Assignment 1 - Case Study Assignment Answer Template
Your job is to read the following case studies and answer the questions below them. You are
required to answer the questions for BOTH case studies. Your answers should be written in full
paragraphs, not dot points. You may wish to find and reference other sources to justify your
hypotheses for why the client has presented with this issue (e.g. you could find references
supporting that clients with a family history of depression may be more likely to get it themselves).
References and responses should be in APA 7 th format (Times New Roman, size 12 font, double-
spaced). There is a template for you to write your answers on Moodle. Please submit as a word
document only. The word limit is 1500 words..
Please write your answers under each question below. Word Limit = 1500 words.
Case Study 1:
Andrew (42) presents at your counselling service stating that he is depressed and worried about
many things that seem to be not working out for him at the moment. Andrew is from Greek parents
and he is married to Bianca (who is from an Italian family) and they have a daughter (Angie aged 2).
He says he and Bianca get along very well and they both love and care for Angie. He reports that he
has not spoken to his parents for over 5 years because they refuse to acknowledge Bianca who they
believe was not a good choice of spouse because she was not Greek. He becomes very sad when
describing this situation and says that he worries about what it all means for Angie. He wants her to
grow up with fondness for all her grandparents. He acknowledges that he has a very good
relationship with Bianca’s parents. However, his depression is deepened by a work dispute where
he has been told that he will be dismissed at the end of the year because there is a loss of funding
for his position as a carer for the elderly.
Questions for Case Study 1 – (20 marks)
1. Please describe the client’s presenting concern. In this question, you should also provide
hypotheses that you believe might describe or explain the situation that the client has
presented. You should give reasons for these and you can reference other sources in your
answer (to back up why these factors might be linked to the client’s presenting problem). (4
marks)
2. What other kinds of information would it be helpful to know about your client that you
could ask them? Explain why you would like to know this information i.e. what will it help
you understand about the client? (3 marks)
3. Describe the engagement strategies and counselling microskills you would use for this
specific client? Why? (3 marks)
4. Write a formulation for this client using the 4Ps framework (predisposing, precipitating,
perpetuating and protective factors) – (8 marks)
a. Precipitating Stressors – what brought about the current symptoms? What led to
client coming into therapy now?
b. Predisposing Factors (Developmental Context) - what early experiences have shaped
the client’s view of the world or themselves, and led to their current concerns?
c. Perpetuating or Maintaining factors – What keeps the problem going on currently?
What unhelpful coping strategies might they be using?
d. Protective Factors – What are the client’s strengths? What might be the skills or
characteristics that they have that will help them improve the problem?
5. What would be TWO early goals for this client in counselling, and why? (2 marks)
Case study 2
Sarah is 17 years of age and is nearing her final examinations for Year 12 at school. Sarah really
wants to get top grades and apply to medical school when she finishes high school. Her parents say
that Sarah had always been an anxious child and worries a lot about what her friends think about
her, often trying hard to fit in with her peers. Sarah’s father works as a CEO of a big business and
does not spend much time at home. Sarah’s mother was a model when she was a young adult but
now works full-time as a lawyer at a busy law firm. In the past few months, Sarah’s eating patterns
have changed. She has become vegetarian and has stopped eating carbohydrates (e.g. pasta, rice
etc.). Often, she refuses to eat anything with her family at the dinner table and will ask to eat in her
room instead. Her parents have also said that Sarah seems to be moodier than usual and will start
shouting at them if they disturb her while she is studying. Sarah usually wears baggy clothing, but
her mother recently saw Sarah when she had just come out of the shower and realised that she had
lost a lot of weight. This led to her parents becoming concerned and bringing Sarah in to see you.
Questions for Case Study 2 – (20 marks)
1. Please describe the client’s presenting concern. In this question, you should also provide
hypotheses that you believe might describe or explain the situation that the client has
presented. You should give reasons for these and you can refesrence other sources in your
answer (to back up why these factors might be linked to the client’s presenting problem). (4
marks)
2. What other kinds of information would it be helpful to know about your client that you
could ask them? Explain why you would like to know this information i.e. what will it help
you understand about the client? (3 marks)
3. Describe the engagement strategies and counselling microskills you would use for this
specific client? Why? (3 marks)
4. Write a formulation for this client using the 4Ps framework (predisposing, precipitating,
perpetuating and protective factors) – (8 marks)
a. Precipitating Stressors – what brought about the current symptoms? What led to
client coming into therapy now?
b. Predisposing Factors (Developmental Context) - what early experiences have shaped
the client’s view of the world or themselves, and led to their current concerns?
c. Perpetuating or Maintaining factors – What keeps the problem going on currently?
What unhelpful coping strategies might they be using?
d. Protective Factors – What are the client’s strengths? What might be the skills or
characteristics that they have that will help them improve the problem?
5. What would be TWO early goals for this client in counselling, and why? (2 marks)
