Assessment of addictions is a very complex process. Counselors must ask questions about a variety of issues and risk factors, not just drug and alcohol usage or patterns. Read the case study below. As a clinician, how would you begin a comprehensive assessment process and what tools would you use? What risk factors would you consider in this case and what are the implications of the client’s overall risk? What questions might you ask and what areas do you want to gather more information in order to obtain an accurate diagnosis? Provide a rationale for your assessment process with evidence from your readings and use outside scholarly sources.
Becky is a 19-year-old African American female who identifies as lesbian. She is a first-year undergrad student with an undeclared major. Her primary reason for counseling is that she wants to be better able to control her anger, enough that she doesn’t become violent and hurt others.
She reports that there are several students that irritate her and there have been times that she has verbally threatened others. Becky said that she was encouraged by one of her closer friends to see a counselor because others are intimidated by her. She explained that she grew up witnessing and knowing friends involved with gang related violence.
Becky shared that she has been sexually assaulted more than once. She said that she has never trusted anyone completely. She explained that her primary motivation of controlling her anger is to stay in college, because she feels she can improve her life, and this is a better option for her than living at home. Becky said that it has been stressful for her to conform to the college environment and follow the rules.
She has had a hard time adjusting but relies on her one friend here for support. She denies symptoms of depression; she reports eating and sleeping normally, and she is attending her classes and completing her work. She said that she drinks alcohol and uses marijuana on a regular basis, about 3-4 times a week.
She primarily drinks hard alcohol and she occasionally has blackouts. She explained this is normal for her as she drinks and smokes this much with friends back home. She didn’t want to talk about her romantic relationships; she said she was gay and she was fine with it.
