Reference no: EM133815204
Problem
Rachel is a school counselor at Riverdale High School, a school in a run-down section of the inner city. She is in her third year and has the respect of her colleagues and the students. One day, Jewel, a 17-year-old senior who has beaten many odds to become an honors student, comes into her office crying. Jewel tells Rachel her boyfriend has just broken up with her. She is very distraught and states, "I see my life crumbling!" She had planned to join her boyfriend, currently a freshman at a university 3 hours away, next fall. "He promised he'd never leave me," she says through tears. Complicating matters, Jewel was taken from her mother, a single parent, due to her mother's addiction and is living in foster care. She has never met her father and is not close to any other family. "Life isn't worth living!" Jewel sobs.
Rachel asks Jewel if she has thought of suicide and Jewel admits she has. Rachel inquires how Jewel might harm herself and Jewel opines she will swallow a bottle of aspirin and that she is considering doing this after school. Rachel explains to Jewel she must confer with her supervisor and has Jewel wait with the secretary. Her supervisor explains the school policy of notifying the parent or guardian. The supervisor calls the foster mother while Rachel confers with Jewel back in the office. The foster mother comes to the campus and meets with Rachel and Jewel and Jewel discloses she will not attempt suicide and mainly is angry at her boyfriend and wants to "strike back at that asshole!" Jewel's foster mother is insistent on taking Jewel to their pastor for spiritual guidance. Rachel is concerned and expresses to the foster mother that Jewel could benefit from extended mental health counseling and a psychiatric evaluation. Jewel's foster mother becomes angry and exclaims, "We don't go to godless counselors, we pray!" Then, she leaves the school taking Jewel with her.
A. How well did Rachel and her supervisor handle the situation?
B. If you were Rachel, what would you do? Get the instant assignment help.
C. What would be the next step for Rachel or Rachel's supervisor?