Stephanie is a 21-year-old African American female community college student seeking counseling for issues related to her job, family, and depression. Assessment tools including the Beck Depression Inventory and Substance Abuse Subtle Screening Inventory were administered. She scored in the mild range of depression and low probability of substance abuse. Her treatment plan focuses on continuing counseling, medication, education, and building a supportive family system to address her lack of support and emotional stress.

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.