Client Background       Sofia is a fifth grader who is having academic difficulties.  She was diagnosed with learning disabilities and as a consequence, she is experiencing low self-esteem.  She is not movitated to come to school and when she does, she hardly pays attention in class.  She does not turn in her homework and she does not complete in-class activities either.  She complains that she has no friends and that she wants to go back to her old school.      She was referred to the Guidance Department by her teacher and we will be working together for approximately 6 sessions.

First Session      To start counseling, I chose an activity that would be non-threatening to the client and that allowed us to start developing the counseling relationship.  For this reason, I used the "Trace my Body" Activity.  The materials required are: Long piece of paper (enough to cover the whole body) Markers scissors      I explained to Sofia that we were going to make a drawing of herself.  I asked if it was ok with her if I traced her body in the piece of paper.  She said that it was fine with her, so I told her that she could do any position she wanted.  She said that she would be a ballerina.  After I finished tracing her, she stood up and looked at her image.  The expression in her face showed that she was amazed. She igrabbed the markers and started drawing the ballerina outfit.  Without any requests, she disclosed information about her favorite activities.   We talked about what she liked about it, her feelings toward dancing and any other activities that made her feel the same way.  She stated that she likes dancing because they play her favorite music, because even though it is hard to learn the steps she is able to do them and because the girls talk to her a lot.  She feels happy when she is there and she is proud of herself when she finally learns all the routines.       After she finished drawing the ballerina, she drew a shopping bag.  With the facilitative responses, I explored the significance of these activities.  More than shopping in itself, she enjoys shopping with her father.  Her father works out of town during the week and the only time they spend together is on Sundays, when her mother goes to church and they go shopping.  According to her, she enjoys it a lot and she likes that her father is only with her.      Time time was over, and I told her that she could take the drawing.  She was happy and said that she would show it to her mother and sisters.