Final Project Part 1: Applying Research to a Case Study Final Project Part 1: Applying Research to a Case Study Program Transcript [MUSIC PLAYING] LAURA HADDOCK: Greetings students. It's time to complete part one, of your final project development. So, during week 5, you are charged with identifying which case study, you're going to use for your final project. You have 4 to choose from. You have a variety of issues, a variety of ages, a number of mental health issues that come up, among and between the case studies, and you are welcome to choose any one that you would like to focus on. You are also welcome to choose any of the participants, within the case study to focus your attention on. You need to choose one case study, and identify one client, a specified client. It may not be one person, but one client, your client might be a couple, or might be a family. Next, you need to decide which one of the behavioral issues, or presenting problems you're going to focus on, and you will have to specify exactly what you're digging into. So for example, a male who's referred to counseling by his girlfriend is suffering from a variety of things, following a combat experience. So you may want to focus on his trauma, or you may want to focus more specifically on something else. And you can choose that, but you'll need to identify exactly what the presenting problem is, exactly what the mental health issue diagnosis disorder is, that you're focusing on. And finally, you have to choose one clinical intervention to look at for potential treatment, with your case study. Now if you look at the worksheet for completing the week five assignment, you complete part 1 of the final project worksheet. There are a number of items within part 1, including determining the case study, identifying the client a focus, describing the presenting problem in which mental health disorder you're going to focus on, and naming the intervention. One of the most important parts of the assignment, is that you need to develop a research question. Remember your researching and intervention, to apply to a case study about a specific client, , with a particular presenting problem. So, you'll need to articulate the research question that you want to investigate, in your final project. Let's say that we are going to speak to the example that I gave earlier, of the combat veteran. Let's say that you are going to focus on his trauma symptoms, for his exposure to combat. You might choose exposure therapy, for the intervention that you might be interested in. So using the guide, you would insert each of your elements into the following question. Is blank, effective for treating blank, diagnosed with blank? So, let's just fill in is exposure therapy, effective for treating combat veterans, diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder? © 2017 Laureate Education, Inc. 1 Final Project Part 1: Applying Research to a Case Stud.

1. Final Project Part 1: Applying Research to a Case Study
Final Project Part 1: Applying Research to a Case Study
Program Transcript
[MUSIC PLAYING]
LAURA HADDOCK: Greetings students. It's time to complete
part one, of your
final project development. So, during week 5, you are charged
with identifying

2. which case study, you're going to use for your final project.
You have 4 to choose
from. You have a variety of issues, a variety of ages, a number
of mental health
issues that come up, among and between the case studies, and
you are
welcome to choose any one that you would like to focus on.
You are also welcome to choose any of the participants, within
the case study to
focus your attention on. You need to choose one case study, and
identify one
client, a specified client. It may not be one person, but one
client, your client
might be a couple, or might be a family.
Next, you need to decide which one of the behavioral issues, or
presenting
problems you're going to focus on, and you will have to specify
exactly what
you're digging into. So for example, a male who's referred to
counseling by his
girlfriend is suffering from a variety of things, following a
combat experience. So
you may want to focus on his trauma, or you may want to focus
more specifically
on something else. And you can choose that, but you'll need to
identify exactly
what the presenting problem is, exactly what the mental health
issue diagnosis
disorder is, that you're focusing on.
And finally, you have to choose one clinical intervention to
look at for potential
treatment, with your case study. Now if you look at the
worksheet for completing

3. the week five assignment, you complete part 1 of the final
project worksheet.
There are a number of items within part 1, including
determining the case study,
identifying the client a focus, describing the presenting problem
in which mental
health disorder you're going to focus on, and naming the
intervention.
One of the most important parts of the assignment, is that you
need to develop a
research question. Remember your researching and intervention,
to apply to a
case study about a specific client, , with a particular presenting
problem. So,
you'll need to articulate the research question that you want to
investigate, in
your final project. Let's say that we are going to speak to the
example that I gave
earlier, of the combat veteran.
Let's say that you are going to focus on his trauma symptoms,
for his exposure to
combat. You might choose exposure therapy, for the
intervention that you might
be interested in. So using the guide, you would insert each of
your elements into
the following question. Is blank, effective for treating blank,
diagnosed with
blank? So, let's just fill in is exposure therapy, effective for
treating combat
veterans, diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder?
© 2017 Laureate Education, Inc. 1

4. Final Project Part 1: Applying Research to a Case Study
Once you articulate your question, you'll get feedback from
your faculty member
to help you solidify it. Keep in mind that you don't want to
choose something
that's so narrow, that you won't be able to find articles, to
complete your project.
You've got to have at least 3 articles, and they're going to need
to be of more
than one type of methodology. So, when you're doing your
work, to get ready to
complete this section, you want to make sure you go into the
literature, and do
some searches to make sure you can find articles, that are
current, and are in
peer reviewed journals to support your work.

5. Final Project Part 1: Applying Research to a Case Study
Additional Content Attribution
FOOTAGE:
WAL_COUN6626F_LauraHaddock.jpg
Credit: Laura Haddock
GettyLicense_546206501 (Portraits)
Credit: [Plume Creative]/[DigitalVision]/Getty Images
GettyLicense_459381993 (Therapy)
Credit: [shironosov]/[iStock / Getty Images Plus]/Getty Images
GettyLicense_181827767 (Combat)
Credit: [Stocktrek Images]/[Stocktrek Images]/Getty Images
MUSIC:
SC_Light&Bright06_T32 and/or SC_Business01_T41
Credit: Studio Cutz
© 2017 Laureate Education, Inc. 2
COUN 6626: Research Methodology and Program Evaluation
Final Project Worksheet
Please identify your specialization: __________ CMHC
____X______ MCFC __________ SC
Part 1: Applying Research to a Case Study
Determine which case study you will use in your Final Project.
(SC need to choose Case 1 or 2)
Case Study 1 _____ Case Study 2 __X___ Case Study 3
_____ Case Study 4 _____
Identify the client of focus:

6. Describe the presenting problem and which mental health
disorder you will address in your treatment (or action planning
for school counselors):
Name the counseling intervention that you wish to investigate
for use with this client and his/her mental health disorder:
Using the following guide, articulate the research question you
will investigate in your Final Project:
Is (intervention) effective for treating (population) diagnosed
with (mental health disorder)?
· Example: Case Study 4 (Client, Jared; Disorder, PTSD;
Intervention, exposure therapy)
Is exposure therapy effective for treating combat veterans
diagnosed with PTSD?
Is _(intervention)___________________ effective for treating
__(population)__________________ diagnosed with ___(mental
health issue)_______________?
Part 2: Applying Research to a Case Study
Using the Walden Library, search the professional counseling
databases to identify current, peer-reviewed research articles
which investigate the intervention and mental health disorder
you have chosen to research. List three article citations (in APA
format with links to the articles) that you have identified for use
in your Final Project. Each article should adhere to the
following guidelines:
· Use only peer-reviewed article published in the last 10 years.
· Include at least one quantitative and one qualitative research
design.
· Do not use a meta-analysis type article.
· Include the permalink for each article.
Article 1:
Citation:

7. Permalink:
________ Quantitative ________ Qualitative ________
Mixed Methods
Article 2:
Citation:
Permalink:
________ Quantitative ________ Qualitative ________
Mixed Methods
Article 3:
Citation:
Permalink:
________ Quantitative ________ Qualitative ________
Mixed Methods
Part 3: Applying Research to a Case Study (Evidence-Based
Practice)
Using the following information as a guide, develop a polished
APA formatted paper. You will analyze three scholarly articles
and apply the findings to your case study.
Annotated Bibliography
Write a brief introduction that identifies which case study,
client, and mental health disorder you chose for your project.
Identify the intervention you are investigating for use in
evidence-based practice.
Research Question:
Insert your approved research question.
Search Strategy:
Describe the Boolean search strategies and key words you

8. used to conduct your search.
Annotations
Article 1.
APA Article citation
Permalink
Write one or two substantive paragraphs and provide an
overview of the article in your own words. Make sure to include
the following elements:
Problem/Purpose
Research Question
Ethical and Cultural Considerations
Sampling
Methodology
Data/Analysis/Study Outcomes
Strengths and Limitations
Article 2.
APA Article citation
Permalink
Write one or two substantive paragraphs and provide an
overview of the article. Make sure to include the following
elements:
Problem/Purpose
Research Question
Ethical and Cultural Considerations
Sampling
Methodology
Data/Analysis/Study Outcomes
Strengths and Limitations
Article 3.
APA Article citation
Permalink
Write one or two substantive paragraphs and provide an
overview of the article. Make sure to include the following
elements:
Problem/Purpose

9. Research Question
Ethical and Cultural Considerations
Sampling
Methodology
Data/Analysis/Study Outcomes
Strengths and Limitations
Evidence-Based Practice
In this section, give an overall summary of the findings for all
three articles you analyzed. Describe the general outcomes of
what the studies found in terms of how well the intervention
worked with the counseling issue disorder and population you
were exploring. Answer your research question. If the
topics/populations in your articles were related but do not match
your research question, explain how you drew your conclusions
to answer the research question. Describe how this information
applies to the client in your chosen case study. Give one
specific example of a counseling application of the intervention
using a scenario that includes your identified client from the
case study.
Treatment Goals (CMHC, MCFC Only)
With consideration for the presenting problem of the client and
your chosen intervention, write one preliminary treatment goal
for your client.
Action Plan (SC Only)
With consideration for the mental health issue of the client,
create an Action Plan of next steps a School Counselor could
take once the issues are identified. Discuss three different
actions to help the client as applied to the role of a school
counselor.
References
Cite all resources and use proper APA format.
Magic, M. (2017). Fascinating course resource that helps
transform my opinions into scholarly
content. Journal for Brilliant Graduate Students, 98(12),
56–66.

10. © 2017 Walden University 1
COUN 6626: Research Methodology and Program Evaluation
Final Project Case Studies
Case Study 1
Chloe, an 8-year-old African American female, has been
brought to counseling by her foster mother. Cloe was removed
from her biological mother’s home after reports of physical and
sexual abuse were substantiated by an investigation by the
Department of Human Services. Law enforcement became
involved after reports that Chloe's biological mother was
allowing adult men to sexually abuse Chloe for drugs. Initial
concerns of this behavior started when Chloe was just 5 years
old. It was only recently that these concerns were able to be
substantiated, resulting in Chloe's placement into foster care
and the parental rights of her biological mother terminated.
Chloe currently lives in foster care and is available for
adoption. Her foster mother indicates that she tends to withdraw
from interpersonal interaction with adults. Chloe is a highly
sensitive child and cries easily. The foster mother, Elaine, has
noticed that Chloe is demonstrating distress anytime she is
separated from her foster parents. When Chloe is dropped off at
school, daycare, or swimming lessons, she is tearful and chews
her fingernails until they bleed. Her teachers indicate that the
distress tends to resolve within about 30 minutes, but Chloe
often isolates herself and will not participate in any activities
until after this time passes. As a result, she is behind in her
schoolwork and she has not made friends within her social or
academic environments.

11. Case Study 2
Jim is a 14-year-old Caucasian male whose parents have
requested services. Jim’s sister, Helen, died suddenly 5 months
ago in a car accident. Since then, Jim has had changes in his
behavior that his parents are worried about, but they assumed
Jim was simply trying to cope with the loss of his sister. This
week, however, his mother found empty beer bottles and empty
compressed air cans hidden in his bedroom and this alarmed his
parents enough to bring him to counseling. Jim claims that he
has only tried drinking or huffing on a couple of occasions, and
that he does not have a problem. His grades have stayed intact
with mostly As and Bs, but in the last month, his peer group has
changed. He no longer spends time with friends that he has
grown up with and now hangs out with kids that his dad
describes as “goth.” He has gotten in trouble at school for
skipping class and received in school suspension. Jim has
historically been a cooperative child who was obedient at home
and school. He is not verbally disrespectful to his parents at this
time, though he has become more secretive putting passwords
on his phone and locking his bedroom door. When his parents
ask him to unlock the door or remove the password, he does so,
but only temporarily. Jim’s teachers indicate that he has become
more introverted in his behavior in recent weeks and no longer
engages in classroom discussions or is cooperative during group
activities. Jim’s biological father is in recovery for alcoholism
and is very fearful that Jim will develop an addiction to
substances. Jim’s mother is adamant that this is just a “stage”
and that Jim is just “being a teenager.” Jim’s parents do not talk
about his sister’s death which has left Jim to find his own way
of coping. Mom is an enabler who ignores her death and Dad
goes to AA meetings to get support in maintaining his 7 years
of sobriety, leaving all members of the family to hurt in
isolation.
Case Study 3
Natasha is a 40-year-old Latina woman who is self-referred to
counseling. Natasha reports that she is in love with a woman,

12. Nicole, and she is afraid that if her family finds out she is a
lesbian they will disown her. She describes her family as “die-
hard Catholic” that views homosexuality as a sin. Natasha has
lost 20 pounds worrying about what will happen when her
family finds out she is gay. She experiences nightly sleep
disturbances and frequently tosses and turns and gets less than 2
hours of sleep. She has stopped participating in activities and
spends most of her time at home isolating herself. She reports
that she is no longer able to enjoy being with friends or
participating in things she enjoys such as yoga or bicycling
because she can’t think about anything but her family. Because
she is not eating or sleeping well, her performance at work has
deteriorated and her boss has put her on a performance
improvement plan. In addition to her concerns about her family,
she is now also worried about losing her job. Her partner,
Nicole, has a very accepting support system and has never
experienced the anxiety of being rejected for her sexual
identity. Nicole's family is accepting of Nicole's identity and
her family has been a safe place for the two of them to be
themselves. Nicole is angry at Natasha's parents for not being
accepting of Natasha and because of Nicole's protectiveness of
Natasha, the their relationship is strained. Natasha feels torn
between the woman she loves and her family who has raised
her. This has caused conflict in the relationship because
Natasha feels that Nicole is being insensitive toward her
circumstances. Their communication has deteriorated and
Natasha fears “losing everything” including her family, her
partner, and her job. Her daily functioning is impacted by her
inability to find joy in activities and her sleep and appetite
disturbance. She doesn’t know what to do.
Case Study 4
Jared is a 37-year-old African American male who is referred to
counseling by his girlfriend, Sheila. Sheila is worried about
Jared because he is short-tempered and on edge, shouts at his
girlfriend, and loses his cool with his kids, ages 13 and 15.
Jared was served with divorce papers upon his return from

13. deployment and now only sees his children every other
weekend. Jared reports that he “can’t think straight.” He
describes wanting to lock himself away and draw the curtains.
Jared cries openly when describing that he served four years in
Operation Iraqi Freedom as a marine. He also expresses
reluctance to enter into counseling because he fears being
labeled. In the 12 years since returning home from his
deployment, Jared has struggled with his divorce and
homelessness. He reports believing that people with mental
problems are wimps or fakers. He explains that when he was a
medic, he coped with the horrors that he had seen in war by
trying to block it all out. He would have a few beers or smoke
marijuana, and try and put it behind him. However, he admits
that he has a particular event that plays over and over in his
head. One scene, that of a young child who had been mutilated
but left alive, is particularly haunting to him. He has daily
thoughts and dreams of homes being burned down or people
screaming with bloody injuries or over the dead bodies of loved
ones. These feelings have impacted his daily functioning and
interpersonal relationships. Neither his girlfriend nor his kids
want to be around him, and he is worried that he is losing his
mind.
© 2017 Walden University 2