In this activity, you will assume the role of a group therapist and prepare a script as a response to the disclosure of private and distressing information in the given scenario and how to build effective communication and relationship with the caregiver by keeping caregivers informed about the person’s health status, including issues related to assessment, treatment, follow-up, and any potential side effects, while ensuring the patient's consent.

Step 1. Review 

Review the learning resources for this lesson.

Step 2. Study

Analyze and study the given scenario below:

A group therapist was currently conducting a round-robin discussion where the members were being asked to share their triumphs and challenges in their lifestyle plans for this week. The discussion was going well until Imee, a 60-year old patient who has lung cancer and severe alcohol consumption, openly shared a distressing incident that happened in her household. Apparently, she tried suicidal drowning by jumping into the pool when everybody was supposed to be sleeping. At that time, her caregiver was on leave to take care of a personal business. The group therapist arranged individual therapy with the patient to address the incident. After attaining consent from the patient, the therapist decided to arrange a dialogue with Imee’s caregiver to inform him/her about the patient’s worsening condition, including issues related to assessment, treatment, follow-up, and any potential side effects.

Step 3. Reflect and Write

Reflect on the given scenario by thinking about two approaches to building effective communication with the caregiver, potential issues, and advantages of their approaches. Then, write a 300-600-word script that will demonstrate one of the two approaches if you are in the position of the group therapist. To be more specific, it must be able to show your:

• Response to the disclosure of private and distressing information in the given scenario
• Approach of how you will build effective communication and relationship with the caregiver, keep the caregiver informed about the person’s health status, including potential issues related to assessment, treatment, follow-up, and any potential side effects, while ensuring the patient's consent.

Step 4. Share

To share your work, click on the “Add a New Discussion” button under this post and paste your work in the “Message” box. Make sure to reference others’ intellectual property when necessary. All references should follow 7th Edition APA formatting. For further instructions, see the resource on the Himmelfarb Health Sciences Library: APA citation resource (N.B. references are excluded from word counts).

Step 5. Interact

Evaluate and categorize the work from one of your peers based on items A - E of the rubric below. Provide a rationale for the grade you have provided, as well as comments or suggestions for improvement. To post a reply, click “Reply” on a particular discussion, write your feedback and then click on “Post to forum.” You can use the list below as an example:

Item A is  .…. because….  My suggestions for improvement are….
Item B is  .…. because….  My suggestions for improvement are….
Item C is  .…. because….  My suggestions for improvement are….
Item D is  .…. because….  My suggestions for improvement are….
 Item E is  .…. because….  My suggestions for improvement are….

OPTIONAL Step 6: Interact (10 minutes)

If you would like to, you can reply to your peers' posts in a respectful and professional manner. Ensure that your post engages your peers' ideas by including a reflection on their comments, sharing ideas of other potential difficulties and parties involved, or asking thought-provoking questions. If a peer comments on your posting, please reply. To post a reply, click “Reply” on a particular discussion, write your feedback and then click on “Post to forum.”