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1. Solution-Focused and Cognitive Behavioral Family Therapy Essay
Solution-Focused and Cognitive Behavioral Family Therapy EssayWeek 5: Solution-Focused
and Cognitive Behavioral Family Therapy When solution-focused and cognitive behavioral
family therapy proved effective with individuals, therapists began applying these
approaches to families. However, it quickly became evident that the translation of these
approaches from individuals to families was more difficult than expected. Consider how you
can successfully apply these therapies to your client families. Is one approach more effective
than the other? What are the challenges of using these therapeutic approaches with
families? This week, as you continue exploring therapeutic approaches and their
appropriateness for client families, you examine solution-focused and cognitive behavioral
therapy. You also develop diagnoses for clients receiving psychotherapy and consider legal
and ethical implications of counseling these clients. Assignment 1: Practicum – Week 5
Journal Entry Learning Objectives Students will: Solution-Focused and Cognitive Behavioral
Family Therapy Essay. • Develop effective documentation skills for family therapy sessions
* • Develop diagnoses for clients receiving family psychotherapy * • Evaluate the efficacy of
solution-focused therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy for families * • Analyze legal and
ethical implications of counseling clients with psychiatric disorders * * The Assignment
related to this Learning Objective is introduced this week and submitted in Week 7. Select a
client you observed or counseled this week during a family therapy Then, address in your
Practicum Journal the following: • Using the Group Therapy Progress Note in this week’s
Learning Resources, document the family session. • Describe the client (without violating
HIPAA regulations) and identify any pertinent history or medical information, including
prescribed medications. • Using the DSM-5, explain and justify your diagnosis for each
client. • Explain whether solution-focused or cognitive behavioral therapy would be more
effective with this family. Include expected outcomes based on these therapeutic
approaches. • Explain any legal and/or ethical implications related to counseling each client.
• Support your approach with evidence-based literature. • Include introduction and
conclusion. Solution-Focused and Cognitive Behavioral Family Therapy EssayIntroductionA
lot of evidence exists on the effectiveness of solution-focused and CBT for anxiety disorders.
Instead of attacking issues, this therapy approach seeks possible solutions to produce
positive results by maximizing on aspirations and desires to promote achievements and de-
emphasizes in the past. As pioneered by Ellis and Beck, CBT upholds that, maladaptive
behaviors are major contributors to emotional distress and behavioral issues. Maladaptive
behaviors are such as schemas and general world beliefs that result in certain situational

2. automated thoughts. Therapeutic strategies in the CBT model aim at changing maladaptive
thoughts and behaviors resulting in significant changes in emotions, behavior and
psychological distress. This paper describes the application of solution-focused and
cognitive behavioral therapy for patients with general anxiety disorder in family settings. A
discussion of the legal and ethical implications related to counseling these clients will also
be provided. Solution-Focused and Cognitive Behavioral Family Therapy EssayClient
Description, Pertinent History, Medical Information, and Prescribed Medications For
this assignment, the patient was a 20-year-old white American male and was attending CBT
therapy day 4-session four for General anxiety disorder. Recently, this patient had been
seen in the ED for difficulty in breathing, chest tightness and sense of imminent doom. He
still lives with his mother who is divorced and a younger brother who is 15 years old.
Recently, the patient was fired from his full-time job. He used to work as a surgical
technician in a medical hospital before being fired for anger outbursts to his coworkers. The
client actively participated in the entire therapy session and reported feelings of imminent
doom, nervousness and a blah mood. His mental status was normal, reported no suicidal
ideations but had improved coping abilities and less severe symptoms. Currently, the
patient was planning to return to college to pursue a nursing degree but finds it difficult to
concentrate due to the underlying anxiety disorder. He takes Zoloft 50mg daily. Solution-
Focused and Cognitive Behavioral Family Therapy EssayDiagnosis Justification for the
Client Based on the DSM-V criteria for diagnosing mental health disorders, a diagnosis
of general anxiety disorder is made when a client presents with complaints of excessive
worry and anxiety which is very difficult to control. This worry should be accompanied with
either three of cognitive or physical symptoms of restlessness, easy fatigue, impaired
concentration, sleep disturbance, and irritability. The anxiety/worry and associated
symptoms also make it difficult to execute activities of daily life at work or in relationships
(Sachdev, et al., 2015). Similarly, the client, in this case, presented with complaints of
difficulty concentrating, excessive anxiety and worry, feelings of imminent doom and a blah
mood. The frequent anger outbursts negatively impacted his relationship with colleagues at
the workplace and resulted in termination from work. This presentation meets this
criterion, hence the diagnosis of general anxiety disorder.ORDER A PLAGIARISM- FREE
PAPER NOWWhether Solution-Focused or Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Would Be More
Effective With This Family and Expected Outcomes. Solution-Focused and Cognitive
Behavioral Family Therapy Essay With this family, both solution-focused and
cognitive behavioral therapy would be more effective. Solution-focused therapy is a
collaborative and goal-oriented approach that is done by directly observing the responses
of clients through a series of questions that have been accurately been constructed. It lays
emphasis on finding present solutions and explores an individual’s hope for the future
(Lutz, 2017). In this case, it would best be applied to solve existing family dysfunctions and
how best to relate with people. The expected outcome of using solution-focused therapy for
this family is an improvement in the quality of life, family and social relations.As supported
by Kaczkurkin & Foa (2015), CBT would be used to empower the client with different ways
of behaving, thinking and reacting to situations which reduce worry and anxiety. These
maladaptive behaviors are major contributors to the client’s frequent anger outbursts,

3. difficulty concentrating, a blah mood and feelings of imminent doom. By examining
unhelpful thought and behavioral patterns, it is expected that the client will develop more
effective ways of thinking about situations that are challenging and be able to continue his
education by pursuing a nursing degree. Solution-Focused and Cognitive Behavioral Family
Therapy EssayLegal/Ethical Implications Related To Counseling Each ClientFor most clients
suffering from general anxiety disorder and need proactive care, it is likely that they might
be coerced into medications and therapy that they do not want which is a violation of the
ethical principle of autonomy (Fried, et al., 2017). It is also possible that a client might
decline treatment which causes more harm than good and conflicts the ethical principle of
non-maleficence on the part of a mental nurse practitioner.ConclusionPatients with general
anxiety disorders present with a wide range of needs starting with psychological, emotional
and physical needs. These needs can be well addressed using cognitive behavioral therapy
and solution focused therapy. Major ethical issues in dealing with clients with general
anxiety disorders are those of autonomy and non-maleficence. Mental health practitioners
ought to strike a balance in respecting a patient’s decision regarding treatment and
ensuring that no harm is done to the patient. Solution-Focused and Cognitive Behavioral
Family Therapy EssayReferencesFried, E. I., van Borkulo, C. D., Cramer, A. O., Boschloo, L.,
Schoevers, R. A., & Borsboom, D. (2017). Mental disorders as networks of problems: a
review of recent insights. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 52(1), 1-
10.Kaczkurkin, A. N., & Foa, E. B. (2015). Cognitive-behavioral therapy for anxiety disorders:
an update on the empirical evidence. Dialogues in clinical neuroscience, 17(3), 337.Lutz, A.
B. (2017). 16.3 Solution-Focused Therapy. Journal of the American Academy of Child &
Adolescent Psychiatry, 56(10), S24.Sachdev, P. S., Mohan, A., Taylor, L., & Jeste, D. V. (2015).
DSM-5 and mental disorders in older individuals: an overview. Harvard review of
psychiatry, 23(5), 320. Solution-Focused and Cognitive Behavioral Family Therapy Essay