| Research in rural and non-urban community mental health agencies has been limited due to greater emphasis on urban settings. This study was conducted in a non-urban mental health program due to staff and management interest in the profile of clients that attended individual counseling. A sample of 192 clients from the Behavioral Health Department at Kendall County Health and Human Services in the year 2002 was examined. Two hypotheses were utilized for this study. Global Assessment of Functioning and length of counseling stay were negatively correlated (r = -.23) suggesting that higher GAF scores resulted in fewer counseling sessions to resolve client symptoms. Depression was hypothesized as being the most frequent treated disorder in individual counseling. While depression was listed as the most frequently treated disorder, a Chi-Square Analysis did not support the hypothesis when depression was compared against Anxiety and Adjustment Disorders. There was additional study of the sample population regarding age, race, and gender. The profile of a frequently treated case in individual counseling was a female, within the age ranges of 5--18 or 30--49, with a GAF of 50 or greater, with a depressive, anxiety, or adjustment disorder. Recommendations for the agency were made predicated of the results of the hypotheses and examination of demographic and clinical characteristics. |
