PSYC 6163 CBT Case Study 3: Marcus
Marcus is a 38-year-old African American man living in a mid-sized Canadian city. He works
full-time as a systems analyst for a health services agency and lives alone in a modest onebedroom apartment. Marcus recently reached out for counselling after being referred by his
primary care physician, who noted ongoing fatigue, difficulty sleeping, and a “flat affect”
during recent check-ups.
Marcus describes “just going through the motions” most days. He gets up, logs into work,
and completes tasks with minimal engagement. Outside of work, he spends most evenings
watching TV or scrolling through his phone. He used to enjoy playing basketball at the
community centre and attending spoken word events, but hasn’t done either in over a year.
He cancelled his gym membership months ago, saying, “What’s the point?” Marcus reports
frequent headaches and body tension but attributes this to “bad posture and stress.” He
takes over-the-counter painkillers regularly and drinks two or three beers most nights to
“take the edge off.”
Marcus says he doesn’t feel sad exactly—more like he’s detached or “on autopilot.” He
describes struggling with sleep—both falling asleep and staying asleep—and waking up
feeling just as tired as when he went to bed. His appetite has decreased, and he often skips
breakfast or lunch, opting instead for energy drinks or protein bars. When asked about
mood, Marcus shrugs and says, “I’m just tired of being tired.”
A significant event in Marcus’s recent history was the closure of the youth mentoring
program he had volunteered with for five years. Due to funding cuts, the program ended
abruptly, and Marcus lost not only a meaningful outlet but also a key source of social
connection. Since then, he has distanced himself from most of the people he met through the
program, telling himself they were “just coworkers, not friends.” He often thinks, “I don’t
really matter in the long run,” and, “If I disappeared, no one would notice.”
Marcus describes growing up in a working-class family where he was the eldest of four. His
father worked long hours and was emotionally distant, while his mother focused on keeping
the household running. Expressions of emotion, especially sadness or fear, were met with
dismissiveness. Marcus recalls being told to “man up” or “keep it together” whenever he
showed signs of struggle. Although he was successful academically, he often felt invisible at
home and says he learned to “deal with things silently.”
Now, Marcus says he finds it difficult to reach out, even when he’s overwhelmed. He hasn’t
told anyone he’s starting therapy and downplays his challenges when speaking with his
siblings. He believes people have their own problems and that his feelings are “just noise.”
Although he has a few close acquaintances, he avoids invitations and no longer answers
most texts. He admits to feeling guilty about ghosting people but says, “It’s easier not to be a
burden.”
In rare reflective moments, Marcus acknowledges missing his old self—the one who felt
motivated and energized by helping others. He says he wants to feel “awake again,” but
doubts anything can really change. He sets occasional goals, like cooking a proper meal or
calling a friend, but usually talks himself out of following through. He describes a voice in
his head that says, “Why bother? You’ll just let them down anyway.”
Marcus agreed to counselling because, in his words, “something has to give.” While sceptical
about the process, he says he’s willing to try if it means finding even a small sense of
purpose or clarity again.