Analytical Essay

The medical model is a theoretical framework that considers the physiological and biological aspect of the disease and disability and relies on the medical practical biomedical approach where results depend on measurable tests. A practitioner who is trained in a medical model will view Alvins case from a physiological perspective where the main emphasis will be on diagnosing the neurochemical imbalances or other physiological issues impacting his mental health. This model will consider Alvins concern as symptoms of a clinical condition which requires accurate diagnosis and can be treated with evidence-based interventions such as medications and psychotherapy. The practitioner would initially focus on identifying the key areas of concern, namely lethargy, difficulty in concentrating, lack of motivation, disturbed sleep, anxiety and signs of depression. For this, the medical practitioner needs to conduct a thorough assessment to determine the severity of the symptoms by retrieving detailed information related to his sleep patterns, changes in appetite, fluctuations in mood, heartbeat, blood pressure, etc. Also, the medical practitioner can determine the levels of neurotransmitters namely serotonin and dopamine which has a role in the low mood and depressive symptoms of Alvin (Vahid-Ansari & Albert, 2021). Followed by this, the practitioner would use different diagnostic tools such as DSM-5 criteria for diagnosing major depressive disorder (MDD) or generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Once the diagnosis is established, the practitioner will prescribe the use of different anti-depressive medications and anxiolytics for regulating the levels of neurotransmitter and also recommend Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help restructure negative thought patterns, manage his avoidance behaviors, and reduce anxiety.

The medical condition of Alvin is effectively evaluated by the practitioner with the help of standardised diagnostic tools such as DSM-5, K-10, DMI-10 and DASS-2 to name a few. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders is a systematic manual which contains all the required information for brain and mental-health related disorders (Models of Madness: Psychological, Social and Biological Approaches to Psychosis, 2024). The K-10 or the Kessler Psychological Scale is an effective tool for determining the levels of psychological distress, as observed in the case of Alvin. In addition to this, other diagnostic tools such as 10 item depression of the mentally ill uses cognitive elements to determine the level of depression in a patient and DASS21 consists of 21 questions where the levels of anxiety and depression are observed in patients on the basis of the symptoms that are common to both (Marin et al., 2020).

With the help of these diagnostic tools, the practitioner will be able to appropriately diagnose Alvin with MDD as he displays multiple signs of depression including loss of motivation, lethargy and anhedonia. His difficulty in getting out of bed, loss of appetite, sleep disturbances, and feelings of meaninglessness align with MDD criteria from the DSM-5. Additionally, Alvins excessive worry, particularly regarding his new colleague Frank, manifests in physical symptoms such as dry mouth, jittering legs, and difficulty concentrating. These persistent, uncontrollable worries and somatic symptoms are consistent with diagnostic criteria of Generalized Anxiety Disorder. dry mouth, racing heart. Lastly, Alvins childhood trauma-particularly the unpredictable abuse from his cousin Joseph may contribute to his hypervigilance and emotional detachment.

A psychotherapist trained in implementing a person-centered approach will approach the case of Alvin with the aim of developing a non-judgmental and empathetic relationship that fosters a space for emotional healing (Milner & OByrne, 2004). With the help of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, the therapist would assist Alvin to identify irrational beliefs and thoughts contributing to symptoms of anxiety and depression (Van Rijn, 2015). Thus, the empathetic stance of person-centered approach alongwith structured techniques of CBT will contribute towards providing a holistic approach to Alvins recovery

From a person-centered and attachment-based perspective, Alvins difficulties can be seen as rooted in his early life experiences, particularly his traumatic childhood separation from his family and the abuse he endured from his cousin Joseph. He was detached from his parents and forced to move and live with his aunt at a very young age of 8. This led to the development of feelings related to being abandoned, loneliness and a deep sense of not belonging. However, the unpredictable bullying experienced by his cousin Joseph aggravated these feelings creating a sense of mistrust and emotional insecurity.

Alvin was unable to express or share his emotions and feelings as he was responded with dismissive comments by his aunt such as stop acting like a baby. He developed a habit of suppressing his emotions which affected his future relationships. His girlfriends found him emotionally unavailable, which can be interpreted as a defensive strategy for coping with emotional trauma. His emotional withdrawal, detachment and inability to connect deeply likely serve as a protective mechanism against potential emotional harm.

The approach for treatment of the patient would involve understanding the formative relational dynamics including his insecure attachment style, current struggles with relationships, self-worth and emotional regulation. The main focus of the therapy would be on fostering a deep sense of safety, empathy, and attachment, allowing Alvin to reconnect with his emotions, heal past attachment wounds, and develop healthier relational patterns.

The treatment for Alvin would entail emotional regulation, trust and attachment. Sandy had left Alvin and also his childhood was full of pain because he had to live with a bullying cousin. The therapist would assist Alvin to identify and express his emotions throughout the process. Creating a safe therapeutic space for Alvin is necessary so as to enable him to speak without the concern of being judged. Far from it, the safe havens would allow him to address repressed feelings and relational phobias.

The therapeutic process would be experiential and focus on the clients awareness, affect regulation, and acceptance. Unconditional positive regard, empathy and genuineness of the therapeutic relationship would be the major aspects (Wampold, 2018). Preliminary to any of the strategies, the therapist would take the time to involve Alvin in building trust and safety within the therapeutic relationship since he has experienced relational betrayal and rejection. This environment would make Alvin discover his emotional landscape which includes the pain and the fear arising from his traumatic childhood experiences.

The protectors ability to pick up the signals that Alvin is fully withdrawn, and that the session is getting too much for him would be crucial for keeping the therapeutic relation alive throughout the process. In a therapy session, it is recommended that the therapist maintains neural integration and the healing of emotional self-cohesion based on findings from interpersonal neurobiology (Rockwell, 2024). The therapist would explain that the early childhood relationships that formed Alvins working model of attachment would lead to his issues with emotional checkpoint and fear of closeness. In the long run, as Alvin accepts the positive feelings which the therapist displays towards him, he will change his attachment patterns and thus have better chances for the future.

Relative to the medical model, such approaches are highly distinct in the person-centered model relying on methods that focus on Alvins personal impressions and feelings. Qualitative interviews would be required with open-ended questions being the main mode of questioning in order to explore strongly how Alvin feels or has felt in events (Castelnuovo et al., 2010). Thus, utilizing this approach, the therapist gets the opportunity to gain an important amount of valuable information about Alvins emotional experiences, especially with regard to the loss of Sandy and childhood trauma with Joseph. So, when the therapist elicits from Alvin telling his story in his own words, the latter will reveal to the therapist how he thinks about himself and the world, and how he relates to his environment.

Furthermore, the concept of reflective listening would also have a significant role to perform in context of therapeutic intervention (Linford et al., 2009). To the latter, the therapist would repeat or paraphrase what Alvin discloses to him enabling him recognize feelings he may not have realized were bothering or troubling him. For example, if Alvin complains of feeling listless or bored, the therapist could paraphrase such as, It sounds to me you are tired of everything that used to interest you. This technique also verifies Alvins interactions, and at the same time, motivates the character to probe further into himself.

They make a perfect combination to promote a more positive atmosphere in which the child can open up and address his pains and helps him to develop properly through better understanding of self. This approach regarding the organization of therapeutic process corresponds to the attachment theory and the principles of interpersonal neurobiology that encourage the clients individual growth of emotional integration and personality resilience within the therapeutic relationship (Siegel, 2012).

The emotions that Alvin would develop towards the medical model and the person centered approach would be quite different. The medical model can be reassuring as this treatment paradigm is very systematic and highlights symptoms as foremost concerns. A cassette such as Fluoxetine can be given to reduce the level of anxiety and sleepiness which will help Alvin to become functional in his daily life (Ampuero et al., 2024). However, this approach also offers its difficulties. Alvin could become dependent on his diagnosis and would then have to disassociate himself from emotional experiences. Concentration on the biological aspect might exclude other relational problems resulting from childhood traumatism and the recent loss of a partner as he might feel that his extreme emotional experience has been just stereotyped or bypassed (Badenoch, 2017).

On the other hand, person-centered care provides Alvin therapeutic approach that is different from the medical model. First, he may not like the relaxed, nonrestrictive approach as it may be unfamiliar to him and as he has never faced his feelings in the past (Maj et al., 2020). Perhaps frustration because there are no problems that can be solved on the spot, but rather there is an emphasis on personal development. However, he believes with time, he gets to accept such things and be more conscious of them as well. His therapist would help him apply information and relationships learnt in the past to new relationships therefore promoting personal and interpersonal development. Combining this method with CBT would also ensure Alvin has techniques to help him analyze negative ways of thinking and find ways of overcoming those to help him adequately deal with his emotions and feelings in his healing process. CBTs specific procedures would enhance person-centered care within a structured approach to help him gain personal growth by helping him correct distorted thoughts and beliefs.

I understand and view the medical model as being a bit reductive and even medicalizing. It has a tendency of eliminating the client based on symptoms instead of acknowledging that the client is a person with a set of stories. Ordinarily, a diagnosis could completely dismiss the importance of Alvins early childhood trauma with attachment figures, which may result to him being a pariah with no one fully understanding the depth of what he endures. The medical model of treatment can suffice with providing a remedy for the symptoms meaning through prescription of drugs or cognitive behavioral approach which may not heal the relational aspect of Alvins suffering henceforth leading to shallow healing.

On the other hand, person-centered care gives Alvin another perspective in his treatment. At first, he may be aggressive to such an approach because discussing his feelings could be uncomfortable, and such an approach differs from the direct one he has been using throughout his life (Maj et al., 2020). Self-actualization is the fifth level of Maslows hierarchy of needs, so Alvin may easily feel frustrated by this sort of approach focusing on finding oneself rather than finding a solution for the problem that occurred. However, by comparison, it can assist him over time to become more introspective and, thus, more accepting of himself. His therapist would assist him to program how the different historical experiences relate to new relationships both interpersonal and intrapersonal development. Combining this method with CBT would enable this powerful approach to give Alvin the practical tools for the appraisal of negative beliefs, so he can learn how to regulate emotions and step up his recovery process. The technique that CBT implies would fit in with person-centered care based on specific procedures, as structuring every step would help to accept a more constructive approach and develop personal growth based on the rejection of distorting thoughts.

Through this analysis of the two approaches, I have once again been reminded of the significant role that plays between the two models in their practice. It is evident how prioritizing pain reduction can be beneficial for clients such as Alvin who is severely distressed but to focus solely on that neglects the role of healing does not just mean immediately addressing underlying process such as emotions, beliefs, schemas and patterns in relation to interpersonal relationships (Read et al., 2013). In future work with clients, I will continue to apply medical model from implementing in my practice structured assessments but keep in mind that my clients are human beings who require person centered approach when relating events in their lives. This approach would allow for conforming to clients wish to feel better right away while at the same time helping them face their inner issues. Finally, focus on the therapeutic safety and basic empathic responses as required for the client in their emotional terrain. Offering an easy manner and availability to patients, and inviting them to investigate their weaknesses, I am able to give these people hope for a better tomorrow.

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