Overview
When writing a contextual assessment, the most effective way to structure it is to create a “funnel” of information from the earliest and broadest information about the client to the most recent and specific information. It is helpful to consider developmental stages (like Erikson’s Psychosocial Stages) to help guide timeframes for relevant summaries.
An example of an effective funnel for a 35 year old client experiencing depression after losing a job could be outlined like this:
- Brief client description including demographic and cultural information
- Brief description of the client’s early childhood (birth to 12) that is relevant to the current issues and treatment (i.e., biology/genetics, family structure or issues, experiences of trauma or abuse, developmental concerns, etc.)
- Brief description of the client’s adolescence and that is relevant to the current issues and treatment (i.e., any previously listed examples, history of depression or other mental health concerns, etc.)
- Brief description of the client’s adulthood that is relevant to the current issues and treatment (i.e., any previously listed examples, job history, education or training, personal relationship history, and social support, etc.)
- Brief description of the current situation that initiated seeking counseling and the symptoms the client is experiencing.
It is important to note that counselors will acquire much more information about a client than what is included in the contextual assessment. The counselor must sift through the information and determine the best way to present the relevant information that provides context to the current mental health concerns or that will impact treatment.
Read the attached case study and and draft a 1-page contextual assessment based on the information provided. Include a title page, but no introduction, conclusion, or references are required as this is not a full paper. Plagiarism or use of AI will result in disciplinary action up to and including a 0 on the assignment and/or failure of the course.