COUCOP801A: Counselling the McLeod Family - Initial Assessment Plan

This report outlines the preparatory activities a mental health counselor should undertake before engaging with the McLeod family, focusing on Jimmy's destructive behavior and potential mental health issues. It emphasizes building rapport, reviewing medical history, and collaborating with family members, school authorities, and community members to understand Jimmy's environment. The report stresses the importance of active listening, clear communication, and maintaining confidentiality to establish a strong working alliance. The ultimate goal is to determine if the case is suitable for intake after thorough engagement and assessment. Desklib provides students with access to similar past papers and solved assignments.

Running head: PART 1
Counselling McLeod family
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1PART 1
The primary role of a mental health counsellor encompasses providing assistance to
the families and the affected individuals for dealing with emotional difficulties, personality
disruption, trauma, and mental health disorder. Preparatory activities will form an essential
approach in this regard (Horejsi, Horejsi & Sheafor, 2010).
The activities will help in developing a sense of rapport with Jimmy during the initial
sessions. This can be facilitated by monitoring the medical history of Jimmy, along with his
presenting complaints such as, his destructive attitude, unresponsive nature, demanding and
cranky nature. Going through the past medical records of both the parent and the family
members will help in unravelling any risk factor that might have increased Jimmy’s
susceptibility of suffering from such mental disturbances (Wofford & Ohrt, 2018). Today the
role of professional counselling entails a collaboration between the counsellor, the client and
any other parties involved (Anderson & Gehart, 2007). The preparatory activity would also
involve the role of Jimmy’s mother in the scenario. Although they have been separated,
involvement of family in clinical decision making is vital. It promotes autonomy and helps in
gaining a sound understanding of their preferences and demands.
Preparatory activities would also encompass scheduling visits to Jimmy’s school,
home and neighbourhood for unravelling his behaviour. In order to establish a strong working
alliance, collaboration must be fostered with the parents, community members, and school
authorities. Display of active listening skills, explaining the case using short, simple
sentences, and asking for constant feedback from the parents will display a genuineness in
caring for Jimmy (Tuttle, Land & Moss, 2017). Considering the fact that his father and the
community members display stigmatising attitude towards Jimmy, engagement with them
will help them clarify their misunderstanding and fear regarding the same. The meeting point
where the counsellor can appropriately set for the first meeting, can be at Jimmy’s school or
McLeod home but not at the Childs Safety Authority offices. A friendly approach should also

2PART 1
be adopted to allow Jimmy share his thoughts and concerns, as a direct account of the
psychological trouble he faces.
Ensuring maintenance of confidentiality of personal information should also be
considered. To conclude, it is after this meeting and engagement with the McLeod family
when the counsellor is able to determine if the case is fit for intake.

3PART 1
References
Anderson, H & Gehart, D. (2007). Collaborative Therapy: Relationships and Conversations
that make a Difference. New York. Rutledge Press.
Horejsi, C. R., Horejsi, G. A., & Sheafor, B. (2010). Techniques and guidelines for social
work practice. Allyn and Bacon.
Tuttle, M., Land, C., & Moss, L. (2017). Counseling Children in School and Clinical Mental
Health Settings. Counseling Children and Adolescents: Working in School and
Clinical Mental Health Settings, 21.
Wofford, J. R., & Ohrt, J. H. (2018). An Integrated Approach to Counseling Children
Diagnosed With ADHD, ODD, and Chronic Stressors. The Family Journal, 26(1),
105-109.