A clinical social worker uses this tool to
learn about the person that is coming for mental health support. It provides a snapshot of the person’s lived experiences. Here is the breakdown. Bio is the person's physical health. The clinician makes sure the client's basic needs are being met. Food, shelter, medical, health, and physical economic environments are considered. A genogram (diagram below)
and/or a ecomap maybe useful (press the arrow). Erik Erikson's psychosocial ages and stages are considered as client's transitions, life domains, cultural expectations and the life course are described. Here, it is important to learn about systemic racism or oppression experienced by the client. The Spiritual portion of the assessment is the client perspective on religion, spirituality and if therapy is viewed as a sacred space of healing. What is the client's source of hope and possibility? Families in Society, had an article on integrating a strengths-based assessment with the biopsychosocial assessment (Graybeal, 2001). It used an acronym, ROPES (resources, options, possibilities, exceptions and solutions). Listen for more: http://socialworkpodcast.com/2007/02/bio-psychosocial-spiritual-bpss.html