case study

Case Study At one time or another in life it’s possible that anyone can have a crisis and need to talk to a professional. The crisis can be anything from how to get my finances back together after bankruptcy to how to tell someone about abuse when they are very close to the person and its suspected. Like Mr. Jones: The Fragile Adult and his neighbor John who you discover appear to be a wonderful friend that cares deeply for Mr. Jones.
HSP: Welcome to the Office John, my name is Mrs. Goodson please if you feel more comfortable call me Mrs. G or Katt. Do you prefer I call you John?
John: Yes Please John would be great Thank you.
HSP: John can you tell me please what brings you to the office today?
John: I have a concern for my neighbor Mr. Jones
HSP: A concern for neighbor Mr. Jones? It sounds like you must be fairly close you?
John: Yes we have lived next door to each other for years. We use to go to coffee every morning at the local restaurant in the neighbor.
HSP: How long ago did Mr. Jones stop going to coffee with you?
John: It’s been about two months.
HSP: So I imagine you feel lonely going to coffee every morning is that correct?
John: Yes that’s correct some mornings I don’t even go.
HSP: As a coffee drinker myself that would be hard, I don’t blame you for not wanting to go alone, Did anything seem different last time Mr. Jones joined you?
John: He was not acting different but he no longer hangs out in his yard either.
HSP: How does that make you feel?
John: That something is wrong.
HSP: What else has changed?
John: The last time I went to visit Mr. Jones I was no longer asked inside?
HSP: Has this ever happened before?
John: No, I know he has a son that comes to his house daily to check on him for some reason.
HSP: Does he have medical issues that you are aware of?
John: He has never talked about or said anything and acts very healthy.
HSP: Has Mr. Jones ever talked to you about his son?
John: He mentioned once that he was coming over; after he left and the last time I saw Mr. Jones I thought I saw a bruise on his face.
HSP: John that’s scary, what do you think happened?
John: Well I’m hoping he fell but deep down inside I feel that his son is abusing him.
HSP: I understand that you are hoping it’s a fall but fear abuse. What would you like to see happen today from this meeting?
John: I would like to a crisis worker to make a visit to Mr. Jones home and see what is going. I fear for my friend and neighbor badly.
HSP: John I understand your concern and am willing to help you, I want you to know that if abuse is suspected I have to report it legally. Do you have any questions? John: Yes the only question I have is what happens to Mr. Jones and his son?
HSP: We will do investigations ask some questions and see what is in the best interest of Mr. Jones no name will be mentioned.
John: That sounds good. I worry the son will figure out I had something to do with this since we are friends and neighbors.
HSP: We have to keep everything confident.
John: That makes me feel better, I still worry he will get pulled out of his home, or his son will continue to hurt him if that is what is really happening.
HSP: I understand your concern John; we will do our best to keep him where he is comfortable maybe we can add a no contact order for his son if needed.
John: I think that would be great maybe Mr. Jones will start to come around again.
HSP: It is possible but it will take all of us working together to make it happen are you part of the team able to meet weekly to see this happen John?
John: Yes, I am, I want to ensure that Mr. Jones is ok.
HSP: Great, what I would like to do now is talk about ways to approach this in a different manner. (For example have you ever tired talking to Mr. Jones son?)
John: No, because he comes stays for a few short minutes then leaves.
HSP: Can you call and talk to him? John: I don’t feel comfortable trying, I feel his son might say its none of my business and to please butt out.
HSP: Now I see why you want a Crisis Worker to make a home visit and see how Mr. Jones is. How will you handle it if you find out it is his son being abusive and it’s not good results?
John: It will terrify me.
HSP: I would be scared too, what have you tried to keep your mind off of Mr. Jones?
John: A little of everything, but every time I go outside I think about it again, I’m not sure how to deal with it.
HSP: Let’s make a plan for how to cope with it what do you think?
John: That sounds great thanks, how do we do that?
HSP: What we do is come up with ideas that you feel will help and then I add suggestions and ideas as needed does that work?
John: Yes, that works fine.
HSP: Great then let’s get started
John: I could go do his yard work.
HSP: Yes, that is one less thing his son has to do.
John: I could try to make friends with another or call my family and invite them to coffee.
HSP: John, making friends with another neighbor or calling family is excellent just remember not to dwell on your old friend or neighbor while out.
John: I’m not that close with my family so I’m not sure they will come and my neighbors for the most part are new and work during the day.
HSP: could you meet for lunch or do neighborhoods block party? This allows you and the neighbors to meet without feeling uncomfortable.
John: I worry the neighbors will ask about Mr. Jones because they did know that we were very close.
HSP: Good Point John, one thing you could say is I was trying to start a new tradition, maybe when his son was over he didn’t get the message maybe next time.
John: Is that lying?
HSP: No, because if flyers were sent out they went to everyone no one knows what the son may have done with it correct?
John: Correct, another thing I could do is take up a hobby.
HSP: Taking up a hobby wonderful what do you like to do?
John: I thought about joining a league for pool or bowling. I love them both
HSP: Very fun I’m not good at pool but I like to play. Have you looked at openings for any of the leagues?
John: No, not yet I wanted to wait till I talked to someone to get advice before I did anything to make sure it was a good move.
HSP: I think it’s a wonderful idea John, in fact I’m happy to help you find out if there are any openings would like to make the call now?
John: Sure if you don’t mind do you think they might happen to be at the same place?
HSP: John let’s look it up it will give us a start and a lead of where to go to find out for sure.
John: Excellent, I would like to start ASAP.
HSP: John, I would like to meet again next week to see how things are going for you.
John: I can do that but I am busy Tuesday.
HSP: How about one week from today at 11:00 AM
John: Excellent thanks so much for all your help today I will be here one week from today at 11:00 AM
HSP: Welcome back John
John: Hi! I’m so glad to be here and feel like a new man.
HSP: John you look amazing, how have you been doing since our last meeting?
John: I have been doing great I joined a pool league we meet twice a week at the local eagles lodge, I have made new friends and we are the winning team so far.
HSP: John, I am so proud of you, you have come a long way in a very short amount of time.
John: Thank you, I never thought I would feel this way again.
HSP: You are very welcome with determination you can anything. I knew you could do it and I was not about to let you fail.
John: I had mind set not to fail and there was no way I was going to.
HSP: Way to go I am super proud. Final question have you heard anything about Mr. Jones
John: To be honest I have been so busy with other things that I have not really thought to much about it.
HSP: I would like to inform you that he is now doing great and wanted us to relay the message that he misses seeing you but his son is longer involved in his life.
John: Great thanks for checking on best friend and neighbor glad to hear he is doing better. As we learned crisis can happen to anyone like it did here to John and Mr. Jones the Fragile Adult, however we can also overcome crisis with the right strategies but into place and by carefully following the ABC model of intervention it helps to build the relationship by building rapport. We have also asked open ended questions and paraphrased to help clarify understanding, as well as used careful listening skills. As we moved forward with John about Mr. Jones we able to identify the problem from talking to John and asking about the situation and seeing what he was there to do and see how John was feeling about Mr. Jones and his son he also didn’t want to get anyone in trouble so he wanted to make sure everything was confidential that was said in the office. Then we moved to the final step which was coping we came up with plans and ideas for coping with the situation at hand so that we could move forward without having a significant amount of difficultly. From doing this case study it has made for a better understanding of what lying in our future as Human Service Professionals as we were able to place ourselves in the human service role and see what it would be like to have them in our office I have decide that this is something that I will be able to do but could be a challenge depending on the client I like to build the rapport and I like to listen and ask questions it’s the fact that I like to be the one coming up with the ideas instead of having someone do the ideas.
References
Kanel, K. (2007). A guide to crisis intervention. 3rd Edition. Cengage Learning

References: Kanel, K. (2007). A guide to crisis intervention. 3rd Edition. Cengage Learning