A critical reflective and analytical research based written conceptualisation and therapeutic plan for a common human problem in Cognitive Behaviour Psychotherapy terms.

This essay has been particularly difficult for the writer to achieve due to the challenges they face in the transition from a Person Centred Counsellor to a Cognitive Behavioural Therapist in Training. The writer hopes to achieve a comprehensive critical reflection and analytical research based on a common human problem that has been assessed in the clinical setting. The essay includes Padesky five area systems and a disorder specific conceptualisation, including a diagram, which can be found in the appendix. The essay is research based; including information about …show more content…

Following receiving GP referral; with a GP diagnosis of low mood and suicidal thoughts. With this information the therapist used ICD 10 and DSM-IV to look at the symptoms of low mood to aid the assessment process however not to direct the assessment process. DSM-IV(2000) and ICD-10 WHO (2007) criteria which are used widely within the service are the most widely used criteria for diagnosing depressive conditions. Major depressive disorder is classified as a mood disorder in DSM-IV. DSM-IV (2000), the diagnosis hinges on the presence of single or recurrent major depressive episodes. Further qualifiers are used to classify both the episode itself and the course of the disorder. The category Depressive Disorder Not Otherwise Specified is diagnosed if the depressive episode's manifestation does not meet the criteria for a major depressive episode. The ICD-10 system does not use the term major depressive disorder, but lists very similar criteria for the diagnosis of a depressive episode (mild, moderate or severe); the term recurrent may be added if there have been multiple episodes without mania.
During the assessment process the therapist describes the skills she used as guided discovery stating she feels more comfortable with this way of open questioning rather than Socratic dialogue. She always describes using the downward arrow to establish if the depression was there before the relationship split, which was evident it was as Cliff reports doing nothing only waiting