Overview
It is no secret that students in Marriage and Family Therapy and other clinical programs across the globe struggle with the art of clinical conceptualization. Due to its complex nature, many institutions of higher education brush over the construct, and lean heavily on more tangible interventions found in different theoretical models to guide novice therapists. Understanding clinical conceptualization demonstrates a shift in professional development. This shift illuminates a therapist’s comfort in the therapeutic process and mastery over introductory clinical constructs. This week, you explored the notion of clinical conceptualization. It is my interpretation that you may have reached varying conclusions as to the interpretation of the construct itself, and its applicability in the therapeutic process. I am very much interested in reading what you have determined. For this assignment, you will explain your understanding of clinical conceptualization (support your statement by citing peer-reviewed sources); you will also review a provided case vignette and demonstrate your understanding of clinical conceptualization.     
The Vignette (Do Not Copy & Paste the Vignette to Your Paper)
Back for another session, the Jacksons continue to discuss the challenges shared by the family. Tracy explains that her family means everything to her. She shared that her sacrifices have been to help provide a stable home environment for children. She begins to tear up as she indicates that Andre fails to see her contributions. Kiyan reaches over and places his arms around his mother while Kenya shows her dissatisfaction by shaking her head. Tracy continues to state that she wants the best for her children, but Kenya is constantly fighting her, and Andre consistently sides with Kenya. Sitting all the way back in his seat with his arms folded over his chest and his legs crossed, Andre shakes his head in denial or disapproval. Kendra and Kina remain on the floor playing on their phone and ignoring the whole process. At this point, Andre shares that Tracy wants to control everyone. He goes on to say that Kenya, as a junior, has credits to graduate and has received scholarship offers from multiple schools. With pride in his voice he shares that Kenya has decided to attend college out of state at a renowned institution. He further shares that Tracy believes that Kenya attending an out-of-state institution is a bad idea. She has been moping around the house for months picking fights with Andre and Kenya. Kiyan pulls back from his mother and refuses to look up at anyone in frustration. After a moment, you notice that Kiyan is crying and you ask about the tears. He says that he is tired of walking on eggshells around his whole family. He continues to share that everyone believes that Kenya walks on water because of her excellent grades and everyone else simply doesn’t matter. He shares that his father shared a valid depiction of what goes on in the home sometimes. In a low voice Kiyan continues and states that other times, his father is constantly griping at his grades even though he has a 3.8 GPA or minimizes his interests in theater and music or the interest of the twins in martial arts and sports because no one can measure up to Kenya. With this statement, Kendra and Kina looked up from their phones at their father, then at their mother, then to you as a therapist.
Paper format
***Review the Case Conceptualization Paper rubric in the Rubrics folder under Course Information before completing your assignment.
Section 1: Introduction
Before delving into the main subject matter of your paper, please introduce your work and clearly explain what you will be discussing in your paper. A good introduction provides you with a frame of reference for the body of your paper. This is your opportunity to hook the reader and offer a general overview of your paper. In addition, it also helps you to organize your thoughts before producing your masterpiece. 
Section 2: Clinical (Case) Conceptualization
Summarize your understanding of clinical conceptualization. Please demonstrate that you have read the assigned material, watched the embedded videos in the Resource folder and have researched, found, and incorporated published / peer-reviewed sources (not websites) in your response. You should have a minimum of three peer-reviewed sources to help shape your understanding of the conceptualization process.
Section 3: Assessment
In this section, you should articulate the importance of gathering information that is not freely shared by the client unit. Your goal here is to identify and articulate (do not use bullet points) relevant, system-focused, questions (no less than five) that would help you better understand the presenting concern of the client unit. These circular questions should also help the client unit in developing insight in regard to their presented challenges.    
Section 4: The Vignette
After reading the vignette (multiple times), write out a detailed clinical conceptualization. Please do not simply repeat the information found in the vignette. This act is called mirroring and does not demonstrate your ability to conceptualize a case from a clinical point of reference. Use what has been shared to help you formulate some hunches / hypothesis about what is not being shared and why the information is not being shared. In other words, clearly articulate how you have come to understand this client family and include your assumptions, hunches, suppositions, and ideas that help you to clinically understand the challenges presented by the clients while using the language of systems theory.    
Section 5: The Summary / Conclusion
This is where you get to share the highlights of your paper. Focus on the central theme of the paper and express your discoveries along the way.
Guidelines
This paper should be no more than six pages and no less than four pages in length. This excludes the presence of a title and reference page.
This paper is due on Sunday of week 3 by 11:59 pm.
This paper should contain no less than three peer-reviewed references other than the text (Wikipedia is not a peer-reviewed reference, but it is a good starting point).
This paper should adhere to strict APA guidelines. 
Punctuations and grammar count.
Font Style should be Times New Roman and font size should be the standard 12.
Page Margin should be the standard 1 inch.
Do not double space between paragraphs. 
As a reminder, when you quote any source please be sure to cite that source and give credit in the body of the paper and in the reference page.
A good rule of thumb is no more than one quote per page
Paraphrasing is encouraged, but remember to cite your sources.
Save your paper as a doc or rtf with your name and the assignment name in the file, using Last Name_Assignment.  So, if your name were Alicia Jackson, and this is Essay 1, you would title it Jackson_Essay 1.
For help with writing, review APA formatting and writing resources in the Writing Supports folder under Course Information.