Chapter 7: defining strategies and selecting interventions

[Audio] Good morning everyone, We are delighted to have you join us today. In this presentation, we will examine the process of creating a specialized therapeutic plan for counseling clients and explore how to choose interventions to best reach the therapeutic goals. Let's get started!.

[Audio] Case conceptualization is an essential aspect of counselling and therapy. This involves collecting a large amount of data on the client and combining this into a limited number of sections to build a clear understanding of the situation's context and workings. This allows the clinician to come up with a plan to both diagnose and treat the patient. By repeatedly rehearsing, these abilities can be acquired and the image that comes with this piece is a reminder to always keep a lookout for beneficial info..

[Audio] Counseling theory can help us understand why people have successful and unsuccessful lives and how change can be brought about. Five forces – feelings, thoughts, behaviors, interpersonal relationships, and spirituality – all affect humans. A counselor's theoretical orientation is reflective of their worldview and counseling must factor in both culture-specific and culture-general approaches. This chapter will look into how to create a therapeutic plan that is suited to the client's needs and desires..

[Audio] It is essential for counselors to be able to accurately diagnose any psychopathology a client may be struggling with. Once diagnosed, a tailored treatment plan should be created to help the client reach their goals. This plan should consider the expected length of the process and the duration of each session. Additionally, counselors must take care to be sensitive to the client's cultural background, as some cultures may move at a slower pace than others, which is an important part of the counseling process..

[Audio] Defining goals and selecting interventions are important when creating a counseling plan for clients. After setting goals, counselors may identify interventions that can help the client reach the desired goal in the expected time frame. Additionally, counselors must consider the best mode of treatment to customize the plan, as various methods can contribute to a plan that is suited for the client's needs and goals..

[Audio] In developing a tailored therapeutic plan for a client, consideration should be given to the client's goals, characteristics, resources, previous attempts and coping mechanisms that have been used to address the issue, as well as their worldview. All these should be taken into account when selecting strategies and interventions for the client's therapeutic plan..

[Audio] This chapter will examine strategies and interventions to be used when formulating a tailored therapeutic plan to suit each client's requirements. We will distinguish four main types of interventions: affective, cognitive, behavioral, and interactional or systemic. Affective interventions are devoted to recognizing and managing the client's feelings and emotions. Cognitive interventions are meant to affect the client's thoughts and opinions about themselves and others. Behavioral interventions aid clients in creating new behaviors. Lastly, interactional or systemic interventions concentrate on patterns in the client's connections..

[Audio] Emotions play a critical role in the counseling process when working with clients. This chapter will focus on various affective interventions that can help clients recognize and express their emotions. We will look at how to validate emotions, encourage emotional expression and understand the dynamics in order to design an appropriate therapeutic plan that meets the clients' objectives..

[Audio] We will begin by looking at various affective interventions that may be utilized in counseling. Affective interventions are aimed at assisting clients in discerning, differentiating, changing or accepting their emotions. Such techniques can help clients better articulate and comprehend their feelings and can provide direction to assist them in attaining their desired objectives..

[Audio] As we look to create an effective therapeutic plan for our clients that meets their goals, it is important to understand the tools that we can use to help them express their emotions. We can do this by accurately understanding the client’s situation, offering unconditional support, focusing selectively on their challenges and actively listening to their stories. Through these we can strive to create a plan that serves the client’s needs and provides them with the support they are looking for..

[Audio] As counselors, it is essential to observe our client's nonverbal cues such as posture, facial expressions, and tone of voice. Nonverbal cues can show us how our client is feeling, even when they don't use words to express it. When acknowledging nonverbal cues we must do so in a compassionate manner, to make our client feel comfortable in sharing their emotions. However, we must also take care not to cause our client to feel judged or defensive. Ultimately, it is our role to ensure that our client feels secure and supported when expressing their feelings..

[Audio] It is essential for counselors to be aware of how their clients' feelings can be perceived through verbal affect cues. These can range from expressing encouragement and positivity to being defensive or hostile. Awareness of fear, anxiety, and spiritual and existential feelings should also be taken into account. Having an understanding of these verbal cues allows counselors to create an individual plan that best suits each of their clients' needs and objectives..

[Audio] Strategies for developing a tailored therapeutic plan specific to a client's goals are explored in this chapter. Mental state cues – positive, affirming words – can be employed to establish a positive mindset in the client. Such mental state cues include "empowered", "intelligent", "satisfied", "worthwhile", "happy", "safe", "creative", "facilitating", "rewarding", "loving", "cherished", "close", "esteemed", "trusting", "assured", and "confident". This chapter considers how these mental state cues can be used to assist the client in accomplishing their goals..

TABLE 8.2 Aggressive/Defensive Mental State Cues AGGRESSIVE Anrihilate Argue Fight Hurt GRIM Cruel ForeE-ndhg F@tfU liv'ercjess Ruthless QUARRELSOME Arg.rnentati•ve Belbgerent Cantankeras Combative Contentious Irritable DEFENSIVE CarefU Cautious Guarded Reænt.

[Audio] When considering existential states, one should take into account existentialism, spirituality, and religion. Existentialism is a philosophical discipline that investigates the human condition. For some individuals, feeling connected to something bigger than themselves can be comforting, which is known as spirituality. Religion is a set of teachings and rituals that explore the relationship between the self and God. All of these factors are important to consider when establishing a personal therapeutic plan for a client..

[Audio] We focus on understanding and defining strategies and selecting interventions for clients in this chapter. As counselors, it is important to identify mental and emotional state cues that our clients may be exhibiting. Table 8.4 gives examples of spiritual and existential mental state cues, both positive (e.g. peaceful and hopeful) and negative (e.g. disillusioned and despairing). By being aware of these mental states, we can inform our therapeutic plans and create interventions that meet the clients' goals..

[Audio] We, as counselors, are expected to provide assistance in helping our clients correctly identify, process and control their emotions. We must be available as a platform for them to express their feelings, such as anger, resentment and sadness, which they may not immediately recognize or even comprehend. By helping them to identify the cause of these emotions, we are able to further aid them in establishing strategies to better cope with and contain them. It is pertinent to acknowledge any feelings that arise as valid, rather than telling them to ignore them. Through this approach, we contribute significantly towards the fulfillment of their therapeutic objectives..

[Audio] This chapter outlines the strategies and interventions necessary for therapeutic plans tailored to the client's goals. These interventions include the Emotions Inventory, the Emotional Percentage Chart, the Emotions Balloons Chart, and Focusing Intervention. Focusing Intervention is a six-step process which begins by recognizing the issues, then exploring the feelings, selecting descriptive words, examining the words, and inquiring what leaves the client feeling that way. Finally, the client obtains and assimilates the change that occurs..

[Audio] We discussed dysfunctional affect and how it interferes with day-to-day functioning, role reversal and using an alter-ego to gain clarity and understanding of the situation, and the empty chair technique as an imaginary conversation with oneself or a person involved in the client's problems. These approaches can help a client view the situation from a different perspective and allow them to make different decisions. I would like to thank you for your attention and look forward to hearing your thoughts on the strategies we discussed..