In a nutshell, this means that your caring for someone who is struggling to get over their past or current relationship can help them in their present relationships.
There are three basic steps when working with couples and individuals: evaluation (assessment), treatment planning or intervention (planning), and closure or termination of therapy. The end goal of the process is wellness through individual growth. To achieve this goal, you must have a good knowledge of how these three steps take place, as well as an understanding of the many different terms that might be used.
The first step in the process is to evaluate a client or couple. The therapist will need some basic information to conduct the exam. This will include the presenting complaint (why a person or couple is seeking treatment) and identifying any medical conditions or addictions. Other information you will be asked for has your educational background, skills, and experience working with couples, your current relationship status and history, and your treatment goals.
As part of the evaluation process, you need to understand what diagnosis and assessment are. Diagnosis is defined as identifying a mental disorder based on its signs, symptoms, and results from testing. An evaluation is a process used by a Relationship Psychologist and other mental health professionals to evaluate the client. Individuals who are seeking treatment will undergo a diagnostic assessment. Various tests and evaluations may be required to establish the diagnosis. The doctor will take into account a variety of information, both observed and collected, to identify a person’s diagnosis. For example: How did they act in reality as opposed to how they appeared? What did you hear them say? What did you see them do?
A second step of the treatment plan can begin once you establish confidentiality between you and your therapist. You and your therapist will need to develop goals for therapy. These will serve as the basis for treatment and can be divided into three categories. They are short-term objectives, long-term objectives, and process objectives. Short-term goals are plans that need to be accomplished within the first few months of starting therapy. Long-term goals look at changing behaviors over a long period, usually years or decades. They are generally specific relationship issues (e.g., “My goal is to have more one-on-one time with my partner”). Process Objectives look at the client’s change process (e.g., the client’s style of relating).
A professional relationship is established when a person or couple begins therapy. However, it is essential to note that every therapist and client must agree upon the beginning of education to be considered a professional relationship. There are many methods or guidelines that therapists use to establish the beginning of their relationship with clients. Many therapists require that a client has completed counseling training such as marriage, couples, family, or group therapy before working with them. The reason for this is that this additional training allows clients to set their limits for what they are ready for and communicate these limits clearly to the therapist.