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A Strengths Perspective in Working with an Adolescent with Dual Diagnosis

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Abstract

Dual diagnosis has gradually become a problem among adolescents in Hong Kong. In working with persons with dual diagnosis, professionals are accustomed to use a disease model in diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation. By means of a case illustration, the writer tries to contrast a disease orientation and a strengths perspective in working with persons with dual diagnosis. The disease orientation stresses: addiction and mental illness; intoxication and dependence; symptoms and diagnosis; detoxification and treatment; confusion and control as well as resistance and labeling. The strengths perspective focuses on: decoding frustration and emptiness from addiction; searching for strengths to satisfy normal needs; establishing social support and encouraging participation in a healthy environment; re-anchoring self-confidence and capability development as well as maintaining empathetic trust. In this case, with the strengths perspective, the writer successfully helped an adolescent to re-build his self-confidence and re-establish a healthy social support system to live a normal life.

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Yip, Ks. A Strengths Perspective in Working with an Adolescent with Dual Diagnosis. Clinical Social Work Journal 31, 189–203 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1022966411982

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