BENCHMARK INTAKE REPORT 2
Benchmark Intake Report Part One: Initial Interview
Identifying Information
The interviewee’s name is Emma Thomas, and she lives at 671 Birch Street in Nashville,
Tennessee. Date of birth is 02/02/2004 and she is a single female. Emma is currently a
sophomore at the University of Tennessee, studying environmental science, and her phone
number is 234-800-7678. Her mother Katherine Thomas is her emergency contact and
Katherine’s phone number is 234-560-1046. The date of the interview was 08/29/2023.
Reason for Referral
Emma T. has been referred for an evaluation to assess if she is suitable to participate in
an upcoming mission trip. The referral has come from her university’s student counseling center,
as the university is very selective of potential participants. Due to the demanding environment of
the mission trip, the evaluation will help determine if Emma is a suitable candidate.
Current Situation and Functioning
Emma T. is a hardworking student and has already started her major classes in the
environmental science program. She engages daily in her studies, attends all class sessions, and
has a 4.0 GPA. Outside of academics, Emma is involved in two environmental clubs on campus
and volunteers at nature conservation events once or twice a month.
Emma T. has a passion for environmental issues and desires to make a positive impact.
Emma’s ability to manage the pressure of her busy schedule and check in with herself
emotionally is outstanding. She demonstrates adequate problem-solving skills and cooperates
with several individuals for projects in academics and volunteer work. Emma typically copes
well with stress, but she does need improvement on conflict resolution if she is feeling burned
out. However, she resolves conflict by empathizing with others and understanding other
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perspectives. She perceives that a physically demanding environment can cause her to feel
burned out, but that she is capable of handling challenging situations.
Relevant Medical History
Emma T. has no history of major illnesses. She has seasonal allergies but is otherwise in
great health. She reported no major injuries and the only medication she takes is antihistamines
during allergy season. Additionally, there are no major medical disorders in her family, and she
has never been hospitalized.
Psychiatric Treatment History
Emma T. has never undergone psychiatric treatment and has only spoken to a counselor
through the student counseling center regarding this mission trip. Additionally, there is no
history of psychiatric treatment or substance abuse within her immediate family and most of her
extended family that she is aware of.
Family History
Emma T. grew up in a supportive family environment with both her parents and two
siblings. She values her family’s relationships and feels as though they have very strong
emotional connections. Additionally, she reported that she and her family enjoy spending time
outdoors and exploring nature on trips together. All her experiences with her family contributed
to her love for the environment and she feels as though she is connected to her family through
nature even when they are not around.
Social and Developmental History
Emma T. hit many developmental milestones without significant problems or unusual
circumstances. During her middle and high school years, she participated in several
extracurriculars, such as environmental clubs, and played soccer. She made an exponential
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number of friends through academics and her team over the years. Emma graduated with honors
and was in the top 15% of her class. She did report any serious romantic relationships, but she
reported quality connections with her teachers, coaches, and classmates.
Educational and Occupational History
Emma T. attended her local public schools until she went to the University of Tennessee.
She reported her graduation date as 2025 and plans to also get her master's. Her dedication to her
studies and future education reflects her commitment to her chosen field and she suggests that
she doesn’t want any limitations for what she chooses to do in the future in environmental
science. During summer breaks, she engaged as a volunteer to do environmental clean-up work,
and last summer she reported being paid to be the lead coordinator on a local city project. She
plans to continue working for this organization in her free time and when she has breaks from
school.
Cultural Influences
Emma T.’s cultural influences consist of her family background and her exposure to
several diverse perspectives through university and volunteer activities. She comes from a
European background with no specific traditions that heavily influence her. Throughout her time
at the university, her interactions have broadened her perspective of different cultures and
backgrounds. She attempts to have conversations with an open mind when it comes to cultural
traditions including religious, social, or familial activities. Emma’s interaction with diverse
viewpoints can positively contribute to her experience on the mission trip.
Benchmark Intake Report Part Two: Mental Status Exam
Appearance and Behavior
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During the initial observation, the client appeared neatly dressed and well-groomed.
Emma T. was an average height and in great physical health for someone her age. Her face
appeared clean, and her skin was tan. Emma’s clothing seemed clean and appropriate for an
intake assessment. There were no signs of dishevelment or an unkempt appearance. The client
displayed normal psychomotor activity throughout the evaluation. There were no signs of
restlessness, agitation, or any unusual behaviors such as tics or abnormal mannerisms. Emma’s
movements were congruent with a steady and relaxed demeanor.
Attitude Toward Examiner
Emma’s attitude towards the examiner during the evaluation was cooperative and
friendly. The client had persistent eye contact, seemed alert the entire time, and provided
adequate answers to the questions asked. She appeared attentive and focused on the current topic
of conversation. Emma did not indicate any type of defensiveness, hostility, or evasiveness in her
demeanor.
Affect and Mood
She presented a mostly neutral and positive mood throughout the evaluation. There were
never any overt expressions of sadness, anger, or anxiety. Emotional responsiveness was limited,
but this response was appropriate for the questions asked. The overall mood of the client seemed
stable. No symptoms of mental disorders were reported or observed.
Speech
The client’s speech was within normal range in terms of tempo, quantity of words, and
vocabulary use. Emma T. engaged in the questions willingly and applied detailed responses
where appropriate. Her speech was fluent and comprehendible, with appropriate pauses when she
was elaborating on her answers. There were no speech abnormalities detected.
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Thought
Emma T. exhibited a logical and synchronous thought process throughout the evaluation.
There were no observable disturbances regarding the thought process. Her thoughts appeared
linear and coherent, with no suggestions of racing or disorganized thought patterns. The client
also denied any disturbances in thought content. There were no indications of delusions, suicidal
thoughts, or obsessions. Emma T.’s thought content seemed within the parameters of a normative
thought process.
Orientation
The client seemed to have an intact orientation throughout the assessment. She did not
appear to have any motor, auditory, or perceptual inadequacies. Emma T. accurately identified
the current date and time. She also was aware of the location and correctly identified the exam
room. The client correctly recognized the examiner and the role of the examiner during the
evaluation.
Memory
Her recent memory was tested by answering questions about recent events and activities
she participated in. Emma T. provided accurate and detailed answers and recalled her
experiences without any difficulty. Additionally, her remote memory was assessed by inquiring
about past conversations, events, and childhood experiences. The client demonstrated an intact
memory overall by being able to recall recent and remote events in detail.
Concentration and Attention
Emma T.’s concentration and attention were within a normal range. She displayed focus
while listening to questions and did not seem distracted. The client was able to engage in the
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conversation during the entire assessment and stayed on topic during her responses. Additionally,
she did not hesitate to answer when asked more extensive or complex questions.
Information and Intelligence
She demonstrated an ability to accomplish mental tasks that are congruent with her
educational level and background. Emma T. exhibited good knowledge overall by answering
questions with critical thinking. The client engaged in abstract thinking when asked questions
about cultural influences on her life and how her experiences shaped her perspective.
Reliability
Emma T. appeared to provide credible responses and consistency in telling her
experiences. Throughout the evaluation, all information seemed credible and accurate. The client
exhibited consistent behavior and there were no concerns in the realm of self-reporting.
