Case study of ‘Michelle’

Summary

            Michelle’s case is a disturbing situation that leads to introjection of the stress as a defense mechanism. Hatred with the situation, leads to hatred o oneself and so doing, the client, Michelle resorts to thinking negatively and destroying oneself. Michelle could not hurt anybody else in his family so, the assumption is that she would project the hatred into lesser threatening subject: which is herself. Counselor’s role is to make that unconscious motive into consciousness of Michelle to be able to accept the reality and face the different aspects of her personality and be more in control of it.

Case study of ‘Michelle’

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Introduction

            The client’s name is Michelle; she is 14 years old and currently attending high school as freshman. Michelle’s mother accidentally picked up and read a note that somewhat gives the mother the impression or idea that Michelle wants to commit suicide. Initial reaction of the mother is to panic from the situation that is why she impulsively decided for her daughter to undergo counseling as soon as possible. Upon the process of evaluation and gathering of data, the counselor came ton realize that the mother is currently under the stressful situation of divorce with her dipsomaniac husband who seems to Michelle’s father. The counselor also put into account that Michelle was twice caught in the school in illegal possession of drugs which account for her twice, suspension as well (Patterson et. al., 1998).

            Michelle may just be a typical girl but she is also very creative and artful. Michelle has gained two “very close” peers though also the both of them suffer from behavioral disorders. She lives in the house with her mother, and Tim who is younger than her and is diagnosed with ADHD or Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Moreover, Michelle’s father left three months ago and ever since, he had lost contact with his family. It can be observed that Michelle loss her appetite for she lost 12 pounds starting after the marital separation of her parents. Since then, Michelle also talked less and seems distant. Furthermore, Michelle’s mom is so busy that she has two existing part time and full time jobs to sustain her family. The fulltime job would be attended every mornings and the part time job during the evenings. Michelle did not act like what she was acting recently according to her mom, but her mom predicts that the reason for her daughter’s sudden change of behavior may be a reaction due to the recent marital divorce that she and her husband engaged in and ever since Michelle’s father lived away from their house (Patterson et. al., 1998). ichelle’s mom confessed a suicidal tendency in the family. She feared that her history of suicide attempt on her age 15 might be likely to happen to her daughter now who is experiencing the same stress. Furthermore, as the counselor came to talk with client ‘Michelle’ at person, counselor noticed that Michelle shows signs of anxiety with her gestures and defensive mechanisms are reflected in her manner of speech (Patterson et. al., 1998).

Body

            Based from the information described in the aforementioned case, the counselor shall use the theoretical framework of Freudian approach or Psychoanalytic therapy when conducting the assessment interview with Michelle. Therapeutic goals of the counselor shall include the objective of the counselor to make the unconscious aspects of the client and bring them out to consciousness. In this way, this shall strengthen the ego of the client so that the desired goal and direction of the client’s behavior would be realistic and to the extent that it has lesser ideal of the unreasonable thinking. Potential treatment shall encompass the counselor’s assessment of Michelle’s present “ego strength” in order to facilitate the whole therapeutic process. (Corey, 2001).

Conclusion

            Michelle’s case is a disturbing situation that leads to introjection of the stress as a defense mechanism. Hatred with the situation, leads to hatred o oneself and so doing, the client, Michelle resorts to thinking negatively and destroying oneself. Michelle could not hurt anybody else in his family so, the assumption is that she would project the hatred into lesser threatening subject: which is herself. Counselor’s role is to make that unconscious motive into consciousness of Michelle to be able to accept the reality and face the different aspects of her personality and be more in control of it (Corey, 2001).

References

Patterson, J., Williams, L., Grauf-Grounds, C. & Chamow, L. (1998). Essential skills in family

therapy. NY: The Guildford Press.

Corey, G. (2001). Theory and practice of counseling and psychotherapy. (6th Ed.).

            SG, Asia: Wadsworth.

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