UCSC PSYCH 165; TONAY; SUMMER, 2008

Here, you will develop a psychodynamic (psychoanalytic or Jungian analytic) treatment plan for a 'client' appearing in a chapter of the book, Love's Executioner or Momma and the Meaning of Life. You may choose any chapter except chapter one. You'll write up your treatment plan in a paper (no maximum, just use as much space as you need; I can't imagine you going over 8 pages or so). Allot yourself not more than 10 hours to work on this paper. It is due the last day of class, at 1:00 pm.

THE DETAILS: Please imagine you are a clinical psychologist in private practice. The client in the chapter of your choice walks into your office and gives YOU all the information that Yalom describes. Using the psychodynamic system of psychotherapy of your choice (psychoanalysis or Jungian), you will need to address many things. If you scroll down, you'll find the elements of a case study. I'm not asking you to follow that format, but it is one way to organize all of this information in your mind. Spend about 1/3 of your paper doing the following four things:

(a) describe the client as s/he presents for therapy (points 2 and 4, below);

(b) describe the client's underlying personality structure (points 3 and 5 below);

(c) describe the client's presenting problem and define the therapeutic goal(s) (points 1 and 6, below);

(d) set the therapeutic frame and anticipate ethical issues that may arise in this specific case;

Spend the remaining 2/3 of your pape describing these two things:

(e) Why is the client experiencing this problem? That is, how would such a problem have developed, according to this system?

(f) What you will actually do (interventions) to treat the client using your chosen system, from the first session all the way through the last.

You are free to use outside reading on the model you will be using (helpful references can be found on the psych. 165 summer home web page links and in Current Psychotherapies at the end of each chapter). If you use sources, make sure to cite and quote them accurately (see plagiarism handout).

Clinical Case Studies

Here are the major areas of a clinical case study (adapted from Korchin, S. (1976). Modern Clinical Psychology. NY: Basic Books):

1) Present status (adaptation to current life situations; symptomatic behaviors; motivation for therapy; appearance and behavior): What are the major tasks in the S's life (work, school, family) and how well is she functioning? What are the presenting symptoms? As viewed by others, what disturbed behaviors does S show? What is the hoped-for outcome? Is S anxious, guarded, trusting, uncooperative, resistant, etc.?

2) Manifest personality (biological features; temperament; how describes self; how appears to others): Is the patient healthy, robust? Medical history? Physical appearance? Energetic, lethargic, active? Are emotions intense, controlled, impulsive? Do negative or positive emotions dominate? Are they appropriate to age and life circumstance? How might S describe self? How might others describe self? How does S appear to others--liked, respected, trusted? What kinds of friends does S have and how many? Isolated? Gregarious? Joiner?

3) Personality dynamics and structure (motives and affect; moral principles, social values, attitudes; ego functions and identity): What are S's major conscious and unconscious motives? How are they related? Where do they conflict? What are the sources of characteristic feelings? To what are anxiety, hostility, shame, and guilt related in the S? What gives pleasure? What are S's fantasies & wishes, concealed and revealed? What are the major values by which S lives? Is behavior self-initiated and internally controlled? Are impulses modulated? Can S work toward goals? Can S preserve objectivity and perspective when upset? What are the salient defenses? What are S's skills, talents, hobbies, intellectual resources? How does S view herself? How much self-esteem is there? On what does it rest?

4) Social determinants and current life situation (group membership and roles; family; education and work; community): To what groups does S belong? Which are reference groups (help define identity)? What are relationships between S and family like? Is it like or unlike the family of origin? Is S satisfied with work achievements, income, etc.? What kind of community does the S live in? Does he participate in community activities?

5) Major current stresses and coping potential: What are the major stresses in S's current life? Do they consist of social problems realistically beyond his/her control (unemployment, poverty, racism)? Are there excessive work demands? Do strains result from relationships? What resources are available to S?

6) Desired outcomes (therapeutic goals). What qualities of the person and/or situation require change if the S is to function in a more effective and comfortable way? What are the major growth needs which could provide goals for therapeutic intervention?

7) Personality development and formulation of the case: this is the 'meat' of your paper, in which you describe how the person's symptoms arose according to your system, and outline how the treatment will proceed. Would other kinds of interventions might be useful besides therapy? Can the S's life conditions be changed in ways to reduce stress and facilitate growth? Might psychotherapy be helpful? Of what sort, what kind of therapist, for how long, to what goals?

'This is your first try at formulating a case and treatment plan, and this assignment is to give you a sense of what that's like--not to judge whether or not you are an expert!

You will be evaluated on the substance and quality of your writing!

Have fun!

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