SOCW-6510-WK8-Assignment

SWI met with resident for individual session today. SWI met with client last week and was introduced as an intern at the program. Client is a 36-year-old, AA female living in the community. Client has a diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia. Resident’s mood was neutral and affect was congruent with mood. Resident’s ADL’s were fair; presented well with clean clothes. SWI and resident explored past to current situations involving IR’s family along with describing her mental illness and how treatment stabilizes her. IR stated that before being treated for her mental illness she was having auditory hallucinations telling her to harm herself and her two younger children. At the current time, one of her sisters is granted custody of her two children. IR is permitted supervised visitation rights and saw her children last on January 01, 2015. IR loves her children and wishes she were able to be the mother they need. IR has goals of finding employment to help support them in any way that she can. Due to being undocumented, finding employment is not possible at this time. Insight is limited; speech is soft; concentration was poor; IR was restless and constantly was moving her hands or body during the session; thought processes are fair; judgment and impulse control appear fair. Worker gave IR an assignment to write down 10 goals to work towards in regards to learning something new. IR enjoys being educated but has difficulty concentrating. Next individual session is scheduled for 07/07/2015.

The next steps are to continue to work weekly with IR and speak about her future and her children. I will also give her mini homework assignments to complete.

Dialogue

Identify skills or techniques

Analysis or observation of client behavior

Personal reactions and self-reflection to the interaction

Good Morning IR, how are you doing today?

Sustaining

Resident’s mood was neutral and affect was congruent with mood.

Ct: I am doing fine

SWI: Do you remember me from last week?

SWI was happy that client agreed to talk with her

Ct: Yes, Ms. John right

Client spoke softly, not looking directly at intern

SWI: Yes, Mrs. St. John, but you can call me Ms. John

Ct: ok

SWI: Ms. IR can you tell me a little bit about yourself ?

Open-ended question to probe

SWI was nervous but did not want client to know how much so I took a deep breath and looked at client, she wasn’t looking at SWI

Ct: What do you want to know, I am here, I am taking my medication and doing fine, I would like to see my kids .

Client seems anxious, bit tense

SWI: How many children do you have?

Closed-ended Question

IR was restless and constantly was moving her hands or body during the session

Ct: I have 2 kids

Client seems happy, she smiled

SWI did not want to push but I needed to find out how client feel about her kids

SWI: Where are your Children now?

Reaching for feelings

Ct: They are with my sister

Client seems indifferent, she did not seem sad or happy, like she was having second thought about answering the question

SWI wanted client to know that she can trust me but I also did not want to push client too much. I wanted her to let me in when she feels comfortable

SWI: Do you get to see them?

Probing

Ct: I saw them about 6 months ago; my sister said that she does not want to confuse them because of my illness she feels that I might do something to them so she is always watching me.

Actively listening, nodding

Client liked sad, like she was in pain

I empathize with IR because she was sick and without help when the occurrence with her children occurred.

SWI: How does that make you feel, not having your children around?

Empathizing with client feeling

I feel bad that she cannot have more visitation rights but that is only for the best for her children at this time.

Ct: I can’t take care of them because I am undocumented, how can I work and take care of them, you tell me

Client seems upset, because she was fidgeting.

This is very frustrating for intern.

Client cannot legally work without proper documentation, how can I help her.

SWI: Ms. you seem upset, would you like to take a break ?

Validating client feelings

Client looked down at the floor before replying, she looked up with tears in her eyes.

I did not know how to console my client, I empathized with her but I feel as if I was not prepared for her emotions.

Ct: Ok Ms. John

SWI: Thank you for meeting with me today would you like to meet again next week, same time?

Client was shaking back and forth but she was not upset, she just seems sad

SWI needed to gather herself so decided to start again next week.

Ct: Sure, Ok

SWI felt good about the session but does not know hoe client feels about talking about her life with an intern.