Understanding Psychological Evaluation and Treatment: Donny's Story

Mental health encompasses how we think, act, and feel about various situations in life. Positive mental health allows individuals to effectively cope with stress and meaningfully contribute to society. Mental health is not separate, but an integral part of our everyday lives. Everyone goes through periods of poor mental health when they feel burnt out or overwhelmed. However, with appropriate supports in place, these feelings can be mitigated. When these feelings become maladaptive, it can become extremely challenging to cope with the intricacies of daily life. In some instances, those maladaptive thoughts and feelings can cause an individual to feel like there is no hope and nothing will ever change. This is why suicide has become one of the leading causes of death in the United States.

The purpose of this book is to look at a real-life case study involving Donny, a 17-year-old in the prime of his life. It walks student's and clinicians through his early childhood, educational history, and treatment. His life is viewed through the eyes of three different psychological theories: Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy, Adlerian Therapy, and Existential Therapy. It shows how each theory could impact the client and their situation in different ways. In doing so, it reviews many different techniques, and shows how to use them in the context of a session.

The authors chose to review the sessions as they progressed to give students, professionals, and those who might be interested in the field of Psychology, an idea of how a live session works. Included are a sample psycho-educational evaluation report, client intake, live therapy sessions, and a comprehensive addendum that includes homework and forms that can be provided to clients during sessions.