Working with children and adolescents to examine their mental health and well-being, the SPICC framework : Theoretical Essay, Ireland

Introduction

When working with children and adolescents to examine their mental health and well-being, the SPICC framework—which stands for Screening, Psychoeducation, Informal Assessment, Clinical Assessment, and Consultation—has been frequently used. This essay will assess SPICC’s efficacy in this particular setting, considering pertinent results and efficacy. The essay will also go through the use of SPICC framework-specific assessment processes as well as potential ethical and interpersonal problems that come up while dealing with kids and teenagers.

The SPICC model divides the therapeutic process into five stages, each of which calls for a different psychotherapeutic approach—such as client-centered approach, gestalt psychotherapy, narrative therapy, cognitive behaviour therapy, or behaviour therapy—to meet the child’s needs and elicit the desired responses.

Efficiency

In the treatment of mental health issues in children and adolescents, psychoeducation and psychotherapy intervention are two main modalities. According to Child Mental Health Services, Chan A. J. Child Dev Disorder. 2017

The goal of psychoeducation is to help kids become more resilient and to teach them vital life skills that will enable them to face obstacles in life and keep their mental health issues at bay.

It has been demonstrated by research on the mental health of children and adolescents that the SPICC framework is a useful tool for recognising and treating mental health issues in this population. The psychoeducational component of the framework gives children, adolescents, and their families vital information on mental health and wellness, while the screening tools help to promptly identify problems. An individual’s mental health status can be better understood through both informal and clinical examinations, which enables more focused therapy. seeking advice from various experts can offer significant perspectives and assistance in creating a thorough treatment strategy.

 Assessment

When working with children, adolescents, and their families in particular, assessment is crucial to therapeutic approaches. It offers an organised approach to obtain pertinent data that supports diagnosis, treatment planning, and continuous progress monitoring. Assessments are the key to determining which cognitive distortions, behavioural problems, and emotional concerns in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) need to be addressed.

The evaluation processes in the SPICC framework are customised to meet the needs of kids and teenagers, taking into consideration their distinct developmental phases and life experiences. While standardised instruments are frequently employed to collect data on an individual’s mental health, it is crucial to include more qualitative measures to these assessments in order to obtain a comprehensive picture of the kid or adolescent’s circumstances. Essential information about a person’s mental health requirements can be gleaned through observations, interviews, and cooperation with families and other specialists.

Relationship and Ethical Concerns
In the context of mental health assessment, working with children and adolescents can raise a variety of moral and interpersonal concerns. While working with this demographic, confidentiality, informed consent, and cultural sensitivity are key factors to consider. For the evaluation process to be successful, developing a trustworthy relationship with the child or teenager is essential, as is collaborating with parents and carers to provide the best results for the individual.

Conclusion

The SPICC framework, in summary, provides a thorough and practical method for collaborating with kids and teenagers during mental health assessments. The mental health needs of this demographic can be better understood and served by experts through the use of screening, psychoeducation, informal and clinical assessment, and consultation. In addition to potential ethical and interpersonal problems, it is crucial to consider the particular assessment methods included in the SPICC framework. Professionals can improve the mental health and wellbeing of children and adolescents by carefully assessing and considering these elements.

Geldard K, Geldard D, Yin Foo R. (2013). Counselling Children: A Practical Introduction. 4th

1. London: Sage

Reference

Chan, A. (2017a). Mental health care for children. Journal of Childhood & Developmental Disorders, 03(03). doi:10.4172/2472-1786.100051