History
Assignment Five (Part One): Discussion: Kathryn “Kate” Carter Social History
Instructions: Read the below social history and answer the following questions:
• What are your impressions of Kathryn (Kate) Carter?
• What do you think she would be likely to do or not to do?
• How likely is she to die by suicide following this visit?
• How readily can she stand up for herself?
• What strengths and supports does she have?
• What contradictions do you see in looking at her life?
Requirements: A post must be at least 175 to 250 words to be considered substantive.
Figure 15.3 Example of a Completed Social History
NAME: Kathryn (Kate) Carter
Agency # 04587
SOCIAL HISTORY
Date: 7/10/2027
Prepared by: Dariel Baptiste, Case Manager
Presenting Problem
Kate, a 47-year-old married woman with one daughter away in college, is requesting help for a depression she states has lasted almost 2 years starting with the death of her mother. At the time her mother was ill, Kate did not follow doctor’s recommendations that she take off work and stay home. She was very involved in caring for her mother, who subsequently died. Kate states she was not aware of being depressed until after the funeral, but grew depressed during the 7-month period she and her husband cleaned out her mother’s house and settled her mother’s affairs. She describes this work as “heart wrenching” and involving several legal difficulties.
Currently Kate describes her depression as characterized by hypersomnia, an inability to go to work several days a month, and a loss of interest in social activities and friends. She states she is here in part because her husband insisted she get help.
Kate believes she needs medication “to jolt me out of this.” She blames herself for letting it go so long but says she felt it would lift on its own. She also states she didn’t want to disturb her husband with the problem. She is asking for a session with a “doctor” and a prescription. She seems uncertain that she needs therapy, stating “I don’t think there is anything wrong in my life, really.”
Family of Origin
Kate’s father died when she was 6 years old, and Kate describes feeling responsible for her mother most of her life. She describes her childhood as a happy one. A number of aunts and uncles took an interest in her, and she grew up with a number of cousins close by. She described happy family gatherings for holidays.
She depicts her mother as living from the Social Security that came after her father died and being unable to sustain a consistent work history. She states her mother sought her advice often, and Kate feels that she made many of the important decisions for the family. At present only one aunt remains and is in a nursing home, and the cousins have moved out of the state. Kate has some contact with them at Christmas.
Birth and Childhood
