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 […]
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Counselling Dilemmas
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
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- 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
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- 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
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- 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
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- 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
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- Counselling Dilemmas, Ethics & Legal Issues, Supervision
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Counselling Dilemma: A Teenager at Risk of Suicide
Chantelle is 14 and in foster care. Chantelle was removed from her parents’ care at the age of seven and has since had several foster placements. Her last care arrangement ended, one month ago, when her foster family relocated interstate. Child protection workers have found a new foster placement for Chantelle and you have been […]
- February 15, 2011
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- Children & Adolescents, Clinical Mental Health, Counselling Dilemmas, Self-harming & Suicide
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Counselling Dilemma: Issues with a Separated Couple
You are co-facilitating a mediation session for Patricia and Jonathan White (a separated couple in their early 40s, with two children). In your first session, Patricia expresses clear opinions regarding residency arrangements for the children. Patricia is also steadfast in her beliefs about the fair division of assets and cash. Jonathan is equally sure in […]
- October 21, 2010
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- Counselling Dilemmas, Ethics & Legal Issues, Relationship & Families
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Counselling Dilemma: Supporting an Anxious Child
Charlotte is 11. She has been brought along to counselling by her mother, Fran. According to Fran, Charlotte has always been a “quiet and shy” girl. Fran remarks that she is not surprised by this as she too was a reserved and anxious child. In recent weeks however, Fran has noticed that Charlotte has become […]
- August 9, 2010
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- Children & Adolescents, Counselling Dilemmas, Relationship & Families
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Counselling Dilemma: A Dominant Male Partner
Marcia, 29 years of age, came to you six weeks ago with issues of poor self-esteem and lack of self worth. She has been married for 8 years to Michael, however in session she speaks little about him and when the conversation turn towards him she quickly tries to change the subject or issue. Although […]
- October 23, 2009
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- Counselling Dilemmas, Ethics & Legal Issues, Relationship & Families
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Counselling Dilemma: Two Separate Clients Crossing Paths
You have been retained by a company to counsel a member of staff who is currently on stress leave from her job. During the first session with this person you discover that her immediate supervisor is a private client who has been coming to you for counselling for some time. The staff member tells you […]
- August 26, 2009
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- Counselling Dilemmas
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Counselling Dilemma: A Family “Break-Up”
The client, Helen, is 56 years old. She has been happily married for 32 years to Barry, who works for the local council. Helen and Barry’s first child, a boy, was stillborn. Helen fell pregnant again very quickly to help get over the loss. They now have two adult daughters, Vicky and Sharon. Vicky, the […]
- May 28, 2009
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- Counselling Dilemmas, Relationship & Families
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Counselling Dilemma: A Complex Family Situation
You have been counselling a married couple for several weeks. The couple came to you because of problems they were having in their relationship. During the process you have seen the pair separately at which time you learnt that the husband is only staying with his wife because of their two children. The wife meanwhile […]
- December 4, 2008
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- Counselling Dilemmas, Relationship & Families
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Counselling Dilemma: Child Welfare and Safety
John has been attending counselling sessions for several months seeking help with the difficulties he is finding in dealing with his relationship break-up. He and his partner were together for ten years and have two children, a boy aged 9 and a girl aged 7. John has access to them every other weekend and for […]
- September 8, 2008
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- Children & Adolescents, Counselling Dilemmas, Ethics & Legal Issues
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Counselling Dilemma: A Client Who Tells Offensive Jokes
You have a client of the opposite sex who is coming to see you weekly about problems with family and social relationships. He/she has been attending sessions with you for two months and seems likely to be a long-term client. Although initially very quiet and reluctant to discuss issues, you have succeeded in gaining his/her […]
- August 8, 2008
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- Counselling Dilemmas, Ethics & Legal Issues
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