Reference no: EM133318461

Case Study: Ruby is a 15-year-old girl who has come to see you because her mother and father are concerned about her. They believe she is engaging in risk-taking behaviour and experiencing issues with anger and have encouraged her to see a counsellor. Ruby's mother, Tanya, called you earlier in the week and gave you some background information on her daughter.

Tanya told you that she and Ruby's father have both struggled with issues of alcohol in the past and have been separated for two years. While they were living together, Ruby's mother experienced physical abuse at the hands of her husband, and Ruby regularly witnessed this. Two years ago, both Tanya and her husband joined Alcoholics Anonymous, and although their issues with alcohol began to improve, they decided to separate in order to work on their issues individually. Ruby has an older brother, three years older than Ruby, who has been living with an aunt since he was four. She rarely sees him.

Recently, Ruby began hanging out with a new group of friends, and has regularly been coming home intoxicated, after her 11 o'clock curfew. Ruby has begun to display aggressive behaviour at home, and recently kicked a hole in her bedroom door.

During your first session with Ruby, she seems agitated and unhappy. She sits with her arms folded and constantly jiggles her knee. Her answers at first are terse and she seems unwilling to talk, but eventually she begins to tell you with some enthusiasm about her school soccer team, of which she is a member. Ruby eventually tells you that some of the girls at school have been bullying her in class and in the playground, and that she changed social groups because of this. Ruby asks you not to tell anyone that she is seeing you and says that she would "never hear the end of it" if they found out she was seeing a counsellor.

You tell Ruby that her mother called her earlier in the week, and you ask her to explain her family situation in her own words. Ruby says that she was upset by her parents' separation, but that she likes not feeling worried about her father's violent behaviour towards her mother, and says her mother seems much happier. However, she feels a lot of anger and resentment toward both of her parents, particularly towards her mother. She says that Tanya "has never cared about her" and that she never lets her have any fun. Ruby believes that neither of her parents love her, and that the only person who loves her is her best friend, Grace.

Ruby admits that she has been aggressive at home and says that this aggression scares her but that she "just can't help it". She says that when she feels angry, she "can't think straight", shakes, and feels hot in the face. She says she is worried that she will end up just like her dad.

Question 1: Describe how you can introduce yourself and establish the initial rapport with Ruby?
Question 2: Ruby comes to another session and you immediately observe a change in her physicality and demeanour. Prior to this session Ruby had become more relaxed and comfortable with the counselling process however she is now even more withdrawn than when she first presented. You also observe that she has lost weight, has bags under her eyes and bruises that she is evasive in explaining.
When the situation is out of your scope, what referral options would you give to Ruby? Please list three referral options.
Question 3: After six sessions, Ruby come to the counselling session and she feel more relaxed, and you both mutually agreed the goals you set with Ruby at the initial session has been achieved. Outline at least five things that might be included in an appropriately structured ending to your sessions with a Ruby.
Question 4: After the counselling session with Ruby, you conducted the self-reflection with the following issues:
A. What is your role, responsibilities, and limitations within the organization?
B. what are your personal strengths (e.g. personal capability to be non-judgmental) and limitations in the context of your role?
C. What are your individual needs for further support and supervision?
D. How can you ensure your own values and beliefs do not impede effective work with a client?