Rachel Case Study

Overview

As you learn more about crisis intervention, appropriate models, and the impact of a critical event, it is important to take time to “put everything together.” During this module, you will review a case study (see below) and seek to apply what you have learned to the case. This assignment will also allow you the opportunity to practice writing in a clear, concise, and professional manner.

Instructions

After reviewing the case study provided below, you will write a paper adhering to these guidelines:

• Contains at least 750 words (not including title page and reference page)
• Formatted according to current APA format
• The goal is to critique the crisis in the case study by exploring:
  • The nature of the crisis presented using specific information from the case
  • Interventions appropriate for alleviating the crisis response
  • Coping skills that could aid the victim
  • How the victim can develop resiliency
  • The grief process of the primary victim and whether he/she effectively grieved through the loss.
• Each section must contain scholarly support.
• Integration of at least 3 scholarly sources is required, 1 of which must be from the course content (texts or presentations). Outside sources must be current (published within the last 5 years).

Note: Your assignment will be checked for originality via the Turnitin plagiarism tool.

Case Study

Rachel was on her regular commute to work one Tuesday morning. She had dropped her two children off at school and had plans to meet her husband for lunch later that day. Everything was going well, as she looked forward to working with clients during the morning and teaching a self-care workshop for some medical staff members at the local hospital that afternoon. She was turning left into her counseling practice when out of nowhere a truck hit the passenger side of her car, causing her to be thrown from the vehicle. A person at the business across the street witnessed the accident and immediately called 911 to inform them help was needed for Rachel and for the man driving the truck. Neither of them seemed to be moving on first glance.

Paramedics arrived on the scene a few minutes later, one person assessing the man and one person assessing Rachel. The man appeared to be badly bruised and may have a broken arm, so was transported to the hospital. Rachel, however, was in serious condition and at least had a broken leg. She was rushed to the hospital and assessed while her husband was notified of the accident.

Rachel woke up in a hospital room, her husband sitting by her bed, and a nurse assessing her vital signs. She was hooked to monitors and cords, and realized she had little feeling in her legs. The nurse gently oriented her to the situation and where she was, which she was appreciative of. She smiled and nodded her head, but didn’t speak. Her husband was asking if she was okay, what he could do, wondered how she was feeling, but she couldn’t answer any questions. She barely remembered what happened.

Weeks passed and Rachel remained in the hospital, eventually regaining some memory of what happened in her accident that day. She began physical therapy for her legs, as both were broken in the accident. Day after day she told herself she had what it took to get through this. After all, she had a strong support system and her training in counseling gave her the resources she needed to deal with this horrible thing that had happened to her. Some days, however, none of this was enough. She battled depression and anger, knowing the man who was responsible for this was already back to work, living his life. He didn’t have to suddenly close his counseling practice he worked so hard for, didn’t have to find someone else to help care for her children when she couldn’t be there and her husband was working to stay ahead of medical bills. He didn’t have to attend physical therapy and endure such pain every day, just to be able to walk again. Rachel met with her pastor weekly, but didn’t know if she should be honest about the struggle she was feeling. She wanted to prove to herself and to her family that she had what it took to get through this. Deep down, she really questioned whether she did, and whether her family would still stand by her if they eventually found out how she was really feeling. Maybe they wouldn’t have to…maybe it would just get better…someday.