Using the Case Study at the End of the Module, Assess the Client’s Issues and Describe Your Treatment Plan. What Ethical Issues Might Arise?

Having read through Miss E’s case study, it becomes apparent quite early on that alongside her desire to lose weight, the extract also depicts the client as having quite a strong underlying issue in regards to a lack of self esteem. Although the therapist can establish weight loss as being the main priority for the client, it is also evident that there are contributing factors that may also need to be addressed in order for her to obtain her goal. When a therapist is dealing with any form of weight loss it is essential that each case is dealt with an individual outlook in accordance to the client’s needs. ‘While there are standard psychological causes for overeating, this does not mean that all overweight people overeat’. Nevertheless, in cases where this type of eating example is prominent, (overweight due to overeating) people may be under the misconception that they have a slower metabolic rate, where in fact, it is most likely to be accountable to the subconscious mind. It is very common that when people have dieted and reached their ideal weight, to suddenly find that when they have stopped, many old eating habits begin to re-appear. When your conscious mind is in the forefront, it ‘serves as a military force to keep your hunger habits from invading’, although people do not always account for how strong the subconscious mind is in comparison to the conscious one, so ‘while the subconscious mind is no simple power to grapple with, it is only through permanent changes in this part of your mind that you will experience permanent changes in your life’. In order to create these changes, you will need to explore what is causing the behaviour to begin with. There are many different factors to account for when looking into people’s weight. A phrase that has been employed by authors such as Crasilnesck and Hall (1985) reference ‘empty habits’ which is generally used when many habitual and even near-compulsive behaviour patterns emerge and would account for people who...