1. Assessment in Counseling

2.  Stephanie
 21 year old African-American female
 One child
 Sophomore at community college
 Job / family related issues
 Received counseling with Region III

3.  Intake Assessment
 Background information
 Thinking about withdrawing from college
 Depressed about home / social life
 Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II)
 Level of Depression
 The Substance Abuse Subtle Screening
Inventory (SASSI-3)
 Alcohol / drug abuse or misuse

4.  Intake Assessment
 Initial meeting with client
 Background information
 Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II)
 Conducted during 2nd session with client
 21 item self report instrument
 4pt scale ranging from 0-3 for each item
 The Substance Abuse Subtle Screening
Inventory (SASSI-3)
 26 Frequency questions, 67 true / false questions, 10
scales: 2 for questionnaire and 8 for true / false

5.  No serious medical issues were reported
 Diagnosed with depression last year
 Currently on low dosage medication
 Reports to Region III
 Speaks with a counselor concerning her
academic, career, and family support system

6.  The client reported no history of her family
members having psychiatric issues.
 The client did report issues of alcohol and
drug use from previous family members.

7.  Problems begin occurring during high school
 Mood Changes / Anger issues aggressed after graduating hs
 Felt abandoned emotionally by her mom
 Currently enrolled in junior college
 Average student
 Fear of withdrawing from college
 Torn between changing majors and continuing with college education
 Desires to have a better life plan for herself and her child
 Considered the idea of joining the military

8.  Family of Origin (mom, step-dad, two brothers, and a
son)
 Oldest sibling
 Distant relationship with mom
 Academic
 Currently attending community college
 Social life
 Dating son’s father
 Occasion fights and arguments
 Employment
 Currently working at fast food restaurant

9.  Intake Assessment
 Lack of support system at home / career choice
 Emotional stress and depression
 Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II)
 Minimal 0-13, Mild 14-19, moderate 20-28, and
severe 29-63
 Test-retest reliability
 Increased content validity
 The Substance Abuse Subtle Screening
Inventory (SASSI-3)

10.  Intake Assessment
 Lack of support system at home / school
 Emotional stress and depression from the
strained relationship with her mom and step-dad
 Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II)
 Mild level of depression; score of 16
 The Substance Abuse Subtle Screening
Inventory (SASSI-3)
 Low Probability on
FVA, FVOD, SYM, OAT, SAT, DEF, SAM, FAM, and
COR

11.  Axis I – Clinical Disorders
 Diagnosed with depression
 Axis II – Personality Disorders / MR
 No Diagnosis (V71.09)
 Axis III – General Medical Conditions
 None reported
 Axis IV – Psychosocial / Environmental Problems
 Feels as if her mom sides with her step-dad, no supportive system
within her family structure, relationship problems with boyfriend, at a
cross road with career / college choice
 Axis V – Global Assessment of Functioning
 61-70

12.  Treatment Plan
 Monitor level of depression
 Continue counseling sessions with appointed
counselor
 Continue medication
 Recommendations
 Encourage the client to continue her education and
seek out a career advisor concerning her career
choice. Seek counseling with her mom in order to
build a support system with her and her step-dad.

13.  Beck, A.T. (1996). Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II)
American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical
Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition.
 Miller, G.A. (1988, 1997). The Substance Abuse Subtle
Screening Inventory (SASSI) Manual, Second Edition.
Springville, IN: The SASSI Institute.
 Whiston, S. C. (2009). Principles and Applications of
Assessment in Counseling, Third Edition. Cengage Learning.