Case Conceptualization in Human Sexuality
Introduction
Case Conceptualization is defined as how professional counselors are concerned about the client’s nature, how the problem developed, and types of intervention of counseling that may help. Diagnosis is required. Human sexuality is a problem that affects both women and men. Low sex drive is an issue that causes divorce in marriages. Sex therapist has come up with solutions on the subject and others related to sexual activities in marriage. Below is a case study of John and Maria, who have been undergoing sexual problems in their marriage. This paper seeks to find how a counselor would conceptualize and look for the solution needed in Maria and John’s case.
Problem Presentation
He, therefore, must undergo some medical and psychological help to save his marriage. His scenario developed when he was 12 years at the boy’s camp, where he was indulging in sexual experiences. He was away from his parents and had a stay with several boys who introduced him to sexual activities. The behavior of John shows emotional problems that make him act weirdly. The practice of John also can be associated with his experience from childhood. The action and human character define the case study of John.
Formation of Presenting Concerns
Past experiences influence individuals’ behavior; therefore, research is required to solve problems on psychological, emotional, and social concerns. Assistance is needed for people undergoing such problems by counseling them or providing ways of preventing the problem from occurring. His experience influences John’s case. The surrounding environment can change individual behavior by either learning or not learning from it. His wife Maria played a significant role in shaping his behavior by talking with him and visiting several therapists where they finally visited a counseling therapist who noticed and told Maria that John might be gay.
Being away from home, therefore, lacking parental monitoring and attending boy’s camp made him undergo such behaviors that suddenly changed his sexual attraction towards women. John always thought that he had no problem only that he had less sex urge. The way a person thinks influences his actions since John thought nothing was wrong with him therefore affected his marriage. Environmental surrounding influenced the behavioral character of John from the past when he was 12years old. Counseling is one way for helping individuals recover from past experiences, which brings a negative impact in the future. John’s case is critical due to his early experience of sexual activities, which then affecting his marriage. John’s involvement in the past also exposes him to the risk of losing his wife. Despite refusing to admit that he had never been attracted to any man, he had less sex urge towards his wife which was a proof that he was undergoing emotional problems. Counseling processes will help in conceptualizing John’s case by making him accept what happened in the past that has caused his changes in behavior.
Therapeutic goals
According to the behavioral approach, John’s behavior can be rectified by eliminating the corrupt practices that led to negative impacts. John will be able to change his behavior, which also affects his wife and marriage. As well as by the help of a counseling therapist. Behavioral methods will help John to think about the consequences of his actions and therefore try to change slowly. Accepting his situation and being ready to change will change his perception, thus save his marriage. The counseling process will also help to adapt to changes and finally change completely.
There are six stages that gay go through when dealing with a sexual orientation, which includes; identity awareness where a person starts to develop feelings different from others; they start getting attracting to their sex gender. Secondly, identity comparison where a person explores his feelings and compares with the way the society believes, at this stage, a person notices that he is ‘not straight.’ Thirdly, identity tolerance, where a person denies the feelings they have for someone else in that he does not want anyone to recognize that he is gay. Fourth identity acceptance where they embrace their feelings and find a partner with the same opinions and explore together; this is where sex activities take place. A person identifies himself as gay. Fifth, identity pride where anger develops towards people who tell them they are wrong and immoral, and they end up isolating themselves and lastly identity synthesis where they accept to be part of who they are. It is, therefore, essential as a counselor to understand where gay is in terms of sexuality.
According to Maria and John’s case, John was likely to be in stage three, identity tolerance, where he did not want to be recognized as being gay. He denied that he had ever desired another man; instead was of low sex drive, but when he was 12 years, he had sexual experience. The signs of homosexuality are seen in John because of his low sex drive and sexual encounter when he was 12 years old.
Interventions
Treatment for gays should not differ from the treatment of other clients as they experience the same effects. According to therapists, depression and suicide are the common problems facing them; therefore, interventions used by therapists relate to other responses of different issues (Riggs et al., 2011). Sexual therapists use behavior modification in treating homosexuality in most cases as the behavior determines what a person does. Emotions and thoughts are also developed by practice. Special skills are required by the counselors to tackle the issue appropriately.
As a counselor, John was likely influenced by the external forces in that he started experiencing sexual activities when he was with other boys at the camp. The solution, in that case, was John to avoid men companies and focus on his wife to bring his sex urge back. Assisting John in improving his behavior by teaching him to stay with his wife most of the time and indulging in sexual activities slowly by slowly, even if it will take some period, is also a solution. Applying other techniques and working on his hobbies will also modify John’s behavior as he will forget his past experiences.
Role of Counselor
Counselors are people who have undergone training on counseling issues. According to John’s case, counselors are required to look for intervention in sexual matters. It is their role to provide advice, guidance on the issues at the table. They should be able to understand the problem and provide appropriate strategies. The relationship between John and a counseling therapist will ensure excellent friendship and trust. The counselor should maintain the information given by Maria and John as confidential. A counselor will be able to formulate and provide a treatment method that suits the problem faced by John. A counselor also will be able to encourage John by assuring him that the situation is not permanent, and he can change if he wishes to.
Conclusion
In conclusion, John’s case was a sexual problem where he had a low sex drive, and therefore as a counselor, treatment is required to bring back his sexual desire since he was a married man. According to sex therapists, homosexuality affects men’s behavior and might make them isolate themselves. Behavior modification is a specialized treatment where emotions and thoughts are diverted to bring a better chance. Sexual ethics should also be taught to teenagers so that they can grow with it and avoid such sexual activities.
References
Riggs, A. D., Rosenthal, A. R., & Smith-Bonahue, T. (2011). The impact of a combined cognitive-affective intervention on pre-service teachers’ attitudes, knowledge, and expected professional behaviors regarding homosexuality and gay and lesbian issues. Teaching and teacher education, 27(1), 201-209.