Case Study
Hope is a 17 year old high school student. She has always been a good student, receiving A’s and B’s in her classes. Hope’s parents are divorced and she lives with her father and his wife.
Hope has come to counseling after seeing a severe drop in her grades (failing most of her classes) at school and reporting that she was having thoughts and clear visions of harming others. She has reported feelings of anger and violent thinking, which scare her. She has seen a psychologist and is now on medication, which has helped with the violent and angry thinking.
Her teachers describe Hope as highly intelligent and more than capable of earning good grades. They all report she is well-liked and respectful young woman.
She reports her home situation is not ideal as she does not have a good relationship with her step-mother, which has strained her relationship with her father, who according to Hope, always sides with his wife. Her biological mother suffers from depression and substance abuse and lives over an hour away, so she does not see her often. While visiting mom, Hope discovered her substance use, once under control, has begun again.
Hope is coming to counseling for help with her anxiety, depression, and mood disorder. Her goals are to improve her grades in school, feel happier, and to manage her emotions in a productive and safe manner.
1. What are main areas of concern in the case of Hope,
2. How would you approach this case using Strength-Based CBT?
3. What goals (besides the ones listed by the client) would you look to meet throughout the sessions.
4. Are there any specific SB-CBT techniques you would employ?
