Jaime, a sixteen year old sophomore, has developed a pattern of skipping classes. His homework is seldom completed and when it is, it does not represent his ability level. His parents have begun to look for an appropriate counselor for him. Although they don't know all the approaches available, Jaime might be helped best with a counselor using theoretical concepts from:

• A. Behavior and existential
• B. Person-centered and rational emotive behavior
• C. Adlerian and psychoanalytic
• D. Gestalt and reality

Answer: (D)

The situation focuses on helping a teen change present behaviors (skipping classes, incomplete homework) by taking responsibility for choices and by becoming more aware of what he’s feeling and needing in the moment. A counselor drawing on Reality Therapy emphasizes what Jaime wants, what he is actually doing to get it, and how to make better plans and commitments to reach his goals. It centers on personal responsibility, choice, and practical problem-solving, which is well-suited to school-related behavioral problems.

Coupled with Gestalt ideas about awareness of the here-and-now—watching how thoughts, feelings, and actions fit together in real time—the counselor can help Jaime see how his internal experiences connect to his actions. This combination encourages him to recognize underlying emotions or conflicts that may be driving the behavior, while also creating concrete steps to change.

This approach is particularly effective for adolescent behavior problems because it targets immediate changes in how Jaime behaves at school and at home, while also addressing the emotional experiences behind those behaviors, leading to more durable improvements. Other pairings tend to emphasize long-term insight or cognitive restructuring without the same direct emphasis on present behavior and personal responsibility critical for this scenario.