Panic Attack Treatment Case Study

Panic Attack Treatment Case Study Angela L. Jenkins Final Project Assessment reports are measurement tools that fit comfortably into a variety of settings. It is a necessity that all counselors utilize assessment. Assessment is a vital part of the counseling experience and should be used with every client in a formal or informal manner. The counselor should have certain skills to ensure the usefulness and correctness of assessment. Sometimes major events in a client’s life can cause assessments to be revamped, or can highlight the importance of assessments. A comprehensive report regarding Jadine Marie Sawyer’s referral reflects the need of accurate and competent application of assessments. Through careful organization of data information about the client is revealed through the use of the referral, assessments, goals and validity of the assessments. Recommendations are given as a result of the assessment outcomes and conclusions. Name of Person being assessed: Jadine Date of birth: 9-1-94 Date(s) of testing: 4-2011, 2-11-2012, 3-22-2012, 12-11-2012, 11-13-2014 Chronological age (years, months): 20 years, 2 months Reason for referral Jadine, a 20-year-old Caucasian female, was referred because of a panic attack in her math class in which it took her approximately 30 minutes to catch her breath. The experience was such that she never wants go through that again and avoids circumstances where it could possible happen. She was horrified and embarrassed by the situation. Jadine needs assistance with determining her future goals. She was at a loss describing what she wanted because her mind is so preoccupied with her daughter, being a student, and an employee that she has not considered her future. She planned on joining the military but her boyfriend is going into the Marines and she does not want her daughter to be separated from both of them. She wants to do what is best for her daughter and it is causing physical and mental ailments because she does not know how she is going to manage. The nature of the referral and the goals of the assessment Jadine had a panic attack last month which resulted in her math teacher referring her to the counseling center. She wants to take good care of her daughter and be able to provide for her needs. These concerns are weighing on her mind so heavily that they are causing her physical as well as mental issues. She also has added stress because her boyfriend is leaving for the Marines and she wants to find a way to keep their daughter in contact with her father. Jadine wants to secure her future by making sure she can provide for her daughter and not abandon her. She wants to find a happy medium between school, work, and family life that will not cause her stress. Jadine needs to discuss and clarify her interests. Understanding her assessments can help identify a career focus and begin a journey to career planning and exploration. The Brief Mood Survey can be used to assess her suicidal tendencies, her satisfaction with her relationship, anger and her anxiety level. This will help to determine the most significant areas of concern as far as her mental health and help to determine treatment planning. The MBTI measures interests, abilities, and those results can help her create a rewarding career. It also will give her better direction as far as work activities, educational programs, and enjoying down time. She will make decisions that will benefit her now and throughout her life. The ACT will show Jadine options as far as college and help her select a degree program she would like to enroll in. The Strong Basic Interest Scales represent specific interest areas that often point to work activities, projects, coursework, and leisure activities that could be personally motivating and rewarding to Jadine. Her interest levels can be used to examine interest’s areas evident in her work and lifestyle and can stimulate discussion on how she might be able to incorporate others into her plan. The questions on the Aptitude and Interest Inventories are intended to reveal in what way you think, not what you know. This therefore helps to create a more enjoyable work, home and leisure time experience. Evaluation instruments and methods American College Testing (ACT) –The ACT is a standardized test for high school achievement and college admissions. Brief Mood Survey (BMS) The BMS includes accurate scales that measure depression severity, suicidal impulses, anxiety, anger, relationship difficulties, and positive feelings such as joy, self-esteem, and productivity. The Myers–Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is a psychometric questionnaire intended to measure psychological preferences in how individuals see the world and make decisions. The Strong Interest Inventory (SII) is a test that uses scales to assess and match individual’s interests with potential educational, career, and leisure activities, using preferences in a variety of areas. Aptitude and Interest Inventories assesses an individual’s likes and dislikes for a variety of activities, objects, and types of persons. Brief description of the person Jadine is a single 18 year old Caucasian, female who has a hard time making friends. She is a high school graduate with a daughter named Sierra. She resides at 239 Cooper Lane, Callia, FL 34567. While she was in school she finished two college courses along with her regular classes. She graduated with honors and was 36th in her class of 626 students. Jadine is not sure what to do now that she has graduated. She has a very supportive family who means the world to her and does not know what she will so without them. Background information Initially it was suggested to Jadine to enter therapy because of a panic attack. She was anxious and nervous because her boyfriend enlisted and she was having difficulties financially. She was very concerned because she did not know how she was going to be able to take care of her daughter. Not only was she concerned about her daughter financially but physically as she entered school and found a job. Who would take of her? These concerns created mental and physical issues. Jadine’s family is very supportive. She worked in a daycare that her mom. Her mom, grandmother and Marcs (her boyfriend) mother help out with Sierra when they can. She cannot imagine life without her family. Behavioral observations Jadine is well put together when it comes to her appearance. She has a hard time concentrating and did not make much eye contact. The fact that she often folded her arms and crossed her legs displays that she is closed off and has trouble letting others in. She is guarded with a normal thought process. Thoughts that she expressed were not abstract. Jadine looked tired and thin. She seemed restless, shy, nervous, and unable to relax. She is a very nice person who is self-aware Validity statement The Strong aids in Career development—helps intensify a persons’ self-awareness and provide profound understanding of individual strengths and blind spots, including work style and risk-taking orientation. This is perfect for Jadine. The ACT Helps people achieve education and workplace success. The Brief Mood Survey was compared to such assessments as the Beck Anxiety and Depression Inventories as well as the Zung Self-Rating Anxiety and Depression Scales. It was found that it correlates highly with them. So, the Brief Mood Survey is valid for assessing Jadine’s mood and anxiety levels. The instrument is a powerful tool that can help make decisions about career and education. It does not matter whether you are just beginning your career, making a change, or thinking about education options for career preparation, you can benefit from the information in your results. You can identify a career focus and begin your career planning. The instrument measures interests and can help guide you toward careers, work activities, education programs, and leisure activities. Jadine stated that she wanted to makes changes in all that this instrument measures. She wants to find a job that will support her and her daughter. She also wants to pick a school and major where she can do well. The MBTI measures interests, abilities, and those results can help her create a rewarding career. Reported reliability for the MBTI ranges from 65% to above 90%. Validity coefficients with similar subtests of the General Aptitude and Interest Battery range from .60 to .80. Median alpha reliabilities range from .70 to .91. Assessment results The ACT shows that Jadine would do well in her first year English and reading. She has a 50% chance of earning a B or higher, or about a 75% chance of earning a C or higher in first year college courses related to English and reading. Her writing score indicates writing to be one of her strengths. Jadine demonstrated evaluation skills, solid support for her points, varied sentence structure, and well selected wording on her essay. Her scores were: Composite Score 21, English 24, Mathematics 19, Reading 23, Science 18, Combined English/Writing 25, and writing subscale (score range 2-12) 10. On the Strong Jadine’s top five interests areas include religion and spirituality; counseling and helping; and teaching and education. The Basic Interest Scales represent specific interest areas that often point to work activities, projects, coursework, and leisure activities that could be personally motivating and rewarding. Jadine’s interest levels (Very Little, Little, Moderate, High, Very High) can be used to examine interests areas evident in her work and lifestyle and can stimulate discussion on how she might be able to incorporate others into her plan such as her daughter. The Brief Mood Survey assess mood in various categories. Jadine’s results were depression and anger were scores of 7 which means they are in the mild range and there is no need for alarm just yet. Jadine scored a 0 for suicidal ideation. She also stated that she was not suicidal on the intake questionnaire. Her score of 18 on relationship satisfaction was neutral while her score of 23 for anxiety was extreme. This needs to be addressed right away. These results were very accurate as far as Jadine is concerned. Summary of assessment results and conclusions Jadines MBTI results showed that her highest themes were social and artistic. These themes describe peoples personalities and environments they work in. People who have high scores in these areas enjoy close, personal connections and using creativity to make a difference in the lives’ of others. Jadine is a collaborative helper who will be appreciated for her ability to encourage others to talk about their ideas, get others to agree on decisions, aid in creating structure and organization and making sure projects are completed. Some of the jobs that she would do well in are speech pathologist, special education teacher, elementary school teacher, and social worker. Recommendations I would recommend that Jadine continue counseling because now she has learned some things about herself and has some direction. She needs to use what she has learned and discuss actions she has taken. Her mental and physical concerns regarding her challenges need to be readdressed. Further assessing is need to help her to really narrow down job choices and I would recommend that so that she can really decide on a job that will fit her comfort level with others until she learns to make friends more easily. Jadine might also consider regular counseling to determine her treatment progress. By measuring Jadine’s symptomology it will indicate whether the current interventions are facilitating growth. _____________________________ Signature and credentials Conclusion Jadine was referred by her math teacher because of a panic attack. She was feeling uncertain of her future especially in regards to her daughter. She did not know how she was going to take care of her financially or physically. Her boyfriend was leaving for the Marines. These circumstances caused her physical and emotional distress. Jadine needed help with decisions for her future, college, work and her physical and emotional distress. She took the ACT, The Strong Interest Inventory, The Brief Mood Survey, The Myers–Briggs Type Indicator and Aptitude and Interest Inventories. These assessments provided her with some needed direction. I recommended that she continue counseling so she can discuss the progress she has made, how she is dealing with changes in her life and to if interventions have helped with her distress. These assessments have been very beneficial in that they help individuals learn about themselves in ways that will give direction to degree choice, job contentment, career, relationships and even leisure time satisfaction. Assessments are vital tools because they can determine exactly where a client is mentally, physically and emotionally. Careful consideration needs to be taken when deciding what assessment should be used. They should be used with each client in future counseling endeavors.