Week 10 Discussion

Please no plagiarism and make sure you are able to access all resource on your own before you bid. I need this completed by 11/01/17 at 6pm.

Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling and the DSM-V

Though the philosophy and values surrounding marriage, couple, and family counseling emphasize prevention and wellness, awareness of diagnosis is important when interacting with other mental health professionals who may view mental health issues through the medical model. The DSM-V, the primary diagnostic system/manual used in the United States by such professionals, identifies and describes individual mental health disorders, not relational issues or disorders.

Those mental health professionals who adopt a systems or relational view of mental health have been able to implement small changes within the DSM in its subsequent editions, and these changes acknowledge the systemic influence on certain individual disorders. Nevertheless, there is not yet an adopted diagnostic structure for relational problems. Therefore, you may sometimes need to negotiate your relational perspective with other professionals and communicate client matters with insurance reimbursement boards (who see mental health problems as individual in nature) in their language.

With these thoughts in mind:

Post by Day 4 an example of a specific instance in which you may need to consult with another mental health professional who utilizes the DSM-V. Then, explain how your familiarity with the DSM-Vmay influence this consultation. Next, explain one advantage and one disadvantage of a marriage, couple, and family counselor being familiar with the DSM-V. Be specific.

Learning Resources

Required Resources

Readings

• Article: Kaslow, F., & Patterson, T. (2006). Relational diagnosis: A retrospective synopsis. Contemporary Family Therapy: An International Journal, 28(3), 269–284.
  Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.
• Article: Lebow, J., & Gordon, K. C. (2006). You cannot choose what is not on the menu–Obstacles to and reasons for the inclusion of relational processes in the DSM-V: Comment on the special section. Journal of Family Counseling, 20(3), 432–437.
  Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.
• Article: Sim, T. (2007). Structural family therapy in adolescent drug abuse: A Hong Kong Chinese family. Clinical Case Studies, 6(1), 79–99. Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.