Assessment, Diagnosis, and Treatment of a Family
Janine M Vereen
Capella University

Assessment, Diagnosis, and Treatment of a Family
There are several contents that must be taken into consideration to ensure the Jone’s family receives the appropriate assessment, diagnosis and treatment. Also, a consideration of culture is essential in this process, especially when the client and counselor have complete opposite backgrounds. It is important for the counselor to develop culturally competent knowledge, attitudes, and skills. The counselor should have some knowledge of their client’s cultural identity to assist with avoiding biases and misdiagnosis. There are also different ethical issues that may be encountered when assessing and diagnosing this the Jone’s family. There are social-cultural factors that can affect the family’s assessment, diagnosis, and the treatment such as family structure, customs, and country of origin, values and beliefs. Understand the client’s view of their illness helps determines their assessment and the treatment plan. It is vital to know these multiple aspects about their client’s cultural Identity to avoid misconceptions related to ethnicity and race or any aspect of cultural identity.
An interpersonal grid is one method of conceptualizing cultural identity, which involves assessing the client’s point of view by using system variables. Particular topic areas such as demographic status, affiliations, and the behaviors, expectations, and values associated with these factors should be discussed with these factors should be discusses with the counselor, so there can be a better understand. The counselor would be able to interpret their client’s behavior if they are aware of the differences between their own and client’s explanations of behaviors. This model helps the counselor to understand that the same behavior can have different meanings to others and that behavior needs to be interpreted in the context of these topic areas. Furthermore, counselors need to be aware of their own cultural identity and their beliefs and attitudes toward different cultures, because it will affect their relationships with their clients. Also, they will need additional skills because traditional methods of interviewing the client may not be effective. For example from the vignette the Jone’s family is an African-American and their perception may be different from their counselor’s.
There are issues that may affect the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment plan. The first problem may be, V61.20 (Z62.820), parent child relational problems. This category should be used when the focus is the quality of the parent child relationship is affecting the course, prognosis or treatment (p.715). In the vignette, the mother Shirley have been deployed overseas for 18 months. During her absence, her son ben is often absentee from school and his father Harold suspects he is using drugs. Her daughter Tracy have temper tantrums when things don’t go her way. Also, when her children wants to spend time with her, she becomes irritable and says she is tired.
Another, problem is represented by V61.8 (Z63.8), high expressed emotion level within family. This category should be used when a family’s high level of expressed emotion is affecting the course, progressive, treatment (p.716). Since Shirley has returned home she has been constantly arguing with her mother in law. It would be important for the counselor to consider the other conditions before developing the treatment plan for the family.
Ethical standards that may be encountered when assessing and diagnosing this family would be (1.2), informed consent. Therapists must obtain appropriate informed consent for therapy or related procedures and ensure they fully explain every aspect of the counseling session. Also, has been adequately informed of potential risks and benefits of treatment. Relationships with Third Parties (1.13). Marriage and family