Presenting Plan
Joanne is a 45-year-old divorced woman with a history of mental illness who has tried suicide three times, which is an immediate crisis, including overdosing twice and attempting to sever her arms. She visits a psychiatrist once a month and is given treatment, but she does not take it as recommended. The client decided to stop by spontaneously to express appreciation and gratitude to her counselor. Joanne confesses to carrying a weapon in her car and merely wants to go for a drive after being questioned more. Furthermore, she does not exhibit a desire to agree to talk to her mental health professional, according to the facts of the situation.
Precipitating Event
Since Joanne has a history of mental health issues, multiple triggering factors expedite her current difficulty. She tried to commit suicide three times before, twice overdosing and attempting to slit her wrists. Joanne does not utilize her medicine constantly and has a high-stress job that requires her to work 60 to 70 hours per week. Her interests and social activities provide her with limited joy outside of her job. Moreover, she is divorced from her spouse after he admitted to being gay, and she has not tried to date ever since the breakup. Joanne confesses to committing adultery with her sister’s partner for a year. Due to her remorse, she quit the relationship, but her spouse tends to seek her.
Risk Factors
Joanna is at an extremely increased risk of suicide due to a number of variables:
- Initially, she has a history of previous suicidal behaviors, which puts her at a significantly higher risk;
- Moreover, having the means and capacity to harm herself, in the form of a pistol in her car, places her in danger (Jackson-Cherry & Erford, 2018);
- Furthermore, she has a lengthy history of mental health problems and is now not taking her medicine as advised.
- Additionally, she is plagued with guilt due to her sister’s infidelity with her spouse, particularly since she perceives her sister to be her greatest ally and a support factor.
Resources and Protective Factors
There are different material, personal, social, and community resources available to Joanne, used as aspects of protection. One mitigating factor that may reduce the likelihood of suicide is considered to be a positive therapeutic interaction. The notion that Joanne decided to express gratitude to her counselor might be interpreted as a sign of a healthy therapeutic process. Concerning material resources, she has a physician willing to listen to her concerns and provide the right antidepressant medicine. Her therapist is also someone she can confide in and discuss many of her ideas and difficulties with.
Another protective element is that he might be perceived as a support network for her ‒ a personal resource. Joanne has an underage child from her previous relationship to whom she is responsible as a parent, it is a related challenge. Although it is demanding, Joanne’s employment appears to provide her with some life happiness. Another mitigating element that might aid Joanne is the significance she derives from her profession. As social and community resources, Joanne has access to a vital resource in the form of her community treatment center or suicide helpline.
Spirituality
While Joanne did not express any particular interest in religion or spirituality, it is important to question whether she is interested in or has the option of integrating it into her therapeutic process. Assessing the effect of religion and spirituality on crisis preparation and referral is critical (Jackson-Cherry & Erford, 2018). Religiousness is considered a key protective measure against suicide attempts in many forms (American Association of Christian Counselors, 2014). Through a holy place and a community, spirituality may provide a feeling of connection and togetherness, which should be incorporated into Joanne’s therapeutic plan to help her recovery (American Counseling Association, 2014). Joanne may find that linking to her inner basis helps her manage loneliness and anxiety.
Intervention
A suicide intervention known as a safety planning treatment can be observed to decrease suicidal symptoms and improve treatment involvement. In terms of immediate interventions for this patient, it is obligatory to emphasize the need to compromise privacy and restrict autonomy since Joanne possesses a weapon (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2009). Her therapist should attempt to be with her until she is admitted to the hospital. Her practitioner will subsequently speak with his superintendent to determine the best course of action. Joanne requires multiple interventions over the following three months to constantly persuade her to take her medicine. Risk analysis and suitable follow-up measures should be implemented to ensure her safety throughout this period.
Treatment Plan
Problem 1: The initial presence of a background of chronic or recurrent anxiety and depression.
Goal 1: Joanne would practice with her therapist to create healthy habits and behaviors regarding herself and the environment via cognitive therapy to detect and avoid the return of her depressive symptoms (Kolski et al., 2014).
Objective 1: Joanne will take her prescription treatments constantly and continuously and maintain a daily medication log.
Intervention 1: Her counselor will analyze her medication record with her at each appointment.
Objective 2: Joanne will maintain her mental process and practice self-care regularly.
Intervention 1: Joanne will collaborate on cognitive-behavioral methodology techniques and tactics with her practitioner.
Problem 2: The presence of feelings of hopelessness and worthlessness and reduced interest in life activities.
Goal 1: Joanne will recognize suicidal or self-harming thoughts if they arise.
Objective 1: Joanne will build a support network and participate in one of her favorite hobbies or activities.
Intervention 1: Joanne will regularly find and communicate with helpful persons in her network.
Objective 2: As a self-care and despair minimization method, adhering to a regular exercise routine is obligatory.
Intervention 2: Joanne will investigate her passions and abilities to participate in various tasks and exercises.
References
American Association of Christian Counselors. (2014). AACC Code of Ethics. Web.
American Counseling Association. (2014). Code of ethics. Web.
Jackson-Cherry, L. R., & Erford, B. T. (2018). Crisis assessment, intervention, and prevention. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.
Kolski, T. D., Jongsma, A. E., & Myer, R. A. (2014). The crisis counseling and traumatic events treatment planner, with Dsm-5 updates. Hoboken: Wiley.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2009). Addressing suicidal thoughts and behaviors in substance abuse treatment. Quick Guide for Clinicians. Web.