SOCW 6446 WEEK 7 DISCUSSION: Case Studies 

Post a brief description of the presenting symptoms of the child or adolescent in the case study you selected. Then, explain one possible reason the child’s or adolescent’s problem exists and why. Finally, explain one evidence-based intervention you might use to address the child/adolescent in this case study and how it will be used. Be specific and support your response using the week’s resources and your research.

 

Be sure to support your postings and responses with specific references to the week’s resources.

 

Read a selection of your colleagues’ postings.

 

BY DAY 5

 

Cases Week 7: Case 1

Salena is a 16-year-old Native American girl who is a sophomore at a local high school.

Her mother, who accompanied her to the initial session, referred her for counseling.

During the first session, you spent about 25 minutes with Salena and her mother and

then about 25 minutes with Salena alone. While you are interviewing Salena along with

her mother, you observe that they appear to have a reasonably good relationship. Her

mother is worried about her and primarily attributes Salena’s symptoms to the fact they

recently moved from the Indian reservation to a more urban area. She believes Salena

is having trouble adjusting to the new school and neighborhood. The move was

prompted by the fact that Salena’s mother is in a new romantic relationship; Salena and

her mother moved in with the mother’s boyfriend. Salena’s father has not been involved

in her life since she was about 6 years old.

Salena’s mother reports that Salena is often irritable and difficult at home. This irritability

has increased substantially in the past 3 months. Salena basically agrees with her

mother on this point. They also both agree that Salena is engaging in fewer recreational

activities and reporting little enjoyment from the activities in which she participates.

During the interview, Salena’s mother describes one of her major concerns: “Salena

keeps talking about not really caring if she’s alive or not anymore.” Salena interrupts at

this point and says, “Mom, you’re making way too much of that. It’s not that big a deal.”

But her mother goes on and says, “What about the other day when you said, ‘Maybe if I

get hit by a truck I won’t have to take that algebra test’? What am I supposed to do

when you say things like that?” Salena responded that she was just expressing her

feelings about her upcoming algebra test.

Based on your time with Salena and her mother and with Salena alone, you discover

she has unintentionally lost 14 pounds and reports little appetite. She also recently quit

her part-time job. Her grades have been going down (from low As to low Bs and high

Cs) and her attendance has been poor recently; otherwise, she has a relatively positive

behavioral record at school. Salena also reports to you that she is having difficulty

concentrating and that school is “boring and stupid.” Also, Salena denies using

alcohol/drugs, and this seems to be valid information as it is consistent with what her

mother reports. Finally, there is no evidence that Salena is suffering from any medical

disorders. She has no history of any mental disorders and no trauma history.