Case Work and Individual Interventions

PROFESSIONAL INTERVENTIONS -1

Case Work and Individual Interventions

One of the important characteristics of psychosocial rehabilitation is that it is ‘individually tailored’ to fit into the needs of each one. 

Individual intervention for individuals with mental illness is based upon a common, shared understanding of the illness between the worker and the client. 

Casework is an important tool in the treatment process of individuals affected with various mental illnesses. It aims at helping an individual client to solve his psychological problems in such a way that he finds himself capable of dealing with these problems at present and in future also.

In rehabilitation centres, casework starts with the admission formalities and taking the detailed case history. There is a prescribed format for case history taking, which help us to understand the picture of the presenting problems, client’s feelings and reactions towards the problem, client’s efforts to solve the problems, family and social conditions, psychological development and the pre-morbid personality of the client.

In casework, the treatment can be either direct or indirect in nature. 

Direct Individual Intervention aims at enhancing the functional competence of the person.

Indirect Treatment (Environmental Manipulation) means to bring change in the social conditions of the client so that he may be relieved from excessive stressors and strains.