Child Abuse Counselling: A Case Study of Jimmy McLeod's Situation

This case study examines the situation of a child named Jimmy, who exhibits abnormal and aggressive behaviors, potentially stemming from behavioral disorders linked to factors such as bullying, parental abuse, and lack of affection. The study outlines a plan to gather information from neighbors, educators, and friends to understand Jimmy's family dynamics and the potential causes of his behavior. It details preparatory activities for client meetings, including questionnaires and non-hostile engagement techniques to build rapport and obtain genuine information. The importance of documenting responses electronically, complying with privacy legislation, and obtaining informed consent is emphasized. The study also addresses ethical dilemmas, such as gathering information without the family's knowledge, and the need to maintain respondent anonymity while avoiding deceptive or psychologically stressful questions. References to relevant literature and legal frameworks, such as the Privacy Act, are included to support the analysis and recommendations.

Running head: CHILD ABUSE COUNSELLING
CHILD ABUSE COUNSELLING
Name of the Student
Name of the university
Author’s note

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A) The case study reveals the fact that Jimmy shows abnormal and aggressive behaviors
towards everyone, which points out that he might be suffering from some sort of
behavioral disorders. Behavioral disorders are childhood can be due to many factors like
bullying at schools, abusive behavior of parents towards children and lack of affection
and love (Parkinson, 2013). It is evident from the case study that Jimmy had been an
unwanted child for his father, as he refers him to be an accident. A record of abusive
behaviors can be taken very well from the neighbors. Information regarding McLeod's
family situation can be collected from some of the other neighbors, Jimmy's school
educator, Jimmy's friends and their parents.
In order to arrange initial meetings with the clients certain steps have to be considered:-
 Preparatory activities: - A counselor should review the history of the preset concerns
related to Jimmy McLeod. It is necessary to chalk down the timings or meeting each
of the clients. The meeting time and the place should be decided by the client as per
their convenience. A telephone survey can also be useful in conducting interviews
with a large number of people (Goldman & Grimbeek, 2015). A questionnaire should
be prepared to have a clear preparation about what to be asked to the client. Probable questionnaire:-
1. How long do you have known McLeod? Do you communicate to them often?
2. How long do you know Jim, share some of his characters or attitudes?
3. Do you know Mr. McLeod? How does he get along with his kids?

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4. Have you ever seen Mr. McLeod hanging out with Jimmy? Or how was his attitude
towards him? Have you ever heard something unusual?
5. How does Jimmy get along with his brothers?
6. What do you think can be the probable reasons for Jimmy’s aggressive behavior?
7. How does Jimmy perform in classes? Does he always exhibit such kind of aggressive
behaviors? Engagement- The way of talking would be absolutely non-hostile for building up a
rapport with the client, such that genuine information can be obtained. It is necessary to
record the perspectives of the neighbors about child abuse. Documentation of the responses- All the responses should be documented electronically
such that they can be produced as evidences if any legal proceedings needs to be
covered.
The collection and the storage of the data should comply with the established legislation of
privacy and confidentiality. Before the collection of the information, consents should be taken
from the clients and they should be informed about the reasons for the interviews (Mealer &
Jones, 2014). According to the Privacy Act, an individual’s consent is required before collecting
any information ("Privacy law| Office of the Australian Information Commissioner - OAIC",
2018). All the pros and the cons of the interview and the reason behind the conduction of the
interview should be informed off. One of the ethical dilemmas that can arise is that all the
information will be obtained without letting the McLeod’s know anything. Hence a client might
find him or her getting into their personal matter. Hence, the neighbors should also be informed
about the norms about child abuse and the consequences and the anonymity of the respondants
has to be maintained. Disclosure of any sources of information to the McLeod’s regarding their

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neighbor’s is strictly prohibited as per the law. Questions that may involve deception and
unusual psychological stresses should be avoided (Mealer & Jones, 2014).

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References
Goldman, J. D., & Grimbeek, P. (2015). Preservice teachers’ sources of information on
mandatory reporting of child sexual abuse. Journal of child sexual abuse, 24(3), 238-258.
Graycar, R. (2012). Family law reform in Australia, or frozen chooks revisited
again?. Theoretical Inquiries in Law, 13(1), 241-269.
Mealer, M., & Jones, J. (2014). Methodological and ethical issues related to qualitative telephone
interviews on sensitive topics. Nurse Researcher (2014+), 21(4), 32.
Parkinson, P. (2013). The idea of family relationship centres in Australia. Family Court
Review, 51(2), 195-213.
Privacy law| Office of the Australian Information Commissioner - OAIC. (2018). Oaic.gov.au.
Retrieved 11 February 2018, from https://www.oaic.gov.au/privacy-law/
Rogers, A., & Pilgrim, D. (2014). A sociology of mental health and illness. McGraw-Hill
Education (UK).