Case Scenario: Helen 50 years old.
You work in a centre that provides mental health support for those in the community. The centre provides access to medical practitioners, physiotherapists, counsellors, support workers, and psychologists. As an emotional and social wellbeing support worker, you provide trauma-informed care work.
A new client named Helen has arrived at the centre and you have been asked to support her. During your first session with Helen, you understand that she has been diagnosed with anxiety and was referred to your organisation by a general practitioner. Helen has disclosed that she has tried everything to reduce her anxiety, but nothing seems to be working. However, she continues to take anti-anxiety medication. Helen has reported that she has not been back to see her general practitioner about her medication as she has been given three months' worth of prescriptions. Helen expresses that her anxiety is stopping her from looking for work and developing friendships. Alongside this, Helen is divorced and has three children who are between the ages of 15-25 years old. She has not worked since her youngest child was born. You have had several sessions with Helen and have gathered the following information.
Helen states that she has been dealing with the loss of her mother for the past year. She says that her relationship with her mother was very close and they were more like best friends as she grew older. Helen reports that she has days where she cannot believe that her mother is not there to share things with. She says that when she found something funny that her children had said, she would normally call her mother and tell her. Helen reports that she finds herself crying and feeling at a loss as to what to do with her life.
Alongside this, Helen reports that she has experienced childhood trauma. She discloses that her father took her away from her mother when she was six years old. Daily, her father would express that her mother was not a good person and did not love Helen enough to care for her. Helen says that she did not believe her father and would cry for her mother as she went to sleep. When her father tried to force Helen to call his girlfriend "mum", she would refuse and be punished with violence. After two years, Helen was removed from her father's care as her neighbors reported child abuse. She was then returned to her mother. From then, she would experience severe panic attacks and anxiety when she could not see her mother.
Helen reports that her mother was very supportive and taught her deep breathing methods when she was feeling panicked when she was younger and that this got her through the times when she was at school and not with her mother. Helen reports that she still uses this when she is feeling that she has any difficulties with anxiety. Helen has reported that she has a limited number of friends, as she has always kept to herself and spent time with her mother.
1. Analyse the information and address the following issues in a report:
As a mental health worker, what legal and ethical considerations would you need to consider? This must align with local, state, and federal legislation and ethics for the following:
A. Human rights
B. Codes of practice
C. Informed consent
2. Describe the impacts of the historical trauma that Helen has experienced with her grief of losing her mother. Include in your answer any principles and practices of trauma-informed care that you would use when addressing the issues with Helen.
3. Discuss the actions that could re-traumatize Helen in the trauma-informed care process. Include in your answer how you would develop a strong relationship and environment in which promotes a sense of control, trust, choice and safety.
4. Describe the warning signs you would recognize if Helen were to experience flashbacks.
5. If Helen were to experience any developmental effects due to her childhood trauma, explain what these would be.
6. When formulating a case plan, what risks or issues would you need to consider? Include in your answer any strengths, resilience, and strategies that Helen has used to cope with and manage the impact of trauma, include any discussion that you may have had with Helen about her strengths and coping that she may have used in the past.
7. What would be your duty of care and dignity of risk considerations when supporting Helen's situation?
8. How would you approach the subject of recovery with Helen?
9. A holistic approach can support recovery, which would include referrals to specialist supports. Outline what referrals you would do regarding Helen's case. Include in your answer support services that you would use as authentic services (ones in your local area will be great and add their contact details or web links) and describe how you would make sure that you do a follow-up so that this service meets Helen's needs.
10. It is important with the client that a review is conducted to see what resources and supports the client already has. Supports and resources may not always be positive. Discuss any issues or concerns that Helen may face or that you have identified that could cause concerns.
11. Discuss what strategies you may use to create change with Helen.
12. What indicators of gender difference would you identify in this case to inform your practice?