The Levy video demonstrates that the case has a few symptoms of trauma-related behaviors. This statement refers to the fact that Jake shows disinterest in the environment because he does not care about being late to work. The man also deals with alcohol abuse, an aggressive attitude toward his wife, Sheri, and a depressive mood. Sheri admits that Jake has changed, and it is evident that all these symptoms adversely affect the family.
The problems in the case refer to the fact that Jake focuses on his traumatic experience, and these thoughts adversely impact his everyday functioning. This state of affairs contributes to the fact that Jake has a worsening relationship with his wife. Since his traumatic experience negatively affects the family dynamics, it is possible to suggest that an individual treatment approach would not be sufficient. One can indicate that the combination of individual and family interventions can lead to the most optimal outcomes.
Numerous scholars investigate the effect of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) on families, which results in multiple articles on the topic. Consequently, it is possible to choose among many interventions, and the FOCUS Family Resilience Program seems appropriate. According to Saltzman (2016), this intervention “has been administered nationally to thousands of military family members since 2008 and has been implemented in a wide range of civilian community, medical, clinical, and school settings” (p. 647). That is why it is rational to suggest that sufficient data support the effectiveness of this evidence-based program, which advocates for selecting it for the Levy family.
The proposed intervention follows a specific outline to ensure that it positively affects patients. The FOCUS-trained clinicians cooperate with parents, children, and entire families to make them express their stories and build shared goals (Saltzman, 2016). Each family member is encouraged to disclose their stories and create a timeline of their experiences, which should allow the other members to identify areas of pain. This intervention relies on the theory that families have relationship problems when they do not have mutual understanding (Saltzman, 2016). Consequently, the FOCUS intervention aims to solve this issue and eliminate distortion and estrangement between family members.
It is possible to expect that the proposed intervention can result in significant benefits for the Levy family. For example, when Jack understands that his behavior results in an emotional burden for his relatives, he will likely find the internal strength to manage his worries. When Sheri and the children comprehend how significant the traumatic event was for Jack, they will be less critical of his deviant behavior. Consequently, such a comprehensive approach can ameliorate the presenting problems.
In conclusion, evidence from numerous sources justifies the selection of the given intervention. Firstly, Franklin et al. (2013) stipulate that interventions should contribute to positive outcomes within a brief period of time. This condition is met because Saltzman (2016) admits that the FOCUS Program is a brief intervention. Secondly, Wheeler and Bragin (2007) acknowledge that resilience is a necessary resource that people should use to manage trauma. It is possible to state that this suggestion refers to the FOCUS intervention because even its name suggests that it promotes resilience (Saltzman, 2016). Thirdly, the proposed intervention deserves attention because it is an example of evidence-based practice, meaning that many advantages are implied. In particular, positive aspects refer to “reliability, validity, sensitivity, and specificity” (Bellamy et al., 2013, p. 427). Consequently, scientific evidence demonstrates why the FOCUS Program was chosen to address the Levy family.
References
Bellamy, J. L., Mullen, E. J., Satterfield, J. M., Newhouse, R. P., Ferguson, M., Brownson, R. C., & Spring, B. (2013). Implementing evidence-based practice education in social work: A transdisciplinary approach.Research on Social Work Practice, 23(4), 426-436. Web.
Franklin, C., Jordan, C., & Hopson, L. (2013). Intervention with families. In. M. J. Holosko, C. N. Dulmus, & K. M. Sowers (Eds.), Social work practice with individuals and families: Evidence-inf ormed assessment and interventions (pp. 265-294). John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Saltzman, W. R. (2016). The FOCUS Family Resilience Program: An innovative family intervention for trauma and loss.Family Process, 55(4), 647-659. Web.
Wheeler, D. P., & Bragin, M. (2007). Bringing it all back home: Social work and the challenge of returning veterans.Health & Social Work, 32(4), 297-300. Web.