The following essay is a case study of a client named John who is suffering from major depression and was sent to see me for treatment by his concerned wife. I will provide brief background information about John then further discuss interventions and strategies I believe can be applied in each session with my client in order to make John's life more manageable. In the essay, I will be writing as the therapist, and the sessions are based on a ten week period.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION (Case History)
A 27-year-old man named John came to see me with the following litany of complaints, "I've reached a point where I can't go on....Got no fight left in me. And not enough guts to end it here. Best damn job I ever had almost can see my way out of the debt. Now, it's all going to hell...and now I really don't care about anything, except not going back to work. I can't kid myself. I just can't take it anymore. And I have to confess I have no faith left in anything including your profession. I came here on my wife's insistence but I don't think you can help me either....But, maybe I can tell someone how I feel, how balled up I am...I can't find any work...I can't afford to relax a couple of weeks on some warm beach, or forget my troubles with some floozy blonde. Hell that's for the books on the best seller's list. I've just got to go about acting like my normal stupid self and something's got to blow. It goes in waves. Sometimes, I am alright and then I get anxiety feelings, and my heart pounds. I shake all over, and think I am going to die. God, it's awful!"
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