Overview of Ramon’s case and therapy options
The present paper will discuss at length the case study and the therapeutic treatments that can be provided to the client so that he can overcome his challenges. It might be stated that the client, Ramon, is suffering from anxiety. He might be anxious that his family will not accept him as a gay and thus is under family pressure. He will be provided with two therapies namely, Family Systems Theory (FST) and Person-Centered Therapy (PCT). The paper will discuss further, the following points like historical origin of the therapeutic interventions, the typical counselor and client relation that is expected for this type of therapies. The paper will also discuss the application of the therapies. Ethical or legal issues that are applicable for the treatment procedure. The possible outcome of the therapies involved will also be discussed along with the probable number of sessions that might be needed for the client. The paper explains which intervention might be most applicable for the effective outcome of the client. Person-Centered therapy follows humanistic approach and Family systems theory takes approach to understand human functioning.
Families form the basis for the society. Murray Bowen introduced the concept of Family systems theory. The theory works on five principles. This mechanism will help in the development of a series of interactions which will be natural and will take place between the families and thus help in the development of cohesion and stability. Certain positive actions of families can help the children thrive without anxiety and emotional conflict. The theory involves interrelated concepts and applications. It helps to bring positive change and development, (Keller & Noone, (Eds.) (2019). Person-Centered therapy, developed by Carl Rogers, is a client-centered therapy which follows a humanistic approach. This approach will help the clients to perceive themselves consciously and not how the therapist wants them to interpret their unconscious thoughts or ideas. The therapeutic process assumes that the innate tendency to develop in a client can be detected effectively by the client themselves, however, such experiences often get blocked due to some life experiences and the therapeutic approach aims at clearing that block: such has been the evolution of the therapy, (Rodgers & Tudor, 2020).
Family system therapy approach is a structured and strategic system which follows an integrational structure. The relation between the therapist and the client is that of professional, filled with empathy and mutual trust. The therapist will encourage proficiently the communication problem that is present between the client and thus family due to which theory cannot accept him as a gay. Positive therapeutic relationship is maintained with the client and his family. The therapist establishes and maintains multiple alliances while dealing with families. Therapists also adopts conceptual framework, (Reeder & Morris, 2018). The therapeutic relation that exists between the client and the therapist in Client-centered therapy includes providing unconditional positive regard and empathy for Ramon. The therapist also needs to provide Ramon with a therapeutic relationship which is genuine and transparent. These aspects if present in the therapeutic relation, the therapeutic relationship can be expected to become successful. Clients if can perceive that therapist’s attitude towards the clients are congruent and trustworthy, the therapy process can become effective as the client will be encouraged to open up and seek help, (Mocan, 2018).
Historical origin and application of Family Systems Theory
Person centred psychotherapy and Family Systems Therapy are both similar in terms of providing the clients relief from the interpersonal boundaries that exist due to which the emotional turmoil and problems might arise. Person-cantered approach is strongly related to the Family systems theory. Both the therapies consider the clients to be adequately skilled and competent in decision making.
On the contrary, Person-centred therapy can also be applied on an individual client, where the individual is the client which cannot be done with family cantered therapy where the family is the client. PCT considers the client can improve his life which is not the case for Family System Theory. In Family cantered therapy, the clients are identified with a disorder and then, the therapist provides with the treatment however this is not the case for the Client system therapy where the clients are considered to be the best decider in terms of treatment procedures for them.
The application of Family System Theory can be most effective where the relation between the client and the family needs to be improved to help the client grow, person cantered therapy is applicable to resolve the conflicts and reorganize the approaches of the client to their life.
It can be considered worthwhile to note that since both FST and PCT, are focused on the personal experiences and emotions of the client, it is recommended that counselors remember to respect considering the ethical considerations that are important to be obeyed in every counseling session such as maintaining the privacy and confidentiality of clients during the intervention process. While applying both the process, it is important for therapists, to be aware of their biases and be mindful that their biases are not facetiming the therapeutic process, (Karcher & Presser, 2018). It is important to note that ethical criterion that counsellors need to follow also includes maintaining professionalism during the conduction of both the treatment processes and maintaining confidentiality of their identity and the information being shared. While conducting PCT, the therapist needs to follow the responsibility of being responsive and respectful to Ramon’s demands and limitations, thereby empowering them to make decisions for themselves. It is ethical to give importance to how decisions made by the client as PCT gives importance to client’s choice and decisions, (Coyne, Holmström & Söderbäck, 2018).
FCT will also be helpful in resolving the family conflicts that are often detected in the case of Ramon. While applying the therapy, the therapist will analyze the relationships, behaviors, and patterns that exist within the family as they are expressed during the therapeutic process. Ramon’s need is to be accepted within the family the way he is and the religious belief is not allowing the same to happen. Through FCT, Ramon’s family can be explained that family acceptance can improve and protect the Ramon’s distressed state, (Franck & O’Brien, 2019). The family members will be able to understand each other better and earn skills to cope with challenging situations more effectively. A sense if togetherness might be achieved in the family. Person-centered therapy can be applied on Ramon by using the four key techniques which are key to the therapeutic process. The therapist needs to be providing Ramon with unconditional positive regard in the talk therapy which will encourage him to explore himself honestly without the fear of being judged or being rejected due to him being “gay”. In this therapeutic process, Ramon will be asked what he thinks will be effective in resolving his family conflict. The client is in vulnerable state and PCT will empower him, (Blowers & Haugh, 2021).
Counselor-client relationship and conceptual framework in Family Systems Therapy
If the suggested therapeutic process is effectively administered, a possible outcome for Ramon, will be that he will be able to overcome his anxious and destressed state. He will be able to clearly identify his emotions and clarity in his needs. He will be able to find a balance between the ideal self and the actual self and thereby overcome his state of grief and stress about his future. He might overcome his feeling of guilt and depression for hurting Carl. He might also be able to be accepted within the family by resolving the conflicts, (Hamovitch, Choy-Brown & Stanhope, 2018).
If FST is administered effectively, the probable outcome that can be achieved includes that the family will be able to accept Ramon. Ramon and his family will experience reduced stress and improved communication. Ramon will be able to communicate effectively his sexual orientation and needs. Their anticipated conflict about Ramon not finding a female partner for him might get subsided. The distressed condition of Ramon will subside and his sense of guilt will also reduce that he feels for hurting Carl, (Jette, 2017).
FST is usually short and it might only take Ramon and his family a duration if approximately 12 sessions in total. The number of sessions depends on how often the family meets with the counsellor and the therapist’s specific recommendation. Each session might typically last for as long as an hour for 12 sessions. During this time, the therapist will be able to explore the family’s role and behaviour patterns towards accepting Ramon and his identity, the reason for the conflict. While on the contrary, Ramon might need 6-18 sessions of PCT based on the needs he has and as recommended by the therapist. Sessions generally take place weekly and continue for about an hour each. The goal of the therapy is to ensure that Ramon is only capable of setting goals for his treatment which he finds will be desirable and worthwhile to minimize his and his family’s distress, conflicts and facilitate personal growth. Empathy, congruence and unconditional positive regard needs to be possessed by therapist, (Knutson & Koch, 2022).
Out of the two therapeutic sessions being discussed in the paper, it might be suggested that the Family System Theory will be effective for treating Ramon. The main cause of distress in Ramon being, the fear of being not being accepted in the family if he discloses his preference for same sex people and that he is not interested in searching for a female partner. He fears that they will reject him after the disclosure. He also feels very guilty for having broken up with his earlier partner, Carl. Thus, family system theory can be stated to be effective in providing effective counselling sessions to Ramon and help him deal with his distressed and depressed state due to concerns with his family, (Aghayousefi et al., 2020).
It can thus be concluded that, for Ramon, Family System Therapy will be effective if administered. By using the therapy, Ramon will no longer stay distressed. The communication flow within the family will improve. It was also learned that PCT and FST can be effectively administered on the client. The main strategy used by PCT is to provide unconditional positive regard to the clients along with congruence and empathy to ensure personal growth in Ramon. Family system therapy approach follows integrational structure. Positive therapeutic relationship is important to be maintained. While involved in FST, therapists need to be Cultural Literate Families are important as they form the basis for the society thus conflict arising from family can always lead to distress and anxiety in the client which can only be resolved when the family conflict is resolved. Family values form the cultural and belief system of the client and to treat the client it is important. The therapy will help the structure of the family to will get stabilized by enabling the family to reach a final goal that ensures wellbeing of every member.
Reference
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