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Running Head: Initial Interview 1
Initial Interview
Author Note
Initial Interview
Identifying Information
• Student name: Kenya Johnson
• Address: 123 Andora Lane Chicago, IL
• Phone number: 504-237-6217
• DOB: 08-12-05
• Gender: Female
• Occupation: High School Junior
Running Head: Initial Interview 2
• Work/school: Kingsley High School
• Cell/home phone: 504-237-6217
• Emergency contact: Gina Green (mother)
• Date of interview: 9-1-2021
Reason for Referral
Kenya was referred to the counselor by Mr. Berry, the World Geography teacher, and was
recommended as a possible student candidate for participation in the summer mission’s trip
in Haiti.
Current Situation and Functioning
Kenya is a Junior at Kingsley High School. She is in honors classes, taking college
elective courses that are specific to the medical field. Kenya is also apart of the schools
medical training staff for varsity sport events. She is a member of the student council and also
regularly participates and co-leads a youth volunteer program at the local food pantry. Kenya
takes honor’s classes and has maintained a C+ average in all of her studies.
Kenya’s character has shown her ability to maintain herself mentally and emotionally,
as well as adapt in different situations. She is a student athletic trainer, who has experienced
medical emergency situations with her fellow classmates. During these events she has been
able to maintain her composure to assist the student athlete during major injuries. The
interactions she has had with other students during her time as an athletic trainer also has
shown her genuine empathy and compassion for others.
Kenya has demonstrated herself as a person who can handle and manage stress and
conflict with others in healthy ways. Kenya also is apart of the Student Council, where she
has the duties of being in charge of facilitating and seeing through the planning of many of the
Running Head: Initial Interview 3
major events, such as the homecoming parade and dance, the senior prom, and all pep rallies
throughout the school year. During this time she has shown that she can work well with others
and value the input and differences of people in a group setting. She also has done well at
acknowledging when she is overwhelmed, and taking a moment to step away from an
assignment for self care. She has managed both stress and conflict without sacrificing the
quality of any project she is working on.
Kenya believes her strengths are her abilities to relate, get along, and work well with
others. She states that she enjoys getting to know people, working hard on projects together,
and encouraging others all while having fun. She describes her weakness as anything math
related, and sometimes she can be impatient.
Relevant Medical and Mental Health Treatment History
Kenya’s mother stated that Kenya does not have any current or previous medical issues.
Kenya have never broken a bone, had any major surgeries, or extended hospital visits.
Family History
Kenya is the only child to Gina Green. Gina, Kenya’s mother, currently works locally for the
U.S. Navy. Kenya’s biological father, Dennis Johnson, passed away before she was born.
When Kenya was 7 her mother married Mark Green, a Navy sailor. Kenya hardly see or
interact with her step father, Mark Green, because he is always deployed and hardly home.
Kenya spent a large portion of her childhood with her grandmothers, Martha Lewis,
Gina Green’s mother, and her biological father’s mother, Tammy Johnson. Both of her
grandfather’s are absent or deceased, and Gina is Martha’s only child. Martha split time with
Tammy caring for Kenya until she became ill in 2012. Tammy was the primary caretaker of
Kenya during the time her mother was deployed, and cared for Kenya daily after school and
Running Head: Initial Interview 4
on summer and holiday breaks. Despite the death of her biological father, she has been able to
develop and maintain a healthy and strong relationship with his family. She has 1 aunt,
Natasha Johnson, and twin girl cousins, Crystal and Casey, that are her same age. Natasha to
this day spends a lot of time with Kenya and her 2 daughters. When the girls were younger,
and Gina was away, she enrolled them in softball, cheer, and dance. Natasha took all three
girls to their weekly practice and their games, and they frequently spend the night with each
other. Currently Natasha shares the responsibilities of motherly- aunt duties with Gina.
Social and Developmental History
Due to the lack of male figures in her life Kenya has a challenging time connecting to
males. She does not feel uncomfortable when she is in situations where she must work with a
male, however, her strongest peer relationships are her those with other females. While she
works well with everyone, she tends to feel more comfortable working with and in a groups of
women. Kenya by nature is a care taker. She has helped with her ill grandmother, and has
chosen extra curricular activities that all involve caring for others. She is a trainer for the
school sports teams, and also helps feed people in heed at the food pantry. Kenya is also
taking courses related to the medical field, which she hope to purse becoming a traveling
nurse in the future. While Kenya’s family may seem small, she has a large support system.
She has the support of her family, was well as many friends, teachers, and community
members that she has met and influenced throughout her life.
Running Head: Initial Interview 5
Educational and Occupational History
Kenya attend Kingsley High School where she is always in attendance. She is a junior,
that takes duel credit college level courses for her electives. She does not currently work,
however, she engages in extra curricular activities such as student council, being an athletic
trainer, and volunteering her time at the food pantry.
Cultural Influences
Potential cultural issues that are important in counseling would be cultural and self
awareness. When working with any culture, issues can arise where our own thought, biases,
and values, and beliefs can impede on our abilities to properly assess or council an individual.
Being self aware, and looking to understand and respect the values, perspective, and cultural
differences of other can help counselors to be most effective and beneficial to the clients we
service.
Plan of Action
Based on the information gathered from Kenya’s interview, I feel she would be a good
fit for the summer mission trip. She displays qualities that will be useful in the environment
that she will be working, as well as the mental and emotional qualities needed to get through
the experience. Kenya may struggle feeling comfortable working in situations that are not
highly female presents. I would want to talk to her about any expectations or reservations she
may have if she does not have the opportunity to work primarily with women. At this time
there are no services or referrals I would recommend.
