22 Jan Counseling Adolescents

NURS6640 Psychotherapy With Individuals

Week 1 Discussion

Does Psychotherapy Have a Biological Basis?

Many studies have found that psychotherapy is as effective as psychopharmacology in terms of influencing changes in behaviors, symptoms of anxiety, and changes in mental state. Changes influenced by psychopharmacology can be explained by the biological basis of treatments. But how does psychotherapy achieve these changes? Does psychotherapy share common neuronal pathways with psychopharmacology? For this Discussion, consider whether psychotherapy also has a biological basis.

NURS6640 Psychotherapy With Individuals

Week 2 Discussion

Assessment Tools

Assessment tools have two primary purposes: 1) to measure illness and diagnose clients, and 2) to measure a client’s response to treatment. Often, you will find that multiple assessment tools are designed to measure the same condition or response. Not all tools, however, are appropriate for use in all clinical situations. You must consider the strengths and weaknesses of each tool to select the appropriate assessment tool for your client. For this Discussion, as you examine the assessment tool assigned to you by the Course Instructor, consider its use in psychotherapy.

NURS6640 Psychotherapy With Individuals

Week 5 Discussion

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

It is estimated that more than 6% of the U.S. population will experience posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in their lifetime (National Center for PTSD, 2010). This debilitating disorder often interferes with an individual’s ability to function in daily life. Common symptoms of anxiousness and depression frequently lead to substance abuse issues and even physical ailments. For this Discussion, as you examine the Thompson Family Case Study in this week’s Learning Resources, consider how you might assess and treat clients presenting with PTSD.

NURS6640 Psychotherapy With Individuals

Week 8 Discussion

Clinical Supervision

Clinical Supervision is an essential component of your development as a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner. It provides an opportunity for professional collaboration as you share experiences with and gain insights from colleagues. For this Clinical Supervision, consider a client whom you do not think is adequately progressing according to expected clinical outcomes.

NURS6640 Psychotherapy With Individuals

Week 9 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.

NURS6640 Psychotherapy With Individuals

Week 10 Discussion

Clinical Supervision

Personal reflection and discussion with colleagues is essential to your development as a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner. In Week 8, you collaborated with colleagues as you participated in your first Clinical Supervision. This week, you have the opportunity to continue your collaboration as you reflect on and discuss your experiences with counseling older adults. Keep in mind that although there may be challenges to counseling this population, these clients offer unique learning opportunities. For this Clinical Supervision, consider an older client you are counseling whom you do not think is adequately progressing according to expected clinical outcomes.

NURS6640 Psychotherapy With Individuals

Week 11 Discussion

Therapy for Clients With Personality Disorders

Clients with personality disorders often find it difficult to overcome their problems and function in daily life. Even when these clients are aware that they have a dysfunction with their personality and are open to counseling, treatment can be challenging for both the client and the therapist. For this Discussion, as you examine personality disorders, consider therapeutic approaches you might use with clients.