James is a 13 year old teenager in Grade 7 at school. His parents have recently divorced and share custody of James. His father Brett has noticed a shift in James’s behaviour over the last few weeks. During conversations, James is abrupt, curt and tries to avoid conversation. Most recently, James’s English teacher at school […]
Counselling Dilemma
Counselling Dilemma: Inappropriate Romantic Ideas
You have started working as a counsellor for a new up and coming counselling organisation called “Comfort Within”. The therapeutic approaches adopted by this organisation are cognitive and behavioural therapy (CBT) and mindfulness. You are well practiced in both therapeutic approaches and feel they complement each other well for most presentations. On your second day […]
- January 11, 2017
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- 13063
- Counselling Dilemmas
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Counselling Dilemma: Gambling Addiction and Social Media
You have been working as a gambling addictions counsellor for Relationships Australia for the past 5 years. You are active in the community and attend regular network meetings in your local area. One evening at a regular meeting you run into a previous client, Kobe. Kobe informs you that he has been in recovery for […]
- July 22, 2016
- 4
- 18704
- Addictions, Counselling Dilemmas, Ethics & Legal Issues, Group Work
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Counselling Dilemma: A Seizure During a Counselling Session
A client has been seeing a therapist for three months when, during one of their sessions, the therapist appears to lose focus. The client feels a little angry that the therapist is not paying attention to them. After talking for a few more minutes, the client notices that the therapist is struggling to string sentences […]
- March 24, 2016
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- 4367
- Ethics & Legal Issues, Private Practice
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Counselling Dilemma: A Client Who is Afraid of Flying
Robert has been referred to you for counselling. He has recently started a new role as an executive for a large international company. The role involves some travel and this was made very clear to Robert when he accepted the position. Robert has a fear of flying but really wanted to work for the company […]
- August 11, 2015
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- 6715
- Career Development, Counselling Dilemmas, Counselling Theory & Process, Stress Management, Workplace Issues
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Counselling Dilemma: A Client’s Sex Reassignment Surgery
Mark, 36 years of age, is directed to counselling by his doctor after Mark decides he wants to transition from male to female, undergo sex reassignment surgery, and change his name to Sonia. Mark reports he has suffered for a long time trying to live as a man when he in fact feels like a […]
- April 21, 2015
- 5
- 9326
- Addictions, Counselling Dilemmas, LGBTI Issues
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Counselling Dilemma: A Terminally-ill Client
You are working with a 65-year-old female client, Mary, who has been coming to see you for six months as she had grief and loss issues around having lost her only sibling, her brother and her husband in a space of a month apart (a year ago). She has a daughter and son who are […]
- February 10, 2015
- 4
- 10122
- Counselling Dilemmas, Loss & Grief
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Counselling Dilemma: An Aggressive Partner
Kaya and Mark have been in a relationship for a little over a year now and are attending couples counselling. Halfway through the session, the therapist asks for more information about the fights they are having. Kaya reports that Mark recently pushed her into a wall, and that he sometimes viciously pulls things like her […]
- November 10, 2014
- 3
- 16954
- Counselling Dilemmas, Counselling Theory & Process, Ethics & Legal Issues, Relationship & Families
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Counselling Dilemma: An Issue of Sexuality and Boundaries
A counsellor has been working with a client over a period of 9 months assisting with inner child therapy work. During the period, the client also talks about her relationship issues, sexuality as well as a relationship with another person. The counsellor, who also happens to be in a same sex relationship and going through […]
- July 22, 2014
- 3
- 10409
- Counselling Dilemmas, Counselling Theory & Process, Ethics & Legal Issues, LGBTI Issues, Relationship & Families
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Counselling Dilemma: An “Emotionally Draining” Client
You have been working with a male client who has been experiencing anxiety and depression issues. He said that he came to see you after his wife asked him, because she said he was “suffocating” her when anxiety is a major feature in his life. The first session revealed that the anxiety may be persistent […]
- May 6, 2014
- 3
- 14069
- Counselling Dilemmas, Ethics & Legal Issues, Relationship & Families
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Counselling Dilemma: Dual Relationship Boundaries
You have been working with a client for the last 3 months on rebuilding his life and re-integrating into society after having spent 6 years in prison for sex offences. For the last month, you have been working on issues of him frequently stealing money from his girlfriend’s wallet for drinks with his mates, him […]
- May 21, 2013
- 2
- 22896
- Counselling Dilemmas, Counselling Theory & Process, Ethics & Legal Issues, Relationship & Families
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Counselling Dilemma: Confidentiality Issues with a Teenager
You work as a counsellor for an organisation that offers counselling services to the general public. The free service is aimed at community members who cannot afford counselling services otherwise. You start counselling a young man who made an appointment with the service when he saw the advertisement in the local community newspaper. In your […]
- January 14, 2013
- 3
- 15480
- Children & Adolescents, Counselling Dilemmas, Ethics & Legal Issues, Relationship & Families
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Counselling Dilemma: A Teenager Experiencing Study Stress
Anna is a 17 year old student in Year 12 who has come to counselling because she is not coping with the stress of her final year. Anna is from a culture where academic success is highly important and she is under intense pressure from her parents to get good grades and go to university. […]
- December 17, 2012
- 4
- 8526
- Children & Adolescents, Counselling Dilemmas, Ethics & Legal Issues, School Counselling, Stress Management
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Counselling Dilemma: Dealing with Therapeutic Boundaries
You work as a family counsellor for a community service organisation. As a counsellor you are required to see your clients at their own home to offer counselling support. You have been working for quite some time with Lucy, a single mother with 2 kids (boys). However, you have been unable to develop good rapport […]
- June 7, 2012
- 5
- 11917
- Counselling Dilemmas, Ethics & Legal Issues
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Counselling Dilemma: An Issue with a Supervisee
You are a counsellor and approved supervisor working in your own private practice. One of your supervisees, Mary, who has been with you for over twelve months, has told you that her sister is going through a lengthy and difficult relationship breakdown. Mary has previously suggested to her sister that she seek counselling but her […]
- March 3, 2011
- 1
- 5272
- Counselling Dilemmas, Ethics & Legal Issues, Supervision
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