Ssgt Joseph White Case Study

SSGT Joseph White came into the local VA Community based clinic for medical care. When he was discussing his situation at home, the medical doctor found that it would beneficial that the social worker talk with SSGT White. The social worker obtained an appropriate assessment to assist with finding services that would be available to him through the VA and/or local community organizations for his symptoms and treatment options.
When establishing a relationship with a potential client, building and keeping a rapport with the individual is key to a positive working relationship. The individual needs to feel that they are respected, understood, and listened to when the relationship begins. As stated by Miller and Rollnick, a positive relationship begins with “establishing a trusting and mutually respectful working relationship,

Relationship problems;
2. Return from deployment;
3. Chronic medical problems for self;
4. Poor sleep patterns;
5. Depressed anxious mood;
6. Family maltreatment;
7. Social isolation; and
8. Going it alone in dealing with life’s challenges.
These risk factors are common with most of the returning veterans. Because of the stigma of obtaining military personnel being perceived as weak, and trying to deal with challenges without any professional assistance.
However, the protective factors are present at the beginning of treatment. One of the main protective factors that many of military personnel has is the sense of family. In many cases, they tend to isolate because they try to protect their family from the images and stories of their deployment experience. However, these protective factors are something that can be strengthened during the therapeutic relationship. In the case of SSGT White, his protect factors and opportunities for growth are as follows:
1. Positive social support;
2. Sense of responsibility to the family;
3. Hope or optimism for the future;
4. Acceptance of change;
5. Job satisfaction; and
6. Leisure