week 9 field

The first section is for introducing the client. Please include the following information:

Agency Information: Mentally Fit is a community-based substance abuse counseling center offering individual and group counseling, substance use assessments, and psychoeducation and referral to higher levels of care. The agency practices a harm-reduction and trauma-informed approach. I am completing my internship working with licensed counselors to conduct intake evaluations and engage in individual counseling with supervision.

Client information (confidentiality, of course): The client is J. K., a 29-year-old single mother of two children, with ages 5 and 8. J.K. was made aware of the agency through the department of family and protective services because of the issues of alcohol, drug abuse, monetary strife, joblessness, and housing instability.

Session Number: Session 2

Date: June 29. 2026

Presenting Issue (reason for referral): J.K. was referred mentally fit to do her ability to recognize that her drinking is out of control. He reports taking 3-4 drink a day and has missed work a few times and taking her children to school.

Relevant Information: Three months ago, J.K. lost her job because of the downsizing of the company. She has since found it hard to make a living and take care of her children. She lacks family support and indicates that she has anxiety due to her financial life. Regardless of these obstacles, she shows her desire to change her situation and actively turns to support services. Cultural factors would relate to the way she emphasizes the issue of family responsibility and self-sufficiency, and at times, she finds it hard to seek assistance.

Goal of Session

1. Client Goal: J.K will list two specific concerns he has with his drinking/alcohol consumption and state one personal reason why she would like to make a change before the end of this intake session (SMART goal: specific, measurable, achievable within one 50-minute session).

2. .Your Goal: (intern) Assessment and engagement — Conduct a substance abuse intake assessment; rapport; explore M.T. readiness for change; formulate initial treatment suggestions.

3.

Dialogue

Please group dialogue together.

Identify (for each section)

1. Theory

2. Tools

3. Skills

Analysis/assessment of dialogue

What was going on?  What were the patient's reactions to your feedback?  How did the client respond verbally (quality of voice, tone, did the respond better to closed or open-ended questions?) How did the client respond non-verbally (how did you know they were listening? were they distracted? Did they welcome your feedback?)

Personal reactions and self-reflection to the interaction

What were you thinking?  How do you feel the session went?  What could you have done better?  What will you do differently/the same next time?

Section A: Opening and Engagement

Dialogue

Intern: Good morning, J.K. It's nice to see you again. How have things been since our last meeting?

J.K.: Honestly, it's been stressful. I've been trying to keep everything together for my kids, but I'm worried all the time.

Intern: It sounds like you're carrying a lot of responsibility right now.

J.K.: I am. Sometimes I don't even know where to start.

Theory

· Person-in-Environment Theory

· Strengths Perspective

Tools

· Client Assessment Form

· Case Notes

Skills

· Active Listening

· Empathy

· Reflection of Feelings

· Rapport Building

The client entered the session appearing tired and emotionally overwhelmed. Her statement that she was "worried all the time" suggested ongoing anxiety related to financial and parenting responsibilities. Reflecting her feelings appeared to help her feel understood and encouraged further disclosure.

Verbally, the client spoke softly at first and provided brief responses. She responded positively to open-ended questions and became more engaged as the conversation progressed.

Nonverbally, she maintained limited eye contact initially and frequently clasped her hands. After receiving empathic responses, her posture relaxed and she maintained more consistent eye contact.

I felt empathy for the client, and I did not want her to feel condemned but supported. I worked towards ensuring a secure atmosphere in which she would be allowed to talk about her problems freely. In hindsight, I believe that I was successful in building rapport. Nevertheless, I might have discussed her emotional coping mechanisms with her earlier in the session. I will carry on using reflective listening in subsequent sessions with more time to give the client the opportunity to manage her feelings before transitioning into problem-solving (Filice & Weese, 2024).

Section B: Exploring Needs and Challenges

Dialogue

Intern: Can you tell me more about what has been most difficult recently?

J.K.: Paying bills. Every month, I fall behind, and I worry about losing our place to stay.

Intern: That sounds very frightening. What have you tried so far to manage these challenges?

J.K.: I've applied for jobs, but I haven't heard back from many employers. I've also borrowed money from friends, but I can't keep doing that.

Intern: You've been making several efforts despite the challenges. That shows determination.

J.K.: I'm trying, but sometimes it feels like nothing is working.

Theory

· Strengths Perspective

· Systems Theory

Tools

· Needs Assessment

· Resource Screening Checklist

Skills

· Open-Ended Questions

· Validation

· Strengths Identification

· Encouragement

The client openly discussed financial stressors and housing concerns. She expressed feelings of discouragement but also demonstrated resilience through continued job searching and resource-seeking efforts.

Verbally, her tone became more emotional when discussing housing concerns. She appeared to respond positively when her efforts were acknowledged and validated.

Nonverbally, she sighed frequently and looked down while discussing financial difficulties. When her strengths were highlighted, she smiled briefly and sat more upright, indicating increased confidence and engagement.

I learned to understand the need to balance assessment and to support her emotionally. I did not want to emphasize issues alone but rather bring out the strengths of the client. I feel that it is her efforts that were justified, and this created trust. In the future, I would also learn more about her support system and find out other helpful elements that can support her in this challenging time (Iovoli et al., 2024).

Section C: Resource Planning and Goal Development

Dialogue

Intern: Let's talk about some resources that may help. Would you be interested in exploring housing assistance and employment support programs?

J.K.: Yes, definitely. I didn't know where to start.

Intern: We can review a few options together today. Which concern feels most urgent right now?

J.K.: Housing. If I lose housing, everything else gets worse.

Intern: That makes sense. Let's focus on housing resources first and create a plan for the next week.

J.K.: That would help a lot.

Theory

· Problem-Solving Theory

· Person-Centered Approach

Tools

· Community Resource Directory

· Service Referral Forms

Skills

· Collaborative Planning

· Prioritization

· Goal Setting

· Empowerment

The client shifted from discussing problems to identifying solutions. She demonstrated increased engagement when concrete resources were introduced. Focusing on her most urgent concern allowed her to feel more in control of the situation.

Verbally, she became more confident and talkative during this section. She responded particularly well to collaborative planning rather than directive suggestions.

Nonverbally, she leaned forward, took notes, and maintained eye contact throughout the discussion, indicating active participation and interest.

The willingness of the client to take part in the planning was encouraging to me. I was also conscious of encouraging her to make her own choices and not to override her needs. I would continue focusing on collaboration in future sessions and make the action steps realistic and manageable.

Section D: Closing and Next Steps

Dialogue

Intern: Today, we identified two housing resources and one employment support program. What is one step you feel comfortable taking before our next meeting?

J.K.: I'll contact the housing assistance program and complete the application this week.

Intern: That sounds like a strong and realistic goal.

J.K.: I feel better having a plan. I was feeling stuck before.

Intern: I'm glad our conversation was helpful. We'll review your progress at the next session and discuss any barriers you encounter.

J.K.: Thank you. I appreciate the support.

Theory

· Strengths Perspective

· Empowerment Theory

Tools

· Service Plan

· Referral Documentation

Skills

· Summarization

· Goal Setting

· Encouragement

· Supportive Closing

The client appeared more hopeful by the end of the session. Her statement that she felt "better having a plan" indicated reduced anxiety and increased confidence. The collaborative goal-setting process appeared to enhance her sense of control and motivation.

Verbally, her tone became more optimistic and confident. She actively participated in identifying next steps.

Nonverbally, she smiled, maintained eye contact, and appeared more relaxed compared to the beginning of the session. These changes suggested increased comfort and engagement.

I was satisfied with the modifications that were achieved in the session, and I was glad that the client was willing to participate in the planning process. In my opinion, I managed to be empathetic and provide practical solutions. It would be beneficial to do more research into the emotional health of the client, as the anxiety symptoms could be exacerbated by financial stress. The approaches that I will apply in the future sessions will be based on strengths-based intervention, with additional attention being paid to any underlying mental health issues.