case study

HSCO 509

HSCO 509 Case Study Instructions

Select a scenario below and discuss how you would proceed if working with this client. Do not copy and paste, or repeat the scenario in your paper.

Scenario #1

Mario is an illegal alien from Mexico. He has lived in the U.S. for five years and worked various construction jobs in the South. Mario’s family stayed behind in Mexico so he struggles with loneliness and has a poor social network except for an outreach ministry at a local Catholic Church. Mario was pulled over and charged with a DUI. He was sent to your agency for mandatory counseling.

Scenario #2

Janet just completed her fourth divorce. She is in her early 30s. Her personal life is in chaos. She has children by three of her former husbands. Janet has struggled with addiction issues over the years, including alcohol and drugs. She came from a very difficult family where her parents were alcoholics and often fought with each other. Janet was sexually abused by her uncle on more than one occasion when he lived with the family during her early teen years.

Scenario #3

Roger is an obese 40-year old man and suffers from other health issues like diabetes and high blood pressure. Roger reports that he lives alone and has very few friends. Roger is single and would like to be married. However, he is afraid that women will reject his advances due to his weight. To further complicate the issue, he reports struggling with homosexual thoughts and feelings. Roger sought your help because he recently contemplated suicide.

The paper must include a minimum of 3 peer-reviewed, scholarly journal articles published within the past 5 years. The information used from the resources should offer support for your comments. Use the course materials and peer-reviewed journals easily accessed through Liberty University’s online library. If you have questions about the online library, contact the online librarian. Information from sources must be cited APA style in the body of the paper in addition to listing the references alphabetically on the reference page. Only list references that you cited (used) in your paper. If you need assistance with current APA format, contact the Online Writing Center or Tutor.com. Liberty University offers a link to Tutor.com through the Liberty University Online website. Sign in with your Liberty username and password.

This assignment is due by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Sunday of Module/Week 6.

Title Page: Spend some time thinking about an interesting title that highlights key points in your paper (do not use the assignment name). Include a Running head and page numbers in the header. The Running head is an abbreviated title for your paper (for example, if the paper title was A Case Study on the Use of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to Treat Physical and Social Health Needs, the left header might be: Running head: COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY). Page numbers begin on the title page in the right header (number only). Centered on the title page, between the top and middle of the page, is the Paper Title, Your Name, and Liberty University (no other information). Use Times New Roman, 12 point font for academic papers.

Abstract

The abstract is a summary of what you cover in your paper; this differs from the introduction.  Center the Abstract heading (do not bold) on p. 2.  The abstract is one paragraph, not indented, double-spaced, with no direct quotes or citations.  Do not include any information that requires a citation. The abstract is between 150-250 words.  It should be in past or present tense, not future tense.  Do not use personal language (I, me, we, my, for example) in the abstract. The abstract should be alone on page 2.

Body of the Paper

Repeat the paper title, centered, at the top of the first page of text (p. 3 in this paper). Open with a brief introductory paragraph, then begin with your first section. Do not use a heading for the introduction. Select a scenario and explain how you would proceed in counseling this client. The body of the paper must be 3–5 pages. Reserve the use of direct quotes for the most significant information that it would be difficult to put into your own words and cite. Do not use lengthy quotes (direct quotes should be less than 40 words for this assignment). It is appropriate to use first-person pronouns in the case study (I, my, me, mine), though never in the abstract.

The following items serve as sections in the paper. Be sure to identify each section in the paper as a heading. Each section should be at least ½ page (not counting the introduction and conclusion, which should each be a brief paragraph).

Personal Information

It is not necessary to repeat the information in the case study instructions regarding the scenario you select.  By using the client’s name, it will be clear which scenario you are using, and you can assume this basic information is known.  Think about what personal information it would be important for you to know as a counselor.  What do you need to know about the presenting problem, family history, social relationships, academic and work history and experience, medical conditions, and counseling history, for example, and why is this information important to you? Your discussion should be specific to the scenario you are exploring.

Personal Biases and Limitations

Every good counselor needs to consider personal biases and limitations carefully. Do not state that you have no potential biases or limitations. Do you have the necessary knowledge and experience to work with this client in each aspect of his or her treatment? Are there any referrals you might make? Identify potential biases, concerns, and possible limitations in working with the client. Be clear in explaining why these issues could impact counseling.

Goals

What goals would you like to achieve with the client, and why are these goals important? What do you believe is the most important goal to pursue in working with this client? Explore specific short-term and long-term goals. Clients tend to be more successful if small goals can be quickly achieved first.  There are likely multiple goals that relate back to the personal information you first discussed.

Theoretical Approach

Discuss the theoretical approach or model that you believe will be most effective for the client. Why will this model be the best model to use? Some examples of popular counseling therapies include existential therapy, behavior therapy, cognitive therapy, rational emotive behavior-therapy, reality therapy, family systems theory, solution-focused therapy, narrative therapy, and creative arts therapies.

Therapeutic Techniques

What counseling techniques would be appropriate? How many sessions would you schedule? Would you encourage the client to seek other areas of psycho-educational assistance or resources? Identify techniques that match the counseling theory you described in the previous section.

Measurement of Progress and Success

How do you plan to measure success? Why is this form of measurement the best method to use with this client? Progress is typically noted at regular intervals throughout counseling, and at completion, along with a discussion of this process at the beginning of counseling.  Therapeutic progress and success should relate back to the goals. 

Conclusion

The conclusion should provide a brief summary of your closing thoughts or concerns about the future progress of the client. Briefly highlight what you covered in your case study as the plan for working with this client.

References

Begin references on a new page.

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