When interacting with patients, clinicians should be aware of the patients’ culture and values and should use effective patient-centered communication skills (Ball et al. 2019). The sensitive issues I would consider while interacting with BK would be her weight. A 16-year obese Caucasian girl is likely to be stigmatized by her peers on concerns about her weight which could explain her unwillingness to participate in different activities. Issues of developmental changes that are associated with adolescence can be a cause of her social withdrawal, and it is a sensitive topic to discuss as it transcends personal boundaries. I would also be careful when acquiring information on her family and social history, especially about her and her mother’s history of drug abuse. The fact that her mother is an incarcerated drug addict could be a reason for stigmatization and a cause of emotional trauma which makes it a sensitive issue. I would provide clients with opportunities to identify and express feelings about her family relationship and self-perception. Develop trust and build a therapeutic alliance to help decrease internalized feelings of guilt and shame. Honor the importance of family as the focal point, and that maintaining family honor, obligations, and responsibilities are central to being a woman.
Targeted Questions
- Why did you stop engaging in social activities and in activities that you previously enjoyed?
- Have you ever used any drug such as alcohol or tobacco?
- When did you stop enjoying social activities such as singing in the youth choir?
- What is the composition of your diet and how many times do you take meals per day?
- How can you describe the experience of living with your grandmother since your mother’s incarceration?
Sample Solution
