Developmental, Sociocultural, and Ethical and Diagnostic Considerations in Counseling Children and Adolescents

CONCEPTUALIZING A CASE !1

Developmental, Sociocultural, and Ethical and Diagnostic Considerations in Counseling

Children and Adolescents

Author First Name Middle Initial Last Name

Capella University

CONCEPTUALIZING A CASE !2

Developmental, Sociocultural, and Ethical, and Diagnostic

Considerations in Counseling Children and Adolescents

This is your paper’s introduction. Note, however, that it does not have a heading; its

position at the beginning of the body of the paper implies that it is the introduction. Instead,

include the title of your paper centered at the top of the page, not bolded; it is not considered a

heading. In the body of your paper, indent the first line of each paragraph. As always, use

double spaced, 12-point Times New Roman font. For the purposes of this assignment, simply

replace this text with a brief paragraph in your own words stating that this paper presents a

background sketch of a hypothetical child client, the results of an ecomap assessment to

analyze how their family, community, cultural, and societal contexts contribute to their

supports and stressors, the ethical and legal issues that could impact the case, and the steps you

will take to ensure ethical treatment of your case.

Background Sketch for Case: [Hypothetical Name]

Identification of the Problem

Briefly review why this child or adolescent is being referred to you.

Individual and Background Information.

Academic: Include one paragraph about academic information relevant to your case.

Family and Culture: Include one or two paragraphs about the family of your case and their

culture.

Physical: Include one paragraph about the maturational, physical, and pubertal information

about your case, as applicable.

Social: Include one paragraph about the social area of your case, including friendship groups

CONCEPTUALIZING A CASE !3

and social adjustment or challenges.

Developmental Analysis

Briefly apply concepts from Piaget’s theory, Selman, Erikson, and what is known about

development of the brain and neurological system and physical maturation to your case.

Cultural Analysis

Briefly highlight the cultural considerations that might be important for understanding

and counseling your case.

Ecomap Assessment of Stressors and Supports

Summarize your assessment of the stressors and supports that are impacting your child

or adolescent, from nearby influences such as family and neighborhood factors to more distant

influences such as prevention or education programs or societal factors.

Legal and Ethical Issues Plan

Articulate a brief legal and ethical issues plan that presents the steps you will take to

establish an ethical counseling relationship with your child or adolescent client. Identify

potential ethical and legal issues that could arise with this client, and describe how you would

handle each of these, referencing specific laws and ethical codes.

Treatment Plan for Case

Write a brief paragraph here that provides a transition from the background information

about the client to your treatment plan for the case. Use guidelines in Counseling Children,

pages 112–113.

Problem Identification

Write a brief description here, identifying the problem.

CONCEPTUALIZING A CASE !4

Problem Definition

Write a brief description here, defining the problem; use the DSM-5 for symptom and

problem terminology.

Goal Development

Write a brief description here, outlining the goal of counseling.

Measurable Outcomes

Write a brief description here of outcomes that can be measured.

Proposed Interventions

Write a brief counseling plan here.

Preliminary DSM-5 Diagnosis

State your preliminary diagnosis here, stating how your client meets the criteria for a

particular diagnosis, and including specifiers for the disorder, if applicable. You may diagnose

more than one disorder.

CONCEPTUALIZING A CASE !5

References

(Include at least five sources that you used in your assignment. You may include your textbook.

The reference below provides an example citation for an article.)

Author, A. A., Author, B. B., & Author, C. C. (year). Title of article. Title of Periodical,

volume#(issue#), xx–xx.