Question

Santiago Gordon-Cruz is a six-year-old Argentinian boy who witnessed the murder of his father, Manuel, six months ago. Manuel was shot multiple times during a robbery in the bodega where he worked. Since the murder, Santiago has had trouble sleeping, often cries, and has been refusing to leave the house. His mother, Adelina, notes that Santiago regularly complains that his tummy hurts, is startled by any sudden or loud noises, and constantly wants to be held by family members. He has a poor appetite and he sleeps poorly.

As Catholics, Adelina says that she has told Santiago many times that his father is in heaven, and they pray for him every day. Her son does not appear to be comforted by this.

The Gordon-Cruz family legally immigrated to the United States about four years ago. Santiago and Adelina speak English, although the family primarily speaks Spanish at home and in their community. Spanish is their native language.

Questions

From your perspective as Santiago’s psychiatric nurse practitioner, answer the following questions in a two- to three-page double-spaced paper (not including the reference page) and in APA format. Include at least two peer-reviewed, evidence-based references (not including your textbooks).

1. What type of psychotherapy might you recommend for Santiago? Provide a rationale. How would you explain to Adelina how the psychotherapy intervention could help her son?
2. Identify a case conceptualization based on cognitive behavioral therapy for this case.
3. What level of care would you recommend for Santiago? How often would you want to see him? Are there any recommendations you would make for the family as a whole?

Answer 1

Before going into the questions first let us get an idea about condition of Santiago. According to the symptoms , santiago is suffering from post traumatic stress disorder. Post traumatic stress disorder is a mental health condition that's triggered by a terrifying event either by experiencing it or witnessing it. In post traumatic stress disorder there will be physical reactions to something that reminds of traumatic event as the mother of Santiago complained ... other symptoms such as trouble in sleeping, fear , refusing to go out of the house , low appetite clearly states that Santiago is suffering from post traumatic stress disorder. Now let us see what kind of psychotherapy is given for 6 year old child suffering from post traumatic stress disorder.

Since the symptoms duration is 6 months , cognitive behavioural therapy is recommended... 1 to 6 months is considered as early period of symptoms . Cognitive behavioural therapy is a type of psychotherapy . According to mayo clinic, cognitive behavioural therapy is a common type of talk therapy. According to national alliance and on mental health (NAMI) says that cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) focuses on exploring relationships among a person's thoughts, feelings, and behaviours . During CBT a therapist will actively work with a person to uncover unhealthy patterns of thought and how they may be causing self destructive behaviour or beliefs. CBT is recommended for the following rationale. CBT helps in understanding the troubling situations in Santiago's life so that psychiatric nurse will be able to set goals to focus on. After identifying child's thought the nurse will be able to encourage him to share the thought about his fear, so that the fear may fade away and also the nurse can assess his emotions while ventilating the feeling. Through CBT the nurse can reshape the negative thoughts and thinking of Santiago.hence the nurse can counsel the mother that CBT will help Santiago to ventilate his feeling and reshape his negative thinking..

CBT is considered as short term therapy ranging from five to 20 sessions . Since santiago exhibits the symptom of anxiety 12 to 20 sessions recommended and it will more effective when psychiatric nurse meets Santiago for 12 to 20 sessions...

The psychiatric nurse should recommend family to talk more to Santiago in order that he can ventilate his feelings. Monitoring of child's activity must be done. And response prevention should be done by explaining and supporting him.

These are all the details about psychotherapy given to Santiago.