Case Study for Ludwig

CASE STUDY FOR LUDWIG                                                                                                                                                  1

Case Study for Ludwig

By: Travis Ortiz

University of Phoenix

BSHS/335

Instructor: Dr. Armstead

Case Study For Ludwig                                                                                                                                                                 2

Introduction

       The following is a case of a woman who is working with a counselor for individually therapy.  They come to realize that she is in need therapy with her family, and the counselor is not qualified.  He decides to refer her to a Marriage Family Therapist who has the competence to counsel her entire family, while agreeing to continue individual counseling with her.  Some of the issues involved are the counselor’s competence and what he needs to do, how he could communicate with the MFT to better help his client, and not allow his client to feel as if she is being abandoned.  

Background

Ella is a client who has been working with a counselor named Ludwig. She is seeing him for individual counseling for some time now.  After a few sessions Ludwig realizes that the majority of Ella’s problems do not lie with her but with her whole family.  Ludwig and Ella have created a strong relationship with their counseling, but Ludwig does not have the experience to counsel her entire family.  So he then decides to give her a referral to a Marriage Family Therapist who is specialized in this area.  Ella has abandonment issues and Ludwig feels that she might feel abandoned if he refers her to

Case Study For Ludwig                                                                                                                                                                 3

another counselor.  He decides to continue counseling Ella individually, but much of their time is spent trying to figure out the where the rest of the family plays a part.  

Key Issues

       The first issue Ludwig is faced with is not allowing Ella to feel abandoned.  The American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy code 1.10 states, “Marriage and family therapists respectfully assist persons in obtaining appropriate therapeutic services if the therapist is unable or unwilling to provide professional help.”  (AAMFT Code of Ethics, 2002)  Along with the AAMFT code 1.11 stating “Marriage and family therapist do not abandon or neglect clients in treatment without making reasonable arrangements for the continuation of treatment.”  (AAMFT Code of Ethics, 2002)  With this being said Ludwig will need to go over the complete process he is going to take in making a referral.