FNC Nepal

.

ACC took this case and conducted 15 sessions to improve the client’s behavior. The first 3 sessions were used for rapport building with the client. At first, we built an empathetic relationship with the client and then slowly worked to find the reasons that angered her. When entering the client’s inner world, we found the client had to deal with many anxiety-producing events which caused her to consider suicide. We decided to reduce the anxiety-provoking events from the client’s daily life. We taught the client some anger management skills, some effective communication skills and relaxation techniques. During this period, we used Sand Tray Therapy as a major tool. When the client fully able to control her thoughts, both parties (the client and counselor) agreed to end the counseling on 17th March 2009.

..

.

A boy with poor academic performance

A 13-year-old boy supported by FNC was referred to Ankur Counseling Center (ACC) in March, 2007, with a primary complaint of poor academic performance. His first three to four sessions were used for assessment and problem identification using a variety of interventions. We observed he had poor self esteem and irrational thoughts regarding his hostel and noted his poor academic performances. His treatment plan was arranged accordingly.

.

Before starting the treatment plan, we started to explore his perception regarding his problems by using problem identification palm drawing. Our first treatment plan was focused on improving his academic performance so his counselor began to find his learning strengths. On the basis of his strengths, we helped him to make plans and strategies to implement his assets behaviorally. Drawing his past, present and future life also helped him to gain confidence to find the solutions to his problems. After a few of these counseling sessions, he and his guardians reported he had improved in his academic performance comparatively. In this case, we interpreted that the client was older than the average child in his class and his basic educational background had also been drastically poor resulting in his hesitations and inferior feelings.

.
Therefore, we began to uncover his thoughts related to his study and his environment through which his counselor was able to find his irrational thoughts regarding his environment and his age as barriers to learning. He said he couldn’t improve his study because he did not understand and the environment was not suitable for his study. He wanted to stop his studies and was unhappy in his living situation. While the boy was revealing these thoughts, his counselor started to use Cognitive behavior therapy to rationalize his thoughts. Finally, with the facilitation of his counselor, he decided to continue his study and stay in his living situation.

.
During the session, his counselor also used different self-esteem improving techniques along with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, using verbal repetition with phrases such as ‘I can do’, ‘I am important’ and ‘I am significant’. Repeating these statements proved to be a major step in building his self esteem. He also led a dance group and participated as a key person in an art camp which helped him to gain confidence in other ways. At present his academic results show he is doing well and seems to have improved self esteem. He continues to receive counseling sessions from Ankur.

.

.

A mother with no memory

A young mother began counseling at ACC complaining of memory problems. She said she studied plenty of time at home, but during exams she could not remember anything and would get terrible results, and so she was unable to pass high school and receive her S.L.C. (School Leaving Certificate, the necessary degree to enter college). When she arrived at ACC she was extremely anxious and restless, worrying she may have a serious memory or psyhotic problem.
.
We counseled her at ACC for six months. Within three sessions, we reassured her that she did not have a memory or psychotic problem, but was having issues due to stress, depression and frustration and trauma in her past. Currently, she was overwhelmed trying to be a mother, wife and student. She had wed in a love marriage at the age of 16, and had a six year old son. She was living separately from her parents-in-law and was ordered by her husband to do all of the household work and take care of their son. He wouldn’t allow her to join a private school, so she joined a public one, trying to study in her free time when she was completely exhausted.
.
We ran counseling sessions to help her manage her time to study along with her household duties. We helped lesson her pain from her past experiences by applying grief counseling. We addressed her frustrations by assessing her strengths and abilities. She also started to deal with her son in a child-friendly manner. She cried as she learned to acknowledge the love of her husband and son, and this recognition helped her to improve her communication with her husband. As her irrational thoughts about her memories diminished, her studying ability and academic strengths improved. As her self esteem improved, she mentally prepared for her S.L.C examination.
.
On her second S.L.C. attempt (in Math) she received her long-awaited pass result and visisted ACC with lots of sweets and the good news. She said the counseling helped her a great deal to achieve this result. She told us, “If I hadn’t heard about ACC through your radio program, I would not be in this place. My desire to study college level would not have come true.”