Practice strategies for formulation

The process of ‘formulation’ – sometimes called ‘case formulation’ or ‘case conceptualisation’ – can help you to understand the complexity faced by children and families. It brings together your theoretical knowledge and clinical experience around child behavioural health, with your client’s expertise about their own life, relationships and circumstances. Different professional disciplines, theoretical perspectives and practice modalities have resulted in an abundance of case formulation definitions, approaches and frameworks; as a result, many professionals already have extensive experience and established approaches to case formulation.

Practice strategies for formulation is designed to strengthen these existing case formulation practices, by helping you to identify opportunities and strategies to increase children’s participation in case formulation. These strategies can help you to work in ways that are collaborative and affirming of children’s strengths, skills, know-how and values, especially when it comes to navigating the difficult circumstances they are facing.

This is the second in Emerging Minds’ series of practice strategies online training courses. The first, Practice strategies for assessment and engagement, looks at how functional assessments can help you to focus on the child’s strengths, skills, hopes and goals, rather than on the problems they’re facing.