School Counseling

Presenting Problem

The reason for AB seeking counseling is to help with the controlling of verbal and physical aggression as it pertains to school and home life, and to assist with interactions amongst peers. It was reported that symptoms interfere with daily functioning at school and at home on a regular basis. The presenting problem began at age 5, however, and may have been exacerbated when the family relocated to Miami, FL. The frequency of symptoms is described as consistent and may be understood as daily or weekly but nonetheless steady. The intensity of symptoms is likely high and may have been a contributing factor to ABs being held behind a year at school; and it is probably a factor in his study habits or lack thereofand these may be mutually reinforcing factors, one with another.

AB wants to be able to control his emotions and not allow them to get the best of him in various settings such as school and at home around his sisters, which is why he is presenting. He wants learn how to cope in a more positive way when faced with negative situations or people. As it stands, he tends to lash out both verbally and physically when feeling overwhelmed emotionally which usually gets him into trouble both at school and home. He would like counseling services to help him gain coping skills, anger management skills, as well as improved social skills so that he can obtain better relationships with his peers and authority figures alike. In addition, he would like assistance with learning how improve his study habits so that he can catch up academically with his peers.

Demographically, AB is a 17-year-old heterosexual black male who came from a two-parent home however; his father is not presently in his life. His mother works long hours to support the family financially but is always available emotionally for her children when needed. AB has two older sisters. He wants improved social skills around peers, Anger Management skill development tools, and possibly academic tutoring assistance.

Family and Developmental Factors

Students concerns are greatly influenced by their family structure and stage of development (Wark et al.,...

For example, a student who comes from a family of origin where there is a lot of conflict may be more likely to have anxiety or relationship issues. Alternatively, a student who comes from a very close-knit family may be more concerned with issues such as emotional closeness and separation. The family of choice can also play a role in shaping...…was bullied by classmates. Despite all these challenges, AB does exhibit some strengths and resilience. For example, he is respectful and obedient when teachers are around and he also expresses remorse after losing his temper. In conclusion, AB is a complex individual who has faced many challenges in his young life but still exhibits signs of hope for the future.

Resources

The resources currently available to AB include school counseling, mentorship programs, and after-school tutoring. AB has been meeting with a counselor regularly to discuss the root causes of his anger and has been making progress in controlling his impulses. However, he has not been consistently attending mentorship meetings or after-school tutoring sessions. As a result, he is still behind in his coursework and is at risk of falling further behind.

Additional resources that would benefit AB include regular check-ins with a school nurse or social worker, more consistent participation in mentorship and tutoring programs, and referrals to outside organizations that can provide additional support. ABs father is not in his life, so he does not have a male role model to look up to. A Big Brother program might be beneficial to AB or some other type of mentor program where he can receive a positive influence from a role model, which would…