How to do a Mental Health Intake : Role Play Part 1

Summary

In the script, a client attends their first therapy session, discussing their recent stress and anxiety. They reveal a pattern of increased irritability and overreaction, especially with family, which they attribute to stress. The therapist conducts an assessment, encourages open dialogue, and offers support. The client recalls a similar struggle a year ago, mentioning talking to friends as a past coping mechanism. Sleep issues are also discussed, with a reduction from 7-8 hours to 6 hours per night due to workload.

Takeaways

• 🌟 The client is attending their first appointment, which requires courage.
• 💻 The session involves an assessment where the counselor types notes based on the client's words.
• 🗣️ The client is encouraged to correct the counselor if the notes don't match their intended meaning.
• ❓ The client is invited to ask questions about the process at any time.
• 😟 The client experiences stress and anxiety, which has been building over the past three weeks.
• 🏫 The stress began around the time the client was finishing school, similar to a year ago.
• 🤔 The client is unsure what specifically triggered the current stress and anxiety.
• 🌙 The client's sleep has been affected, reducing from 7-8 hours to about 6 hours per night.
• 😴 Despite reduced sleep, the client feels okay and not overly tired at the moment.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 The client's family is aware of their stress and reactions, but the recent outbursts were unexpected.

Q & A

What is the purpose of the meeting described in the transcript?

The purpose of the meeting is to conduct an assessment, which is a chance for the counselor to get to know the client and understand their situation better.

How does the counselor plan to document the client's story?

The counselor plans to document the client's story by typing as the client talks, using the client's words as closely as possible, and allowing the client to correct any inaccuracies.

What is the client's current emotional state according to the transcript?

The client is experiencing stress and anxiety, and they have noticed changes in their behavior, such as having a short fuse and overreacting to situations.

How long has the client been feeling this way?

The client has been feeling stressed and anxious for about three weeks.

Has the client experienced similar feelings before?

Yes, the client had a similar experience about a year ago when they were finishing school, which was also a stressful time.

What helped the client cope during their previous stressful period?

Talking to friends was what helped the client cope during their previous stressful period, although they don't remember anything else specifically.

What triggered the client to seek counseling this time?

The client's interactions with family and others became overly stressful, leading to lashing out, which made them realize they were not acting like themselves and were overly stressed.

How have the client's family and friends reacted to their recent behavior?

The client's family and friends were both surprised and not surprised, as they know the client can get like that when extremely stressed, but it wasn't really okay.

How has the client's sleep been affected by their stress?

The client's sleep has been reduced from the usual 8 or 7 hours to about 6 hours a night due to having a lot of assignments and things to do.

Is the client currently feeling tired?

The client was feeling tired earlier but is feeling pretty okay at the time of the meeting.

What approach does the counselor take if the client becomes emotionally activated during the session?

The counselor might invite the client to do some skills together to help bring their emotions down, but also encourages the client to let them know if they want to take a break.