patterns of thought, feeling, and behavior that are contributing to the problem. The therapist will then help the family to develop new patterns of interaction and communication.

Family systems approaches to therapy can be helpful for a variety of mental health problems, including anxiety, depression, eating disorders, and substance abuse. They can also be helpful for families who are struggling with conflict, divorce, or the loss of a loved one.