The purpose of this session is to assist the client with identifying

ways in which she can cope with her anxiety and depression while in recovery

PURPOSE OF THE SESSION: The purpose of this session is to assist the client with identifying

ways in which she can cope with her anxiety and depression while in recovery from heavy substance use

II. OBSERVATION: Client is a 25-year-old Caucasian female. Client stated

that she been dealing with anxiety and depression since she was 12 after she was sexually abused. Client

reported she began using drugs when she was 20 years old. Client reported a few years ago when a CPS

investigation was lunched against her which resulted in 3 of her 4 children being taken away from her in

2017. During the session client reported the children who were taken away from her are now ages 7, 6,

and 5. Client reported that she has not seen or had any contact whatsoever with those 3 children since

they were taken away from her. Client reported that at the beginning of the month the 3 children were all

adopted together to the same family. The client reported having a 3 month old daughter. Client reported

her anxiety and depression makes it very difficult for her to sleep and rest, so she smokes 2-3 Marijuana-

cocaine blunts a day to help her with her anxiety, depression, and insomnia. The client was very open

about her addiction, depression, and anxiety, and how her addiction has affected her life. The client was

very engaged and calm during the session and asked questions on how to manage her depression and

anxiety.

III. CONTENT: This content is from the middle of the session.

INTERVIEW

CONTENT/INTERACTIO

N (SW intern said,

Client said)

SKILLS

USED

YOUR THOUGHTS/

FEELINGS/REACTIONS

CLIENT’S

FEELINGS/AFFECT

Field

Instructor

Comments

SW intern said: I would

like to clarify that this is

your 3

rd

session with me.

During our session last

week we spoke more

about how your anxiety

and depression is

affecting your recovery.

When we met last week

you stated you have

Clarifying

Open

ended

I want MM to identify

more healthier and

effective ways to

manage her anxiety

and depression.

I understand that

Engaged, calm

always dealt with

anxiety and depression,

but you feel like it has

gotten worse since

you’ve stop using. What

methods are you using to

manage your

depression?

MM: After my kids were

taken away in 2017 I

went into a very very

dark place and I began

making threats of suicide

so I was admitted to

inpatient treatment for 1

week then outpatient for

90 days. During that

time I was giving

Vistatril but I stopped

taking it after my 90

treatment and began self

medicating, if you know

what I mean.

SW intern said: Ok, so

you stopped taking the

prescribed medication

and began to self-

medicating with

marijuana and cocaine.

MM: Yes, I did

SW intern said: So,you

men9oned your kids

were taken away in

2017.

MM: Yes, that stupid

state took away my

babies, and I haven’t

seem them since. I miss

them so much, not a

days goes by that I do no

ques9oning

Discovery

oriented

Questioning

MM’s depression and

anxiety is a>ec9ng

her recovery. The

client used her drug

of choice to help with

anxiety and

depression, but she

now has to manage

her anxiety and

depression without

her drug of choice.

Engaged, calm

Engaged, Calm Engaged, Calm

think about them.

Open ended

questioning

The client needs to

To identify various

ways to manage her

depression and

anxiety so she doesn’t

go back to using

drugs.

I feel bad MM

children were taken

away from her, but I

want her learn how

manage her

depression and

anxiety without drugs.

sad, teary eyed,

crying

IV. IMPRESSIONS/ASSESSMENT: 1) What did you observe throughout the session — behavior and

a>ect; 2) was the behavior/a>ect appropriate, explain; 3) how does this behavior/a>ect Bt with what

you know about the client’s past behavior/a>ect; and 4) iden9fy the major themes/issues that emerged.

 Based on my observation the client stated she has been dealing with depression and anxiety since

she was sexually abused at 12 years old. Client reported spending time in both inpatient and

outpatient treatment and was prescribed her Vistaril, but stopped taken it at the end of her

inpatient and outpatient treatement.

 Throughout the session, the client was very engaged and calm, but towards the end of the session,

when asked about her children that were taken away from her, MM became very sad, teary eyed

and began to cry.

 The client’s addiction has affected his life in various are

 During past and current sessions, the client was very engaged and calm and expressed wanting to

learn better ways to manage his depression and anxiety.

 The client is aware of how his addiction has impacted and life and wants to do everything he can

to maintain his sobriety.

 The client’s biggest issue is learning to manage his depression and anxiety without his drug of

choice.

V. USE OF PROFESSIONAL SELF: Choose two signiBcant interven9ons you made: 1) iden9fy/describe;

2) what was your impression of your e>ec9veness; and 3) what would you change.

 CBT would be my first intervention. The client has been dealing with depression and anxiety

since she was 12 years old. It is very important that the client get on meds to help her manage her

depression and anxiety, as well as learn healthy coping methods. I was able to assist the client

with gaining a clear understand of how depression and anxiety meds along with various coping

methods can help her manage her depression and anxiety and why it should be added to our

treatment plan for her.

 The other intervention I used with the client was group sessions. Group sessions with other

individuals battling addiction can helped the client to realize that he is not the only one battling

with addiction and that there are many other individuals with similar stories and situations like

him. I was very impressed with how effective the group session was with this client. The client

was very engaged in the group discussions and shared a lot of things that he did not share in the

individual sessions with the licensed therapist. Because of how effective the group session was

there is nothing I would change.

VI. PLANS: (Brief statement of your plans for the next session, long range goals, short range goals that

are relevant for this client.)

The next session will take place at the same 9me and loca9on. My plans for the next session are discuss

with the client what else has be done to manage her anxiety and depression other than force herself to

sleep. A short-range goal for this client is to develop one healthy coping method to manage her

depression and anxiety.

VII. ISSUES, QUESTIONS OR PROBLEMS: (To explore in supervisory sessions.) Areas to explore in your

supervisory conference: include issues of diversity, value dilemmas, counter-transference etc.

During this session, the client was very engaged and wanted to learn different ways to manage her

depression and anxiety. This was the client’s 3rd session, and she has completed all tasks and assignments

that she has asked to complete. The client is engaging at 100% and is making great progress.

EXPLANATION OF PROCESS RECORDING SECTIONS

Interview Content: Begin this sec9on with a short descrip9on of where and when (the date and 9me)

the interview took place, (e.g. standing in a hallway, mee9ng in an oIce, etc.), who was present, and its

purpose. For purposes of conBden9ality, change the name of your client or use ini9als only.

Select a 10-15 minute exchange and record word for word what happened during the interview

including verbal and non-verbal content, which may include silence, gestures, and other details that

occurred during the interview. The goal is to write the exchange as closely as possible to the actual

interview.

Skills Used: Iden9fy the social work skills u9lized throughout the interview. Iden9fy the skills you

learned from your social work courses. Include the theory behind your prac9ce and why you chose a

par9cular technique, and what knowledge of human behavior helps you to understand this interac9on.

This sec9on will raise your awareness of the techniques you are using in your prac9ce.

Your Thoughts/Feelings/ Reac/ons: Record how you were feeling as the interac9on was taking place.

Before you write this sec9on, take a few moments to read through your exchange sec9on by sec9on and

then reKect back to how you felt during that 9me. Describe your subjec9ve reac9ons (thoughts, feelings,

sensa9ons) to your own words during this exchange. How did you respond to your own words or those

of your client? Analyze why you think your interac9on with the client unfolded in the manner it did.

What is your assessment of your client’s reac9on(s)? ReKect on the strengths and weaknesses of your

interven9on and iden9fy an area you would like to improve upon for your next session.

Client Feelings A0ect: Interpret the interview. Include detail about the tone and climate of the seMng,

your ini9al impressions of aMtudes and feelings of the client, what aMtudes and feelings you brought to

the interview, what signiBcant changes in the client occurred during the interview in terms of

appearance, gestures, and posture?

Field Supervisor Comments: Supervisor provides cri9cal feedback in wri9ng to the student, and

discusses their review of the process recording with the student during supervision. The focus of the

Field Supervisor’s analysis should be wriNen in clear language so that the student understands the

educa9onal value of the feedback, including references to social work knowledge, values and skills

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