Question 1

Minor issues
1.First child (birth order)

Major Issues
2. Parents were killed in a plane crash the
weekend of their anniversary.
3. Gina eating far more than she used to and
sleeping a lot more as well.
4. Lost interest in the subject she once loved
very much.
5. Withdrawn from membership of the schools
choir, the female lawn tennis and debating
teams.
6. Scarcely smile
7. Ginas best friend Kyla expressed concerns
that they no longer have their nightly
marathons.
8. No weekly visits.
9. Gina reluctant to go out anymore.
10. Frequently crying and becomes extremely

irritable and angry without provocation.

Gina shows several common signs and symptoms of depression mentioned above.
Being depressed hurt Gina severely, because Gina stated that it makes no sense to work at
anything, life is unfair and everything is hopeless.
Question 2
Base on Ginas action and the statement that she made saying it makes no sense to work at
anything, life is unfair and everything is hopeless, this shows that she is depressed and
depression can leads to Gina hurting someone or hurting herself. According to Mayo Clinic

depression is a mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest. Its
also called major depressive disorder or clinical depression, it affects how you feel, think and
behave and can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems. The person may have
trouble doing normal day to day activities, and sometimes may feel like life isnt worth living.
The signs of depression according to National Institute of Mental Health are difficulty
concentrating, remembering details, and making decisions. Other signs include fatigue, decrease
energy, feeling of guilt, feeling of worthlessness, feeling hopelessness, loss of interest in
activities and hobbies once pleasurable, persistent sadness, and thoughts of suicide just to name a
few.
Gina was the first child for her parents and by losing them she automatically became the head of
her siblings even though they are staying with a godparent. A level of stress had taken her
because she has to look out for her siblings as well as herself and also she is bearing the loss of
her parents. The major issues she is having are signs of depression base on the National Institute
of Mental Health in previous paragraph. Untreated depression increases the chance of risky
behaviors such as drug or alcohol addiction. It also can ruin relationships, cause problems at
school, suicide, and make it difficult to overcome serious illnesses.

Question 3
Counsellor: Good morning Gina, my name Mrs. Grant and I was asked by Mrs. McKenzie to try
and assist you to work out any problems that you might be having. Do you think you are having
any problems?

Gina: (shrugs) No, I dont think so

Counsellor: Well since the sessions are recommended you expected to stay the entire session.
Do you have anything you want to talk about?
Gina: No, but I can sit
Counsellor: I hear that youre an avid lawn tennis player, is that so?
Gina: Somewhat, I guess (shrugs)
Counsellor: Back in high school I never lost a match I was considered to be the next Steffi Graf.
But you might not know who she is as she was a bit before your time.
Gina: You play tennis (smirk) I would have to see it to believe it.
Counsellor: I can show you a thing or two about the game you better believe it
Gina: (Smiles) And for you information my tennis knowledge might be greater than yours.
Steffi Graf of Germany who won 21 Grand slam singles titles, shes a legend.
Counsellor: (Smiles) Did you Google that?
Gina: (Laughs) Very funny. Very, very funny. So what happened why arent you representing the
country, given your supposed skills?
Counsellor: (sigh) I twisted my ankle during practice and tore a tendon, I did three surgeries but
my leg was never the same. I would have given anything to be able to play to the level that I was
before the injury.
Gina: Wow! I wish my game was as good as you say yours was. Lately my game has been a bit
off, and at times I dont even feel like playing anymore, so I dont play as much anymore.

Counsellor: Thats unfortunate, what has been affecting you game?

Gina: Just not feeling the need to play the game anymore just dont have the energy.
Counsellor: How long have you felt this way?
Gina: Has been going on for a while but on and off but it seems more on that not these days.
Counsellor: Can you remember the specific period the feelings came about or what triggered
them?
Gina: Have you ever had this feeling of emptiness?
Counsellor: Is that what you are experiencing?
Gina: Im not sure sometimes, Im just really sad and just dont feel like doing anything
sometimes, I want to just lay in by bed and roll up in a ball and remember the good times with
my parents.
Counsellor: Sounds like you had good relationship with your parent, what was your relationship
with them like?
Gina: (face lights up) Sure we very close. My parents were awesome! With them I was always
first. I would have girl talks with my mother and she would help me with Spanish and we used to
sing with hairbrushes in the mirror as she combed my hair. Daddy and I played tennis on
Saturdays, but he always cheated because he wasnt good at tennis but no matter what he tried he
never won. (Laugher)
Counsellor: that sounds good, go on
Gina: After tennis was the best, he took the boys and me for ice-cream. He was the best.

Counsellor: I think I understand, your mother and father were like friends to you.
Gina: Exactly (laughter ends)
Counsellor: How did you feel when they passed?
Gina: It felt like my world imploded.
Counsellor: What do you mean?
Gina: They arent here anymore. Its hard to do the things I did with them. Ever since my
parents passed I have been struggling to find the reasons I do the things I do, and to what
ultimate end. You were great at tennis and then look what happened to you. My parents were
great people and look what happened to them, it just does not make sense.
Counsellor: My injury forced me to focus on my academics, which was suffering, as most of my
time was spent practicing. What if I had a professional tennis career and then had my injury I
would have nothing to fall back on. There is an opportunity in every disaster if only we look in
the right direction.
Gina: So, where is my opportunity? My happy ending?
Counsellor: You first need to assess the resources that you have at hand. Do you have believe
you people that love and care about you?
Gina: I guess
Counsellor: who?
Gina: well my brothers, Kyla, and Mr. Garwood
Counsellor: Anyone else?

Gina: Gina: Oh and I cant leave out Mrs. McKenzie and my other teachers
Counsellor: Do you spend time with Kayla and your brothers?
Gina: not really anymore
Counsellor: So what do you want to do? Do you want to continue playing tennis? Do you want
to be close to your brothers and best friend?
Gina: I dont want to be distant. My parents wouldnt want that.
Counsellor: Ok, well I am going to ask you to make a list with your brothers in one column,
your best friend in another and tennis another, also include a column for Spanish. You are going
to write what they mean to you and how you plan to include them in your life. I will give you
five minutes.
After five minutes
Gina: Im finished

My Brothers
Meaning to my life
Only
remaining
immediate
relatives
How I plan to include
them
Help them with
homework and
have Saturday
ice-cream. To
continue the
tradition. They
need to know I

Kayla
Meaning to my life
My confidant
and pillar of
strength
How I plan to include
her
Explain to
Kyla the
problems I
have been
having and
talk to her
instead of
pushing her

Tennis
Meaning to my life
My talent
How I plan to include it
Return to
practice and
push through
even when it
feels like I want
to crawl in a
shell.
Keep a progress
sheet to aid in
the improvement
of my game.

Spanish
Meaning to my life
I want to be
bilingual
How I plan to include it
Have a meeting
with Senorita
Sanchez to
discuss how I
can my grades
up before the
end of the term

am still a part
of their lives.

away until my
comfort level
comes back.

This will aid in

my perseverance
during training.

After reading Ginas list

Counsellor: Are these in order of priority?
Gina: Not at all the list was random. And all activities with my brothers and Kayla will happen
at different times and tennis practice wont interfere. The meeting with Senorita Sanchez will be
determined by a different schedule and my Spanish is very good so it shouldnt be hard to catch
up.
Counsellor: How soon can you start implement these plans?
Gina: Today if you it will help fill the void in my life.
Counsellor: Do you think it will?
Gina: I think so
Counsellor: Then, I will keep a copy of this list and meet with you next week to see how well
you have done. That is it for todays session.
Question 4

Mrs. McKenzie asked Mrs. Grant to speak with her class as a guest speaker. Outlining
the purpose and benefits of group counselling, and, walking the group through the counselling
process.
Group counselling- What is it?
This is a form of therapy where people with similar experiences/issues come together
with a professional therapist. The therapist runs the session, but generally everyone contributes in
some way, listening to others and talking themselves (ReachOut, 2016). which also puts in place
a way that people benefit from shared experiences. Usually group counseling is focused on a
particular issue (Esquivel. J. M. L., 2011).
Benefits of counselling
1. Providing Unique Environment: Group counseling can offer a unique environment in
which to learn about and experience both self and others.
2. Exploring the Issues in Depth: The group experience gives individuals an opportunity
to explore their issues in more depth, in a setting which more closely resembles work, study,
social and family groupings
3. Avoiding Isolation and Loneliness: One of the main principals behind group counseling
is the idea that dealing with specific issues may cause isolation, and a feeling that one is alone in
facing ones problems. Group counseling attempts to counteract this isolation by assembling
people with similar issues to enforce that difficulties are not singular to one person.
4. Highly Organized: Group counseling may be highly organized, with people doing
specific activities together and then sharing the results.

5. Group Counseling Costs Less : Some people find the group counseling experience a
better alternative than private therapy because it tends to cost less.
6. Help Others and Being Helped: Provides the opportunity to help others as well as being
helped.
7. Feeling of Empowerment Gives the feeling of empowerment It helps build confidence
and self-esteem so that you may feel more in control of your life.
8. Improvement By Sensitivity and Insight: Group members improve from the sensitivity
and insight of the Counselor.
9. Promoting Growth and Change: Group members provide different perspectives which
are often helpful in promoting growth and change.
Group counselling process:
1) Forming (Orientation, Initiation, Exploration) Ask members to introduce themselves
or to introduce another member. Ask members to describe themselves using a limited
number of words (1-3). Ask members what they hope to get from group and/or what
their concerns are about group. Explain ground rules and answer questions.
2) Storming (Transition, conflict, confrontation) - This stage can occur several times
during a group. Increased conflict, frustration, disillusionment and anxiety. Seeking
control or dominance in the group. Challenging the facilitator (counsellor). Facilitator
should be non-defensive and deal openly with conflict.
3) Norming (Cohesion, Plateau) Increase observed in support, acceptance, risk-taking,
self-disclosure, trust, sensitivity, and unity. Members seek closeness and emotional

attachment. Facilitators should; reinforce behviours that build trust, e alert to

subgrouping, and, continually note that the group can accomplish more.
4) Performing (Working, Production) Individual goals become focus of group efforts.
Members criticisms of each other become more supportive and objective. Possible
regression to earlier stage dynamics. The Facilitator should; Become less active as the
group member activity increases, model appropriate methods of confronting,
comment on the group process, address dysfunctional dynamics (eg includes too
much or too little self-disclosure, sub grouping).
5) Adjourning (Termination, mourning) Anxiety, fear, abandonment, and ambivalence.
Desire for closure and to resolve unfinished business. Potential for false relapse..
Risk-taking and self-disclosure decrease. Facilitators should; affirm accomplishments
of the group members, review strategies that group members can use to maintain the
progress made in group. Summarize the group experience (Esquivel. J. M. L., 2011).

Reference
MAYO CLINIC. ( n.d). Depression, Major Depressive disorder. Retrieve from:
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/depression/basics/definition/con-20032977
WebMD. (N.D). Symptoms of Depression. Retrieved from:
http://www.webmd.com/depression/guide/detecting-depression

(Esquivel. J. M. L., 2011). Group counselling. (pp. 09, 14-15-15, Powerpoint

presentation). Retrieved from: http://www.slideshare.net/janlue03/group-counseling-8523087
ReachOut. (2016, January, 16). Group counselling. Retrieved from: ie.reachout.com/gettinghelp/face-to-face-help/types-of-therapy/group-counselling/