Purpose of Case Conceptualisations

“A clinician without a case conceptualisation model is like a captain of a ship without a rudder, aimlessly floating about with little or no direction”

Provides a method and clinical strategy for therapy
Is always developed in collaboration with the client
Hypothesis about the psychological mechanisms that cause and maintain an individual’s symptoms and problems

Key Features

Provides direction for assessment and treatment decisions
Identifies causal and maintaining factors
Identifies contextual risk and protective factors
Highlights cultural and gender considerations, etc.
Identifies individual and social strengths and evidence of resilience that can be utilised in treatment
Provides short-term, intermediate and long-term goals
Anticipates barriers
Allows for assessment of clients progress
Considers alterations tailored towards developmentally and culturally specific needs
Guides problem resolution processes

Step 1

Use the biopsychosocial model to conduct a thorough assessment regarding existing diagnoses, symptoms, and problems in various domains of life.

Step 2

Develop a working hypothesis based on:
- Contributing factors
- Precipitating factors for the most recent episode
- Maintaining factors
- Protective factors

Step 3

Set up experiments to test the initial working hypothesis.

Step 4

Continue testing and revising a case conceptualisation throughout therapy.
Use these revisions to guide further treatment