Clinical interventions are difficult to target for each client, but there are some ways to improve them.
The challenges most clinicians have in improving treatment outcomes are twofold. First, as much experience as a clinician has, they still have a limited repertoire of strategies available. Usually, it’s what they’ve used in the past. Second, with the pressures of large caseloads and demands on productivity, even if the clinician wants to research treatment modalities they have little time. Subsequently, it is common that clinicians use the same methods for their clients regardless of the client’s diagnosis or chief complaints.
Yet clinicians can sharpen their skills by following these three steps:
1. Identify the chief problem. Although this seems obvious, often clinicians get bogged down in too many problems or crises. The clinician when working with the client needs to specify the main problem behavior upon which to work. This problem should be the one that creates the most symptom reduction and improves the client’s functioning. Problems such as suicidal thoughts, distraction, unprovoked anger, fear of certain environments. These are examples of the types of details the clinicians work on.
2. Reverse the problem into the solution. Once determining the problem, the clinician goes to the opposite end of the behavior continuum. For example, if the problem is that the client runs away from their foster home, then the goal is to reduce these events. The clinician can then think about what this change would look like and what would replace the events. Less frequency, amount of time, reducing running to risky places would also be solutions. Then the clinician identifies with the client what would replace these behaviors. If the client didn’t run away, what would they be doing instead? Talking their problems through, helping others, engaged in positive activities as examples.
3. Inner or Outer Change? The clinician finally reviews with the client whether they need to modify their internal thoughts and feelings, alter their outward behaviors, or both. In the example here, the client can identify their stressor and feelings, then verbalize when they are feeling stressed or learn better ways to talk to others. Maybe writing down their level of stress at certain times of the day to be more aware of their emotions. Or learning how to socialize with their family or peers may benefit them. Plus for outer change, they find ways to channel frustration in physical activities, hobbies, mindfulness, and learning to tolerate stressful situations.
From these interventions, the clinician can then elaborate on more specific strategies for the client. Games, role-playing, listing strengths, or relaxation techniques are modes of making these changes. The more the clinician uses these options, the more they develop their tool kit.
If you want to learn more about how our software Apogee offers these improved interventions, please contact us.
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PRAXES is a nationwide behavioral health software, consulting, and training company. No one in the behavioral health industry has a better reputation, and if you give us the chance, we’ll show you why! At PRAXES, our services improve the efficiency and structure of behavioral health agencies serving children and families nationwide. PRAXES brings over 45 years of administrative and clinical expertise. With more than 100 client companies nationwide, we offer the expertise to advance the quality of behavioral health services. We accomplish these goals through our new clinical decision software, our training of best practices, and helping companies meet regulatory standards. At PRAXES, we believe in being creative and fostering new ways to serve children and their families. Our vision is to empower the families our agencies serve with skills that not only improve their functioning, but help them to thrive in their everyday lives. When you give us the chance, you’ll be connected directly to our friendly staff, so you can expect immediate attention to your inquiry. So, don’t wait, call now!
Dan Thorne has unique perspectives on the field of mental health. As a clinician, he has had over 40 years of experience working with clients in the Southern California area. After obtaining his Bachelor’s degree from the University of California at Irvine, he worked with children in the Orange County Juvenile Hall. Here he honed his earliest techniques on at-risk children. After that, he obtained his Master’s degree in Counseling from California State University, Fullerton.
In the 1990’s, Dan turned his attention to the clinical and administrative side of behavioral health organizations. For three years, he was the Assistant Administrator of Starting Point, a chemical dependency facility in Costa Mesa, CA. In 2001, he took an opportunity to be the Director of Harbor View Community Services Center in Long Beach. When he arrived, the Center had only 80 clients and 13 staff. When he left, there were over 400 clients and 75 staff. Dan created several programs through their contract with the Los Angeles County Departments of Mental Health and Child and Family Services. Under his guidance, Harbor View became one of the leading providers of children’s services in Los Angeles County.
While improving the results of the client’s parents at the Center, Dan reflected on his experiences as a parent. His children themselves had special needs such as mental and intellectual challenges, and Dan knew the toll it takes on the parent. In order to help the child, the parent has to be healthy. From this concept, he created his parenting program. After years of refining it, teaching it to his staff at the Center, and then taking the results and comments from these efforts, he became the developer of the current PRAXES program. It is a culmination of Dan’s personal trials and tribulations as a parent along with empirical results and research of over 40 parenting programs.
Our vision at PRAXES is to advance the strength of parents and caregivers of children with special needs (mental health, intellectual, or physical) through education, support, and empowerment. Thus, they can live healthy and functional lives while caring for the child.
Apogee is a clinical decision software designed to help behavioral health practitioners with their treatment and patient engagement. It provides evidence-based and research-based components. Not only do they consist of elements from such practices as Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Seeking Safety, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Functional Behavior Analysis, but also the Intensive Models for Parents, Youth, and Children.
PRAXES has over 30 years of accreditation experience. We know what it takes to get your organization accredited. Whether it’s Joint Commission, CARF, or COA, our team can provide an evaluation of your current status and review the standards which need improvements. We will assist you with the policies, documentation, and training required to be accredited.
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