Psychological Report

INITIAL INTERVIEW 1

Intake Report for George Wesley

David Evans

School of Behavioral Sciences, Liberty University

Identifying Information

· George Wesley

· 1234 Fair Oaks Boulevard, Sacramento, CA 95825

· 1 (252) 867-3294

· January 10, 1977

· Male

· Divorced

· Firefighter/Pastor

· California Department of Fire Emergency Services

· No work phone recorded

· Esther Nadene Wesley (daughter)

· August 30, 2022

Reason for Referral

George W. Wesley was referred by Bishop Boyd. Bishop Boyd presides over the Northern Virginia Baptist Convention. Bishop Boyd is considering Pastor George for a position leading a large city congregation. Bishop Boyd believes this evaluation will aid in determining whether George is a good fit for the Senior Pastor job of a large city church. George has never presided over a congregation of more than 200 persons. All of his pastoral roles were in smaller congregations with congregants over age fifty. These villages were mostly in rural areas. George reported having no prior experience with millennials.

Current Situation and Functioning

George is well-dressed and groomed, and has a lean, athletic build. Throughout the interview, he kept eye contact and articulated ideas well. However, he had moments where he appeared fearful about his lack of experience to lead an assembly of that magnitude. He admitted to being concerned about the interview because it could jeopardize his opportunity to move into the new role. In other moments during the interview, George spoke candidly with confidence the interview. He considered himself an experienced pastor and had the knowledge and training to back it up. George was attentive to all interview questions and responded astutely.

He denies having any difficulties in his daily life. He constantly tapped his leg and asked if he could switch on the ceiling fan. Although he frequently devotes his free time to church activities, his long working hours allow him to hide his anxieties and avoid church concerns. George sees this as a major weakness and knows he needs to “work on it.” When he gets stressed, he talks to his mother. He considers being able to quickly recognize his stress triggers a strength. He loves reading, which helps him when he cannot sleep on holiday nights.

Relevant Medical History

George appears to be in good health with the exception to the discoloration of the eyes. His doctor recommended that he take a multivitamin, during his most recent check-up. The doctor reported that George’s Prostate-specific Antigen, cholesterol, glycated hemoglobin, kidney, and liver all show healthy functionality or fell within healthy limits. George was nervous about the stress test, but it also yielded favorable results.

George was hospitalized in 2017 after going unconscious and falling from a ladder during training. During this incident, he tore his meniscus (left knee). He denies losing consciousness and being hospitalized. He has no other medical issues. He has a sister who suffers with diabetes, which he believes is due to obesity. All other siblings are otherwise healthy.

Psychiatric Treatment History

George denies that his family has a history of mental illness. He has been diagnosed with Acute Stress Disorder (ASD) twice. Both instances were tied to traumatic work experiences. He believed he could have saved the children if he had driven faster or busted down the door. He has completed all employer mandated individual and group treatments. George also received 30 days of paid leave for each event. He underwent treatment for six months, the most recent being two years ago. George was prescribed lorazepam (Ativan) for anxiety and zolpidem (Ambien) to help him sleep two years ago. He is faithful taking his multivitamin but refuses to take any prescribed medication. George reported no psychiatric or substance abuse challenges with any of his siblings or immediate relatives.

Family History

George's mother lives in Central California near his brothers. George's mother was a nurse. His father was murdered when he was 11 years old. His father was a police officer killed in action. George’s mother is 78 years old. His maternal grandparents are alive and well. They are 98 (grandfather) and 94 (grandmother) years of age respectively. At 99 years old, George’s paternal grandfather is still alive as well. His maternal grandmother has previously passed away. He has three sisters who are 50, 53 and 55 years old. Brothers aged 58 and 56. George is the youngest.

Both of his grandfathers were ministers. His mother's father was the pastor of the largest church in Youngsville, LA. As a child, he remembers how kind and loving they were and how they never lost their cool. His grandmother was very patient and a good cook. For as long as George can remember, his Sunday lunch was at his grandparents' house. His mother's family reunites twice a year, and his father's family once. He never misses his family events. George’s most memorable childhood experience was helping on a farm. He liked to pick green beans and tomatoes. George hated it when his grandmother sent him to get eggs.

Social Development and History

George sees himself as an introvert who adapts to the needs of those around him. He prefers to stay home alone. George attributes this to the fact that he is always among people. He shared his bedroom with his brother until he went off to college. He loves the Lord and finds refuge through salvation in Christ. He finds peace reading the Bible and listening to Christian music. He lacks a social life and feels that this affects him a lot; he often works extra shifts as a distraction. George’s work as a Fire Chief requires him to be on shift for 24-hours a day for several consecutive days. George’s last relationship was mentally draining, and he currently has no desire to date. He dated a selfish woman, and he feels God revealed to him the woman's selfish character over time. George believes she did not understand her role as a First Lady and was unwilling to take on the virtue of being a Christian woman. George still co-parents with his ex-wife raising their daughter who is currently a junior in college.

Education and Occupational History

George graduated from high school at the age of 16. He was a Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC), United States Army. Although he participated and competed in the JROCT All 3 years of high school, George decided not to join the military. George discovered a sudden interest in becoming a Firefighter instead. George’s mom encouraged him to attend college before applying for firefighting jobs. George decided to attend a junior firefighting program offered by the county during his junior year of college. He received all the training necessary to become a volunteer firefighter. He holds a BA in Fire Science with a minor in Biblical Studies from Central North Carolina University. He earned a master's degree in fire protection engineering from the University of Maryland. He earned a doctoral degree in theology from the Baptist Bible College.

After being hired in 2003, he received additional training from his current job. His on-the-job training included training as a paramedic. George passed his paramedic certification exam in 2007. That license is current. During his 19 years, he served with the District of Columbia's Fire and Emergency Services. As Fire Chief, George oversees and directs the duties of the 32 men and women assigned to their assigned fire department. He is responsible for the safety of all assigned employees during his shift. George is a highly decorated firefighter and an excellent fire captain and always gets good performance reviews. The only occupational injuries he claims are the case of his torn meniscus and the acute stress injury, resulting in two separate medical leave statuses.

Cultural Influences

George’s Haitian heritage could cause a grading challenge. To establish which culture he most closely identifies with, an acculturation test maybe necessary. George was raised with a heavy cultural influence that was not indicative of his own. His parents were Haitian, but he was raised in a rural African American community. His primary language is French Creole. However, he also speaks English fluently. These facts may need further consideration and possible testing for validation, as client behavior is a crucial part of determining if any further assessments/testing is necessary.

Mental Status Exam

Appearance and Behavior/Psychomotor Activity

George showed up on time and looked well put together. Although Mr. Wesley spoke strongly about his Haitian background, he presented himself with more of a western culture, wearing ironed khaki pants and a button-down shirt. His hair was methodically combed, as if this is where his confidence lies. Although you could sense that the physicality associated with Mr. Wesley’s firefighting background maybe the culprit behind his slow movement, he did not move quite as slowly as the other men his age (45). He did not exhibit any signs of agitation or enthusiasm. Mr. Wesley seemed even keel mostly. During the interview, George expressed himself frankly and with self-assurance regarding the interview. He believed that his years of experience, along with his education and training, qualified him to serve as a pastor. When responding to the interview questions, George demonstrated attentiveness and perceptiveness. Mr. Wesley revealed his tension by tapping his left thigh with his right hand, but other than that, he lacked any peculiar habits or tics.

Attitude toward Examiner

Mr. Wesley visited the workplace and acted in a manner that was not just supportive but also courteous and attentive. He did not make any excuses or attempt to deflect responsibility as he answered each question.

Affect and Mood

George disclosed that he was experiencing anxiety in response to the query; he apologized before proceeding to transparently admit that he was feeling a little nervous, but he did not exhibit any signs of melancholy, rage, or grief. The affects that Wesley had mirrored his disposition.

Speech

The volume of Mr. Wesley's voice fell within the typical range for when he was answering inquiries. The content of his speech was moderate, and his delivery was somewhat clear and succinct. George provided an explanation for his response by indicating whether he agreed or disagreed with the question. It did not appear as though Mr. Wesley was under any kind of pressure to respond to the question, which he volunteered.

Perceptual Disturbances

There were no hallucinations or other alarming experiences reported by Mr. Wesley. Aside from the darkening in his eyes, he appeared to be in good health.

Thought

George did not appear to have any difficulty forming thoughts. His pace, flow, and connections between thinking processes all seemed congruent with what might be considered typical. Mr. Wesley did not suffer from any mental blocks, such as obsessions, delusions, or preconceived conceptions, which would have prevented him from thinking clearly. George denied having suicidal/homicidal intentions during the time of the interview.

Orientation

Mr. Wesley was aware of the day and time of the appointment, as well as the location he was in and the people in the immediate vicinity. George did not show any deficiencies connecting time to relative events taking place.

Memory

Mr. Wesley’s memory seemed to be sharp, he knew what he had for lunch and for breakfast and his remote memory seemed good as well as he recalled situations from his childhood. He again highlighted his childhood memories of working on the farm and other family interactions. Mr. Wesley seems to have a high regard for his closest kinships.

Concentration and Attention

During the meeting, Wesley's ability to concentrate or pay attention was not hindered, and he seemed to be present without any preoccupations or distractions. George seemed to be prepared mentally to be present and engaged in what was being discussed during the interview.

Information and Intelligence

It is fully within Mr. George's capabilities to deal with the mental hurdles that come with having the background and education level that he possesses. His well thought out responses, articulation, and value added, directly reflect his intellect.

Judgement and Insight

George embodies social justice skills. He is aware that he experiences anxiety over things that may have an impact on his life. He is aware that his anxiety is what hinders complete fulfillment in certain areas of his life, while it also compels him to try finding solutions to those challenges. George recognizes the impact that this dynamic is having on him. Mr. Wesley is motivated to finding solutions for the challenges that he faces.

Reliability

Mr. George was able to present his circumstance in a very clear and concise manner; in addition, his talk was extremely well thought out, and he spoke with full assurance regarding the subject matter.