Imagine you are describing a treatment plan for a mildly depressed, middle-aged

Question

Imagine you are describing a treatment plan for a mildly depressed, middle-aged man who is seeking therapy. He is unemployed, unhappy with his marriage, and is even questioning his sexuality (he has had homosexual experiences both before and while married). Although he is unhappy in his marriage he finds the option of leaving the marriage difficult because he has two young sons and he wants to "be there for them." Take a moment and jot down the major points of your treatment plan (prior to reading the remainder of this assignment).

In your treatment plan, did you use the word "client" or "patient" to describe the man seeking therapy? As your text explains, the use of the term "client" instead of "patient" is significant in the humanistic approach.

Discuss your impressions of the implicit meanings of "client" and "patient." Is this word choice meaningful or merely semantic?

Explanation / Answer

The word patient was quickly dismissed as it brought to mind someone who is sick and wanting to be healed, as in a physician/patient relationship, where the physician has all the answers and the patient trusts and relies on that.

The term client seemed more appropriate as describing more of a customer-type relationship, someone who is seeking the services of a professional. Attorneys have clients. Hair stylists have clients. Financial advisors have clients.

eventually adopted “client” as the more universal term. The term “client” has also been strongly promoted in the occupational therapy

Early etiological theories of child and marital problems assumed unidirectional cause-effect relationships. That is, it was always presumed that dysfunctional marital relationships caused dysfunctional behavior patterns in married couple. They are with behavioral or emotional problems were viewed as innocent victims of a "bad" couple or of a "bad" relationship between the married couple. Theory and therapy focused largely on identifying and treating the dysfunctional married couple, in order to relieve them from the emotional distress.

families-especially those in which there are children -continue after marital disruption...They do so with the focus on the two ex-spouse parents now located in separate households-two nuclei to which children and parents alike, as well as others, must relate.

Children with behavioral or emotional problems were viewed as innocent victims of a "bad" parent or of a "bad" relationship between the parents. Theory and therapy focused largely on identifying and treating the dysfunctional parent or parents, in order to relieve the child of the emotional distress.

Related Questions

Navigate

• Browse (All)
• Browse I
• Subjects

Integrity-first tutoring: explanations and feedback only — we do not complete graded work. Learn more.