4 Topics to Apply

• Behaviorism: Behaviorism could be applied to Sharease's treatment. For Patty to effectively treat Sharease, she needs to have an understanding of Sharease's experiences as a gay, African American woman. "Behaviorism requires that social workers become familiar with the life experiences of oppressed and culturally diverse groups because they need to understand each person's unique set of reinforcers" (Walsh, 2013).
• Cognition: Sharease actions are a direct response to an event that has happened to her. "An activating event - produces a belief or thought - that produces an emotion or action" (Walsh, 2013). Sharease experienced the event of sexual assault by several males. This created the belief that men are a threat to her, which produced her aggression and the act of fighting male staff members.
• Information Processing Theory: Regarding the information processing theory, Walsh (2013) states, "People receive stimulation from the outside and code this with sensory receptors in the nervous system. The information is then integrated and stored for the purposes of present and future adaptation to the environment." Sharease's experience of sexual assault prompted her brain to code this information and then adapt to her environment, causing her aggression and fear of men.
• Cognitive Distortions- Cognitive distortions refer to internalized beliefs people hold that shape their beliefs and habits. "These habits become a source of difficulty, however, when they are too rigid to accommodate our considering new information" (Walsh, 2013). Sharease shared that death is inevitable and there is nothing she can do about it, so she might as well give up on trying to live.

Working with Sharease

As the social worker, I could work with Sharease to identify her cognitive distortions about life to help her correct the cognitive distortions she is experiencing that are related to her hopelessness and unwillingness to continue living. I can use cognitive restructuring through DBT to help Sharease reduce her harmful habits of smoking marijuana and drinking alcohol and eliminate Sharease from resorting to suicide attempts in response to her triggers. I would ask Sharease about her experiences as a gay, African American woman and how this has affected her experiences and worldview. I can use this information to connect what experiences are the causes of certain behaviors. I can use the information processing theory by encouraging Sharease to revisit both positive and negative memories that may have converted to her long-term memory and, therefore, possibly forgotten about. By discussing the memories, I, as the social worker, could then understand how those memories shaped her cognitive beliefs and effectively address the cognitive distortions.

Human Rights

To ensure Sharease's human rights were protected, I would advocate for her as a sexual assault victim. If Sharease were comfortable with it, I would connect her with a lawyer who specializes in sexual assault cases. That way, she could potentially bring her sexual assault to court and convict the men who raped her. If she chose to do so, I would be a support to her throughout the process and attend court proceedings and other legal events to ensure she felt safe and that there was always going to be someone there to advocate for her. I would also continue to encourage her to attend a sexual assault victims support group in addition to her individual therapy with me.

References

Walsh, J. (2013). Theories for direct social work practice. Wadsworth Cengage Leaning.

Wolfer, T. A., Franklin, L. D., & Gray, K. A. (2014). Decision cases for Advanced Social Work Practice. Columbia University Press.

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