COU 202 Assessment 1
Individual Written Assessment (30%) Due Date: Week 7
Word Count: 2000 -2200 words
Students will research and write a report based on the following case study.
Your response requires you to provide at least 8 reference sources. These must be peer-reviewed academic articles, not websites.
PROVIDE NO MORE THAN 2 SENTENCES TO INTRODUCE THE CASE STUDY SCENARIO- IF YOU WRITE MORE YOU WILL LOSE MARKS
Answer the following questions, numbering your answers
1. Write a script of the exact words you would say to explain confidentiality to the client/s at the start of your first session
2. What principles will you use to develop the counselling relationship with the client?
3. Select TWO therapies, approaches, or perspectives from the following list
• Narrative therapy
• Cognitive Behavioural therapy
• Feminist perspective
• Anti-oppressive approach
4. Explain why you have chosen these two therapies, approaches &/or perspectives and why you think they would be helpful to use in your counselling work with the client.
5. For each of your selected therapies, approaches &/or perspectives, describe at least 2 interventions or techniques you would use in your counselling session with the client and explain why you think these would be helpful.
6. Identify your preferred therapy, approach &/or perspective from the 2 you have selected and give reasons for choosing this therapy, approach &/or perspective.
7. Name and explain the range of skills you have used to work with the client.
8. What ethical issues might be relevant for working with this client?
Use either the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA) or Australian Counselling Association (ACA) Code of Ethics and Practice to inform your answer. Provide a reference to the code you use in the reference list.
Use APA 7 referencing. Your essay should include at least 8 (scholarly) journal articles read and/or textbook references. The format of your essay will be discussed in greater detail during tutorials. Do NOT utilise sources such as www.tutor2u.com and other such web materials as these in no way constitute academic references for the purpose of your assignments. If you rely on such sources for theoretical support, you will be deemed NOT to have met the requirements of the assessment.
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CASE STUDY.
Ann is a 68-year-old woman. She lives with her husband Andrew, age 79, in a modest bungalow in a rural area about 10 minutes from town. Andrew was a heavy smoker for many years and was diagnosed with lung cancer to the liver and bone 10 months ago and he is worried about how Ann will cope if he dies. Andrew had been feeling unwell for several months before seeking medical attention. He now is very weak and spends most of his time in bed. He has pain that is poorly controlled and eats very little. At times, he is quite confused.
Ann was born in New Zealand, and she has several brothers and sisters still in Wellington.
Ann and Andrew have been married for 46 years. This is Ann’s second marriage. She was married for 2 years to John, who was killed in a car accident. Ann was left with one child; a daughter Isabel now aged 50. Three years after John’s death she met Andrew at work, and they married two years later.
Ann and Andrew had three children, a son Alistair now age 43, a son Jean aged 36 and a
daughter Michelle who died by suicide 10 years ago at age 24. Isabel and Alistair both live in towns nearby but Jean lives interstate. Ann and Andrew have 8 grandchildren.
Ann has had rheumatoid arthritis for many years and is on multiple medications but has been able to do normal activities of daily living reasonably well with Andrew’s help. She is
concerned about how she will be able to cope without Andrew’s help. She does not
want to bother her children for help. She has had to cope with the death of her first husband and her beloved daughter Michelle and feels that she cannot cope with another,
death in the family.
Their marriage has been quite strong despite the one brief separation. For two years
after the death of their daughter Michelle, they grieved quite openly, and they recovered,
slowly. Their children have been very close despite two of them living far away. They
are both Roman Catholic and have attending church regularly.
They live on their pensions now.
You are seeing Ann for the first time.
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Ann is a 68-year-old woman living with her husband Andrew, who has been diagnosed with lung cancer that has spread to his liver and bone. Ann is worried about how she will cope if Andrew dies. She has had to cope with the death of her first husband and daughter, and her rheumatoid arthritis has added to her concerns about being able to cope without Andrew’s help.
“Confidentiality is an important part of the counselling process. This means that anything you share with me during our sessions will be kept private and not shared with anyone else without your permission. However, there are some limits to confidentiality, such as if you disclose something that suggests you or someone else is in danger, or if I am required by law to report something. I will explain these limits in more detail if they become relevant during our work together.”
The principles I would use to develop the counselling relationship with Ann include empathy, respect, and genuine concern for her well-being. I would aim to create a safe and non-judgmental space where Ann feels comfortable sharing her thoughts and feelings. I would also strive to build trust with Ann by being consistent, reliable, and transparent about the counselling process.
The two therapies I have selected are Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Narrative Therapy.
I have chosen CBT because it is a structured, evidence-based therapy that has been shown to be effective for a wide range of mental health concerns. Given Ann’s history of anxiety and depression following previous losses, CBT may be helpful in addressing any negative thought patterns or beliefs that may be contributing to her current distress. I have also chosen Narrative Therapy because it emphasizes the importance of stories and how they shape our understanding of ourselves and our experiences. Given Ann’s history of multiple losses, Narrative Therapy may be helpful in exploring and reframing her narrative about herself and her life.
For CBT, two interventions I would use with Ann include cognitive restructuring and behavioural activation. Cognitive restructuring involves identifying and challenging negative thoughts and beliefs that contribute to feelings of distress. For example, if Ann is feeling overwhelmed and helpless about Andrew’s illness, we might explore the belief that she is responsible for Andrew’s
