Читать книгу Counseling and Psychotherapy - Группа авторов - Страница 14

Clarita arrived 15 minutes early for her initial appointment. She related easily and expressed herself well, but her body appeared tense and her voice was strained. She expressed appreciation for getting an early appointment because she felt that she could not have waited much longer. She had been referred to the mental health agency by her physician because of insomnia and frequent unexplained crying spells. During the intake process, Clarita stated that she is depressed, unable to sleep because of reoccurring nightmares, not eating, losing control of her two children, and having difficulty missing and dealing with distant family members, who are now scattered as a result of the hurricane destruction. She said that she has thought about suicide but stops because of the guilt she feels about abandoning her children and the tenets of her religion. She has difficulty concentrating, and this is affecting her teaching. Clarita has been absent frequently from work, and her principal is recommending that she takes a leave of absence, which is causing her great stress because she needs the income to support her children. Luckily, she found a new teaching position to apply for, but if she leaves her teaching position, she would be forced to uproot to yet another place. Clarita is unable to maintain meaningful relationships and, when asked to describe herself, she used terms such as insecure, frightened, distrustful of self and others, lonely, and lacking hope.