Counselling Children and Adolescents: Case Study on Mental Health and Wellbeing

Running Head: COUNSELLING CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS 0
counselling children and adoelscents
AUGUST 4, 2018

COUNSELLING CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS 1
In today’s scenario everyone faces challenges and problems through all the stages in
their life. Challenges in life may develop gradually with the passage of time or occur
suddenly or may appear and finish repeatedly during a child’s life. The case study mentioned
represents the journey of the life of a 10-year old girl Jenni, who spent about most of her life
living in childcare community, i.e. under foster care, the time she was a young baby. She also
experienced trauma, in her younger years. Therefore, the case study states the effect of the
risk and the protective factors on the mental health of a child. Wellbeing is term used to
define the state or condition of an individual or group (Child Welfare Information Gateway,
2018).
A higher level of wellbeing states the positive condition of the individual. Wellness
refers to not only mental health but also, the diverse dimensions of health that includes
physical and mental well-being. It also includes activities and actions of an individual
focused at attaining wellness in terms of physical endurance, mental alacrity, satisfaction, and
a sense of personal accomplishment. Hence, it is essential especially during the younger age,
to maintain the state of wellbeing to enhance future development (Font, 2014).
The represented case study brings out the concern for the client, Jenni’s wellbeing,
and the associated risk factors during her past and the current years of age. These factors
negatively affect children in their younger years ranging from depression, anxiety to the
persistent or the long-term impact that results in isolation, separation, and insecurities in their
behaviour. One in ten children needs a support or the treatment for their mental health
problems. Child’s wellbeing refers to the physical health, development, and safety; also, it
includes the factors psychological and emotional development, cognitive development, and
educational achievement of the child. Mental health is particularly as the state of wellbeing in
which a child or an individual realizes his/her potential and the ability to cope up and
overcome stress of life (Healthy Suffolk, 2018).

COUNSELLING CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS 2
The concern for the client's wellbeing reports to the issues she faced during her
younger years. This condition led to the trauma and disturbed her mental health. In addition,
she lived in the foster care and has been associated with number of different families during
those years. Foster care refers to the system or mechanism in which a minor is placed into a
ward, group home i.e. residential childcare community and others. The community care also
includes the private home of a caregiver that refers to foster parents or a family member
approved by the state authorities (Child trends, 2018).
At the age of 7years, a foster carer with whom the girl had close relationship passed
away, that affected her behaviour and emotional health. She lived a family permanently after
some time, where both the parents genuinely cared for her. There were few signs of her
mental distress, such as the schoolteacher noticed her taking her lunch in the library, unable
to make friends in school. Therefore, these issues were the major concerns for her wellbeing
(Victoria State government, 2018). The concerns were the safety-related issues for Jenni, her
emotional peace living with the new family. Mental health difficulties affected the behaviour
that made her isolated and developing a negative attitude towards people and the girls in her
school. The ten-year-old child is on the verge of a number of changes in almost every aspect
of their life therefore, Jenni faces the same situation. Moreover, she was physically mature
for her age and conscious regarding her appearance. The risk factors to the mental and
emotional health and wellbeing of a child fall into main groups such as the child itself,
family, environment, and the impact of the life events. The current risk factors of the client
include the developmental delay, depression, conflicts in the relationship with the peers and
the groups (Better health, 2018).
The researches have shown if this condition continues to prevail in the later years;
after the age of 16, the child may become addictive to drug, alcohol, and cigarettes. She
performed well at her school previously. Moreover, over the 6 months she started