Veronica's Story
Veronica: Am I in the right place?
Helper (Gabriel): Depends, what are you looking for?
Veronica: Good Samiaritan, I have an appointment. I think I am late, and I am really irritated.
Gabriel: You are in the right place. Are you Veronica?
Veronica: Yes I am. Who are you?
Gabriel: My name is Gabriel, or Gabe. It is nice to meet you Veronica. It looks like you have an appointment with me.
Veronica: Oh, OK. It is nice to meet you too. Sorry I am late, the bus was running a few minutes behind and I thought I was lost. I have kind of a short temper for things like that.
Gabriel: Tell m about yourself Veronica.
Veronica: I am 35 years old and I am a breast cancer survivor. I have three sons; Cameron who is 16, Julian who is 12 and Jamie who is seven. I have been married to Vincent, my high school sweetheart, for 17 years now, but we are going through a rough patch. We were doing really well intil I suspected he was cheating on me. He was always coming home late, he smelled different, and he paid less attention to me. He is a personal trainer, you know, and he is always around better looking women than me. Maybe that is just my insecurities speaking. It has been really hard since the cancer. Then after a huge fight, he took off. It has been about six months. Now, he wants to come back and work things out... but I don't know. I worry that if I let Vincent come back, and if I cannot trust him, we may fight and he may leave again. I really want my kids to have their dad around. Vincent grew up in foster care, so you think he would know better. I just cannot handle all that stress. I am not really sure what else to say.
Gabriel: Thank you for sharing. Tell me more about your kids.
Veronica: Well, Cameron leaves home for days at a time, skips school, and recently got his girlfriend pregnant. He can't raise a baby and I am not ready to be a grandma. He says he hates me and blames me for his dad leaving. I don't know what to do with that kid, he knows how I feel about school, and he used to get really good grades. I'm concerned about his future. He yells at me and says, "You didn't finish school, why should I?" There is not a day that goes by that I do not regret my decision to drop out. I also think he is shoplifting, because he always has nice, new things and when I question him, he says that his friends gave it to him. I don't know what to believe, and I don't want to upset him because then he would never come home. What kind of example does that set for his brothers? They really look up to him.
Julian is the sweetest child. He gets straight As in school, he is very helpful towards others and he loves animals. Lately, he has become very curious about my makeup and Britney Spears music. He insists on being called "Julia," and walking around the house like a well trained runway model. I think he's going to be gay. While I am okay with it, Vincent is very distraught about the whole situation. He thinks it is a phase and insists that no son of his will be gay. It breaks my heart to see how Vincent treats Julian as opposed to Cameron and Jamie, I can see the hurt in Julian's eyes. That is another reason why it is hard to let Vincent come back.
Gabriel: How does that make you feel?
Veronica: Angry, very angry.
I can understand that. How do you deal with your anger?
Veronica: I do yoga, kickboxing and lots of running. Like I said, my husband was a personal trainer. Sometimes I go to church and pray. I was raised Catholic. I also have a really close group of friends, since childhood... they help me out a lot.
Gabriel: Sounds like you have a pretty healthy lifestyle. Now tell me about your last son, Jamie.
Veronica: Jamie is my little football star. He plays for the Eagles in the Pop Warner League. He is very talented for a seven year old... knows all the plays and got MVP last year for the league. This makes his dad very proud, being a sports nut and all. Not that it does not make me proud, it does, I am just nervous about him getting hurt. He has already had three broken bones from sports. He is not the best in school, but he tries hard, I know he does. I may need to get him a math tutor.
Gabriel: Maybe I can refer you to some tutors.
Veronica: Thank you
Gabriel: So tell me a little more about yourself
Veronica: Like what?
Gabriel: Hobbies, career, dreams... stuff like that.
Veronica: Well I currently work as a part time pet sitter. I hust love animals and have always been really good with them. I wanted to become a vet, but I dropped out of high school, got married, and had kids. Time just flew by. My best friend Mia went to school to study Social Work. She told me about a place called Nine Star, which helps people like me get their High School Diploma or GED. If I did that she said she would help me get into UAA. I never thought I would actually go to college, wouldn't that be a trip. Sounds like a lot of work to get their though, and what about my kids. They need me. I donn't know what to do. Money, I think about money all the time, I don't make a lot as a pet sitter and Jamie's football stuff is really expensive. I still have a lot of medical bills leftover from the cancer treatments. Since Vincent moved out, he has not been very helpful financially. I think he thinks I cannot support myself without him, which is why he is not helping, thinking I will have to let him back. What if he is telling the truth? What if he is not cheating on me? I would feel so bad. What do you think?
Gabriel: When I get stressed, I like to breathe and it helps me to focus and conquer one thing at a time. I am not here to make decisions for you or tell you what to do. I am here to support you, answer your questions, and help weigh options.
Veronica: OK. Sounds good
Gabriel: One last question. What is your living situation like?
Veronica: I live in a duplex, three bedrooms two bathrooms. It is pretty expensive, I am actually two weeks past due on rent. I am going to figure something out. I have to. I have a great relationship with my landlord, but I still think they are getting sick of my rent always being late. There are leaks in the roof and the washer and dryer are always broken, no matter how many times they come and fix it.
Gabriel: How long have you lived there?
Veronica: Three years
Intercom buzzes
Receptionist: Gabriel, your 3 o'clock is here.
Gabriel: Thank you Rachel, please have them wait a minute. Sorry about that Veronica.
Veronica: It's ok
Gabriel: Sorry to rush you out of here like this. Would you like to meet again next week? If so, you can make an appointment with the receptionist at the from desk.
Veronica: Yes, I would like that. Wow! I ended up telling you more than I thought I would. Vincent actually said if you can believe it, that he would come here with me. Mia said she went to see someone once and her kids came. What a scene that would be, all of us here. See you next week.
Helper (Gabriel): Depends, what are you looking for?
Veronica: Good Samiaritan, I have an appointment. I think I am late, and I am really irritated.
Gabriel: You are in the right place. Are you Veronica?
Veronica: Yes I am. Who are you?
Gabriel: My name is Gabriel, or Gabe. It is nice to meet you Veronica. It looks like you have an appointment with me.
Veronica: Oh, OK. It is nice to meet you too. Sorry I am late, the bus was running a few minutes behind and I thought I was lost. I have kind of a short temper for things like that.
Gabriel: Tell m about yourself Veronica.
Veronica: I am 35 years old and I am a breast cancer survivor. I have three sons; Cameron who is 16, Julian who is 12 and Jamie who is seven. I have been married to Vincent, my high school sweetheart, for 17 years now, but we are going through a rough patch. We were doing really well intil I suspected he was cheating on me. He was always coming home late, he smelled different, and he paid less attention to me. He is a personal trainer, you know, and he is always around better looking women than me. Maybe that is just my insecurities speaking. It has been really hard since the cancer. Then after a huge fight, he took off. It has been about six months. Now, he wants to come back and work things out... but I don't know. I worry that if I let Vincent come back, and if I cannot trust him, we may fight and he may leave again. I really want my kids to have their dad around. Vincent grew up in foster care, so you think he would know better. I just cannot handle all that stress. I am not really sure what else to say.
Gabriel: Thank you for sharing. Tell me more about your kids.
Veronica: Well, Cameron leaves home for days at a time, skips school, and recently got his girlfriend pregnant. He can't raise a baby and I am not ready to be a grandma. He says he hates me and blames me for his dad leaving. I don't know what to do with that kid, he knows how I feel about school, and he used to get really good grades. I'm concerned about his future. He yells at me and says, "You didn't finish school, why should I?" There is not a day that goes by that I do not regret my decision to drop out. I also think he is shoplifting, because he always has nice, new things and when I question him, he says that his friends gave it to him. I don't know what to believe, and I don't want to upset him because then he would never come home. What kind of example does that set for his brothers? They really look up to him.
Julian is the sweetest child. He gets straight As in school, he is very helpful towards others and he loves animals. Lately, he has become very curious about my makeup and Britney Spears music. He insists on being called "Julia," and walking around the house like a well trained runway model. I think he's going to be gay. While I am okay with it, Vincent is very distraught about the whole situation. He thinks it is a phase and insists that no son of his will be gay. It breaks my heart to see how Vincent treats Julian as opposed to Cameron and Jamie, I can see the hurt in Julian's eyes. That is another reason why it is hard to let Vincent come back.
Gabriel: How does that make you feel?
Veronica: Angry, very angry.
I can understand that. How do you deal with your anger?
Veronica: I do yoga, kickboxing and lots of running. Like I said, my husband was a personal trainer. Sometimes I go to church and pray. I was raised Catholic. I also have a really close group of friends, since childhood... they help me out a lot.
Gabriel: Sounds like you have a pretty healthy lifestyle. Now tell me about your last son, Jamie.
Veronica: Jamie is my little football star. He plays for the Eagles in the Pop Warner League. He is very talented for a seven year old... knows all the plays and got MVP last year for the league. This makes his dad very proud, being a sports nut and all. Not that it does not make me proud, it does, I am just nervous about him getting hurt. He has already had three broken bones from sports. He is not the best in school, but he tries hard, I know he does. I may need to get him a math tutor.
Gabriel: Maybe I can refer you to some tutors.
Veronica: Thank you
Gabriel: So tell me a little more about yourself
Veronica: Like what?
Gabriel: Hobbies, career, dreams... stuff like that.
Veronica: Well I currently work as a part time pet sitter. I hust love animals and have always been really good with them. I wanted to become a vet, but I dropped out of high school, got married, and had kids. Time just flew by. My best friend Mia went to school to study Social Work. She told me about a place called Nine Star, which helps people like me get their High School Diploma or GED. If I did that she said she would help me get into UAA. I never thought I would actually go to college, wouldn't that be a trip. Sounds like a lot of work to get their though, and what about my kids. They need me. I donn't know what to do. Money, I think about money all the time, I don't make a lot as a pet sitter and Jamie's football stuff is really expensive. I still have a lot of medical bills leftover from the cancer treatments. Since Vincent moved out, he has not been very helpful financially. I think he thinks I cannot support myself without him, which is why he is not helping, thinking I will have to let him back. What if he is telling the truth? What if he is not cheating on me? I would feel so bad. What do you think?
Gabriel: When I get stressed, I like to breathe and it helps me to focus and conquer one thing at a time. I am not here to make decisions for you or tell you what to do. I am here to support you, answer your questions, and help weigh options.
Veronica: OK. Sounds good
Gabriel: One last question. What is your living situation like?
Veronica: I live in a duplex, three bedrooms two bathrooms. It is pretty expensive, I am actually two weeks past due on rent. I am going to figure something out. I have to. I have a great relationship with my landlord, but I still think they are getting sick of my rent always being late. There are leaks in the roof and the washer and dryer are always broken, no matter how many times they come and fix it.
Gabriel: How long have you lived there?
Veronica: Three years
Intercom buzzes
Receptionist: Gabriel, your 3 o'clock is here.
Gabriel: Thank you Rachel, please have them wait a minute. Sorry about that Veronica.
Veronica: It's ok
Gabriel: Sorry to rush you out of here like this. Would you like to meet again next week? If so, you can make an appointment with the receptionist at the from desk.
Veronica: Yes, I would like that. Wow! I ended up telling you more than I thought I would. Vincent actually said if you can believe it, that he would come here with me. Mia said she went to see someone once and her kids came. What a scene that would be, all of us here. See you next week.
Case Planning
Veronica's medical insurance will cover 6 sessions. In order for you to get paid, the insurance company requires documentation of services rendered and how they specifically addressed the issues of the client. They are looking to see that progress is being made so be detailed, objective, concise and goal oriented in your case notes.
Egan, G. (2007). The skilled helper. A problem management opportunity-development approach to helping (8th ed.).
Belmont, CA: Thomson Brooks/Cole.
1. Outline the next five sessions. Identify counseling strategies (hint: the helping model pp.199-334) that Gabriel might employ to promote & support Veronica's engagement in communication and intervention.
2. What specific strategies will he use to effectively terminate the client? (pp 336-354).
3. How has Gabriel built rapport with Veronica? What is the benefit of establising rapport in a therepeutic relationship? (p. 202). What potential barriers may arise in the therepeutic relationship? (pp. 138-158).
Corey, G., Corey, M. S. & Callanan, P. (2007). Issues and ethics in the helping profession. (7th ed.). Belmont, CA: Thomson
Brooks/Cole.
4. Veronica would like her family to join the sessions. What are the potential boundary and ethical issues with having Vincent present? What should Gabriel do to be proactive in maintaining appropriate boundaries? (pp.439-447).
Create a case plan for Veronica using the template provided.
Make a list of questions to ask her and her family during the next sessions.
Egan, G. (2007). The skilled helper. A problem management opportunity-development approach to helping (8th ed.).
Belmont, CA: Thomson Brooks/Cole.
1. Outline the next five sessions. Identify counseling strategies (hint: the helping model pp.199-334) that Gabriel might employ to promote & support Veronica's engagement in communication and intervention.
2. What specific strategies will he use to effectively terminate the client? (pp 336-354).
3. How has Gabriel built rapport with Veronica? What is the benefit of establising rapport in a therepeutic relationship? (p. 202). What potential barriers may arise in the therepeutic relationship? (pp. 138-158).
Corey, G., Corey, M. S. & Callanan, P. (2007). Issues and ethics in the helping profession. (7th ed.). Belmont, CA: Thomson
Brooks/Cole.
4. Veronica would like her family to join the sessions. What are the potential boundary and ethical issues with having Vincent present? What should Gabriel do to be proactive in maintaining appropriate boundaries? (pp.439-447).
Create a case plan for Veronica using the template provided.
Make a list of questions to ask her and her family during the next sessions.
Force Field Analysis, Kurt Lewin (1969).
Create a force field analysis for Veronica