Sample Case Study In Social Work

Words: 936
Pages: 4

My childhood growing up in the bay area was pretty good, if a bit sheltered. I went to private school and church on Sundays, had a comfortable home life, and spent most of my spare time playing soccer or reading a book. My exposure to suffering was minimal, and I didn't even experience the first loss of a close loved one until early in residency, when my grandmother died. She was an amazing woman and one of my most ardent supporters. She was also probably my first glimpse of true suffering, though she was hardly one to complain. Beginning sometime during high school, I'd hear whispers from my mom or grandpa about how her rheumatoid arthritis was progressing, causing pain and stiffness in all her joints and long sleepless nights. We were always very close and remained so up until she passed away during my intern year. Once I was an adult and especially after starting medical school, I became someone she could confide in about her various health problems and resultant suffering. It was often a helpless feeling, even as I ostensibly gained a better understanding of her disease process. Even though I had gained a small window into my grandma's suffering, I remain amazed to this day …show more content…
Much of my research to date has been focused on learning more about the application of a variety of interventional procedures, an aspect of pain management that must be better understood to maximize positive outcomes and minimize harm. I continue to be intrigued by this endeavor, but I'm also interested in the study of non-interventional techniques for pain management. I'm specifically interested in how we can better employ ancillary techniques such as physical therapy and motivational interviewing to improve overall function and societal contribution, and CBT and mindfulness techniques to further optimize a person's experience of their suffering and minimize