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Itp Loop 3

1) The narrator conducted an intake with a 26-year-old male corrections officer who had a recent suicide attempt and ongoing suicidal ideations. 2) During the reflection, the narrator recalled remaining calm and focused during the intake to properly evaluate risk level, while drawing on experience with suicidal clients. 3) Key actions taken included active listening, building rapport, and maintaining a strengths-based and person-centered approach to develop a safety plan.

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149 views

Itp Loop 3

1) The narrator conducted an intake with a 26-year-old male corrections officer who had a recent suicide attempt and ongoing suicidal ideations. 2) During the reflection, the narrator recalled remaining calm and focused during the intake to properly evaluate risk level, while drawing on experience with suicidal clients. 3) Key actions taken included active listening, building rapport, and maintaining a strengths-based and person-centered approach to develop a safety plan.

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api-240553988
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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NAME: Alan Poirier

DATE: March 6, 2020

The Use of Narratives to Enhance Field Integration of Theory and Practice

Individually:

Recall salient facts of a recent practice experience. In a paragraph or two, briefly


describe a significant experience that has taken place in your practicum setting. In telling
the story, position yourself as the author using the first person. Things to share may
include: Interactions with significant others, links between present and past experiences,
feelings, ideas or meaning making that occurred. As relevant, include the intellectual,
spiritual, social, physical, and aesthetic dimensions in the telling of the story.

I conducted an intake for a 26-year-old male who works as corrections officer. In


2018 he took time off from work due to night terrors, aggression and no memory. At that
time, he was on medication for approx. 1 ½ months but stopped when he felt better. He
did some therapy over the phone through his work but admitted that he “half assed” it and
“put a face on” until about 2 ½ months ago. He had an episode where the buzzer at
Superstore triggered him and he ran up and down aisles looking for “the fight,” until his
girlfriend stopped him (as it’s the same as the alarm at the remand center) he also keeps
his back to the wall at restaurants. On February 25, 2020, after getting off shift he made a
suicide video, sent it to his mother and took 11 pills (anti-depressants) that he took from
his sister. For 48 hours, after he woke up, he felt “dumb” and after seeing a train briefly
thought about suicide by train. I immediately began asking him questions to evaluate his
current headspace and determine the risk that he would harm himself. I was told that what
he put his girlfriend and parents through was keeping him from wanting to try again. I
was told that he gave his rifle and handgun to his friend who has them locked up until he
can dispose of them, send them to his parents in Saskatchewan or feels well enough to
have them back.
I was also told that he doesn’t care about work and effort he puts into it. He has
also isolated from friends, become more reckless, cut off outside world, cancelled a trip
to Vegas with friends, will ignore girlfriend for two days and hasn’t eaten in three days.

Integration of Theory & Practice (ITP) Loop Process and Write-up

RETRIEVAL - recalling salient facts of a recent practice experience through the use of a
narrative (this is the write up done above).

REFLECTIONS - recall your thoughts and feelings about the situation. Focus on the
subjective beliefs and attitudes, personal experiences, and cultural /gendered/ political/
societal world views relevant to the situation. Identify how these factors influenced your
interaction.

As the client told me everything mentioned above, I recalled my first encounter


with a client with suicidal ideation. In this instance, I remained calm and focused as I ask
questions regarding what his thoughts were when he saw the train, if he had a plan to try
suicide again, whether he had a support network that he could turn to and what his plan
was should suicidal thoughts return. As we spoke I had not indication (gut feeling) that
there was a high risk to try again. I maintained a calm demeanor and tone and did my best
to the client that I did not judge him.
I recognized the stress of his job, asked some questions to help him determine
some potential triggers and how he can avoid them. When told that he was scared to
come, lest coworkers or inmates saw him and judge him, I provided positive
reinforcement for the decision that he made.
Having spoken with a few clients with suicidal attempts and/or ideation, I was
more level-headed and calmer as I spoke with this client
The next day I called him, which I told him in our meeting that I would do and
checked in on him.

LINKAGE – identify the key actions you took and explain how you chose those actions.
Which practice models, practice wisdom, learned techniques or skills did you use or
consider?

I used the information that I received in supervision and debriefs to better analyze
risk factors and create a plan with the client.
I used active listening, relaxed body language and eye contact to create a
comfortable environment to allow for trust to be developed. As a result, the client told me
that he told me more than he had intended to and felt good having someone listen to him
and validate his feelings.
I maintained a person-centred focus while aiming to support the client in a
strength-based approach. Used interviewing skills.

PROFESSIONAL RESPONSE – consider whether your response was selected through


deliberate or intuitive use of reflection and linkage. Do you feel that your response was
effective, appropriate, or sufficient? What could you have done differently? What did you
learn about social work practice?

The timing and manner in which I asked the questions on the GAIN were
intuitive. I attempted to glean information to answer the questions without making it feel
like an interrogation.
As we discussed suicidal ideation, I was being very deliberate in the questions
that I asked and the information that I was searching for. In the moment I was not trying
to counteract his “police” training but maintain a good rapport so that he would speak
with me as a trustworthy person.
I feel that my response was appropriate and sufficient. When we left our meeting,
I had three pages of detailed notes, a firm understanding of his thought process, feelings
and triggers to the point that I was able to confidently respond to questions in the next
morning’s screening meeting. I did not ask anything that was not pertinent and gathered
enough to paint a clear picture for his therapist.
QUESTIONS & CONSULTATION – what 1-3 questions do you have for your peers
about this practice experience? What did you learn about your practice from the peer
consultation?
 Where there theories, practices, etc. that I didn’t mention that I should
have/missed?
 Any critiques/advice/words of wisdom?

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