For child counseling to be successful, a broad range of factors must be considered. Individual cases can vary in a variety of ways, all of which can influence the child’s presenting problem and the effectiveness of different treatment approaches.

For child counseling to be successful, a broad range of factors must be considered. Individual cases can vary in a variety of ways, all of which can influence the child’s presenting problem and the effectiveness of different treatment approaches.
What is a Case Study – About the Assignment
A typical case study is a written narrative of some real-life event, situation, or experience centered in a problem or issue faced by a person, group of persons, organization, community, or even an entire society. Case studies are intended to test your understanding of important concepts and discover how to sharpen your intellectual skills of analysis, synthesis, evaluation, critical thinking and application. Cases add realism to the course and allow you to apply the concepts in a controlled setting while increasing your involvement in the material.
Assessment and Goal-Setting
For this assignment, you will begin by reviewing a case study of a teenager named Carly who is in counseling. Then, you will develop a biopsychosocial assessment and set treatment goals. Please address all of the following:
Case Study Assignment
1. Provide your thoughts in regard to Carly’s case using the Biopsychosocial (BPS) Model that you learned about in Module 2, Lesson 2. What are some biological, psychological, and social factors based on the model which apply to her case presently? Please discuss at least 2 important factors for biology, 2 important factors for psychological, and 2 important factors for social in thinking about the model and elaborate on each fully in your discussion. As a reminder, the domains of the BPS Model are:
Biological: genetics, current or past illness, family history of illness or disease, age, sex, race and ethnicity, behavioral factors that affect health such as smoking, exercise, and nutrition
Psychological: psychological symptoms such as anxiety, depressed mood, irritability, delusions, or hallucinations; personality factors like openness to experience, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism; temperament factors such as sensitivity, reactivity, and emotionality
Social: family context, history of trauma, living conditions, culture, socioeconomic status, education and other life stressors or protective factors
2. Identify Carly’s strengths. This should include individual strengths, as well as those in her family and environment. Please identify and provide examples of at least 2 strengths in detail.
3. How are issues of culture and diversity (e.g. race, SES, gender, LGBTQ issues, family composition, immigration status) should be considered in working with the child and family? Please share at least 2 factors and use examples to support your statements.
4. What are some developmental/age-related issues which might impact treatment with Carly? Please be sure to include at least one specific example and provide details.
5. What might be some goals for treatment with Carly? More specifically, what goals do you think should be set for treatment based on Carly’s case? Please identify 3 specific goals and provide details and refer to the M2 Content Guide on Treatment Planning.
Your entire paper should be 3-4 pages in length.
Carly
Carly is a 17-year-old Latina girl who has just completed 11th grade. She recently presented for an intake at a counseling center. Carly’s mother explained to the counselor that Carly has changed in many ways over the last year. In particular, her symptoms have become more noticeable on a daily basis over the past month. She keeps to herself more than usual (e.g remains in her room, refuses to eat meals with the family) and sleeps from the time she comes home from school to dinner and then back to bed until morning. On weekends, she stays in bed all day. When she does have meals with the family, she does not eat much and appears to have lost 10 lbs or more over the past month. From her bedroom, her mother shared that she sometimes hears Carly crying but Carly will not let mother in to talk with her. Her mother has heard Carly on the phone with a friend last week saying she feels worthless and wishes she could escape how she feels.
Carly lives at home with her mother and a younger brother. Carly and her brother generally get along well but Carly has been more irritable with her brother in recent months, as evidenced by her snapping at him and telling him to leave her alone. Her parents both immigrated to the US from Colombia. Her parents never married and are no longer together as a couple. Carly’s father is a US citizen but Carly’s mother does not have legal status to live in the US. Carly has mentioned several times that she worries that her mother will be forced to return to Colombia.
Until recently, Carly has done very well in school, especially in math. Her grades have begun to decline since the middle of 11th grade. She is an excellent basketball player and, in the past, had expressed that she hoped to play in college someday.
Carly’s father, who lives nearby, was diagnosed with a chronic illness last year. He is often in pain and his disability makes it difficult for him to work. Since her father’s diagnosis, Carly has been reluctant to spend time with him. She told her mother that she feels guilty about avoiding him but cannot stand to see him in pain. Carly told the intake counselor that she feels hopeless about life when she thinks about her father and his illness.
Formerly outgoing and popular with her peers, Carly now avoids most social situations, stating that she prefers to be home alone. Her teachers report that she is less engaged in class and seems to be having trouble concentrating on her work. Carly reported to the counselor that she doesn’t see any point in making an effort in school because “none of it means anything anyway.”
Both of Carly’s parents have told the intake counselor that they are supportive of treatment and will do whatever it takes to help their daughter.