Bea Nicole C.

Rosales Applied Social Science PeTa

12 – HUMSS August 3, 2017

Case Study of Counselling Problems

Students: Senior High school

Choosing a Major

Problem: Teens at high school are expected to make wise, life-changing decisions. There is a
lot of pressure to choose a major; influence factors such as peer pressure, filial piety & with
what you want to do in life.

Scene: A troubled senior high student comes in to seek opinion on his concern of what degree
to take in college

Session Conversation

Counselee: Hello miss, I came by to ask your viewpoint on my concern of what to choose on
college. I still don't know what I want to major in. The month for preparing the paper works of
application in college is nearing.

Counselor: Don't worry. That's common with seniors. Have you narrowed down your choices?
Do you have a list?

Counselee: Uh, no, I don't. I've...I've always had a hard time making decisions.

Counselor: All right. Well, why don't we start with subjects that you're sure you don't want to
major in.

Counselee: Okay. Well, I hate science, and I'm not very good at math. I don’t think I like to work
in an office. Uh...I like to move around, you know, maybe get outside and there’s no one looking
over me. Like bossing you around, you know, like that.
Counselor: Mmm...we're off to a good start. No business, math, or science. Now let’s consider
topics you might want to choose for a major. Of all the subjects you've taken last year and so far
this term, which ones have you liked? What kinds of classes have you found interest you the
most?

Counselee: There's a lot them. I love literature, and my psychology class was also pretty
interesting. Social science was an eye opener; so was world history with Professor Kampupot. I
learned a lot in my media class too, So, um, that's the problem. I like so many different things, I
can't pick just one of them!

Counselor: Oh, I see. Do you like to write by any chance?

Counselee: Yeah! English was one of my favorite classes in high school, and I think I do excel
in it.

Counselor: I've got an idea. How about trying journalism?

Counselee: Journalism?! You mean, like being a newspaper reporter or magazine writer?

Counselor: Yes. Journalists have to cover many different stories, so they learn a little about a lot
of things. You wouldn't be chained to a desk all day, and you'd work largely on your own,
gathering material and writing stories. There's something different to learn about almost every
day. Also, many of the classes you've already taken comply with the first-year requirements of
the journalism department.

Counselee: Hmm...I've never thought of journalism before. Yeah, maybe I should check into it.
But, um, what if I try it and it turns out that I don't really like it?

Counselor: Well, while you're trying it, you'll be learning about, all sorts of things. If you find one
of those that you like better, you could change your major. You'd just need to go to the
registrar's office and fill out some paperwork.

Counselee Um, OK! I'll check out journalism, then. Thank you, Ms. Counselor
A: You're welcome. Remember, the adviser's office is open every weekday from 7 to 4, if there's
anything else I can do for you. Come back anytime, and if you have any more questions.

Note for students:

Explore: Look for alternatives. What’s out there? What majors might you explore? What careers
might you enjoy?
Clarify: Get detailed information about interesting options. Find the costs and benefits for each
option. Try things on “for size” before committing.
Commit: Take steps to make your dream become a reality. Taking steps now can help you
shape your future.
Teenagers

Low Self-Esteem and Body Image

Problem: Teenagers undergo and have to cope with numerous body changes. This feeling is
that it affects their self-image. They perceive others, particularly schoolmates, will view them as
they view themselves. They can suffer more from these problems when they have trouble
adjusting.

Scene: A hesitant, timid girl approaches you (the counselor) as she wants to talk to someone
about her issue.

Session Conversation

Counselee: Uhmm… Miss, could a talk to you for a second? I want you to help me.

Counselor: Oh sure! Of course, I have time to have a little chat with you. Let’s go to my office
then, there we can talk freely among ourselves.

*Arrived at the guidance counseling office

Counselor: Take a sit. What seems to be the problem? You do seem troubled with it.

Counselee: I want to change how I look upon onto myself. I want to be able to express who I
really am than how I identity what I want to be.

Counselor: Why do you say so? What factors have made you like this?

Counselee: I think it’s because I kinda look different from others. Then I started to compare
myself with others. Those whom I’ve seen on TV, in movies, and in the magazines. I keep
seeing all this women who are considered acceptable in our society and that these are the
standard beauty and grace of a woman. My friends too, they take a lot care in their bodies.
They’re meticulous in doing all those beauty procedures, while I don’t observe them all the time.

Counselor: You should remember that not all of us are the same and those differences
distinguish us from others, that what makes each of us unique and special. Acceptance. Accept
your true strengths and weaknesses. Make use of them in your advantage rather than to
overthink ordinary stuff. That will only add to your distress.

Counselor: How has this problem change things for you?

Counselee: I haven’t told anyone of this actually. I’ve always kept this in myself. I thought I can
go through this all alone as time passes by. I didn’t think I have to do this, go and get help from
someone.

Counselor: Okay, so how do you feel about being here today?

Counselee: I am a bit scared, I don’t know, hopefully it will help.

Counselor: What kinds of difficulties have you’ve been experiencing?

Counselee: I’m always stressed with simple things. Like I should wear this or that. I just
suddenly made an eye contact with someone then I’ll start to imagine things like is se judging
me, is she giving me an awful look? Have I done any wrong to her before? It’s kinda hard,
stopping me to do things, experience things I want to try just because I was so conscious of
myself.

Counselee: I afraid of being laughed at. I might die from embarrassment and to have to listen to
their mocking.

Counselor: Trust yourself. It’s okay to make mistakes once in a while. We all make mistakes.
And with those, we get to learn from them. Like what should we do next time.

Counselor: Encouragement yourself with the help of your loved ones and close friends, ask
them what are your good qualities that they admire you about it. It will help you feel proud of
yourself. Be realistic, they are different body types and all of them are beautiful. Praise for your
achievements, enjoy them. Savor each winning moment.

Counselor: Take time to learn to know yourself and enjoy your own thoughts.

Counselee: Hmm… those made me think to look back onto myself. What have I done the whole
time? Why am I doing this to myself? Why am I letting fear stop me and not be able the time I
am with my loved ones. I can finally feel this talk with change me for the better.
Counselor: Raising your own self-esteem is essential as you’ll be able to love and appreciate
yourself. You can rely on yourself and you know you can do a good job with trusting yourself. It
means feeling good and being realistic about yourself and others. Beauty does not guarantee
success in the world. Fame won’t last all the time. In thinking through more positively and
realistically about yourself you can develop your talents and abilities, praise yourself, trust
yourself and be you. When you become more tolerant of the real you your relationships can
improve as you become more realistic about others, too.

Counselee: Thank you for all those words, it surely made me to think highly of myself. To learn
to appreciate my strengths and weaknesses and what more I can do in the future. Thank you for
your time again, Ms. Santiago.
Married Couples
Marital Affair

Problem: While family and friends can be supportive. They will have different opinions on all
about what you should and shouldn’t do. What most people need is someone outside the
situation. To listen and help them get to understand to what’s happening in them as a couple.

Scene: You are scheduled with an initial appointment with a married couple

Session Conversation

Counselor: Hello good morning! I’ll be your relationship coach, Miss Cruz. Take a sit. Before we
start things, I’ll be explaining the information about the session. Each session approximately last
50 minutes and maybe we would meet for a few more sessions and review how the counseling
is going whether it is helpful for you guys and if it is effective in improving your relationship. The
whole session will be confidential as long the story I will hear will have no one being harmed, to
you or in someone else.

Counselor: So we could move on now and tell me what’s brought you in here today.

Husband: Ahh… uhmm.. We’ve been married for 5 years. Recently I had an affair with a
colleague

Wife: I didn’t know. We were also not in good terms for quite a while. He told me this when we
were having dinner. That’s where it all happened.

Counselor: It was still very recent isn’t it. Quite fresh in mind and painful.

Husband: I’m not living in our home since I told her.

Wife: I could not have him in the house. Just seeing him made me angry. I could not let him
near our daughter either.

Counselor: I wonder if it could be useful as you’re both feeling bad, if we could go back, is it
alright? If you could tell me a bit of how you met and how relationship has been up to this crisis.

Husband: We met in school, in the school cafeteria.

Wife: We went to university together.

Husband: It was both our lunch time. The place was crowded. That’s why I had share chairs
with her.
Wife: I was passing by the school canteen, waiting for my friend. I went there earlier than the
meeting time.

Husband: While we were on the same table, I initiated a conversation. I asked her course was,
what year is she in, we keep on exchanging simple talks.

Wife: We were just friends in college; it was until we started working on corporations when
decided to try being lover. We do have fights as a young couple, disagreements on things.
Differences on views and beliefs.

Husband: But we never broke up or something like that.

Wife: We had Abby after two years of marriage.

Husband: We’ve known each other for nine years already now.

Counselor: So this is a pretty tough point that you’ve reached but you’ve also invested a lot in
this relationship. You have your own child. She was the connection between the two of you.

*The couple were given a time to reflect and think about how they’re relationship is going

Wife: I do love him, with all my heart; but he tore it apart. I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t love him.
And it’s hard sitting in the same sofa as him, being in the same room again. He broke the trust I
gave him, we built it for years.

Counselor: Can you say a bit about what it was before that, what caused the affair, how it came
to that?

Husband: I was at work, we were having a company party. I had too much to drink, I made a
mistake.

Wife: Hmph! A mistake?! It was more than that. You slept with another woman. You broke our
solemn promise with each other. We pledge in front of the Lord our vow of faithfulness and
respect to one another.

Husband: I didn’t mean to. I didn’t go there to do it.

Wife: That doesn’t excuse it.

Husband: I barely even met this girl, just a few times. It was a big office, company.
Counselor: So right now Cathy, you’re really angry and feeling a loss of lot of trust. What do you
think will help you rebuild trust and this relationship? As you clearly said you do still love Jacob.
You like this relationship but the trust is gone. What do you think might help him?

Wife: I don’t know. Time, space.

Counselor: Certainly it do need time to rebuild the trust

Wife: It won’t change anything. He do regrets it but it is still difficult to accept him.

Counselor: Are you saying Carlo this is a one-time thing and no contact with the person you had
an affair, since then after that incident.

Husband: Nothing had really happened. Nothing will ever happen again. I was just under the
influence of alcohol.

Wife: Anything he says right now will make a difference. I’m not sure he is telling the truth as
he’s hidden this issue for months.

Husband: I want a second chance but she has every right to not take me back. But I really do
want to be with Cathy.

Counselor: I want both of you to tell me what are each other good points and what this
relationship means to you.

Husband: We could spend all day together and be not bored. Enjoying the moment of being with
each other’s company.

Counselor: Was this the same for you Cathy?

Wife: I was drawn to him, I trusted him with my life. I just love him.

Counselor: Today has been a difficult session for the both of you. Carlo you have been
expressing a lot of regret about the affair. And for you Cathy, anger in your heart as you are
treated like this. But I do notice that both of you wish to find a way to surpass this problem. Both
of you have invested a lot in this relationship and you have a child, you still love each other even
though there has been a crisis.

Counselor: Okay! That’s it for today. It must be hard to accept and acknowledge that you have a
problem. Let’s schedule the next session; for some people further sessions are needed to
explore the root of their problem.