Application Assignment

Psychotherapy Interventions II

Case Study: Sam

Name: Sam Gender: Male Age: 32 Ethnicity: Greek American

Religion: Eastern Orthodox Christian Relationship Status: Divorced

Description of Presenting Issue:

Sam was referred to you by a colleague at work who was concerned about Sam’s recent poor performance at work, marked by bouts of angry outbursts, moodiness, and sarcasm towards coworkers.

Sam appears to be a relatively bright, articulate individual who is employed as a photographic editor at a large marketing firm. Sam’s major concern is the stress that he is feeling at his current job. He is concerned that his supervisor does not recognize his efforts, and is trying to “keep him on the back burner” and prevent future advancement in the organization. Sam is very frustrated by this, as he reports that when he first started working at the company, his supervisor “was an amazing mentor who literally took me under his wing.” Sam reports that he has done “everything that he could” to win back the approval of his supervisor.

Sam says he feels “empty and bored” lately. He is considering making a career change but is not certain what he would like to do next. He reports that he has an active social life, going out several times per week to clubs and bars. Although Sam does not use recreational drugs, he does note that he sometimes “drinks too much when he is out partying.” Recently, he was involved in a physical fight with another man at a bar.

Although currently single, Sam was married twice previously (for 2 and 5 years, respectively). He described his second divorce as particularly painful, during which he was briefly hospitalized for a failed suicide attempt. He is very eager to be in a relationship now, and believes that he just has not found “the right woman.”

Occupational History: Sam has had frequent changes in type and place of employment. He has worked in a variety of settings.

Educational History: Sam attended college, but left midway through his senior year.

Medical History: Hospitalization at age 26 for suicide attempt, and at age 30 for gall bladder surgery. No current medications or treatment.

Family History: Sam has one older (age 34) and one younger (age 28) sister. Both are married and live in the same town as Sam. Sam’s parents are still married, but when Sam was a young boy, his father suffered a “nervous breakdown” and left the family for 6 months. His parents are both retired, and travel frequently. He describes his father as a “serious, distant, hard-working man” and his mother as a “soft, warm, saint who put up with too much from everyone.”

Alcohol/Substance Use: During adolescence, Sam experimented with a wide range of illegal drugs and prescription medications. Since his mid-20s, he has restricted his substance use to alcohol to 3–6 drinks per night, 2–3 nights per week.