Case Examples

 Jorge

Jorge, a 15-year-old boy from Cape Verde, was referred for an emergency evaluation to assess his risk of self-harm.

The middle child of 14 children, he had come by himself to the US to live with an older brother and learn English. Soon after arriving, he got caught up with a troublesome group of kids and was arrested for his role in an armed robbery. Jorge's immigration status was not threatened by this charge, but his school decided to suspend him for the remainder of the year. Jorge became isolated at home, prompting increased despondency and depression.

In the emergency evaluation on the day of court, the ACS clinician determined that Jorge did not need hospital-level care, but he desperately needed services—particularly individual and family counseling—right away. The clinician scheduled an appointment for the following day, the first of many meetings over the next six months, and gradually the symptoms of Jorge’s depression began to subside.

The clinician helped Jorge's brother push the school to provide an appropriate education for Jorge, who qualified for special education services. She also helped his brother understand how important he was to Jorge. As his brother became more nurturing and emotionally available, Jorge's mood improved. He continued his therapeutic sessions at ACS and stayed out of trouble.

*All client names and some identifying details have been changed in order to protect confidentiality

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