Summary

For this assignment the competencies to be achieved are:

2.1.3

Apply Critical thinking to inform and communicate professional judgments.

2.1.4

Engage diversity and difference in practice

2.1.10 Engage, assess, intervene and evaluate with individuals, families, groups, organizations
and communities.
For this assignment I was to write a biopsychosocial assessment on someone I know and
present it in the prescribed format. I didnt want to interview someone that I knew very well so I
asked a friend of my daughter to volunteer. I purposely wanted to interview someone I was not
totally familiar with so the experience would seem more real. The friend agreed but was a bit
apprehensive, so I treated her like I would a client and explained why I was asking particular
questions, that she should feel free to decline to answer anything she was uncomfortable with,
and that she could read the results of our interview. I also explained that it would totally
anonymous since I would be using a pseudonym and that no one would ever see this other than
the two of us and my professor.
It was a good practice experience and I can see where critical thinking and professional
judgment would is necessary in determining what questions to ask in order to obtain the needed
information (2.1.3). Competency 2.1.4 behaviors include self-awareness and values working in
diverse groups. This is a pretty general competency that applies to all aspects of social work and
that I have gained, although not necessarily through this assignment. In practicing this
biopsychosocial assessment I have gained increased knowledge and practice of competency
2.1.10.

SW3020

Biopsychosocial Assessment

Lyn Reimer

Presenting Problem
Kathy Jones (pseudonym) is a 34 year old single, European American female who lives
by herself in a home that she owns. She had been employed as a middle school teacher in the
Detroit Public Schools for 7 years but was recently laid off due to poor attendance that she says
was caused by burn out. After 13 months she has been able to find another job in a charter
school, but at a lower pay rate and with little job security. Ms. Jones is seeking the help of a
social worker because of the stress she is experiencing due to her difficult financial situation,
because she feels her time is running out to have children and she has not found the right man
with whom she can begin a family, and she has low self-esteem due to being overweight.
Family of Origin
At the time of Kathys birth her father was 18 years old and her mother 19 years old. It
was an unplanned pregnancy and her parents never married. She has one brother, Danny, who is
two years younger than she. He is divorced with three children and works in land scraping/snow
removal. Both parents dropped out of high school but later in life earned General Education
Diplomas. Kathy lived with both parents until she was three years old at which time her parents
broke up and her father moved out of state leaving the family behind. She had no further contact
with him until she became an adult. For the next 2 years Kathys mother supported the family as
a single working mother, with assistance from Kathys grandparents. When Kathy was 5 years
old her mother met and married her stepfather. She says while he provided for them he was
emotionally distant. They divorced two years ago after 27 years of marriage. Kathy recalls that,
while growing up, she had a stable home life and that her mother and step-father seemed to get
along. Major holidays were spent at home with family except Christmas when they would split
visitation between her maternal family and her step-fathers family. She recalls visiting with Santa
and hunting for Easter eggs and Easter baskets.
Kathys mother has been diagnosed with Bipolar disorder and currently receives social security
disability. She lives several houses down the street from Kathy and at times intrudes on her
privacy by showing up at her door unannounced. She no longer is in contact with her step-father.
She does have a long distance relationship with her birth father who still lives out of state. He is
in good health. Her brother who is currently stable, has a history of substance abuse.
Kathys maternal grandparents died in 1984 just three months apart. She remembers that death
was not really discussed in her family, it was just a part of getting old and that life goes on. She
reports no history of physical or sexual abuse.
Developmental History
Kathy was born prematurely at 7 months gestation, weighing 4 pounds, via C-section. She

experienced no feeding issues and was weaned from the bottle at age 1 year. Her mother tells her
she was speaking her first words at 9 months, walking at 10 months and was toilet trained by her
second birthday. She recalls being told all the time that she was developmentally advanced. The
only childhood illness she remembers is recurring tonsillitis.
Health History
Currently, aside from her weight, Kathy is in generally good health. She says she has
battled with being overweight her entire life. Two years ago she had an emergency
cholecystectomy, but made a full recovery. She has contended with the occasional common cold
and one bout of pneumonia, but nothing more serious. She began menses at age 11and has
experienced irregular periods since. She has annual physical checkups and takes no medication
on a regular basis other than birth control which is used to help regulate her periods.
Relationship/Sexual History
Kathy was friendly as a child and has maintained friendships that were formed during
middle school. She began dating at the age of 17 and defines herself as heterosexual with her
first sexual experience occurring at 19 years old. While she enjoyed her sexuality when younger
she now feels uncomfortable due to her weight and is currently not involved in a sexual
relationship. She was in a committed relationship between the ages of 20-28 years old. Though
they were engaged to be married, she broke off the engagement when she discovered that he had
been unfaithful. While she has had two other relationships since, they were of short duration.
Family of Creation
Kathy is single and has no children.
Substance Use/Abuse History
Kathy states that she began drinking at the age of 19 and although she did drink regularly for a
short time after being laid off from her job she now only drinks socially. She does not smoke
cigarettes but does smoke marijuana socially with friends. She does admit to having a food
addiction and has suggested that she would like help dealing with it. She has considered bariatric
surgery but cannot afford it at this time.
Mental Health History
She reports no mental health history and has never sought help with her life issues until now.
Financial History
Kathy says that since being laid off she has suffered financial setbacks. Creditors are hounding

her, and she owes a lot in student loans. She is trying to repair the damage done during her 10
month long loss of income, but is struggling.
Education History
Kathy reports being an A student and being involved in extracurricular activities, in particular,
drama club and choir. She graduated from high school and went on to attend University of
Detroit and Marygrove College, finishing with a masters degree in education.