Remember to address the goals from your

chosen counseling theory, not the counseling

goals of symptom reduction. When counseling

theory goals are being met, the client’s mental

health symptoms will decrease.

Case Study Analysis

Client Name: Tommy

Client age: 8

Gender: M

Presenting Problem

Client has been increasingly disruptive the past few months. He has verbal outbursts and pushes classroom

materials onto the floor after being given an academic task during quiet work time. His verbal outbursts include

yelling that he is not doing the assignment, telling a student to shut up, using profanity, and calling student’s

names. His teachers do feel that they spend about an hour per day dealing with the behavior, and they usually

respond to client’s behavior by scolding him or by initiating an office referral.

General Background

Client is an 8-year-old bi-racial boy who enjoys baseball, swimming, and baking. He does not like art activities

or large crowds. Tommy has a good sense of humor, but he can be irritable. He is fearful around new people

and may become quiet and more reserved in those situations. His parents and teachers talk him through

exposure to new people. Client is highly verbal and speaks in sentences. Client is above grade level in reading. He enjoys reading, and his favorite book is the Percy Jackson Lightning Thief. According to client, he dislikes writing. Most of his writing is simple sentences with a great deal of grammatical errors and little detail. He also struggles with math, in which he is approximately 2 grade levels below. He has recently learned how to pitch

left-handed. Client has a new baby brother who is 5 months old.

School Classroom Environment

Client attends a regular K-5 public elementary school; however, client is new to the school. Client is in the 3rd

grade. There are 19 students in his class. Client has two segments in a resource special education (SPED) class

with five other students. Client also has one co-teaching segment for math. His teacher is very organized and

structured; she is loving and understanding about the client’s needs.

Previous Interventions

Tommy has attended this school for two months now. Initially, he seemed to acclimate to the new school well. However, things have gotten more difficult for him lately. Client’s teacher set up some rewards for him to earn if he does not engage in disruptive behavior. His

behavior has not improved, and it has been difficult for his team to identify “why” he is engaging in the behavior.

Major Stressors

•New school

•Academics

•New sibling