This report details the case of a college student, Xiao An (pseudonym), who presented with moderate depression, mild anxiety, and self-injury behaviors, all rooted in family-of-origin issues. The client reported persistent low mood, anhedonia (diminished interest), low self-worth, strained family relationships, and engagement in self-harm and social avoidance. The counseling process followed a progressive model: “Establishing a Therapeutic Alliance—Problem Assessment —Cognitive Restructuring — Behavioral Intervention.” Techniques such as active listening, causal chain analysis, identification of automatic thoughts, and alternative behavior training were employed. Outcomes included alleviation of emotional symptoms, clarification of familial role boundaries, and development of preliminary emotion regulation strategies. The client demonstrated significant improvement in emotional stability, a reduction in self-harm behaviors, and gradual enhancement of self-worth. However, deep-seated family trauma, emotional blunting, and motivational deficits warrant continued intervention. This case offers practical insights for counseling interventions addressing psychological distress stemming from family-of-origin issues among college students.

Xiaoyan He. A Case Report of Psychological Counseling for a College Student with Depression, Anxiety, and Self-Injury Behavior Triggered by Family-of-Origin Issues. Academic Journal of Humanities & Social Sciences (2025), Vol. 8, Issue 12: 43-47. https://doi.org/10.25236/AJHSS.2025.081207.

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