Transcript of the First Session with Johnson James

Counsellor: Hi, I am Elizabeth. I will be your counsellor.
Johnson James: Hello, I am Johnson James. I am happy to meet you. I certainly hope that I
am not too late for the session. Traffic was hectic this morning.
Counsellor: No, it certainly is not too late. Traffic jams can be a little hectic, especially in the
morning. In most cases, I chose to wake up earlier than normal to ensure that I arrived
at the office on time. Did you experience serious delays along the way?
Johnson James: Yes, I have been forced to drive more than an hour. I believe that I should
have arrived a little earlier.
Counselor: Don’t worry; at least you are not too late. These are the problems that we have to
deal with every morning, but we choose to look at the glass as half full as opposed to
being half empty.
Johnson James: Sure, next time, I will ensure that I wake up a little earlier to be here on time.
I really need your help. I have been struggling a lot with alcohol addiction, and I feel
like it is going to get me to an early grave.
Counselor: What do you mean by an early grave?
Johnson James: Well, I have been taking a lot of alcoholic drinks lately. Even though
multiple healthcare professionals have warned me against alcohol consumption, I am
still finding it very difficult to stop my alcohol intake. I lost my job recently, and I
have hit rock-bottom.

WEEK 1 – JOURNAL 3
Counselor: I understand the pain of losing a job. I lost my job two years ago, and with ten
children to feed, I felt depressed.
Johnson James: I am also married, and I have two young children who depend on me. My
wife Mary has really been depressed by my decision to continue drinking.
Counselor: Tell me more about your wife.
Johnson James: She is young and beautiful. We have been married for six years now, and she
has been really supportive.
Counselor: What do you feel about your wife and the support she had given you over the
years?
Johnson James: My wife has helped me to hold myself together. I really love her, but I feel
that my alcoholic tendencies may ruin our relationship.
Counselor: How has alcoholism affected your relationship with your family?
Johnson James: I have spent most of my life savings on alcohol. I feel that if I don’t make
lifestyle adjustments, I may not have enough money to spare for my children’s college
fees. Last year, I missed my daughter’s birthday.
Counselor: How did that make you feel?
Johnson James: I felt angry at myself; my daughter was disappointed in me. I really have to
change, and I certainly hope counseling can help me make the changes.
Counselor: Well, that’s all the time we had for today. Would you mind summarizing today’s
session?
Johnson James: Well, today, I have started the journey to recovery.
Counselor: thank you. I will see you tomorrow.

WEEK 1 – JOURNAL 4
Reflection
Empathy and unconditional positive regard are some of the most important aspects of
creating a strong relationship that will enable the client to thrive. Through pacing and leading
the client, it is easy to ensure that the client opens their mind. Pacing and leading ensure that
the client offers more information with regards to addressing the pressing psychological and
behavioral problems (Dollarhide et al., 2012). Many clients have a problem talking about the
problems that they face, and this means pacing and leading ensure that the clients respond
appropriately to personal questions (Riekert et al., 2018). One method that can be used to
gather data from clients is rating forms. Rating forms involve the client reporting their own
behavior (Meier & Davis, 2018). A questionnaire or rating form is used. The method can
result in the client to become defensive. The method is, however, appropriate since it is
culturally responsive. I would share the results in one of the sessions.

References

Riekert, K. A., Ockene, J. K., &  Pbert, L. (2018). The handbook of health behavior
change (5th ed.). Retrieved from https://redshelf.com
Dollarhide, C. T., Shavers, M. C., Baker, C. A., Dagg, D. R., & Taylor, D. T.
(2012). Conditions that create therapeutic connection: A phenomenological
study. Counseling & Values, 57(2), 147-161. Retrieved from
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1002/(ISSN)2161-007X/issues
Meier, S. T., & Davis, S. R. (2018). The elements of counseling (7th ed.). Retrieved from
https://redshelf.com