Emmett is a 32 year old Caucasian man. He has been referred to a psychologist by his GP. His current problems seemed to start a few months ago. About six months ago, Emmett got a promotion in his job as a teacher. The headteacher thinks he is doing a good job and so do most of the students. Despite this, he often feels worthless and 'low' at work, and believes he is a failure.

He described a deep despair which gets worse at night. He is a self-stated "perfectionist" struggling to concentrate, and finds himself tearful and angry a lot of the time. He is calmest when he walks his dog alone in the countryside, and says that "It clears my head". He does not speak with his friends or family about his difficulties, as he does not think they would understand. At the weekends, he drinks alcohol to relax. He used to play badminton in the evenings with friends, but now he does not have the energy.

Question

 Imagine this is your second meeting. Give specific examples of questions you would ask Emmett in your assessment, to gain a fuller understanding of his current psychological difficulties. Explain your choices with psychological theory.

 Guidance 

This is about assessment only, i.e. gathering information. Don't fit Emmett's problems into a formulation model such as CBT, you will do this in your final assignment. We have only just met Emmett and don't need "answers" - instead, stay curious, explore Emmett's perspective, and ask for more detail about his situation. Feel free to ask about topics not already mentioned in the case study e.g. physical health, personal history, relationships, frequency / intensity of problems etc. Carefully explore the personal meaning behind his words e.g. what does the word 'perfectionist' mean to Emmett? Use academic sources e.g. module reading, academic journals, ethical guidelines, BPS guidelines. Don' t try to diagnose Emmett with a psychiatric disorder. Diagnosis is a medical approach to distress. This module is psychological

Answer rating: 100% (QA)

In my second meeting with Emmett I would ask the following specific questions to gain a fuller understanding of his current psychological difficulties 1 Can you tell me more about how you define yours... View the full answer