Case 18

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Case 18.2 401 Case 18.2 Initial Interview Identifying Information You meet Jack in the waiting room and observe Client Name: Jack Keller that he is an immaculately dressed man about Age: 40 years old 6 feet tall and of average weight. He is wearing a Ethnicity: Caucasian white shirt, a blue-and-white tie, and black pants. Marital Status: Married His black shoes are polished so they shine, and his Occupation: Corporate accountant wire-rimmed glasses give him a studious appear- ance. Jack glances at his watch as you walk into the waiting room. Intake Information You introduce yourself as a counselor at the EAP Jack Keller has been referred to you, a counselor at and escort him to your office. Jack questions the a large corporation's employee assistance program time of the appointment, suggesting you are late (EAP), due to recent problems he has had with co- (it's 3 minutes past the hour). You explain that workers. His boss, Chris, strongly recommended sometimes you are running a minute or two behind that Jack contact the EAP because of several com- in order to get messages or make a phone call be- plaints he had received concerning Jack's interac- tween clients. tions with other employees. Jack responds matter-of-factly, "Well, it did Jack is a hardworking employee whom Chris seem like you must be running behind today.” You values. He is a competent accountant who always note the fastidiousness of this comment. completes his work on time and often works over- “Well, first, I want to tell you that everything time in order to make deadlines. His work is always we talk about in these sessions is confidential. It is accurate and detailed. important for you to know that, especially since we Chris suggested Jack talk to a counselor since are a counseling center within this larger corpora- Chris has received several complaints from as- tion. Unless you tell me you are going to hurt your- sistants and coworkers over the past 2 months. self or someone else, the information we share in Although Jack stated that he "had things under this room will not be discussed with anyone other control,” Chris insisted that Jack make an ap- than my direct supervisor. Do you have any ques- pointment with a counselor. Chris suggested that tions concerning confidentiality?” perhaps Jack was under a lot of stress, but Jack “No, that's pretty clear. I've never actually seen maintained that there was nothing wrong with him a counselor before,” Jack says hesitantly. “I'm only other than working long hours on several big proj- here because my boss thought I should come for a ects recently. session." He told Chris, "I don't know why you want me "I see. So, you aren't sure you really need coun- to see a counselor. My work is flawless; I get things seling,” you reply. in on time; and I work harder than anyone else in "Well, it might be a good idea to talk to an ex- this department. Just because I expect others to do pert about some things that have been going on in their jobs doesn't make me crazy." my department as long as it's confidential,” Jack Chris told Jack that he (Jack) expected perfection and was being overly critical of others when they "Okay, tell me what's been going on," you say. did not measure up to his expectations. “You've "Well, you see I'm the senior CPA in my divi- got to stop berating others when they aren't as per- sion, and I report to the head of the finance de- fect as you, Jack,” Chris told him in exasperation. partment. I have 10 people working under me and This comment made Jack wonder what he was do- am responsible for all their work. Sometimes it ing that bothered people so much, and he decided seems like I'm the only one in my division that to make the appointment with a counselor to get a takes work seriously. I work very hard to see that better handle on the situation. everything is running smoothly and that all the states. Copyright 2015 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or chuplicated, in whole or inpas. Due to electronic rights, some third party content may be suppressed from the eBook andareChapter(s). Editorial review has deemed that any suppressed content does not materially affect the overall learning experience.Cengage Learning reserves the right to remove adlitional content at any time if subsequent rights restrictions require it. 402 Chapter 18 Personality Disorders you mean?” you ask. figures are accurate. Sometimes that means I work descriptions they are supposed to be at their desk late at night and on weekends, double-checking from 8 A.M. until 5 P.M., Monday through Friday, everyone else's work to make sure it's correct. Recently, I had to tell them that they had to stick I shouldn't have to do that, but I've found that by the rules and only take 1 hour for lunch since if I don't, mistakes are made and I get called on they were coming back 15, or sometimes 20, min- the carpet because other people aren't doing their utes late. No wonder they don't get their work done jobs. So, I tell people that they must be precise right the first time! They just don't care. I've told and accurate when it comes to these figures and my boss that I can't get the spreadsheets to him on they can't be lazy about doing it right. If they'd time since I've got to check everything that other do it right the first time, then I wouldn't have to people are doing three or four times.” be on their backs all the time to get the numbers "Okay, I can see that this issue is a very upsetting correct.” one for you," you respond. “Do you have similar “And how do they respond to what you tell experiences with people outside work?” them?” you inquire. "Well, it's not the same thing, but if you mean do "Well,” Jack throws his hands in the air, “they people get under my skin because of their slovenly just get irritated and angry with me. Apparently, behavior, you bet!” Jack replies. “I have a 12-year- they are running to my boss and telling him that old son who just refuses to follow the rules in my I'm hard to get along with or something like that. I house." can't understand it. No one works as hard as I do "What exactly do in that department, and if they'd take a little more "Well, he plays sports at school, and when he pride in being accurate, then I wouldn't have to be gets home from soccer practice, he just drops his on their cases all the time. I don't really see it as my muddy soccer shoes at the foot of the stairs even problem.” Jack leans back in his chair and shrugs though I've told him a hundred times that his dirty his shoulders. “So, that's why I'm here, I guess. shoes belong on the back porch. He just doesn't “Let me see if I understand what you're saying. listen to me. And that's just one example. There are You are telling me that people who work for you numerous times when he disobeys my orders. He'll are getting upset because you are correcting their walk out of the house without making his bed, or mistakes and telling them they should be more he'll leave the toothpaste tube open on the sink. careful about their work. Does that more or less He knows that he's breaking the rules, but he does sum it up?" you ask Jack. it anyway. My wife will take his side sometimes, “More or less,” Jack replies. “From what my which makes me even more angry." boss tells me, they think I'm being overly critical of “What happens when your son breaks the their work. He told me that I needed to learn how rules?” you ask seriously. to control my anger." "Well, I tell him he's grounded, or he can't do “Do you get angry when your employees don't something he wanted to do until he straightens up do the work the way you want them to?" you ask. his act. I slave away at this job all week long in or- “Well, it's very frustrating to me. I go over and der to buy him $80 soccer shoes, and then he drags over pages of figures to make sure they are accurate, those muddy things into the house and I have to and no one else seems to care. It just infuriates me clean up after him. The last time I bought myself that they don't take their jobs seriously. These num- a new pair of shoes was 10 years ago. Look at the bers are either right or wrong. It's all very black and soles of these shoes I have on.” Jack throws his white. When I tell them that they need to check their foot up in the air so that you can see the bottom of work again, they get angry and say that if they spent his shoe. all their time rechecking every number the way I “Wow, it looks like you've really worn a hole did, they'd never accomplish anything. Sometimes, in that shoe,” you comment. "Have you thought they even leave work early and say they've finished about buying another pair?” for the day. I don't understand how they can do that "I can't afford to buy another pair when I have when they've rushed through their work and done a an irresponsible son who needs expensive shoes sloppy job. I've told them that according to their job and apparel all the time,” Jack says mournfully. Copyright 2015 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or chuplicated, in whole or inpas. Due to electronic rights, some third party content may be suppressed from the eBook andareChapter(s). Editorial review has deemed that any suppressed content does not materially affect the coverall learning experience.Cengage Learning reserves the right to remove adelitional content at any time if subsequent rights restrictions require it. Case 18.2 403 “Okay, what I hear you telling me is that your "No, actually, I meant to help you be more 12-year-old son can get on your nerves at times. I effective in dealing with other people,” you reply guess most 12-year-olds are not always neat. Are as convincingly as you can. “You see, Jack, peo- there other people that you run into problems with ple come to counseling to obtain help with some- in a similar way?” you ask. thing they want to change about themselves. As “No, not really,” Jack says. He looks tired and I'm sure you know, we really can't make other discouraged. “I just can't understand why people people change. We can only work to change don't have the same values as I do. My wife and I things about ourselves. And what I do is assist argue about these issues all the time, but she knows people in making those changes about themselves who pays the bills and is head of our household,” that they would like to work on. Does that make Jack states unequivocally. "I've told her when she sense to you?" starts making more money than I do, then she can “Well, I guess I see what you're saying. I'm going make the rules in my house." to have to think it over. I'm not really sure how you "Wow, how does she respond to that?" you ask. could help me since I think it's other people who "She usually just gets quiet and walks away," have the problem, but I'll think it over and talk to Jack states. “She knows I'm right." "Okay, I think I've got a fairly good picture of "Good idea. Give it some thought, and if you what you're talking about,” you respond. "I'm just would like to come back for another session, call wondering if you think that counseling could be the office and schedule an appointment. So, that beneficial to you in working on some of these issues.” will be our plan?” you ask. "You mean so that people will listen to me and “Sounds fine with me,” Jack says. “Thank you do what they're supposed to do?” Jack inquires. for your time." my wife.” 18.2-1 As the counselor interviewing Jack, how did you feel? 18.2-2 Do you think Jack will agree to counseling? Why or why not? 18.2–3 What other resources might be useful to Jack? 18.2-4 What diagnosis would you give Jack? Copyright 2015 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or chuplicated, in whole or inpas. Due to electronic rights, some third party content may be suppressed from the eBook andareChapter(s). Editorial review has deemed that any suppressed content does not materially affect the coverall learning experience.Cengage Learning reserves the right to remove adelitional content at any time if subsequent rights restrictions require it.