Final paper for a social work course Social Sciences Term Paper

Final Paper
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Part One: Introduction
I recently completed my 14 week internship at the Shanghai Mental Health Center (SMHC) where I gained in-depth and first-hand information and knowledge on various social work issues. While I was mainly tasked with administrative tasks, I regularly participated in group therapy. It is during these sessions that I had the privilege in watching my field instructor Mr. Shen assist countless individuals and families overcome different social work issues particularly involving mental conditions. One particular case he handled stood out for me. It involved a young family of three that resided in the Tongxinjiayuan Nujiang area of Changzheng Town, Putuo District. For the purposes of confidentiality, the real names of the family members will be withheld. With that said, the family consisted of the husband, Jin, wife, Nomi and four year old son Kun. On paper, the family looked ordinary and like any other in the region. The couple was in their late thirties and had just been married for a year when they had Kun.
However, Kun was not the typical four year old boy as he suffered from autism spectrum disorder. The most-obvious signs of the complex developmental condition started manifesting when he was around two years. His parents started noticing that he had severe communication problems and exhibited difficulties in responding to social cues such as facial expressions (Olivier, 2018). Despite regular visits to the playground, Kun had trouble making friends and would isolate himself. The parents shared that these signs and symptoms were getting worse as days go by. However, they have been adamant on seeking assistance not only from health care professionals including social workers and counselors but also their close friends and family members because of stigma and shame. They fear that society would judge their son harshly and would look down upon the family (Walsh, 2013). The couple’s relationship is also suffering in the process as they have resorted to blame games with Jin blaming Nomi’s excessive drinking whilst pregnant as the cause of Kun’s autism spectrum disorder. My field instructor personally arranged for the therapy session with the family upon seeing Kun’s symptoms at the park where he has taken his daughter for a play date. According to him, it was evident that the couple was oblivious of their son’s autism spectrum disorder.
The above case fits perfectly with the mission, policies, procedures and programs of the Shanghai Mental Health Center (SMHC). The agency not only serves as a mental health clinic but is also heavily involved in psychotherapy. It also conducts regular trainings aimed at improving the abilities of caregivers of patients with mental disorders in and around different parts of Shanghai. As such, through Mr. Shen, the SMHC sort to assist Kun’s parents to have a better grasp and understanding about autism spectrum disorder and consequently, assist their son cope with the condition. The SMHC also purported to eliminate the feelings of shame showcased in the parents about having a child with autism spectrum disorder.
To have a vivid grasp of the situation, it was imperative to get a proper description of the family. Several details pertaining to the family was obtained during the initial sessions of the family therapy. It was identified that Jin was a 39 years old professional accountant in one of the leading financial companies in the region. He held a senior position in the company that also accorded him a substantial salary that allowed him to offer his family a “comfortable” life. He met his wife while in Campus. Jin was of the Han Chinese ethnicity and a staunch Christian. On the other hand, Nomi was 36 years old, of Japanese descent and had moved to Shanghai to pursue her college education. She lost both her parents in a tragic road accident just before she graduated. The incident affected her greatly and she engaged in excessive alcohol abuse as an escape. Despite moral support from Jin, her alcoholism proved to be a problem well into their marriage and even when pregnant with Kun. While she eventually fought off her alcoholism two years ago, the mental situation surrounding her son and her straining marriage are pushing her back into the addiction. Her back and forth with alcoholism coupled with family issues are threatening to have her fired. She has since been issued with her final warning in that regard. The last member of the family is Kun who is not your typical 4 years old boy as he suffers from autism spectrum syndrome.
An assessment of the family structure showed that they hardly associated with members of the extended family. While it is understandable in the case of Nomi’s side of the family since she lost her parents and other members are in Japan, Jin’s relatives are spread all over Shanghai with some living barely 30 minutes’ walk away from their home. The family had also kept a low profile from their friends particularly since noticing that their son harbored “peculiar” attributes and behaviors. It was also identified that Kun’s mental disorder was causing strife and was significantly straining the couple’s relationship. Jin and Nomi were indifferent on the cause of the autism spectrum disorder that affected their son and had resorted to blaming one another. Nomi blamed Jin for failing to balance between family and work and consequently, their son had become distant and “different”. On the hand, Jin was of the opinion that Nomi’s alcoholism while pregnant affected Kun’s mental state and health. Furthermore, although the couple communicated effectively in the past, that had since been lost and was replaced with vehement shouting.
Additionally, several external and internal challenges are significant barriers preventing the couple from finding amicable solutions to assist their son cope with autism spectrum disorder. These include ineffective communication, lost unity/ cohesion and their isolation from close friends and family members. It was evident from the interaction that the couple feared how society would view their son. Nonetheless, Jin and Nomi both have well-paying jobs that will greatly contribute in Kun’s treatment. While there is currently no treatment for ASD, there are various intervention treatment services that will improve Kun’s childhood development. These intensive behavioral interventions are quite costly and go up to the tune of $60,000 annually. As such, the couple’s combined income can assist to provide Kun with the best forms of treatment for his ASD.
Part Two: Engagement and Assessment
The problem in the shared case study is that the couple is oblivious or is rather refusing to acknowledge that their son is suffering from ASD. As such, they have chosen to view their son as “peculiar” mentally. However, from the engagement and assessment, Kun is showcasing vivid signs of ASD. According to Korendo (2017), “Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex developmental condition that involves persistent challenges in social interaction, speech and nonverbal communication, and restricted/repetitive behaviors”. This complex developmental condition is usually diagnosed in childhood with some of the major signs and symptoms showcasing in children around two to three years old. It is however essential to note that autistic children behave and harbor different characteristics. From the assessment, had severe communication problems and exhibited difficulties in responding to social cues such as facial expressions (Korendo, 2017). Studies by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) indicate that at least one in 59 children suffers from autism and that the condition is more prevalent in boys than girls. While these statistics show that ASD is quite common, many individuals and families are ashamed to be associated with autistic children. They treat and consider them as being crazy and tarnish the family names. As such, there are instances where families lock up their autistic children and prevent them from interacting with the outside world. They not only prevent them from being children but fail to seek effective treatment options that would assist them cope with their life-long conditions (Leung, 2007). This scenario was evident from the engagement with Kun’s parents.
Nonetheless, there are several strengths and resources that will be useful in assisting Kun to cope with ASD. For one, the couple’s combined incomes can ensure that he is taken through the best and intensive behavioral interventions. Kun can be taken through therapies that will assist him not only communicate but also interact effectively with others (Netting et al., 2012). Similarly, the family can also call upon the support of the family members and friends to get through the situation. It was identified in the assessment that Jin’s extended family lives within Shanghai. These family members will provide Kun with a warm loving environment that is necessary for proper child development (Netting et al., 2012). They will also help the couple to reconcile, find a common ground again and consequently, unite in helping Kun cope with ASD.
During the family therapy sessions, I helped Mr. Shen in formulating goals th...