Client System Case Study

Client System
Christopher S is a 22 year old Caucasian male who voluntarily chose to attend the 31 day program at the Greenhouse American Addiction Center. The client was admitted to the facility dealing with opiate, cocaine, and alcohol use. His heavy drug use was compiled with feelings of stress, anxiety, and depression which stemmed from his childhood and adolescence. Over the course of his adolescence, he had many confrontations with the police and has now earned himself a pretty lengthy criminal background. He is currently facing many charges from forgery to aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Christopher is about 5’5 with brown hair and brown eyes. Christopher reports “having a stable childhood only when he was living with his mother and stepfather, but he reports 8 years of molestation and abuse which was inflicted by his biological father which whom he had to visit in another state every summer” (personal communication,

October, 2016). This is his first time in an inpatient facility but not his first time receiving therapy. According to Christopher (personal communication, October, 2016) he was diagnosed with ADHD when he was younger but is not currently taking any medications. He expressed his concerns for wanting to see the psychiatrist about his feelings of depression and anxiety.
Christopher has been living in a high socioeconomic neighborhood in Florida with his grandfather. He began living with him because his mother and stepfather couldn’t deal with his behavior and heavy drug use anymore. He reports a financially stable lifestyle because of his mother and stepfather’s success but is now afraid of being cut off due to his past indiscretions.
Client Situation
Greenhouse provides on staff psychiatrists and therapists to professionally diagnose and treat people dealing with substance abuse and mental health issues.

The client is currently dealing with many circumstances that seem to take priority over his recovery. He expressed his concerns about his legal issues and his fear of receiving an extensive prison sentence. Christopher has also not dealt with the issues that he harbors due to the sexual abuse he endured from his father. He has a rocky relationship with his biological father because his father shows no remorse for what he did to him. It is apparent that Christopher still yearns for the love and attention that he never received from his father. He has a good relationship with his mother and stepfather, his stepfather raised him since he was four years old. His drug use and criminal behavior have caused a rift in the relationships with the people who have been there for him. Christopher doesn’t feel that he has a problem with drugs even though he voluntarily admitted

himself.
Christopher’s mental health has been negatively affected by his substance abuse and has diminished the important relationships in his life. His built up anger and aggression have masked the true feelings he fails to express for the abuse he experienced as a child and he must learn more appropriate skills to cope with what has happened in his life. His ADHD doesn’t seem to have an effect on him so he must focus now on whether or not his feelings of anxiety and depression are drug induced or stem from a deeper rooted issue. His family isn’t aware of all the poor choices he has made in his life and one of his goals is to mend the relationships he desperately needs. He has turned into a young man who has yet to realize the detriment of his actions. Christopher didn’t get to experience a normal childhood and now his suppression is affecting his mental well-being and his substance use doesn’t make his situation any better. This client’s situation deems him suitable for a substance abuse and mental health case study.