Case Study
Patient Demographic: Name: Dave Clinical Issues: Worry and anxiety Diagnostic Category: Anxiety Disorders;Substance Use Disorders Provisional Diagnosis: F41.9 Unspecified Anxiety Disorder; F10.99 Unspecified Alcohol-Related Disorder Age: 42 Sex Assigned at Birth: Male Gender and Sexual Orientation: Male, Heterosexual Ethnicity: White Marital Status: Married Modality: Individual Therapy Location of Therapy : Agency  
Mental Status Exam: The client presents at the intake session biting his nails and cannot keep his legs from shaking. He feels anxious about his wife and work. He continually places his hands on his head and complains of headaches and nausea. He admits to drinking a bit more than he should. He denies thoughts of self-harm but sometimes wishes that he could "disappear."
Presenting Problem: First session You are a counseling intern at an agency that works with clients from various socioeconomic backgrounds. Your client is a 42-year-old married male massage therapist who owns two therapeutic massage practices. Over the past nine months, his business has been reduced by fifty percent. He is having great difficulty paying the bills for the business, and he has exhausted his personal savings. His wife is currently not working due to a back injury. He has difficulty concentrating during the day and is irritable around his employees, friends, and family. He states that he drinks "too much" in order to relax at night and admits that his hangover adds to his anxiety the next day. His wife has begun to complain, and their relationship has been strained over the past three months. The client is concerned about paying for the sessions due to financial issues. He offers to exchange massage sessions for therapy.    The client is aware that anxiety and alcohol use are impacting his work and family life negatively, but he does not know how to get a handle on them. He reports feeling overwhelmed with worry about the future of his business and whether he will be able to continue providing for his family. The client has been avoiding people lately, including old friends, and only sees his mother occasionally due to her health problems. In terms of self-care, the client acknowledges that he tends to put everyone else's needs before his own, which leads to feelings of exhaustion and anxiety. Additionally, he finds it difficult to recognize or accept compliments from others and has difficulty expressing gratitude for their help. During the intake session, you identify anxiety as one of the primary issues the client is seeking help with. You also discuss the role that alcohol is playing in his anxiety and suggest strategies for reducing anxiety without relying on it as a coping mechanism. The conversation then turns to developing a plan with the client for addressing these issues, such as scheduling regular self-care activities, limiting or eliminating alcohol use, and exploring cognitive behavioral therapy techniques for managing anxiety levels.  Fourth session The client presents for his fourth session. You were able to work out a payment plan with him which has relieved his immediate concerns about paying for therapy sessions. However, he reports ongoing tension about finances and says that his his wife packed a bag to leave after a "big fight" about money. She told him she needs some space to see if she wants a divorce. The client breaks down and begins to cry and shaking uncontrollably. While looking at the ground he laments, "I don't know what to do. It wasn't always like this. We used to be happy, but now I'm just stressed and worried about everything. I'm never going to be able to make enough money to support my family." He tells you that he works hard to provide for his family, but his wife does not appreciate or support him. He has been drinking more but knows that it is not helping. He has decided he needs to make some lifestyle adjustments; he is ready to make changes and work on his issues.    In the session, you provide a supportive environment, helping your client to see his anxiety from a place of self-awareness and empowerment. You offer him concrete strategies for managing anxiety including relaxation techniques, cognitive restructuring, and grounding exercises. You also explore how he can work towards building better communication with his wife by expressing himself in an assertive yet respectful way. You both discuss how alcohol serves as a distraction but ultimately leads to additional anxiety. Together you come up with a plan that includes reducing the amount of alcohol he consumes, engaging in positive self-talk, and scheduling weekly activities such as going on walks to help him reduce stress levels. At the end of this session, you encourage your client to continue making strides towards his goals and remind him of the progress he has already made. You assure him that anxiety is something that can be managed with regular practice and together you will continue to work towards positive change.
Other Contexts: The client has been married for ten years. He and his wife have two children together, a son, age 10, and a daughter, age 12. The client does not speak to his father, who divorced his mother when he was four years old. The client and his mother have a good relationship. The mother lives 15 minutes away from the client and helps his wife with the children. During the past nine months, his massage therapy practice revenue has decreased by fifty percent, and it has been difficult to pay the bills. The client has exhausted all personal savings. The client is the sole income provider for his family, as his wife is not working while recovering from a back injury. 

Question: Given the client's comments, which treatment goal would you consider working on at this time?
(A): Transitioning from individual to couples therapy
(B): Determining whether or not he should divorce his wife
(C): Creating a plan to file for bankruptcy for his business
(D): Decreasing his drinking and learning to use relaxation techniques when feeling the urge to drink more

Correct Answer: Decreasing his drinking and learning to use relaxation techniques when feeling the urge to drink more
Explanation: This is the correct answer because his drinking is affecting his relationship and his work performance. Therefore, the correct answer is (B)
Competency: treatment planning