Assignment task:
Joseph is a 48-year-old Latino male who comes into therapy at the suggestion of his wife. He tells you, "I can't seem to get out of bed in the morning and I don't see why I should have to". Joseph has just been laid off from his job of 25 years as an architect. He hurt his back during a fishing trip, and, as a result, had missed a significant amount of work. He tells you, "in spite of my excruciating pain, I showed up to work daily and they kept sending me home. They were afraid I would re-injure myself. I didn't take pain medication because I wanted to work. Then they made up some excuse that my job was phased out and let me go". During the assessment, you learn that his children are grown up and on their own. He has stopped attending weekly family functions and stopped going to church. Joseph reports, "I wish I could just go to sleep and not wake up. My kids are gone; my wife has a great career, lots of friends, and what do I have-nothing! Why bother. I can't do the things I loved to do with friends and family because of my messed up back." During your interview with Joseph, he denies suicidal ideation due to his religious beliefs, but admits that he has been depressed in the past. Joseph is resistant to therapy, because he feels that "no one can help me and I'll never be happy again. I'm only here because my wife cries daily with worry about me."
Using the text information from Chapters 1 through 7:
1. In consideration of the diagnosis and treatment of depression, how might you assess Joseph?
2. What would you target in treatment?
3. What form(s) from the text might you utilize in your work with Joseph as a therapeutic intervention?
4. How might his responses be used to initiate change?