111 The Professional Counselor | Volume 13, Issue 2 Appendix Female Case Vignette Jordan is a 17-year-old female in her junior year of high school. Her teacher referred her for assistance from the school counselor after she began struggling academically. Jordan’s parents had also become concerned when Jordan’s grades dropped from As and Bs to Cs and a D in less than one school year, and she had begun isolating herself from her friends, even quitting the basketball team that she had loved. During her initial session with her school’s guidance counselor, Jordan discussed being increasingly distracted in class and being unable to complete her assignments on time. Jordan also discussed being happy and in her first serious relationship with a boyfriend during this past year but reports that she hasn’t quite felt like herself lately. Jordan disclosed that she quit the basketball team to spend more time with her boyfriend because she wanted to prove her love to him, as he would become anxious whenever she was without him. She states they love each other very much and proves this by spending as much time as she can with him and sharing everything, including the passwords for all her social media accounts. Jordan notes that her boyfriend was more physically experienced with relationships, and her past boyfriends “strayed,” so these were things she wanted to do to make him feel “safe and secure.” She also stated that she had past relationships, but nothing serious or that went beyond kissing. The couple recently advanced in their sexual relationship because her boyfriend said he couldn’t date someone who wasn’t physically and emotionally close to him. Jordan didn’t want to lose him and went ahead with what she called the “next step” in their sexual relationship so he would not break up with her. Jordan wasn’t sure why her grades were slipping but said things were fine at home, and she loved having a boyfriend. She appears to discuss her friends and basketball teammates fondly, but says her relationship is better without them. When Jordan was in basketball, her boyfriend would call and text her 20 plus times after practice let out until he heard back. She said quitting helped with his anxiety and her stress of dealing with all the calls. She stated that she had no energy to commit to basketball or hanging out with friends. Her focus was on school and her boyfriend. Jordan appeared willing to try to improve her grades and said her boyfriend and parents supported these efforts. She reports her boyfriend has been tutoring her and helping her study when they are together because he told her he doesn’t want a “stupid girlfriend.” Jordan reports this as “playful teasing” and his “way to motivate” her. Jordan wants to go to college, but she is concerned that her recent drop in grades will affect her school admission. She is unsure why she cannot concentrate. She has been tired lately and said she’s just “in a funk” that she needs to shake off. Her parents reported wanting her grades to improve, and Jordan seems preoccupied lately. Her parents don’t know how to improve her focus in school and at home but seem supportive. They said they appreciate her boyfriend’s “tutoring” as Jordan refers to it. Jordan was cooperative and pleasant in the session. Note. The case vignette presented here is that of a female teen client. An identical vignette for a male teen client was also utilized during the study. The only difference in cases was the identified gender of the client and their partner; names, scenarios, and all non-gendered wording remained the same.
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