Case Study - Rose-Bella: 

You work as a counsellor in a primary school. The school principal brings an year-old student, Rose-Bella, to your counselling office. The principal reports that the student has been frequently missing school, is disruptive in class and also suspects that she has been smoking cigarettes. The Principal states Rose-Bella currently lives in a family who identify as Aboriginal, as does she. Her step-mother is noted as her primary carer and two adolescent half-brothers also live in the home. Her step-mother has not responded to the Principle's calls re his concerns for Rose-Bella in the past few weeks. During your initial sessions with Rose-Bella's she is quiet and quite difficult to engage. She does disclose the following to you: her step-mother is sometimes not at home after school or on the weekend as she spends a lot of time at the local club. Rose-Bella has an Auntie (her father's half sister) and several cousins her age live nearby and she spends lots of time with that family. She describes that she often gets her own meals, if there is food in the house. If there is no food she goes to Aunties or a friends house to eat. She regularly does her own washing as she still sometimes wets the bed and doesn't like to smell and cannot tell her mother as she becomes angry with her. She reports that her brothers frequently watch TV or hangout with their mates at home, but mostly ignore her. Rose-Bella states she has had no contact with her biological father for approximately years. She outlined that he was raised in an orphanage and when he lived at home he was often angry toward everyone, but less so her. Rose-Bella outlined that she misses her dad as he was the one the played with her and looked after her the most. Rose-Bella informs you that she does not like school and can see no point in coming as she will only end up on the dole anyway. 

Please answer the following questions in relation to the Case Study: 

What risk factors can you identify for Rose-Bella ? What further information might you need before acting in this situation? What ethical considerations would you need to consider? 

Using a developmental lens, what issues may affect Rose-Bella's well being, coping and capacity for resilience at this point in her life? 

How would you engage with Rose-Bella in a counselling context? What goals would you have for counselling her? What barriers and opportunities are likely to be present? 

Using theory related to working therapeutically with Indigenous Australians, what therapeutic approach would you bring to counselling Rose-Bella if you were to see her in an ongoing manner? Outline at least three activities or interventions you may engage her in and what you would be aiming to achieve from these interventions.