*You will hypothetically work through counseling with your chosen client.
*Theories can be selected from Theories I and Theories II only- beware of how many you select, more may not be better.
*APA formatting is expected and will be reflected in the final grade.
*Please separate this paper into section 1 and section 2
*The rubric is only a guideline for how this assignment will be graded.
Section 1
(10% of your paper) Show how you believe this client developed, especially focusing on the maladaptive behavior.
o Identify the theoretical orientation for this case (list your combination of theories that you believe will work with this client).
o Using this theoretical orientation as your lens, explain how you believe the client’s maladaptive behavior developed.
Outline what your primary treatment goals are for this client- be specific on what you are focusing on and how you arrived at the goals.
Section 2
(30% of your paper) What do you do in the initial sessions to build rapport and notice ethical issues? How does that fit into your theoretical orientation?
Include any and all ethical considerations:
o What are your initial clinical impressions in terms of cognition, behavior and physical appearance?
o What issues presented by the client might have ethical implications (suicide, homicide, etc.) in the near future, and what actions might you take to mediate issues?
What techniques would you use in relation to your chosen theoretical orientation?
o Explain why you chose these techniques and how they fit into your style.
o If your theories don’t use techniques, then explain why.
What elements of cultural identity and/or background might be important for you to address with this case and why?
Discuss how you know when termination is appropriate and what you do to make the client ready to terminate counseling.
Case Study 2: Chris
Background
Chris came to counselling because he was experiencing increasing feelings of being stressed, overwhelmed and weighed down by his commitments in life. He has been particularly concerned about his negative thoughts and attitude at work and at home and would like to change this.
Chris is a husband of three years to Michelle and father to 18-month-old James. He is 45 years of age and a nurse at a local hospital. He has also been studying part time for his master’s degree in nursing for three years. His wife is also a nurse and together they work shiftwork in order to look after James. Chris states he enjoys his job, but it can be demanding and physically tiring at times. He has previously enjoyed his studies but is now finding it difficult to finish the work with the responsibilities of a small baby. For financial reasons he has not been able to complete his studies full-time.
Chris has recently found the demands of being a husband, a nurse, a father and a student to be taxing on his physical and emotional health and he has found himself to be snappy, irritable, exhausted and unmotivated at home and at work. He has noticed that his relationship with his wife Michelle has become strained and he has begun to resent her for asking him to complete even minor chores around the home. He is feeling unloved and taken for granted by his wife. He has started questioning whether he wants to finish his studies and whether he wants to stay in the marriage.
Chris was prompted to come to counselling at the suggestion of his doctor. Chris presented to his doctor with complaints of an itchy rash covering his arms and torso, and of throbbing headaches at night and in the morning. Chris stated that medical tests revealed no physical reason for these complaints and his doctor suggested that working through some of the demands and pressures Chris had in his life may relieve the symptoms, as they may be directly related to stress and tension. Chris was happy to do this as he stated he was unhappy with his reactions and attitude at this time, as he had always been a happy, positive sort of guy.