Why Did She Put Nail Polish in My Drink? Applying the Therapeutic Assessment Model With an African American Foster Child in a Community Mental Health Setting

Abstract

Although the majority of research on Therapeutic Assessment (TA) discusses the application of TA in research or private practice settings, we found that the model could be applied in a community mental health setting. We argue that when implementing this model with racially diverse, low socioeconomic status children, it is essential to integrate issues of class, privilege, and race into the assessment process. A case is presented that illuminates the specific concerns and struggles of adapting this model to a community psychology population. This analysis includes the interface with systems, placement stability, and consideration of culturally responsible treatment. We also demonstrate how the support of a treatment team helps the individual clinician process and integrate the levels of trauma and pain with which these families present.

Notes

¹Pseudonyms are used to protect confidentiality.

²Although we refer to ourselves in this article with the use of “Dr.” attached, note that to join with the family, only first names were used with our clients.