An Emphasis On Case Conceptualization

Case Conceptualization involves focusing on the client’s symptoms past and present thru ongoing assessment with the goal of establishing a well-developed treatment plan. It includes looking at the client’s current level of disturbance, level of Dissociation, attachment status, diagnosis, and trauma history. This leads to a developing hypothesis about the client’s level of adaptive and maladaptive memory networks.

Conceptualizing the case also creates important benefits for the therapist. You are able to develop a target sequencing plan, making you better equipped to organize your work and anticipate any challenges that may lie ahead as you proceed with the 8-phase protocol. This increases the likelihood of reducing and resolving symptoms and completing the treatment plan. Last but not least, you and the client are on the same page, which enhances a sense of safety and predictability in the therapy. The therapy relationship is created based on shared experience and mutual trust in the process.

As we all know, clients vary in their needs at the onset of therapy. For example, they may present with little ability to tolerate the vulnerability of the therapy relationship, limited affect regulation in daily life, or debilitating anxiety and/or depression. Case conceptualization leads to decisions about the length of the preparation stage as well as what resources are needed prior to Desensitization.