Amy: A Case Study Essay

Amy is the mother of three children: a daughter who is seven and twins – a boy and a girl – who are five. Her husband is an attorney and works long hours. Amy is a college graduate and worked in a professional role until the twins were born. Amy is an only child, social, attractive and very well organized. However, inside, Amy feels insecure, even worthless. Her mother was an alcoholic and her father died when she was ten. After her father died, Amy began to take care of her mother when her mother was to drunk to cook meals, or clean the house. Somehow, Amy always felt it was her fault her father died and her mother started drinking. She had always thought that when she got married and had her own family everything would be perfect. She never expected her husband would work seven days a week, 12-hour days. He rarely had time for the children or for her. Amy started drinking to numb her feelings of disappointment, but soon her drinking got in the way of taking care of th e children and her home. Case study: Amy Amy is a single child, very intellectual and organized. She is married to an attorney who works twelve-hour days five days a week. Amy is a mother of three children a seven-year-old daughter and twins that are five years old. Amy is a collage graduate and had worked as a professional before her twins were born. After Amy’s marriage she comes to realize that her husband works so much that he has little time for her or their children. Amy believed that her family would not resemble that she had grown up in. Amy lost her father at the age of ten and found herself taken care of her mother. Amy’s mother is an alcoholic; Amy would take care of her mother when she was to intoxicated to care for herself or the household. Amy feels that she is worthless and insecure, she feels that her mothers drinking and her father’s death is her fault. Amy has found herself in a situation resembling her mothers. Amy has begun drinking to numb the feelings of disappointment. Amy’ s drinking has come to the point of interfering with taking care of her children and her household. It seems that Amy is in need of help with her issues and her recent increase with drinking. The need to have a assessment and comprehensive treatment plan with a continuity of care approach should be the main focus of treatment for Amy. To assist Amy I would have to assure that the diagnosis is specific and pertains to her individual need. As the book states; â€Å"First, diagnosing a condition not only implies that you understand the criteria for making the particular diagnosis but that you also can’t differentiate that condition from others† (Fisher & Harrison, Ch. 6 pg. 114) Because Amy’s drinking has influenced her family life and her ability to take care probably of her children; it is safe to say that Amy’s diagnosis would be alcohol Abuse. One of the 1st steps in diagnosing Amy properly would be to do a psychosocial interview. After I have completing a thorough psychosocial interview and eliminating other factors in Amy’s life to eliminate dual diagnosis such as. Amy’s situation meets criteria for the DSM-IV of influences, be cause of substance abuse on her social, occupational, or recreational activities shown by her lack in care with their children. Because of Amy’s more recent bout with alcoholism to say that she has no physiological dependency as of yet. Diagnosis of substance abuse follows DSM-IV criteria of failure to fulfill major roles and obligations to work, home, or school. Motivational interviewing developed by William Miller and Stephen Rollnick is a process that assesses the client’s readiness for change. The client may not be ready to hear that they are substance dependent and not quite ready to change (Fisher & Harrison, 2009). Determining what stage that Amy is in would be preferable means of continuing, the stages are; pre-contemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, and maintenance. Because Amy has sought out help its safe to say that Amy is in the preparation stage. This is an and him and important state that occurs when the individual has become ready and determined to change and take action to do so with steps given by a counselor or therapist. Dr. Amy has entered the stage and be saved to say the next leader action and maintenance stage it was the continuing care plan will be set up in the process of treatment would begin. Amy will enter the next stage, maintenance stage. In this stage, the person tries to maintain the change that resulted from his or her actions without relapsing (Fisher & Harrison, 2009). Treatment Plan: Minnesota Model program; : A continuum of care including assessment and diagnosis, detoxification, inpatient, therapeutic communities, halfway houses, outpatient, and aftercare has been developed using the Minnesota model† (Fisher & Harrison, Ch. 8 pg.135) Amy has used alcohol recently to numb her feelings of disappointment duration of time unknown. However, the period of time is substantial enough to meet substance abuse criteria of DSM-IV. Amy will remain absent from all substances and enter a 30-day inpatient program geared towards complete abstinence and extended learning of mind body and spirit. Amy will remain absent from any substances for duration of 30 days or longer and enter a continuing care program based on 12-step program. Strategies and goals for Amy to complete; attending daily AA meetings after completing 30-day inpatient program. Amy will continue AA meetings on a daily basis as well as completion of program lectures. Amy will participate in individual and family counseling once a week for one year and establish a strong support group with peers in 12-step program. Amy will participate and Al-Anon, and marriage counseling once a week for duration of one year. Amy’s participation is based primarily on financial availability recommendation inpatient 30 days, continuing care, and follow-up. In conclusion I believe that Amy is willing to stop the down word spiral she has begun and is willing to go to any means necessary to do so, I believe Amy understands her consumption of alcohol has negatively influenced her home life. Amy isn’t is in need of therapy at this time primary focus on abstinence from alcohol followed up with therapy to deal with childhood issues such as her father dying and her becoming the mother role model. After completion of treatment program stated above I believe Amy will have a better grasp on that ability to deal with past history influences and triggers. I believe Amy has had a tough life and put a lot of pressure on her ability to succeed where her parents did not. Cite page Fisher, G. L. & Harrison, T. C. (2009). Substance abuse: Information for school counselors, social workers, therapists, and counselors (4th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc. Rollnick, S. Ph.D. & Miller, W. Ph.D. (1995) Motivational interviewing. Retrieved on 12/15/12 from: http://motivationalinterview.net/clinical/whatismi.html