CHALLENGING CLIENT

A Challenging Client



A Challenging Client

Introduction

In the helping professional, one faces different types of clients. Some can be easily handled, while some can become very challenging. A difficult client can be different for every professional. One professional can face difficulties in handling a certain client while, for another professional, that same client can be easily managed. In this paper, a challenging client is described, along with the review of related journal articles and ways to deal with that difficult client.

Discussion

Challenging Client

One such challenging client, I am facing is a man with Multiple Sclerosis who is also addicted to pain killers who is also in denial. Addictions run rampant in my client's family. He has been bamboozling everyone including doctors and has been in a depression for a long time. He also has trouble walking. I know the pain killers are making his immune system worse. It is impossible to talk to him because unless you pity him, he wants nothing to do with the conversation. I feel everyone is enabling him because he is telling them that he is in so much pain. In short, my patient is with an illness (multiple sclerosis) coupled with an addiction problem who is in denial. It is difficult to deal with this patient as he refuses to believe that he is addicted to the painkillers. I have researched relevant journal articles to find out the best way to deal with this challenging patient. Without a doubt, denial is the most significant roadblock to recovery (Pinderhughes, 1989). Denial is a defense mechanism, a reaction to protecting oneself from the truth of addiction. Lying about one's addiction or refusing to discuss the subject may be the first indicators of denial.

Journal Articles

Following are the two journal articles that I found relevant to my case. Through these articles, I can find the appropriate way to deal with my client.

Addiction and Self-Deception: A Method for Self-Control? By Mary Jean Walker

According to this article, Neil Levy believes that the addicts who are in denial about their addiction are self deceived, similarly the addicts who know that they are addicts are also self deceived, as well. These addicts believe that they have a self control problem. This article is the examination of the implications the discussion of Levy. The paper states that the self knowledge is rather difficult for the individuals that are addicted and the self deceiving addict belief that they do not have self control can help their attempts at control. Walker believes that the beliefs of the self deceived addicts in denial and the addicts who know they are addicted are different. Through acknowledging that they are addicted, it allows them to alter their behavior, as acknowledgement is the first step to recovery (Walker, 2010). When an addict starts to lose control of his life and cannot proper manage his life, he will start realizing that something is wrong with him. At this stage, the person needs his family and close friends to make him realize ...