Treating Depression Using Solution Focused Therapy

¶ … Solution Focused Therapy

Depression is regarded as one of the most common psychiatric illnesses across the globe since it's the second most incapacitating disorder among all physical and psychological disorders. The rate of life prevalence of this psychiatric disorder is high among women throughout the world since it ranges between 12 and 25%. Parents of disabled children are increasingly likely to suffer from depression because of the negative effects of the disability such as high degrees of stress and anger (Motamedi et. al., 2007, p.3). Since mothers play a fundamental role in raising children and ensuring the stability of the family, they are increasingly likely to suffer from depression when caring for children with disabilities. As a result of their increased vulnerability to depression, it is important to identify and utilize appropriate therapy for mothers with children with disabilities, especially young mothers. Solution focused therapy seems to be the most suitable solution for the effectiveness for depression for young mothers with a child that has a disability.

Case Study

Janet is a 25-year-old mother with two children, James and Joel, aged 8 and 5 years old respectively. Janet divorced her husband about two years ago and is in custody of the two children and plays a fundamental role in their upbringing. James, her eldest child, has been suffering from autism since birth and has difficulties in communicating, relating to others, and grasping or responding to sensory input. Consequently, James is severely cognitively impaired and faces the need for effective diagnosis and treatment.

As a result of James condition, Janet has been diagnosed with depression because of the difficulties associated with caring for James. Generally, living with a child that has disability is a relatively difficult task since the child's condition has profound effects on the family, particularly primary caregivers. Janet has been diagnosed with depression because her child's disability has generated increased physical and emotional demands as well as logistical complexities and increased financial costs.

Solution Focused Therapy in Janet's Situation

For parents like Janet, having a child that has a disability may affect physical and mental health, increase stress, and generate difficulties in finding suitable and affordable child care (Reichman, Corman & Noonan, 2008, 680). Moreover, such parents experience difficulties in making decisions regarding education or training, work, and dependence on public support. Janet has experienced these difficulties and eventually been diagnosed with depression as previously mentioned. Janet's depression is probably brought by low self-esteem, blame, or guilt because of her child's condition. As a young single mother, Janet needs an effective therapy process that will help her effectively deal with the depression.

The most appropriate therapy for dealing with Janet's situation is Solution Focused Therapy, which provides a unique approach for treatment of depressive symptoms. The suitability of this therapy in this condition is attributed to the fact that it's a competency-based technique that lessens emphasis on past problems and failures while focusing on the strengths and past successes of a client (Trepper et. al., n.d.). In this case, the therapy is centered on working from the client's understandings of his/her underlying condition and what he/she desires to be different.

Solution Focused Therapy epitomizes the counselor's perspective about change by focusing on solution-building rather than problem-solving. In this case, change entails increased focus on solutions instead of previous and current problems and conflicts. The use of this therapy involves helping the client to identify and increase frequency of desired beneficial behaviors (which is the change itself). Actually, this therapy utilizes the language of change since it focuses on the process through which clients change instead of diagnosing and treatment of problems (Trepper et. al., n.d.). The suitability of this theory in treatment of Janet's condition also originates from the fact that its focus on change matches my perspective about change for a client suffering from depression such as Janet.