Students should locate at least 5 resources outside of class resources pertaining to their selected topic. Acceptable resources include peer-reviewed journal articles and nonfiction, professional texts. Any resources other than these must be approved by Dr. Janes.
The research paper will focus on defining/describing the selected topic, exploring clinical implications, and applying a therapy model to this population/topic. Students will be expected to attend to the following in their papers:
Thoroughly describe and/or define the selected topic/population. Students should use research to provide a thorough description of the topic/population and to outline how this topic/population may present in therapy. Students should write 3-5 paragraphs about their topic/population.
Students should identify research around the current clinical guidelines for treating this population/presenting problem. As part of this section, students should attend to contextual factors and discuss socioculturally attuned clinical implications. Students should write 3-5 paragraphs about current clinical guidelines.
To prepare for their model application, students provide a brief case vignette that reflects the topic/population they chose for the paper. Ideally, students will select a couple from a media platform (i.e., book, movie, TV show, music, etc.) that fits the population/topic they selected. If students are unable to identify a couple that meets their topic/population, they can write their own case vignette. Students should write 1-2 paragraphs for their case vignette. The case vignette description should include basic demographic information for each partner and basic information about the presenting problem.
Students will apply one clinical model to their case vignette. Students can select any model covered in the Family Therapy Theories I or Couples Therapy courses (Bowen, Contextual, IFS, The Gottman Method, or EFT). Students should discuss (1) how they conceptualize the case, (2) at least 2 hypotheses about the case, (3) at least 3 interventions they would use and why, (4) sociocultural considerations for the vignette, and (5) their stance as the therapist, including how they would balance alliances with the couple system. Students should write 5-7 paragraphs about their model application.
