Client History
Sherlock Holms is a fictional character introduced by Sir Arthur Conan-Doyle books. Sherlock Holms was first introduced in the book
A Study in Scarlet,
the year was 1886. He is based on a real man. He was known as a consulting detective he worked as a private detective and worked cases with Scotland Yard. He was known for his great deductions while working cases. He has a best friend Dr. John Watson. They share a home at I221b Baker Street in London England, it is suggested this is due to financial problems from Watson.
Sherlock Holms uses drugs such as cocaine and morphine to escape from his life. He also believes this helps him think better when he is working on his cases. Dr. Watson does not approve of his drug use and tells him often. It is suggested that Sherlock Holms was egotistical and obsessive. Sherlock Holms has no romantic relationship and it is said that he has no regard for women, he states “even the best of women cannot be trusted.”
Little is known of his family except he has an older brother and he works for the government and Holms suggest he is smarter than he is. His childhood was not a happy one. He suffers with depression and this is one reason he uses Cocaine and Morphine. He was also a compulsive smoker and drank alcohol although did not drink to access. This was in the Victorian age and drugs were legal and education on drugs was non-existent. Many in that time used drugs to self-medicate and for recreation. Even Sigmund Freud used drugs and believed that they helped him with his scientific ideologies and imagination. Sherlock Holms will be difficult to treat and reluctant to seek therapy because of his reputation as a detective. However, as a counselor he could be treated as he has a desire to quit using drugs, he believes his life is unmanageable and wants to be happy again.
He is in search of an evil Professor and spends most of his life trying to arrest a Professor Moriarty. This obsession will cost him his life. Holms is 60-years old and has been a detective for 24- years and Dr. John Watson has been with him for 17 of those years. They are best friends. Dr John Watson is pushing Mr. Holms to get help with his drug use. He respects the Drs. Opinion, and this will help with Holms getting help.
Presenting Problems
Sherlock Holms has come to therapy because of drug addiction and depression. He uses Cocaine and Morphine intravenously and will put cocaine in his alcoholic beverage. He wants to stop using drugs and doesn’t know how to do it alone. His friend Dr. Watson is pushing him to get off the drugs as, he knows the negative effects of the drugs, they have had many arguments over the years of Holms drug use.
Sherlock Holms has stated he has depression and he is using more and more of the drugs to feel normal. He states that he had an unhappy childhood. His parents did not show him love and he always felt alone. They did not have any religious affiliations and suggest that his parents were atheist. He however believes in Jesus and wants a relationship with him and feels if he is using drugs he cannot. The guilt of using drugs is too much for him. He is attending the Baptist church in London. Although, states his attendance is lacking.
Sherlock Holms is suffering with Depression and this is also hurting his practice. He suggests he is losing interest in his cases and believes the drugs are affecting his deductible reasoning. He is worried Scotland Yard will not use him and he will suffer financial ruin. Currently Mr. Holms is drinking, but not to excess. He will need to learn complete abstinence of any mind-altering chemicals if he wants to change his life. Alcohol is also a depressant and he will need some education on the effects of drugs and alcohol and how it contributes to his depression.
References
www.arthurconandoyle.com › sherlockholmes
Doyle, Arthur Conan. The Complete Sherlock Holmes. Volumes I and II. Introduction and Notes by Kyle Freeman. New York: Barnes & Noble Classics, 2003.
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