Client in Crisis Assignment

Purpose: To apply knowledge of appropriate counseling crisis responses.

Tasks: Students will read the scenarios below and will discuss the following questions for each scenario (1) Do the scenarios below constitute a crisis? (2) How if at all would you respond to this situation given what you know about crisis, ethics and communication? (3) What else is necessary for you to be able to effectively respond to each of the situations? (4) What do you think your client needs? Your responses to these questions should be no less than one page double space. Please be sure to refer to APA style when drafting your response.

Criteria: Student grades on the assignment will be derived from the following rubric:

Identification/description of crisis situation (3 points)

Application and discussion of crisis situation with supporting details and relevance to course content ( 5 points)

Writing style and grammar (2 points)

Scenario 1:
Your client Jeffrey is a recovering addict who has been in counseling with you for 6 months. He is currently on track with his treatment goals and is doing well with attending AA meetings. He comes into his next session and discloses the following:

My wife is suing me for full custody of my kids, and I can’t stand the thought of her taking them. I would go crazy without the kids. They are my life. I thought that things were getting better between us. I’m so confused…

Scenario 2:
During your first intake appointment with a client, you learn that he is coming to counseling due to suicidal gestures. Specifically, according to the guardian, the individual was caught attempting to take 12 Tylenols PMs on the day prior. He was not taken to the hospital because his parents felt that he needed to talk with a counselor instead. When you met with the client, Zane, he disclosed the following:

I’m gay and 15 years old and my parents will totally disown me if they find out. I don’t have any friends, anyone I could live with, and no way to support myself. I’m still in high school. I’m being bullied. My only friend is another gay kid, but he’s out, and my parents have told me I have to stop seeing him…