Case Study
Rebuilding Connection: Supporting a Young Person Through Trauma, Depression & Polysubstance Use
This case study involves a young person experiencing severe depression, anti-social behaviours, and harmful polysubstance use linked to a history of trauma, unstable relationships, childhood abuse, and long-term departmental care involvement. The young person presented with low self-worth, emotional dysregulation, social withdrawal, conflict with carers and peers, and increased risk of self-harm, while using cannabis and other substances as a coping mechanism.
A comprehensive intake and biopsychosocial assessment was completed to evaluate mental health, trauma history, substance dependency, wellbeing, and risk factors. A collaborative therapeutic action plan was then developed, focusing on emotional regulation, trigger awareness, harm minimisation, and building healthier coping strategies.
The intervention utilised a trauma-informed and strengths-based approach, incorporating counselling, mindfulness strategies, psychoeducation, and creative therapeutic activities including music, lyric writing, art, and storytelling to support emotional expression and self-development. Ongoing collaboration between counsellors, youth workers, and support providers ensured consistent care and monitoring throughout the process.
Outcomes included improved engagement in therapy, increased openness and positive self-talk, development of healthier coping strategies, reduced conflict behaviours, progress toward personal goals, and successful participation in casual employment.
01. Mental Challenge
Young people displayed increased apathy in regard to building new relationships with peers and support figures; persistent themes of rejection and betrayal throughout lifespan from early childhood to adulthood.
02. Care Approach
Initial intake assessment completed with onsite counsellor when first visiting the site. Intake assessment involves the collation of biopsychosocial information and the completion and assessment scales and tools to assess substance usage dependency, mental state and perception regarding quality of life. Risk of harm to self and others also assessed.
Pre- Assessment
Information gathered in assessment used to develop an action plan in collaboration with the young person based on a combination of individual goals and clinical recommendations for treatment. Established goals were then reviewed on a weekly basis with sessions tailored to address individual goals as per the plan.
Trigger Awareness
Initial session post assessment focused on rapport development and exploration of current mental state in relation to current concerns and circumstance. Strength,values and areas of interest are also explored to develop suitable coping strategies and self care activities to aid the therapeutic process.
Personalized Therapy
Assessment scales involved in the initial session are recompleted on a monthly basis to track progress to treatment which can then be shared with the young person as they work through their therapeutic action plan.
Collaborative Care
Frequent collaboration and check-ins with support service providers with consent provided by the young person due to concerns around self harm risk.
03. Psychological Assessment
04. The Outcomes
Throughout the support period, the young person became progressively more receptive to therapeutic intervention and participation in structured creative activities, despite initially presenting with hesitation due to previous negative experiences with support services. Over time, greater confidence in expressing thoughts and emotions was observed, alongside healthier internal dialogue and a stronger sense of self-belief. Consistent progress was made toward individual treatment objectives, with the young person also successfully transitioning into casual employment and developing more constructive ways to manage emotional responses and interpersonal conflict.