Case Study: Tina Tina is a 17-year-old Navajo female who is brought into a counselor's office for symptoms of depression; her family has noticed that she is more withdrawn than usual and she is often observed crying and talking to herself. Through the intake interview, the counselor learns that Tina hears voices daily that command her to perform certain acts of hygiene (showering, combing her hair, etc.). She further reveals that she believes these voices to be the result of witchcraft that her boyfriend is using to control her. Tina also states that she has used methamphetamines heavily for the past several months. She and her mother ask the counselor to work with Tina for the depression, but claim that they wish to see a medicine man for hearing voices. Where does the counselor begin with this client? Tina is clearly demonstrating symptoms of psychoses, yet it is difficult to determine what has caused them. Is she experiencing a severe depressive episode with psychotic features? Have the voices been induced by excessive drug use? Alternatively, should the counselor take into account the cultural acceptance of witchcraft and let the medicine man exclusively treat Tina? This case study is but one example of the way different cultures deviate in concept of mental illness as it presents itself in the counselor's office. Viewing clients as devoid of their cultural backgrounds because notions of health and wellness differ greatly by who is defining them are unethical and unwise. In order to be as receptive as possible to a client's position, counselors must constantly deconstruct and be aware of their own beliefs regarding psychopathology. This process of exploring a belief system has been given many names, one of which is social constructionism (Lemma, 2011). Social constructionism is the concept that reality is formed and defined by the individual experience of it; the perceptions of any given society are constantly in flux as trends and knowledge shifts. As such, the concept of psychology changes to meet the needs of each given culture. Ruder & Guterman (2007) state that "social constructionism is, itself, a social construction that is always changing and subject to reconstruction" (p. 387). References  Rudes, J. & Guterman, J. (2007). The value of social constructionism for the counseling profession: A reply to Hansen. Journal of Counseling & Development,85(4), 387-392 © 2016. Grand Canyon University. All Rights Reserved. © 2015. Grand Canyon University. All Rights Reserved. ...

1. Case Study: Tina
Tina is a 17-year-old Navajo female who is brought into a
counselor's office for symptoms of depression; her family has
noticed that she is more withdrawn than usual and she is often
observed crying and talking to herself. Through the intake
interview, the counselor learns that Tina hears voices daily that
command her to perform certain acts of hygiene (showering,
combing her hair, etc.). She further reveals that she believes
these voices to be the result of witchcraft that her boyfriend is
using to control her. Tina also states that she has used
methamphetamines heavily for the past several months. She and
her mother ask the counselor to work with Tina for the
depression, but claim that they wish to see a medicine man for
hearing voices.
Where does the counselor begin with this client? Tina is clearly
demonstrating symptoms of psychoses, yet it is difficult to
determine what has caused them. Is she experiencing a severe
depressive episode with psychotic features? Have the voices
been induced by excessive drug use? Alternatively, should the
counselor take into account the cultural acceptance of
witchcraft and let the medicine man exclusively treat Tina? This
case study is but one example of the way different cultures
deviate in concept of mental illness as it presents itself in the
counselor's office.
Viewing clients as devoid of their cultural backgrounds because
notions of health and wellness differ greatly by who is defining
them are unethical and unwise. In order to be as receptive as
possible to a client's position, counselors must constantly
deconstruct and be aware of their own beliefs regarding
psychopathology. This process of exploring a belief system has
been given many names, one of which is social constructionism
(Lemma, 2011).

2. Social constructionism is the concept that reality is formed and
defined by the individual experience of it; the perceptions of
any given society are constantly in flux as trends and
knowledge shifts. As such, the concept of psychology changes
to meet the needs of each given culture. Ruder & Guterman
(2007) state that "social constructionism is, itself, a social
construction that is always changing and subject to
reconstruction" (p. 387).
References
Rudes, J. & Guterman, J. (2007). The value of social
constructionism for the counseling profession: A reply to
Hansen. Journal of Counseling & Development,85(4), 387-392
© 2016. Grand Canyon University. All Rights Reserved.
© 2015. Grand Canyon University. All Rights Reserved.