Question

James is a 25-year-old man, nearing the end of his two-year sentence for assault. He has a long history of impulsive aggression, dating back to his elementary school years when he often got in trouble for fighting. He was abused as a child and spent a few years bouncing between foster homes. He dropped out of school at the age of 16 and has lived on his own since the age of 18. Most of the time he has been able to find a minimum wage job and pay rent, but he has had a few brief episodes of homelessness. He reports having no friends or family he can turn to between jobs. James has also been admitted to an inpatient mental health facility several times due to paranoia about government agents reading his mind and hallucinations of men in black suits following him. In prison, he has attempted to take classes toward his GED, but he reads at a sixth grade level and made minimal progress. James wants to stay out of prison but feels discouraged. He doesn’t know how he will get a job and is afraid he will end up arrested again soon after his release. He says he feels like giving up on having a life outside of prison.
What team of professionals would you assemble to work with James?
What specific problems would you ask each professional to target?

Answer 1

Answer: James should work with a team of mental healthcare profesionals.

Explanation: In mental healthcare he will get the resorces and care he needs to survive outside of prison. If that doesn't work then he can find a free education service that helps people like him.