Identify what steps the counselor should take

Post ID: 3391351

Case Vignette: Alex's Story

Background Information: Alex is an 8-year-old boy referred to counseling by his school counselor due to concerns about social withdrawal, difficulties concentrating in class, and frequent stomachaches reported by his teacher. Alex lives with his biological mother, stepfather, and younger sister (age 5). His biological father is not actively involved in his life, and Alex has limited contact with extended family.

Presenting Concerns: During the intake session, Alex's mother shared that Alex has been "moody" and "clingy" at home, often wanting to sleep in her room. She attributed this to stress from school or a recent move to a new neighborhood. Alex remained mostly quiet during the first session, making little eye contact and shrugging when asked questions. When he did speak, he described feeling "tired" and sometimes having a "bad stomach."

Session 1: The initial session focused on rapport building and helping Alex feel comfortable. The counselor engaged Alex in a simple game to ease his anxiety and asked open-ended questions about his interests and school experiences. Alex was hesitant but shared that he enjoys drawing and playing with Legos. He avoided discussing his home life.

Session 2: Alex appeared slightly more relaxed and engaged in drawing while talking with the counselor. He shared that he feels "worried a lot" but had trouble identifying what he is worried about. When asked about his family, Alex mentioned that his stepfather "gets mad a lot," but he quickly changed the subject and said he "doesn't like talking about it."

Session 3 (Disclosure): During the third session, Alex disclosed physical abuse by his stepfather while engaging in a drawing activity. He quietly said, "I don't like going home because sometimes my stepdad hits me." When the counselor gently asked for more details, Alex described incidents where his stepfather used a belt to punish him for "being bad" and sometimes yelled at his mother when she tried to intervene. Alex appeared visibly distressed, lowering his head and avoiding eye contact.

The counselor validated Alex's feelings, assured him that he was brave for sharing, and explained that it was their responsibility to help keep him safe. The counselor carefully documented the disclosure.

In a 1-2 page paper (in APA, 7th edition format), discuss the ethical and legal considerations the counselor needs to make according to your state laws. Identify what steps the counselor should take. Justify your decisions using case law, identifying specific counseling law or ethical guidelines, and/or research or your textbook. When writing your paper, consider these ethical and clinical considerations:

Safety: What are the immediate safety concerns for Alex and his family that need to be assessed? Is the counselor legally mandated to report the suspected abuse to child protective services (CPS) in your state?
Support: How can the counselor provide Alex with a safe and supportive environment to process his feelings while being mindful not to retraumatize him?
Family Dynamics: Should the counselor engage Alex's mother in counseling to explore protective measures and address family needs?
Coordination: Collaboration with CPS, school personnel, and other involved professionals to ensure a comprehensive approach to Alex's safety and well-being.

Rubric

COUN-5133 Module 3

COUN-5133 Module 3
Criteria	Ratings	Pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeAdherence to APA Format	12.5 pts Exemplary Paper follows all aspects of APA 7th edition formatting, including title page, citations, references, font, and spacing. 10 pts Proficient Paper mostly adheres to APA 7th edition formatting, with minor errors in citations, references, or formatting. 7 pts Developing Paper demonstrates limited adherence to APA formatting, with several noticeable errors in citations and formatting. 5 pts Needs Improvement Paper does not follow APA format, with multiple formatting errors or a lack of citations and references.	12.5 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeIdentification of Ethical Considerations	12.5 pts Exemplary Clearly identifies and thoroughly explains all relevant ethical considerations, with specific examples from the vignette. 10 pts Proficient Identifies most relevant ethical considerations and explains them with some examples from the vignette. 7 pts Developing Partially identifies ethical considerations, with limited or unclear explanations and few examples from the vignette. 5 pts Needs Improvement Does not adequately identify or explain ethical considerations related to the vignette.	12.5 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeIdentification of Legal Considerations	12.5 pts Exemplary Clearly identifies and accurately explains state-specific legal requirements (e.g., mandated reporting) in detail. Identifies the state law clearly. 10 pts Proficient Identifies most legal requirements, with minor inaccuracies or less detailed explanations specific to the state. 7 pts Developing Partially identifies legal requirements, with limited detail or significant inaccuracies in state-specific details. 5 pts Needs Improvement Fails to identify or explain key legal requirements, or explanations are unrelated to the vignette or state laws.	12.5 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeSteps for Counselor to Take	12.5 pts Exemplary Provides a comprehensive and logically sequenced action plan for the counselor, grounded in ethical and legal standards. 10 pts Proficient Provides an action plan for the counselor, but with minor gaps in logic or alignment with ethical and legal standards. 7 pts Developing Provides a partial or unclear action plan, with notable gaps or misalignment with ethical and legal standards. 5 pts Needs Improvement Fails to provide an action plan or offers an incoherent and unrelated approach for the counselor to take.	12.5 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeClarity and Organization	12.5 pts Exemplary Writing is clear, well-organized, and concise, with excellent grammar, spelling, and flow. 10 pts Proficient Writing is clear and organized but may contain minor grammar, spelling, or flow issues. 7 pts Developing Writing is somewhat disorganized or unclear, with noticeable grammar or spelling errors that affect understanding. 5 pts Needs Improvement Writing lacks clarity and organization, with frequent grammar and spelling errors that interfere with readability.	12.5 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeLength and Depth	12.5 pts Exemplary Paper is within the 1-2 page limit and provides in-depth, thoughtful analysis of the assignment topic. 10 pts Proficient Paper is within the page limit but provides a less detailed or somewhat superficial analysis of the topic. 7 pts Developing Paper exceeds or falls short of the page limit and provides minimal analysis or discussion of the topic. 5 pts Needs Improvement Paper does not meet the length requirement and lacks analysis or depth in addressing the topic.	12.5 pts

Total Points: 75