Person-Centered Diagnosis and Treatment in Mental Health by Churchill AnnMarie Ladd Peter

Author:Churchill, AnnMarie, Ladd, Peter
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Jessica Kingsley Publishers

Discussion

The presenting of clients with severe trauma has become a common theme for mental health practitioners working in crisis centers, veterans’ hospitals and mental health clinics. Increasingly, mental health providers are being trained in methods for treating people in crisis and much is now known about the effects of severe trauma (Charney 2004). For example, from neuroscience, we have gained a better understanding of how severe trauma affects different parts of the brain, and how this understanding can be used to describe these processes to clients. As outlined in the current chapter, mental health practitioners have an opportunity to treat clients experiencing PTSD in a more comprehensive client empowering manner. A medical model perspective may treat the hypersensitivity reported by clients with some form of psychotropic drug, whereas more client empowering mental health professionals may try to understand the meaning behind a client’s hypersensitivity through some form of RET. In this comparison, the medical model reveals symptoms and focuses on reducing the intensity or frequency of symptoms, while in the client empowerment model dysfunctional patterns of thoughts and related feelings are uncovered and given meaning, with the focus on providing an opportunity for clients to grow through these experiences. With clients and providers working together on the meaning related to a client’s hypersensitivity, a fundamental plan for growth and change replaces symptoms reduction and strategies for future coping are developed.

Another symptom of PTSD that may warrant a client empowerment model is found in traumatic memories. Reducing these memories or flashbacks is a primary concern of a strict medical model perspective and this seems to differ philosophically and practically from a client empowerment model. For example, in treating traumatic memories, flashbacks could be remedied through the use of medication, in order to maintain a constant level of stability. However, from a client empowerment model, a client may look for meaning in these flashbacks that can help in understanding traumatic triggers that set flashbacks in motion. Clients may also be encouraged to see flashbacks or nightmares as sensitive areas filled with meaning that can give a purpose to many everyday experiences.

A client empowerment model can also address the avoidance of various life experiences that are only vaguely related to the trauma experienced and which pose little or no threat. For example, from the narrative for avoiding traumatic connections, Denise generalizes to all men her former husband’s brutal treatment, which limits her social experiences and robs her of the intimate relationship she wants. This general avoidance is a specific part of the pattern of PTSD and of other anxiety disorders. Denise could be given psychotropic drugs to reduce her anxiety symptoms when in the company of men, or her avoidance can be perceived by herself and her mental health practitioner as an opportunity for growth and change. Some form of cognitive restructuring could be used to help her think more accurately of her former husband’s behavior and reduce her threat response when in the company of men so that she can have the life experiences she desires.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.