GUIDANCE
AND COUNSELLING -(PDE-714) ASSIGNMENT
COUNSELLING CASES FOR
PRACTICE
A. THE CASE OF NZEGU
Nzegu is 16. His father
died when he was 4. He has two older brothers. Both of them are very clever at
school. Nzegu also has two younger sisters who are clever too. However, Nzegu
is a rascal. He often rebels against his mother's discipline and he snubs his
teachers at school. He is the most troublesome of all the children in the family.
Nzegu is unable to cope with his studies, hence, the headmaster has told him to
repeat a class. His teachers have written similar comments in his cumulative records.
He will not work or co-operate with the teachers or his classmates unless he is
ruled by a strong hand. The mother, with tears rolling down her cheeks, has
sought Counselling.
QUESTIONS
Carefully analyse
Nsegu's problems give reasons to support your identification
ANSWER
(1)
IDENTIFYING NZEGU’S PROBLEMS
When identifying
Nzegu’s problems, I carefully examined the story to find out what is wrong, why
it is happening, and what factors may be causing it.
a.
Behavioural Problem:
Nzegu is rebellious and
disobedient. He often opposes his mother’s discipline and snubs his teachers.
This shows signs of an oppositional or defiant behaviour problem. He does not
respect authority and only cooperates when he is forced to do so.
b.
Academic Problem:
Nzegu is unable to cope
with his studies. The headmaster told him to repeat a class, and teachers wrote
negative comments about his performance. This shows that he has low academic
achievement, poor study habits, and lack of motivation.
c.
Emotional Problem:
His father died when he
was four years old. Growing up without a father’s love and guidance may have
affected his emotions. He may feel lonely, rejected, or unloved, which could
make him act out in anger or frustration.
d.
Family and Social Problem:
Nzegu’s siblings are
all clever, and this might make him feel inferior or neglected. His mother’s
tears also show that there is emotional tension at home. This could make Nzegu
feel misunderstood and unloved, leading to more rebellion.
e.
Possible Causes:
·
Early loss of his father (lack of male
guidance and affection)
·
Constant comparison with his brilliant
siblings
·
Weak parental control or inconsistent
discipline
·
Low self-esteem and desire for attention
·
Lack of interest and poor performance in
school
(2)
GIVING SUPPORT TO NZEGU
After identifying
Nzegu’s problems, the next step is to give counselling support to help him
change his behaviour, improve academically, and feel emotionally balanced.
a.
Individual Counselling Support:
The counsellor should
first build a friendly relationship with Nzegu so that he can open up freely.
The counsellor can use simple techniques such as listening, encouragement, and
positive talk. He should be guided to talk about his father’s death, his
feelings of rejection, and the pressure he feels at home. The counsellor should
also teach him self-control, study habits, and problem-solving skills to help
him cope better with schoolwork.
b.
Support to the Mother:
The counsellor should
help the mother understand that comparing Nzegu with his siblings makes him
feel worse. She should be advised to give him more attention, praise his small
efforts, and use firm but loving discipline. The counsellor can teach her how
to reward good behaviour instead of focusing only on punishment.
c.
Support at School:
Teachers should be
encouraged to treat Nzegu with patience. They can set simple goals for him,
like completing assignments or behaving well in class, and reward him when he
succeeds. He can also be given extra lessons or placed under the supervision of
a mentor teacher who will monitor his progress and encourage him.
d.
Community Support:
Nzegu can be introduced
to youth clubs, sports, or church groups to help him develop positive social
behaviour. A male mentor can also act as a father figure to guide and motivate
him.
(3) SUMMARY
When
identifying: I discovered that Nzegu’s main problems
are behavioural, academic, emotional, and family-related, caused by loss of his
father, low self-esteem, and weak family discipline.
When
giving support: I suggested counselling sessions,
parental guidance, school assistance, and community involvement to help him
change his behaviour and perform better academically.