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Chriscurchin27
Case Five Kelly is a 22-year-old woman from a strong…
Case Five
Kelly is a 22-year-old woman from a strong Irish-Catholic background. She comes into therapy upon the ultimatum of her new husband because of her impulsivity, spending money and obsession with the home shopping channel, which she watches all night. Kelly says, “since we got married he is such a pinch penny. He used to be my ‘partner in crime’. Life was exciting and spontaneous. Now he wants to settle down and have a family. How boring is that! I’m a free spirit and love living on the edge. Who has time to sleep! I love to party, I love to run on a whim and I love to shop! Oh, and let me tell you about the awesome deal I just got. I have this special ability to be in the right place at the right time. Did you know that tomorrow there are half-off sales at the mall and by the way, I just love the thrill of being the first one at the door when the store opens.” During the interview, Kelly appears relaxed but keeps shifting her position in her chair. When you ask her if she has ever been depressed, she tells you, “sometimes the world seems dark and heavy and did you know that your picture frames are crooked?” She denies suicidal ideation, but admits to not wanting to get out of bed some mornings, until an idea strikes her and she’s “off and running again”.
Using the text information from Chapters 12 through 16:
In consideration of the diagnosis and treatment of bipolar and related disorders, how might you assess Kelly?
What would you target in treatment?
What form(s) from the text might you utilize in your work with Kelly as a therapeutic intervention?
How might her responses be used to initiate change?
Case Six
Lorena is a 35-year-old woman who self-identifies as lesbian. Lorena comes for treatment to, “fix my relationship”. She tells you that her partner has threatened to leave her if, “I don’t grow up and get a job”. She says that she doesn’t feel that she should have to work, that, “If she truly loved me, she’d let me hang out all day while I figure out what I want to do. People should like what they do and not just work to collect a paycheck. As a kid, I watched my mom break her back while my dad sat home and drank all day. Mom would come home after working 12 hours and he’d push her around because dinner wasn’t on the table. I swore I’d never be like my mother!” Although Lorena denies suicidal ideation, you notice some superficial scarring on her wrist, which she insists was an “adolescent thing that helped me cope with life back then.” You also notice bruises on her upper arms. “Oh, that is from my partner. She got me so ticked off I swung at her and she had the nerve to grab me and toss me against the wall.” Lorena insists that it is never her fault when they fight and that her partner always starts it. She claims to love her partner no matter what she says or does and that she herself can’t stand the thought of being alone.
Using the text information from Chapters 12 through 16:
In consideration of the diagnosis and treatment of personality disorders, how might you assess Lorena?
What would you target in treatment?
What form(s) from the text might you utilize in your work with Lorena as a therapeutic intervention?
How might her responses be used to initiate change?
