Purpose:
Examine the process of choosing an appropriate theory, model, and psychotherapy treatment plan with intervention(s)
to achieve expected therapeutic outcomes for a patient (pt) with a well-diagnosed
DSM diagnosis.
In this assignment, students should choose one (1) pt from their clinical site(s).
Grading:
While the point system below is used to objectively grade your Psychotherapy
paper, emphasis will be on your ability to clearly present pertinent information
and integrate what you have learned through readings, class materials, and other
scholarly sources.
• Writing in APA is a requirement in this paper and also a requirement of
. See APA rubric.
• Page limits are included in this paper to assist students in writing
parsimoniously and including required information.
Psychotherapy
Paper
Criteria Levels of
Achievement
APA See APA Rubric 0 – 10 Points
Title
Abstract
Add title of your paper
Example: NURS 526: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
in A Person with Depression
One (1) page in length – See APA book.
0 – 5 Points
Abstract is in paragraph form and includes one (1)
Summary sentence of each of the following
sections:
• Introduction,
• Presenting Chief Complaint,
• Pertinent History,
• DSM Diagnostic Analysis,
• Psychotherapy Treatment Plan,
• Theory and Model Application,
• Specific Interventions, and
• Expected Outcomes.
Be parsimonious – 1 page in length.
Psychotherapy Paper Rubric 2
Introduction Introduces the paper by discussing a brief
overview of the psychiatric diagnosis, which
includes
• global, national, and state prevalence
information to support your discussion.
Be parsimonious – 1/2 page in length.
0 – 10 Points
Presenting
Chief
Complaint
Discusses the basics of what brought the patient
into treatment at your clinical site.
• The focus should be both from the pt’s
perspective (one sentence with quotes) and
the PMHNP perspective.
Be parsimonious – 1/2 page in length.
0 – 10 Points
Pertinent
History of
Present
Mental-Illness
Discuss pertinent psychiatric information related to
patient’s chief complaint and include only
• pertinent significant events,
• psychiatric medication(s),
• past psychiatric history,
• family history, and
• social history.
Be parsimonious – 1/2 page in length.
0 – 10 Points
DSM
Diagnostic
Analysis
Explores the primary DSM diagnostic features and
discusses how you ruled-out differential diagnoses
to obtain the primary DSM diagnosis.
• This analysis discusses how this patient’s
symptoms met the diagnostic criteria for
your final primary DSM diagnosis, and how
your ruled-out other differential diagnoses.
• The primary diagnosis needs to include
disorder subtypes and/or specifiers as
appropriate.
Be parsimonious – 1 page in length.
0 – 10 Points
Psychotherapy
Treatment Plan
Discuss you chosen psychotherapy and overarching
treatment plan for the patient’s DSM primary
diagnosis.
• This analysis exemplifies your evidencebased
understanding of your psychotherapy
treatment plan for your patient with her/his
primary DSM diagnosis.
Be parsimonious – 1 page in length.
0 – 10 Points
Psychotherapy Paper Rubric 3
Theory and
Model
Application
Discuss both the theoretical and model
underpinnings for this patient’s psychotherapy.
• Discuss how your chosen psychotherapy
method is the most appropriate choice based
on current evidence-based practice.
Be parsimonious – 1 page in length.
0 – 10 Points
Specific
Interventions
Restate your overarching psychotherapy treatment
plan in one sentence, followed by a discussion of
specific interventions for your treatment plan.
Be parsimonious – 1 page in length.
0 – 10 Points
Expected
Therapeutic
Outcomes
Discuss you expected therapeutic outcomes for
each of your specific interventions.
• Then, discuss you overarching
psychotherapy treatment outcome.
Be parsimonious – 1 page in length.
0 – 10 Points
References This section should contain appropriate references
from your course readings,
• At least two (2) relevant scholarly articles
less than 5 years old,
• At least one (1) psychiatric practice
guideline(s). Guidelines for psychiatric
practice can be found in a variety of
disciplines such as nursing, psychiatry,
social work, and/or psychology.
0 – 5 Points
