Identifying Information:
Client Name: Jasmine Mack
Age: 18 years old
Ethnicity: African American
Marital Status: Single
Occupation: College student
Intake Information
The intake appointment was made by the client’s mother, Jocelyn Mack. She
indicated that her daughter, Jasmine, had been having “problems” at college and
acting “strangely” since she left for school and returned back home. Mrs. Mack
also indicated that Jasmine was not “very pleased” about coming to the mental
health center for the appointment.
Initial Interview
When you meet Jasmine in the lobby, she is initially unwilling to come to your
office. After some persuasion from her mother, she agrees only if her mother
accompanies her. Jasmine appears uncomfortable once you have settled down in
your office. She presents with very little facial expression and does not make eye
contact with you.
“What brings you to my office for an appointment today?” you begin.
After an uncomfortable pause, with Jasmine looking at the floor, her mother
replies. “This appointment was really my idea. Jasmine started classes at the
university in the fall. Things seemed to be going well at first, but by October she
was asking to come home. At first, I just thought she was having some roommate
problems.”
Jasmine interrupts her mother at that point. “It was Christy! Everyone on the floor
of the dorm was in on it! Probably more than that!”
“Jasmine, can you tell me more about what was going on?” you ask. Once again
after a long pause with no facial expression from Jasmine, Mrs. Mack continues.
“Well, then she stopped calling me, and we thought things might be getting better.
But she didn’t call at all, and when we’d try to call her, she was never in. I was
really worried but my husband, Joseph, told me we had to let her find her own
way. She did come home for Thanksgiving but hardly talked with us at all. Then,
the semester was over and she failed almost all of her classes. When we tried to
talk to her about it, she’d just get angry and stop speaking to us.” Mrs. Mack
becomes tearful at this point.
Jasmine sighs deeply and turns away from both you and her mother. You again try
to engage her. “Jasmine, would you like to tell me what happened with your
classes?”
“School isn’t the point, you know. My room was the center of it all and everyone
was involved. They tried to confuse me in those classes. It wasn’t safe, I had to
stop going,” she says.
Mrs. Mack stated: “We didn’t know any of this. She wouldn’t tell us anything.
Joseph and I finally thought she was embarrassed and just needed another chance.
He had trouble his first semester in college, too. So we just told her we loved her
and sent her back to school for the spring semester. In less than a week, we got a
call from the resident Helpant in her dorm. She said she thought Jasmine was
having trouble and needed help.”
“That’s not true!” Jasmine interrupts again. “She was in on it too. They were all
trying to get me to leave because I was starting to understand what they were all up
to.”
“Jasmine, will you tell me what they were up to?” you ask.
“They set up a communication system in my room. They had cameras everywhere.
I mean everywhere. I couldn’t do anything without them watching. Then they got
the voice machine going!” Jasmine is shaking her head and speaking in monotone.
“Did you hear voices, Jasmine?” you inquire.
“Yes, from the machine. All these different voices saying stupid things and mean
things. I couldn’t keep anything straight anymore. I couldn’t pay attention to
anything. Finally, I couldn’t do anything. I just stayed in my room…just let them
look. Then I came home,” she says.
“Have things gotten better since you came home?” you ask.
“No, not really. It was better for a few days, but they started setting up the network
at my parents’ house”
Jasmine starts holding herself and rocking quietly. Mrs. Mack is looking more and
more alarmed. You decide that you can talk with them separately now that Jasmine
is interacting with you.
“Okay, Jasmine. It sounds like you’ve been having some really frightening
experiences. I want to try to help you, but I need to ask you a lot of questions so I
can figure out the best wat to help. Is that going to be all right with you?” you ask.
“I guess so. I just don’t know what to do,” she responds.
“Okay, do you have any idea why these people would do these things to you?”you
ask.
“I’ve thought about it a lot. I think they wanted to be like me. I’ve done really well
in school. They wanted to understand how I did that and duplicate it. I would have
told them. They didn’t need to say bad things about me.” She begins to rock gently
again.
“Mrs. Mack, I’d like to talk more to Jasmine alone. Would you mind waiting in the
lobby for a while? I’ll talk with you when we’re through” you say.
“Okay,” she responds and leaves the room.
“Jasmine, did anything like this ever happen to you before you left for college?”
you ask.
“What do you mean?”
“Things like hearing voices, or having people working against you?” you clarify.
“No. and it didn’t start until a little more than 6 months ago,” she answers.
“Okay, Jasmine, just one more question for right now. Did you see any doctors or
counselors while you were at school?” you ask.
“No” she answers.
“Would you be willing to talk with a doctor if I could arrange it?”
“I guess so if it’s okay with my mother,” she responds.
“Great, Jasmine. Why don’t you stay here while I check in with your mother and
try to set up an appointment with our doctor? Is that okay with you?” you ask.
“I guess so” she replies.
——————–
Identifying Details:
Jasmine Mack is the client’s name.
18 years of age
African American is his ethnicity.
Relationship Status: Single
Occupation: University student
Intake Specifics
Jocelyn Mack, the client’s mother, scheduled the intake appointment. She
Jasmine, her daughter, had been having “issues” at college, according to her mother.
Since she departed for school and returned home, she has been acting “strangely.” Mr. Mack,
Jasmine was apparently not “very satisfied” with her decision to come to the mental institution.
For the appointment, go to the health center.
The First Interview
When you first encounter Jasmine in the foyer, she is hesitant to come to your aid.
office. Her mother persuades her to accept only if her mother agrees.
She is accompanied by. Jasmine appears to be uneasy until you’ve settled in.
your workplace She presents with very little facial