Brief Case Conceptualization Practice

2021 ◽  
pp. 63-77
Author(s):  
Len Sperry ◽  
Jon Sperry
Keyword(s):  
Predisposing Factors ◽  
Treatment Goals ◽  
Case Conceptualization ◽  
Case Vignettes ◽  
Case Conceptualizations ◽  
Behavioral Markers ◽  
First Session

Brief case conceptualizations are useful in various clinical contexts. This type of conceptualization can be completed quickly after the first session because there are only six behavioral markers for the practitioner to formulate. In this chapter, the five-step brief case conceptualization strategy is demonstrated with two case vignettes. The strategy includes the following five steps: Step 1: Specify presenting problem and precipitants; Step 2: Identify maladaptive pattern; Step 3: Identify predisposing factors and perpetuants; Step 4: Specify treatment goals and interventions; and Step 5: Specify obstacles, challenges, and facilitators. Readers will formulate the case through the brief case conceptualization worksheet and then will write a brief case conceptualization narrative. After each case, the chapter provides exemplar responses for each of the case vignettes.

Brief Case Conceptualizations

2021 ◽  
pp. 48-62
Author(s):  
Len Sperry ◽  
Jon Sperry
Keyword(s):  
Second Order ◽  
Predisposing Factors ◽  
Treatment Goals ◽  
Case Conceptualization ◽  
Step Process ◽  
Presenting Symptoms ◽  
Process Pattern ◽  
Case Vignettes ◽  
Case Conceptualizations

This chapter examines a brief case conceptualization strategy that is summarized in five steps. It reviews how pattern is formulated throughout the five-step process. Pattern links the client’s presenting symptoms to the precipitating event and is driven by the predisposing factors and perpetuants. Pattern also informs the second-order treatment goals and interventions as well as the likely treatment obstacles and challenges. The chapter summarizes the following five-step strategy: Step 1: Specify presenting problem and precipitants; Step 2: Identify maladaptive pattern; Step 3: Identify predisposing factors and perpetuants; Step 4: Specify treatment goals and interventions; and Step 5: Specify obstacles, challenges, and facilitators. The chapter concludes with two case vignettes that demonstrate the five-step brief case conceptualization strategy.

Full-Scale Case Conceptualization Practice

2021 ◽  
pp. 105-122
Author(s):  
Len Sperry ◽  
Jon Sperry
Keyword(s):  
Protective Factors ◽  
Full Scale ◽  
Predisposing Factors ◽  
Treatment Goals ◽  
Case Conceptualization ◽  
Cultural Formulation ◽  
Treatment Interventions ◽  
Case Vignettes

This chapter demonstrates the eight-step full-scale case conceptualization strategy using two case vignettes. The chapter summarizes the following eight-step strategy: Step 1: Specify presenting problem and precipitants; Step 2: Identify maladaptive pattern; Step 3: Identify predisposing factors and perpetuants; Step 4: Specify a cultural formulation; Step 5: Specify the client’s relevant protective factors and strengths; Step 6: Specify treatment goals; Step 7: Specify treatment interventions; and Step 8: Specify obstacles, challenges, and facilitators. The readers will formulate the cases through the full-scale case conceptualization worksheet and then will write a full-scale case conceptualization narrative for each case. Exemplar responses for each of the two case vignettes are provided.

Full-Scale Case Conceptualizations

2021 ◽  
pp. 78-104
Author(s):  
Len Sperry ◽  
Jon Sperry
Keyword(s):  
Protective Factors ◽  
Full Scale ◽  
Predisposing Factors ◽  
Treatment Goals ◽  
Case Conceptualization ◽  
Treatment Interventions ◽  
Step Process ◽  
Presenting Symptoms ◽  
Process Pattern ◽  
Case Vignettes

This chapter examines a full-scale case conceptualization strategy that is summarized in eight steps. It reviews how pattern is formulated throughout the eight-step process. Pattern links the client’s presenting symptoms to the precipitating event and is driven by the predisposing factors and perpetuants. Pattern also informs the second-order treatment goals and interventions, as well as the likely treatment obstacles and challenges. The chapter informs readers to apply the following eight-step strategy with two case vignettes: Step 1: Specify presenting problem and precipitants; Step 2: Identify maladaptive pattern; Step 3: Identify predisposing factors and perpetuants; Step 4: Specify a cultural formulation; Step 5: Specify the client’s relevant protective factors and strengths; Step 6: Specify treatment goals; Step 7: Specify treatment interventions; and Step 8: Specify obstacles, challenges, and facilitators. The chapter concludes with two case vignettes that demonstrate the eight-step full-scale conceptualization strategy.

Case Conceptualization Basics and Assessment

2021 ◽  
pp. 38-47
Author(s):  
Len Sperry ◽  
Jon Sperry
Keyword(s):  
Protective Factors ◽  
Effective Treatment ◽  
Predictive Factors ◽  
Full Scale ◽  
Case Conceptualization ◽  
Behavioral Marker ◽  
Detailed Assessment ◽  
Case Conceptualizations ◽  
Pattern Presentation ◽  
Behavioral Markers

This chapter defines the behavioral markers that are included in a pattern-focused case conceptualization. Pattern-focused case conceptualization is a therapeutic strategy that can help clinicians conceptualize client issues, tailoring highly effective treatment, as well as guide them through moment-to-moment decisions made during a session. The chapter reviews the following behavioral markers that can be incorporated into both brief case conceptualizations and full-scale case conceptualizations: pattern, presentation, precipitant, predisposition, protective factors, perpetuants, personality–culture, plan, and predictive factors. The chapter defines each behavioral marker and also provides examples of each. Then, it reviews case conceptualization-informed assessment and also includes a detailed assessment that clinicians can use to inform their clinical evaluation.

The 15 Minute Case Conceptualization

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Len Sperry ◽  
Jonathan Sperry
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Premature Termination ◽  
Clinical Skills ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Case Conceptualization ◽  
Highly Effective ◽  
Case Conceptualizations ◽  
Overall Effectiveness

Once understood as useful but optional, case conceptualization is now considered essential and one of the most important of all clinical skills and competencies. As clinicians look for resources to assist in learning and mastering this competency, they must choose among different case conceptualization approaches. They would do well to give serious consideration to those that are both clinically effective and clinician friendly. A truly clinically effective approach explains and guides treatment, and most importantly, predicts challenges and obstacles that are likely to arise over the course of treatment. Most approaches emphasize the functions of explanation and guiding treatment, but seldom include third function which help anticipates likely challenges, which if not proactively addressed are likely to result in therapy interference or premature termination. This function is essential in determining the course and overall effectiveness of therapy. A truly clinician-friendly approach is one that is quick to use and easy to master, and very few approaches can make this claim. The 15 Minute Case Conceptualization is the only approach that is both highly effective and clinician friendly. Research confirms that such case conceptualizations can be completed in only 15 minutes. It is an evidence-based, step-by-step approach that therapists and other mental health professionals need and want.

The Clinical Value of Couple and Family Case Conceptualizations

2021 ◽  
pp. 123-133
Author(s):  
Len Sperry ◽  
Jon Sperry
Keyword(s):  
Effective Treatment ◽  
Individual Case ◽  
Family Interaction ◽  
Interaction Patterns ◽  
Case Conceptualization ◽  
Clinical Value ◽  
Couple Interaction ◽  
Family Patterns ◽  
Family Case ◽  
Case Conceptualizations

Clinicians who work primarily with individual clients and have developed competency with case conceptualizations can provide effective treatment. However, when they work with clients for whom couple and family dynamics are prominent, having an individual case conceptualization can be useful but limited. This chapter discusses the value of adding couple and family case conceptualizations. It describes how to incorporate couple interaction patterns and family interaction patterns in the case conceptualization process. A case example that captured and held national attention for more than 1 year is presented. It illustrates the pattern-focused approach for incorporating individual, couple, and family patterns into a composite case conceptualization.

Group Formulation and Case Conceptualization

2013 ◽  
pp. 76-90
Author(s):  
Sally H. Barlow
Keyword(s):  
Intervention Strategies ◽  
Case Conceptualization ◽  
Group Case ◽  
Case Conceptualizations

Chapter 4 explores individual and group formulations or group case conceptualizations that take a group member’s personal and interpersonal issues into account in a consistent, thoughtful way that utilizes a theory with clear intervention strategies to bring about change.

The Pattern-Focused Case Conceptualization Approach

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Len Sperry ◽  
Jon Sperry
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Treatment Outcomes ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Case Conceptualization ◽  
Clinical Competencies ◽  
Psychotherapy Practice ◽  
Key Points ◽  
Behavioral Markers

In this era of accountability, therapists and other mental health professionals are expected to employ evidence-based interventions to achieve therapeutic change. Case conceptualization is an intervention that many consider one of the most essential clinical competencies. A useful case conceptualization approach, at a minimum, should explain the presenting problem and guide the planning and implementation of treatment. Approaches that are more clinically valuable will include a third function: anticipate and predict challenges in the treatment process. Analogous to the paradigm shift toward personalized treatments in precision medicine based on biomarkers is a similar shift occurring in psychotherapy practice. It will be based on behavioral markers like the ones in the pattern-focused case conceptualization approach and can explain, guide, and predict treatment challenges, as well as optimize treatment outcomes. A case example illustrates key points.

Concepts and Sources of Meaning

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
William S. Breitbart ◽  
Shannon R. Poppito
Keyword(s):  
Group Psychotherapy ◽  
Treatment Goals ◽  
General Overview ◽  
Group Members ◽  
First Session

This chapter provides instructions for conducting the first session of meaning-centered group psychotherapy. The reader is instructed to introduce facilitators and group members to one another, introduce patients to a general overview of the intervention (including treatment goals, structured weekly topics, and logistics), become familiar with each patient’s story of illness, introduce patients to the first session topic of Viktor Frankl’s work and foundations of meaning, and share definitions of meaning and conduct the “meaningful moments” experiential exercise.

Session 1

ACT in Steps ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 47-60
Author(s):  
Michael P. Twohig ◽  
Michael E. Levin ◽  
Clarissa W. Ong
Keyword(s):  
Acceptance And Commitment Therapy ◽  
Treatment Goals ◽  
Commitment Therapy ◽  
Acceptance And Commitment ◽  
Key Points ◽  
First Session

This chapter outlines how a first session of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) might go. This first session typically includes two components: (1) orienting clients to what to expect from therapy generally and ACT specifically, and (2) beginning work on creative hopelessness. Key points emphasized in this chapter are learning about clients’ perception of therapy, clarifying clients’ treatment goals, collaboratively setting therapeutic expectations, exploring the effects and effectiveness of trying to control thoughts and feelings, and introducing an alternative to controlling thoughts and feelings (willingness). This content sets the stage for concepts to be covered in Chapter 5.

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