Benchmark Counseling Project: Case Summary and Presenting Problems Assignment Instructions

Overview

The Case Summary and Presenting Problems paper is the first of three papers for the counseling project. You will provide a summary that discusses the history of the fictional client and identifies three problems that you as the therapist will be helping the client work on in the two-case conceptualization and treatment plan papers.

Instructions

In this first paper you will develop a short case summary about a fictional character (a TV, movie, or historical character is acceptable—but no cartoons or superheroes). This paper must be written with the fictional character as the “client,” and you as the treating therapist. This summary will be the basis for your Conceptualization and Treatment Plans 1 and 2 that you will develop later in the course. Your paper will have two sections: Client History and Presenting Problems (show these as level 1 headings). Follow the rules listed below:

1. You will develop a two to four-page Case Summary and Presenting Problems paper about a fictional character from a television show or movie.
2. Pay attention to Chapter 3 in your Schwitzer and Rubin textbook regarding Step 1: Problem Identification of the Inverted Pyramid Model as you write this section of your project. It gives you some tips about how to do a biopsychosocialspirtual assessment and how to use the mental status exam.  You will not do these assessments, but hopefully you will get an idea of what information to write about based on the character you chose.  Feel free to be creative and embellish some information about the character to make them more like a realistic client in order to develop your case conceptualization skills.
3. Current APA format must be followed throughout the paper, and only third person should be used.
4. At least one reference should be included indicating where you found the information providing details of your character (web sites are allowed for this assignment only). 
5. The client must not be a real person, but someone portrayed in television, a movie, literature, etc. No cartoon characters are acceptable. Real and presently living people WILL NOT be accepted for grading.
6. The client must be an adult (age 21 or older) since the theories you will write about are mainly directed towards adults.
7. The following problems/disorders are not allowed to be used due to the limitations of the theories as they are being taught in this course (future courses will go into greater detail on these topics):
8. Suicidal and self-harming thoughts or behaviors
9. Bipolar Disorder, schizophrenia, and personality disorders
10. Sexual Abuse/Trauma

Note: Your assignment will be checked for originality via the Turnitin plagiarism tool.