Speaker 1: Hi Rhonda, how are you doing today?

Speaker 2: I'm fine.

Speaker 1: You're fine?

Speaker 2: Yeah.

Speaker 1: I'm glad you could come in today for this intake. I want to explain a little bit about the process. I understand you've already completed the informed consent?

Speaker 2: Yeah, I've done this before.

Speaker 1: You've done this before? Yeah. So you understand my obligations to report certain things? Okay. Okay. So you answered some other questions in that packet that you filled out with the informed consent. Factual type questions. Information might be on your driver's license or insurance card, things like that. I'm going to be asking you more emotionally oriented questions as part of this part of the intake. Okay. Some of the topics we'll be covering are sensitive for many people, and you may not want to talk about it. That's okay.

Speaker 2: All right.

Speaker 1: So if I stumble upon one of those topics, you know, I discuss it, just let me know, and we don't have to talk about it. Okay. If it's an area that you don't want to talk about right now but you want to talk about later, we can talk about it later.

Speaker 2: Okay.

Speaker 1: Does that make sense?

Speaker 2: Yeah.

Speaker 1: Okay. So how are you referred here to our agency?

Speaker 2: Well, I have this friend that I've known her forever, and she told me that she was really concerned about the way I was living my life and that, you know, I should be coming here. So as a favor to her, I'm here.

Speaker 1: All right. So you're here as a favor to your friend. Mm-hmm. Do you feel committed to counseling?

Speaker 2: I mean, I guess there's some things I can work on, but, I mean, they have problems that I really just don't have.

Speaker 1: And when you say they, who are you referring to?

Speaker 2: Some of my other friends, the friend that referred me.

Speaker 1: All right. So there's some elements that they're observing and reporting to you, but you're not quite seeing them.

Speaker 2: Yeah.

Speaker 1: And you think they might not be there at all? Yeah. Okay. Fair enough. So I want to talk about what we refer to as the presenting problem. And I know you indicated you're here because a friend referred you. But in terms of any symptoms or any problems, issues that might be going on in your life, are there any of those you can identify, you can talk about?

Speaker 2: Well, I mean, I will admit I do get angry a lot.

Speaker 1: Anger? Okay.

Speaker 2: Yeah. And sometimes when I get mad, I break a few things. I'll punch a wall. I won't hit anybody. That's not a problem. But I'll take it out on something that doesn't feel pain. I thought that was a good thing.

Speaker 1: All right. So inanimate objects are the target of some physical and angry behavior. Yeah. But not people.

Speaker 2: No, not people.

Speaker 1: So do you view anger as a problem you want to work on?

Speaker 2: I guess I could work on being less angry. I don't think I have a anger problem, but I can be less angry.

Speaker 1: Okay. So one of the symptoms would be anger. You don't necessarily feel like it's a large problem, but you could be less angry. Yeah. You'd be okay.

Speaker 2: I mean, I think everybody can work on being a little more peaceful.

Speaker 1: Okay. That makes sense. Anything else?

Speaker 2: Now, this is something I have tried to stop before, but I'm having a problem. I do smoke marijuana a lot. I'm not even going to lie to you. A lot. And recently I've been getting into, like, snorting some drugs.

Speaker 1: Can you tell me what drugs?

Speaker 2: Like Xanax. And I've tried to stop before, and it didn't work. But, I mean, I like it, so it's kind of like that. Do I really want to give it up? I'm not sure.

Speaker 1: You seem a little more torn on that. Yeah. So you say a lot of marijuana. And that can mean something different depending on the person. What's it mean to you?

Speaker 2: Several times during the day. Even when I'm at work, I'll go to my car on break.

Speaker 1: Does anybody notice that?

Speaker 2: I mean, the place I work at isn't very professional, I guess. I mean, there are managers that I hide it from, but everybody there pretty much knows.

Speaker 1: All right. They're okay with it? Yeah. All right. And you mentioned specifically Xanax. Yes. And benzodiazepine.

Speaker 2: Any other drugs? No. It's just mainly the marijuana, and then I've started the Xanax.

Speaker 1: That seems like it's more recent.

Speaker 2: Yeah. But in the last four months, a friend introduced it to me and I'm starting to like it.

Speaker 1: All right. And how often do you use that?

Speaker 2: That one's less often. I'd have to say about maybe twice every weekend.

Speaker 1: Okay. And the marijuana sounds more like an everyday thing.

Speaker 2: Yeah.

Speaker 1: Okay. Any other drugs?

Speaker 2: That's pretty much it?

Speaker 1: No. No more drugs. All right.

Speaker 2: In my past, I have experimented with cocaine, but I kind of got in trouble with the DUI for that, so I had to stop that.

Speaker 1: All right. And anything else?

Speaker 2: No.

Speaker 1: No. Any other problems you identify to work on?

Speaker 2: I can sometimes let my pride get in my way.

Speaker 1: Pride? Tell me a little bit about that.

Speaker 2: I don't like being told I'm doing something wrong. Because most of the time I'm not, or I'm doing it in a way, like, just because I'm not doing it your way doesn't mean I'm doing it wrong. I know what I can do and I know what I'm capable of.

Speaker 1: All right. So is somebody telling you that you're acting in a way that's proud?

Speaker 2: Yeah. I've had several people. I've lost a few friends because of little things that I won't budge on. For example, things like what the best TV show is. I know what the best TV show is, and anybody who says anything different is wrong. And I've lost friends. But you know what? Maybe they're not real friends.

Speaker 1: So you're indicating pride, but it sounds like maybe inflexibility is a part of it too.

Speaker 2: I guess.

Speaker 1: Has anybody ever said that to you?

Speaker 2: I mean, not in that word, but now that you say it, I guess, yeah.

Speaker 1: You think that's kind of together with the pride?

Speaker 2: Yeah.

Speaker 1: You feel like, okay. Is that a fair adjective, inflexible?

Speaker 2: Yeah.

Speaker 1: Okay. All right. So we have anger, mostly at objects, though, not at people. Marijuana, a lot. Xanax, not as much.

Speaker 2: Occasionally.

Speaker 1: Occasionally. And then inflexibility and pride.

Speaker 2: Yeah.

Speaker 1: Does that sound like an accurate?

Speaker 2: I mean, yeah, that really would. Not that I hate to admit it, it does.

Speaker 1: So it's tough for you to talk about this part?

Speaker 2: Yeah. Yeah.