Counselling Case Study: A Gay Student at Auckland University

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James is a 20 year old university student who moved to Auckland University in an attempt to gain recognition from his parents after coming out as homosexual. After moving to Auckland University, James reported experiencing chronic low moods, and as a result of this was then referred to his GP by the University Counselling service.

James’ symptoms of chronic low moods and decreased ability to function are characteristic of depressive disorders, and not caused by medications or another mental illness’ that could better explain these symptoms. Mental illness’s causes are often explained through a “biopyschosocial model”. The Diathersis-stress model is an example of this, saying that with a diathesis (genes, brain abnormalities, neurotransmitters etc) it leads to a vulnerability for particular disorders. When this vulnerability is accompanied by a stressor (abuse, trauma etc.) this results in a pyschological disorder (Kosslyn, Rosenberg, & Lambert, 2014) It is not stated in the case study whether there is any family history of mental illness or brain abnormailites, it is likely James had some sort of biological predisposition for depression, and this alongside social stressors resulted in his depressive disorder. By looking at ‘Beck’s Cognitive Model’, developed by Aaron Beck, we can identify the social cause of James’ depressive episode. This model places an emphasis on how people percieve certain events. This process, known as cognition, then determines their behaviours, emotions and physiology. The way in which we process information is a result of our cognitive process, which is shaped by the core beliefs developed through early life experiences (Liese & Beck, 1997). For James, his negative life experiences directly re...

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...nosis would be benificial for him.

Works Cited

Chapman, D. P., Whitfield, C. L., Felitti, V. J., Dube, S. R., Edwards, V. J., & Anda, R. F. (2004). Adverse childhood experiences and the risk of depressive disorders in adulthood. Journal of Affective Disorders, 82, 217-225. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2003.12.013

Kosslyn, R.M., Rosenberg, R.S., & Lambert, A.J. (2014). Psychology in context (1st New Zealand ed.). Auckland, NZ: Pearson Education.

Liese, B.S., & Beck, J.S. (1997). Cognitive therapy in supervision. In C.E. Watkins (Ed.), Handbook of psychotherapy supervision (pp. 114-133). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons.

Read, J., & Sanders, P. (2010). A straight talking introduction to the causes of mental health problems Herefordshire, UK: PCCS Books.

Willis, G. (2014,) Psych 108 case study. Unpublished notes, University of Auckland, New Zealand.

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