Navigating Mental Health: A Social Work Journey - Case Study, Interventions, and Implications

A1: Career Goals or Aspirations Following Completion of Graduate Education in Social Works

Having lived in London and worked as a social worker with various social organizations, I have learned and witnessed the subjugation of people's rights and suffering from disabilities in society. According to Pinilla-Roncancio (2018), 37% of London households with disabled individuals live in poverty. About 400,000 disabled people in London are unemployed and are living in extreme poverty. As a social worker, I would help disabled people address the issue of poverty, which seems to be a life challenge. This would allow me to help disabled individuals handle physical illness and emotional problems caused by extreme poverty. Upon graduating as a social worker, I would pursue a career in a sector where I would help disabled people, mainly those with physical and mental disabilities, to solve and cope with their physical and developmental issues in society.

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A2: Personal Identities Helpful in Working with a Diverse Population

Social workers face different issues, personalities, and people in their daily practices. This shows that social workers should interact with individuals from various backgrounds, with different economic statuses and diverse religious beliefs. Diversity is an essential aspect of a successful social worker, and embracing diversity makes social workers better in their activities. Cultural competence is a critical concept in social work; as a social worker, I should be sensitive and attuned to an individual, group, and particular family's beliefs, needs, attitudes, and values to offer culturally competent interventions, support, and services (Danso, 2018). As a social worker, my focus is on enhancing social equality and justice and eliminating discrimination in society. This would be achieved by developing self-awareness, as this will help me understand how personal feelings and thoughts can culturally affect my interactions with people. I should appreciate and respect all people's ethics and values regardless of their ethnic and racial backgrounds, gender, sexual orientation, and disability status.

A3: Professional Readiness for Practice of Social Works

Professional readiness for practice related to social work refers to the complex activities involving direct work with service clients, their families, and other agencies and professionals (Grant et al., 2017). As a social worker, I should demonstrate certain aspects of my professional readiness to direct social work practice. As a social worker, I should demonstrate professionalism by identifying and behaving like a professional social worker committed to professional enhancement. I also understand and apply ethical values and principles to guide my professional practices for professional readiness. As a social worker for professional readiness, I acknowledge diversity and employ anti-oppressive and anti-discriminatory principles in social work practices.

B1: Case Study with a Client as a Social Worker

I met a client called Vicky, who was in her mid-fifties and had divorced her family. Although Vicky has friends and some family members whom she can regularly communicate with, she lives alone. She is interested in theater, gardening, and literature, both writing and reading. Vicky has paranoid schizophrenia condition, and over the years, she has spent most of her time at the hospital because of a prolonged mental health problem. This made Vicky give up her work, and she has been getting support for three years. People have been helping Vicky with practical duties, giving her emotional support, and assisting her in looking for ways of managing her mental health problem and well-being. Vicky was seeking help on how to manage her mental situation of paranoia because going to crowded areas heightened her condition, making her think people talked about her condition. Although Vicky trusted people who supported her, including me, she finds it challenging to trust anyone when she is sick. This indicates that Vicky needs help on how to manage her paranoid mental condition. One of the strengths and resources in helping people with mental problems is trust where the client is free to share her situation. Vicky trusts the people who support her and is open to sharing her predicaments with me for help.

B2: Interventions Employed in the Case of Vicky

Vicky’s mental condition of paranoia and schizophrenia impacts her thought patterns and beliefs; hence cognitive behavioral therapy can be used as an intervention. Cognitive-behavioral therapy will help to transform maladaptive and unrealistic thoughts and replace them with realistic, helpful, and adaptive thoughts (Kuller & Björgvinsson, 2010). Psychodynamic work like object relationships can help Vicky as it helps in evaluating the reasons that make her suspicious and mistrustful. Another intervention I could employ highlights the areas Vicky can be engaged in activities to become helpful and contribute to social life. Vicky’s condition is mild paranoia because it shows up on specific delusions and thoughts. This shows that Vicky can engage in activities such as work and family and aspects of social life positively as this would help her learn how to socialize and interact with other people as she avoids crowded places. Family life cycle theory has influenced my choice to advise Vicky to engage in various activities to contribute to social life. This is because a divorce triggered Vicky's condition, and engaging in other activities will help her manage her divorce transition positively. Humanistic theory influenced me to choose cognitive behavioral therapy intervention (Silva, 2013). This is because the theory advocates for the client to explore personal identity and pursue linking with other people through positive interpersonal associations to eliminate unrealistic thoughts.

B3: Alternative Interventions in Vicky’s Case

Another intervention to help Vicky manage her mental condition is the use of family therapy or family intervention. The divorce triggered Vicky's condition, and family therapy can help her recover psychosis symptoms through the help of family members and close friends (McFarlane, 2016). Although Vicky regularly communicates with her family members and friends, she lives on her own. This shows that Vicky needs somebody, either a family member or a close friend, to emotionally support her. It is challenging for family members to love and care for a person with schizophrenia as family members may feel guilt, anger, shame, and anxiety. Family therapy will help family members understand the appropriate measures to take care of Vicky and collaborate with health professionals to improve her condition.

B4: Implications of the Case on Social Worker Practices at Other Levels of Intervention

As a social worker, I directly involved Vicky and her family members in the case by use of micro-level interventions. I would engage Vicky and her family members to help Vicky manage her mental problems. This would help in facilitating changes in Vicky’s behavior and relationships, mostly eliminating the problem of loneliness and avoiding crowded areas. Vicky sought help because she was facing difficulties with her mental situation, personal adjustments, and interpersonal relationships as the divorce was negatively affecting her. Cognitive-behavioral therapy and family therapy would help Vicky adjust to her new life, overcome emotional trauma, and help family members understand how to support and care for Vicky.

References

Danso, R. (2018). Cultural competence and cultural humility: A critical reflection on key cultural diversity concepts. Journal of Social Work, 18(4), 410-430.

Grant, S., Sheridan, L., & Webb, S. A. (2017). Newly qualified social workers’ readiness for practice in Scotland. British Journal of Social Work, 47(2), 487-506.

Kuller, A. M., & Björgvinsson, T. (2010). Cognitive behavioral therapy with a paranoid schizophrenic patient. Clinical Case Studies, 9(5), 311-327.

McFarlane, W. R. (2016). Family interventions for schizophrenia and the psychoses: A review. Family Process, 55(3), 460-482.

Pinilla-Roncancio, M. (2018). The reality of disability: Multidimensional poverty of people with disability and their families in Latin America. Disability and Health Journal, 11(3), 398-404.

Silva, T. N. (2013). Paterson and Zderad’s humanistic theory: entering the between through being when called upon. Nursing Science Quarterly, 26(2), 132-135.