Tom is a 35-year-old Native American who was raised on a reservation until he was 6 years old and was then raised by a Caucasian foster family off the reservation and in another state until he...

Tom is a 35-year-old Native American who was raised on a reservation until he was 6 years old and was then raised by a Caucasian foster family off the reservation and in another state until he completed high school. He returned to his reservation when he was age 18. Both of his birth parents were alcoholic, and his father died 10 years ago of alcoholism. Tom has a 6-year-old son by his ex-wife. He is currently on probation for a fight in a bar, where he almost killed another Native American man who said negative things about his wife at the time. He was in prison for the crime, was on probation, relapsed from his recovery program, had another fight in a bar, and returned to prison. Tom is currently on probation again, living at a halfway house, and involved in a local self-help program. He has told the staff he is most comfortable talking with other Native Americans from his tribe.

1. What potential counseling problems do you anticipate between yourself and Tom and why?

2. How would you approach Tom in terms of inviting him to trust you?

3. How would you handle a communication problem with Tom when you felt a "glass wall appear?

4. What issues do you believe Tom may need to address in his recovery, and how would you facilitate these discussions?