¶ … conceptualizing a case from a systems-Based perspective?
A systems-based perspective takes into account multiple variables and relationships, including those that may be peripheral to the individual. While conceptualizing the case, the therapist takes into account the client's symptoms, the client's goals, and the client's perspective or worldview. The therapist also considers the various relationship dynamics that are impacting the current set of issues or symptoms. A systems approach also implies that the therapist needs to recognize the importance of family and personal history, even when focusing on a solution-oriented approach to therapy. Using a systems perspective allows the therapist to conceptualize a case thoroughly and with maximum clarity.
Culture, language, religion, ethnicity, age, gender, socioeconomic status, and other aspects of personal identity formation and social belongingness are also integral to a systems-based perspective. Each of these factors will have influenced cognitive variables and also identity formation. When conceptualizing a case, the therapist can design a treatment plan that is appropriate for the client's current identity and social relationships, rather than assume that a general approach will work for everyone. The therapist might consider personal identity construction via narratives...
Regardless, the therapist working within a systems-based perspective always seeks to locate and re-locate the client within a larger social and community network. The approach is also as solution-oriented as possible and resists blaming or overly focusing on one area of the client's social network (Gehart, 2010).
What is the main purpose of building a treatment plan at the beginning of a therapeutic encounter?
The beginning of the therapeutic encounter offers the opportunity to consider which theoretical perspectives to use, depending on the particular needs and goals of the client. Furthermore, building a treatment plan at the beginning of the therapeutic encounter provides a road map or blueprint that may be used to structure therapy during its course. Structure may prevent either the therapist or the client from neglecting to address important issues, but the structure should ideally remain flexible to account for newly emerging variables or changes to the client's status. According to Chapter 15, therapy rarely follows a plan exactly but the plan exists in order to aid the therapist with thinking through which dynamics need to be changed and how. Moreover, the therapist can use the process of building the plan to learn more about the client -- not just the client's history…
