Counseling Adolescents Essay Paper
Discussion: Counseling Adolescents
The adolescent population is often referred to as “young adults,” but in some ways, this is a misrepresentation. Adolescents are not children, but they are not yet adults either. This transition from childhood to adulthood often poses many unique challenges to working with adolescent clients, particularly in terms of disruptive behavior. In your role, you must overcome these behaviors to effectively counsel clients. For this Discussion, as you examine the Disruptive Behaviors media in this week’s Learning Resources, consider how you might assess and treat adolescent clients presenting with disruptive behavior.
Learning Objectives
Students will:
Assess clients presenting with disruptive behavior
Analyze therapeutic approaches for treating clients presenting with disruptive behavior
Evaluate outcomes for clients presenting with disruptive behavior
To prepare:
Review this week’s Learning Resources and reflect on the insights they provide.
View the media, Disruptive Behaviors. Select one of the four case studies and assess the client.
For guidance on assessing the client, refer to pages 137-142 of the Wheeler text in this week’s Learning Resources. Counseling Adolescents Essay Paper
Note: To complete this Discussion, you must assess the client, but you are not required to submit a formal Comprehensive Client Assessment. Counseling Adolescents Essay Paper
Note: For this Discussion, you are required to complete your initial post before you will be able to view and respond to your colleagues’ postings. Begin by clicking on the \”Post to Discussion Question\” link and then select \”Create Thread\” to complete your initial post. Remember, once you click Submit, you cannot delete or edit your own posts, and cannot post anonymously. Please check your post carefully before clicking Submit!
By Day 3
Post an explanation of your observations of the client in the case study you selected, including behaviors that align to the criteria in DSM-5. Then, explain therapeutic approaches you might use with this client, including psychotropic medications if appropriate. Finally, explain expected outcomes for the client based on these therapeutic approaches. Support your approach with evidence-based literature.
Learning Resources
Required Readings
American Nurses Association. (2014). Psychiatric-mental health nursing: Scope and standards of practice (2nd ed.). Washington, DC: Author.
Standard 5 “Implementation” (pages 52-53)
Wheeler, K. (Ed.). (2014). Psychotherapy for the advanced practice psychiatric nurse: A how-to guide for evidence-based practice (2nd ed.). New York, NY: Springer Publishing Company.
Chapter 17, “Psychotherapy With Children” (pp. 597–624)
American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.
Counseling adolescents
Post an explanation of your observations of the client in the case study you selected, including behaviors that align to the criteria in DSM-5.
The client is a 13-year-old boy who presents for assessment following recommendations by his school teacher. He is characterized as being restless, hyperactive, distractible and impulsive. His parents report that he has typically been impulsive and hyperactive. He has trouble waiting for his turn during social activities, interrupts others impulsively, talks excessively, is easily bored, has trouble engaging in activities quietly, has trouble staying seated in social functions, and tends to fidget. His teachers add that inattentive, forgetful, is easily distracted, frequently loses tools required to perform class tasks, fails to follow through on homework instructions, does not seem to listen, makes careless mistakes, and has trouble paying attention in class. Given that the client has presented these signs and symptoms for more than six months, DCM-5 criteria was used to diagnose the client as suffering from attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). In fact, his symptoms have presented for years as revealed in the client’s history, thus supporting the ADHD diagnosis (American Psychiatric Association, 2013).
Then, explain therapeutic approaches you might use with this client, including psychotropic medications if appropriate.
Treatment for the ADHD will take on a two-pronged approach. The first approach is medication whereby Methlyin (Ritalin) is prescribed as immediate release tablets. The dosage is 5 mg to be taken twice daily approximately 40 minutes before breakfast and lunch. The dosage can be increased by 5 to 10 mg per day every week if necessary. Still, the dosage should not exceed 60 mg per day. The second approach is individual psychotherapy that supports the client in organization, planning and time management. Also, the therapy helps the parents to create a school-home note system that supports the client when changing the setting from home to school and back (Sperry, 2016; Wheeler, 2014).
Finally, explain expected outcomes for the client based on these therapeutic approaches.
Methlyin is a stimulant for the central nervous systems. It affects chemicals in the nerves and brain to improve impulse control while reducing hyperactivity. The psychotherapy would improve the client’s organization, planning and time management skills (Sperry, 2016; Wheeler, 2014).
References
American Psychiatric Association (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.
Sperry, L. (2016). Handbook of diagnosis and treatment of DSM-5 personality disorders: assessment, case conceptualization, and treatment (3rd ed.). New York, NY: Routledge.
Wheeler, K. (Ed.). (2014). Psychotherapy for the advanced practice psychiatric nurse: A how-to guide for evidence-based practice. New York, NY: Springer. Counseling Adolescents Essay Paper