Assignment Task:
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Case Study Report
Client: Holden Caulfield
Demographic Information:
Holden Caulfield is a 16-year-old white male living in New York City. He comes from an upper-class family. His father is a lawyer, and his mother is a homemaker. He has three siblings: his older brother D.B., who is a writer in Hollywood; his younger sister Phoebe, who he deeply cares for; and his late younger brother Allie, who died of leukemia when Holden was 13. Holden has attended several elite prep schools but has been expelled from most of them, including Pencey Prep, due to poor academic performance.
History of Present Illness / Presenting Problem:
Holden often feels lost, depressed, and disconnected from the people around him. He struggles with his grades, motivation, and direction in life. After being expelled from Pencey Prep, he spends several days wandering around New York City instead of going home, showing avoidance and emotional turmoil. He repeatedly says that adults are "phony," which highlights his mistrust of people and his difficulty forming healthy relationships.
Psychiatric / Psychosocial History:
Holden's unresolved grief over Allie's death plays a central role in his struggles. He admired Allie's intelligence, kindness, and innocence, and his death left Holden deeply traumatized. Holden even broke all the windows in his family's garage the night Allie died, which was a sign of his inability to process grief in a healthy way. His relationship with his parents is distant-they provide for him materially but do not connect emotionally. He relies heavily on his bond with Phoebe, who he sees as his safe person and one of the few genuinely "real" people in his life. He also idolizes the idea of protecting children from the "corruption" of adulthood, which shows up in his fantasy of being "the catcher in the rye."
Symptoms:
Depressed mood, loneliness, and lack of motivation
Academic failure and frequent expulsions from school
Social withdrawal and distrust of others
Outbursts of anger and reckless decisions
Preoccupation with death and frequent references to disappearing
Insomnia and restless wandering
Underage drinking and smoking as coping mechanisms
Risk Level:
Holden is at moderate risk. While he doesn't make a direct suicide attempt, he often expresses thoughts of death and a desire to escape from life. His substance use, reckless behavior, and lack of direction increase his risk of harm. However, Phoebe provides a strong protective factor-her presence and support prevent him from completely giving up.
Case Formulation:
Holden's case can be understood through the lens of unresolved grief, adolescent depression, and struggles with identity. His idealization of innocence and rejection of "phoniness" reflect his deep discomfort with growing up and facing adult responsibilities. His symptoms are consistent with depression, complicated grief, and possible PTSD related to his brother's death. A treatment plan for Holden would include therapy focused on grief and depression, cognitive-behavioral strategies to challenge his negative thoughts, and family involvement to strengthen his support system. Encouraging him to build healthy connections outside of Phoebe could also help him find purpose and stability.