Based on the scenario, Larry McCune should undergo a trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). This is because Larry is only struggling to triumph over destructive effects of previous events. The first event that Larry is struggling with is the accident that he was involved in. Larry is finding it difficult to accept that he will never meet her daughter that died in the accident that he was involved in. this is because he loved her so much. The second event that Larry is struggling with is a divorce that he went through. The divorce is denying him from meeting his only son that he loves so much.
Some of the reasons as to why a trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is the right treatment option for Larry McCune include the fact that the symptoms that Larry is displaying developed after he was involved in the accident and also after he had underwent a divorce. If Larry had developed his symptoms without having gone through a life changing event, this option will have been the first to be ruled out. Larry is feeling guilty that he is the one who was responsible for her daughter’s death. It is this guilt that is causing so much psychological torture to him.
Larry’s treatment evaluation to assess the effectiveness of the goals and objectives should entail collection of relevant information. Some of the information that will be relevant in this case includes reports on how Larry is faring on. If the reports will indicate that Larry has been faring on well since the administration of the treatment, it will be concluded that the goals and objectives of the treatment plan have been achieved. On the other hand, if it will be determined from the reports that Larry is not doing well, it will be concluded that the set goals and objectives have not been achieved.
Other than collecting relevant information, treatment evaluation to assess the effectiveness of the goals and objectives should entail analysis of outcomes. There have cases where a treatment option has brought a different outcome than the one that was expected. One of the conditions under which this can happen in the case of Larry is if Larry fails to honor the instructions of the therapist. These instructions could be those that are expected of him when he is alone in the house. What normally happens is that therapy options have instructions that must be repeatedly followed so as to replace an unwanted habit.
One more important thing that should form part of Larry’s treatment evaluation to assess the effectiveness of the goals and objectives is making judgments. A therapist can make judgment by looking at Larry to determine the status of his physical outlook. When using this method, a therapist will need to note the physical outlook of Larry at the initial time before treatment. This will help him to compare the physical looks before and after the treatment. If it will be found that Larry is not looking healthy, it will be concluded that more needs to be done. If however it will be determined that Larry’s physical outlook is nice, then it will be concluded that he is healthy.
The first step towards the closure of this case is setting goals and objectives. These are the items that will be used to tell whether the treatment option picked was a success or not. The set goals and objectives will be used as a check list during evaluation. If it will b e found for example that the treatment option achieved the goals and objectives that were set, it will be concluded that the treatment option was successful. Of great importance to note in this case is the fact that it is not possible that all goals and objectives will be achieved.
After setting goals, the next step should be to gather relevant information. The information in this could entail the perfect ways of administering a trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Mental health professional should stop assuming that he or she knows everything regarding the therapy that is yet to be administered. During collection of the information, vital information may be obtained which will be used to increase the efficiency of the therapy. What usually happens is that efficiency of administering a therapy determines the time a patient takes to recover. A less efficient therapy will take long to replace the unwanted habit.
The third step towards the closure of this case is to develop possible treatment options. The purpose of doing this is to ensure that a good decision is picked. There have been cases where the option was initially seen as the most suitable were found to be inappropriate. In order to pick the right option, it will be necessary to compare the advantages and disadvantages of the options identified. The option to be preferred as the best should be one that has few disadvantages and many advantages.
After developing options, the next step should be to pick the best option. The mental health professional that will be administering this therapy should assess the possibility of either combining the therapy and medication or using the therapy alone. What normally happens is that combination of therapies with medication brings desired outcome faster. The disadvantage of this is that it might not bring a lasting solution. To put it in a simpler way, the undesired behavior might reoccur. The therapist can however choose this option if at all the therapy will continue after the medication is over.
The fifth step towards the closure of this case is implementing the treatment option. This will start with scheduling a series of activities that Larry will undergo so as to replace the unwanted behavior due to the dreadful events he underwent. Of great importance to note in this case is the fact that an unwanted behavior can only be replaced with a good one. The point here is that it is difficult to end an unwanted behavior.
After implementing the treatment option, the next step should be to monitor and evaluate the treatment option. Monitoring in this case will entail keeping an eye on how Larry is fairing on with regards to responding to the treatment administered. It will be important to record information during monitoring exercise. Upon recording information, it will be important to sit down and start analyzing the information. The information recorded will then be analyzed and recommendations made. Necessary improvements will be made based on the recommendations. To put it in another way, recommendations made will be used to make improvements.
The last step towards the end of this case is closing the case. This step will only be taken after confirming beyond reasonable doubt that the problem no longer exist. In order to ascertain that the problem has been solved, it will be necessary to interview Larry so as to know how he is faring. During this interview, it will be important to ask similar questions as those that were asked when the mental disorder was being diagnosed. This is because asking different questions will lead to different answer which will make comparison of previous status and latest status difficult.
References
Brody, D. M. (2012). Techniques in the evaluation and treatment of psychological disorders. The orthopedic clinics of north America, 13(3), 541-558.
Cohen, J. A., Mannarino, A. P., Berliner, L., & Deblinger, E. (2014). Trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy for children and adolescents: An empirical update. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 15(11), 1202-1223.
Summers, N. (2016). Fundamentals of case management practice: Skills for the human services (5th ed.). Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole, Cengage Learning
Vaughan, D. (2017). Theory elaboration: The heuristics of case analysis. What is a case, 173202.
