Intake Information
Sherry Black contacted the Marriage and Family Counseling Center for assistance with a relationship that she is having with Kyle Monroe, her livein boyfriend. Sherry is a flight attendant, and Kyle is an operating room (OR) technician at the local hospital. Sherry told the intake worker that she and Kyle have been having increasing difficulty with their relationship due to Kyle’s suspicious nature and constant questions about Sherry’s loyalty to him. Sherry feels that Kyle has become overly possessive, and when she tries to talk to him about this issue, he states that her desire to be more independent is evidence that she can’t be trusted and that she must be seeing someone else. Sherry states that Kyle has become more and more suspicious of her whereabouts while she is flying and every phone call that she receives. Even though she has told Kyle he can listen in on the phone conversations, Kyle resents her accepting phone calls from anyone he doesn’t personally know. In addition, he has told Sherry that her desire to get some help is just a way for her to get support when she leaves him. Sherry states that his suspiciousness has “spilled over” to his job and is causing Kyle problems at work. For example, he feels that the OR nurses can’t be trusted and that they may be trying to get him fired. He told Sherry that his friend Arnold at the hospital told him that the head OR nurse thought he was an excellent OR technician. Kyle felt that the comment meant that he wasn’t as good as the nurses and he had to be careful about what he told the head nurse. The intake worker scheduled an appointment for the couple to come to the first interview together.
Intake Information
Sherry Black contacted the Marriage and Family Counseling Center for assistance with a relationship that she is having with Kyle Monroe, her livein boyfriend. Sherry is a flight attendant, and Kyle is an operating room (OR) technician at the local hospital. Sherry told the intake worker that she and Kyle have been having increasing difficulty with their relationship due to Kyle’s suspicious nature and constant questions about Sherry’s loyalty to him. Sherry feels that Kyle has become overly possessive, and when she tries to talk to him about this issue, he states that her desire to be more independent is evidence that she can’t be trusted and that she must be seeing someone else. Sherry states that Kyle has become more and more suspicious of her whereabouts while she is flying and every phone call that she receives. Even though she has told Kyle he can listen in on the phone conversations, Kyle resents her accepting phone calls from anyone he doesn’t personally know. In addition, he has told Sherry that her desire to get some help is just a way for her to get support when she leaves him. Sherry states that his suspiciousness has “spilled over” to his job and is causing Kyle problems at work. For example, he feels that the OR nurses can’t be trusted and that they may be trying to get him fired. He told Sherry that his friend Arnold at the hospital told him that the head OR nurse thought he was an excellent OR technician. Kyle felt that the comment meant that he wasn’t as good as the nurses and he had to be careful about what he told the head nurse. The intake worker scheduled an appointment for the couple to come to the first interview together.
“Is this how the arguments go at home?” you comment. Sherry and Kyle both look at you and appear taken aback by your comment. You decide to gently reframe by stating, “Privacy seems to be a tense issue for you, Kyle, and Sherry doesn’t seem to be so concerned.” Sherry quickly responds despite Kyle’s glaring, “This is exactly the problem at home, only at home he’s suspicious about my whereabouts and what I say to anyone.” Kyle leans back in the chair, nods, and says, “You’ve both already talked about this, haven’t you? You don’t even need me here, do you?” Sherry sighs in resignation. “Do you see what I mean? Kyle doesn’t trust anyone about anything!” You realize that you have to establish some rapport or Kyle will leave. You say, “Kyle, this is the first time I’ve had the opportunity to talk with either of you, and I’d really like to get your perspective on how things are at home.” Kyle eyes you and then Sherry. Sherry says, “Come on, Kyle. She’s a counselor and wants to help.” Kyle looks pensive and begins hesitantly to discuss the relationship. “Well, as anybody can see, Sherry is a very attractive woman and flirty by nature. She’s on that plane every day with all those businessmen and you can’t tell me that they don’t make moves on her. It all started when I picked her up after her Houston trip …” “Oh, God. Here we go again!” Sherry says with disdain. “Will this help me understand the situation?” you comment. “It sure will. It explains everything. Let me finish. I go to pick her up, and there she is bending over her purse at the baggage claim, and this idiot guy is standing there with her bags in his hands. It’s quite obvious what’s going on. Makes me sick to think about it.” Sherry says, “It was just a nice man trying to help me with my bags while I took out my claim stubs. I didn’t even know his name. It was a 30-second interaction.”
Kyle exclaims, “Bull! I saw how you looked at each other, and you were giggling away. It sure didn’t look like ‘nothing’ to me.” Sherry sighs and throws her hands in the air in utter frustration. “This was one of our worst arguments, and he brings it up every time we try to deal with things. He’s so jealous of everything I do. He can’t let it go!” “Have your arguments ever become physical?” you question. “No, except he once threw my carry-on bag out the door of the house, telling me never to come back.” You respond, “Okay, so the arguments focus on Kyle’s worries about your commitment to the relationship, and you feel these worries are unfounded. Is that correct?” They both nod. Sherry urges Kyle to tell you about the work situation. Kyle glares at you again and says, “That’s not what we’re here for. We’re here to figure out what’s wrong with our relationship. If you weren’t messing around on me, we wouldn’t have any problems. Then I wouldn’t have to be so concerned about my job.” Sherry in utter exasperation stands up and says she’s going out for some water. “Maybe this is enough for today.” She leaves the room, with Kyle glaring after her. In one last attempt to establish some rapport with Kyle, you say, “How is all of this making you feel, Kyle? It’s pretty hard to talk about personal stuff with a stranger.” He says, “Sherry just needs to get her ducks in a row, and everything will be fine. How about giving me a look at that chart?” You hand him the chart and say, “Really, Kyle, this just contains your names and address.” Sherry returns with a cup of water. “Where do we go from here?” she asks you. “I’d like you to consider becoming involved with some counseling. I think it could be beneficial to you at this time. I’d like to start with six sessions and see if you feel your relationship is improving. How do you feel about coming in for six sessions?” you inquire of both of them. Kyle shrugs his shoulders and says, “If you think it will help, I’m willing to do it.” Sherry nods her head enthusiastically and agrees. “Okay, so we’ll schedule an appointment for next week,” you reply. “If you need to talk before the next appointment, here is my card. Call me and if I’m not available, I’ll call you back as soon as possible.”
1. Describe your perceptions of the presenting problem.
2. Do you think Kyle and Sherry will be able to maintain this relationship? Why or why not?
3. What other information would you like to gather about Kyle? Include additional questions you might like to pose to him as well as collateral information.
4. What is your preliminary diagnosis for Kyle?
5. What, if any, diagnoses are you considering for Sherry
