Case Study of Peter

1. Client Description
 This case involves Peter Parkly, a 21-year-old Caucasian
male, who was experiencing problems identify a potential
career after graduation and concerned that he consumes to
much alcohol at social events.

2. Purpose of Assessment
 Peter entered counseling stating concerns that when he
graduates from college this spring he will not find a job,
does not know what career he is interested in, and not sure
if he chose the right major.
 Peter also says his alcohol consumption has increased
during social events with friends and he is worried that he
is using alcohol to help cope with academic problems.
 The Self-Directed Search and SASSI-3 will be
administered to Peter to help formulate a diagnosis and
treatment goals.

3. Assessment Procedures and Protocols
 The Self- Directed Search (SDS) (Form R) (Holland,
1994a) is based from John Holland’s Typology.
 Holland’s (1992) theory has four tenants
 1: In our culture, most persons can be categorized as on of
sixetypes: realistic, investigative, artistic, social,
enterprising, or conventional.

4. Assessment Procedures and Protocols
 2: There are six kinds of environments: realistic,
investigative, artistic, social, enterprising, or conventional.
 3: People search for environments that will let them
exercise their skills and abilities, express their attitudes
and values, and take on agreeable problems and roles
 4: A person’s behavior is determined by an interaction
between his personality and the characteristics of his
environment.
 The SDS will be given to match personality traits with a
fitting work environment.

5. Assessment Procedures and Protocols
 Administration of the SDS should be given to individuals
curious about vocational alternatives and self-exploration.
 SDS is most effective in a quiet environment
 Those with an 8th grade education or above should be
capable of answering Form R.
 While the test is taken and scored by the individual,
supervision or checking the test can help reduce errors.

6. Assessment Procedures and Protocols
 Alcohol Abuse (DSM-IV-TR; American Psychiatric
Association, 2000) is diagnosed based on problems in at
least one of four areas in a 12 month period:
 1: failure to fulfill major social role obligations at work,
home, or school.
 2: drinking repeatedly in a manner that creates the
potential for harm (e.g., drinking and driving)
 3: incurring repeated alcohol-related legal consequences
 4: continuing to drink despite known social or
interpersonal problems because of drinking.

7. Assessment Procedures and Protocols
 Whiston (2009) states, “The Substance Abuse Subtle
Screening Inventory 3 (SASSI-3) has a 93% rate of
accuracy in identifying individuals with substance-related
disorders.
 Reporting feedback to clients can help increase self-
awareness, more information, and build rapport.
 The SASSI-3, along with, guidance from the DSM-IV-TR
will infer if Peter has reached clinical significance for a
diagnosis.

8. Medical/ Developmental History
 Peter has no known medical conditions.
 Based from information Peter has disclosed it seems he
could be suffering from identity confusion-clashing roles,
value systems, unable to make decisions (Berzonkly
&Kuk, 2000; Kroger, 2004).
 Moreover, those suffering from identify confusion mask
problems by procrastination and avoidance (Berzonkly
&Kuk, 2000; Kroger, 2004)
 Peter could be using alcohol and partying as ways to
avoid feelings of low self-esteem.

9. Medical/ Developmental History
 Zunker( 2006 ) states that the exploratory stage of Super’s
theory of developmental stages and tasks states:
 Exploratory (15-24) characterized by a tentative phase in
which choices are narrowed but not finalized.
 Specification (18-21) a period of moving from a tentative
vocational preferences toward a specific vocational
preference.
 It seems that Peter is close to his developmental stage.
Preferences and interests are being narrowed down.

10. Family Psychiatric History
 Peter’s mother has a diagnosis of Bipolar I disorder, and
until her mood stabilized from psychopharmacology, she
actively abused alcohol, pain medication, and marijuana.

11. School/Academic History
 Peter had maintained a 3.2 grade point average until
his senior year in college. His grades have slipped
this semester due to partying, and he is trying to
maintain a 3.0.
 He also has been skipping class more frequently
attending only one or two classes a week.

12. Home Behavioral/Social
 Peter has been sleeping late and skipping classes.
 His days now consist of watching television, going to
fraternity parties and checking Facebook.
 Each weekend he goes to the Square and consumes
3-5 alcoholic beverages Friday and Saturday night.

13. Assessments Used and Appropriate Interpretations
 After reviewing the SDS, activities, competencies,
occupations, self-estimates were summed to get the total
scores of RIASEC personality types.
 The highest three score compose the summary code: S
(highest), I (second), E (third)
 S and I have a correlation of .30, S and E have a
correlation of .54.

14. Assessments Used and Appropriate Interpretations
 Social Occupations (SIE)
 Clinical Dietitian
 Nurse Instructor
 Physical Therapist
 Nuclear Medicine
 District Supervisor
 Probation and Parole Officer

15. Assessments Used and Appropriate Interpretations
 Following the nine rules of the SASSI-3 results show that
Peter has a low probability of a substance dependence
disorder.
 Using the DSM-IV-TR Peter meets criteria for Alcohol
Abuse by meeting criterion 1 and 2.

16. Summary of Findings
 Peter meets the Holland summary code of SIE
meaning he is Social, Investigative, and Enterprising.
 He has a low probability of substance abuse,
however, he does meet criteria for Alcohol Abuse.

17. DSM Diagnosis
 Axis I: 305.00 Alcohol Abuse
 Axis II: None
 Axis III: None
 Axis IV: Problems related to social environment and
educational problems

18. Treatment Plan and Recommendations
 Peter can begin exploring career environments that
fit his personality and interests. By using the SDS he
now has ideas of future vocations and can begin to
find more information about those jobs to narrow
down a selection.
 Cognitive and Behavioral strategies can be used to
intervene his Alcohol Abuse. Identifying replacement
behaviors and self-reinforcement could help, along
with, challenging thinking errors for the need to
drink excessively.