Posted: September 1st, 2022

Elena is a 17-year-old second generation Mexican American female

Causes for Referral
Elena was strongly inspired to hunt counseling by her dad and mom out of concern of her shifts in temper
in the course of the previous 2-Three months. Her dad and mom additionally just lately discovered a bottle of vodka in her room and wished
her to be evaluated.
Behavioral Observations
Elena is a 17-year-old second generation Mexican American female. She is at the moment in her junior 12 months at
a native Catholic highschool. She arrived on time for her appointment and was casually dressed. She
made periodic eye contact with the counselor however ceaselessly forged her eyes downward. Her posture
all through the session was considerably slumped. Elena appeared a bit anxious, as evidenced by
ceaselessly fidgeting together with her arms. Her tone, physique language, and content material steered she was tense and
annoyed all through the session. Elena responded appropriately to questions and have become more and more
keen to speak because the session progressed. Perception and degree of psychological mindedness appeared age-
applicable.
Presenting Considerations
Elena’s most urgent concern is feeling conflicted about her resolution to use to school subsequent fall;
though she desires to go to school, her mom is terminally unwell and expects Elena to stick with and
attend to her. Elena expressed feeling “down” and “pressured” concerning this resolution. She feels responsible
that she might fail to measure as much as what a “good daughter” “ought to” be (i.e., dedicated to household) and as a
outcome might lose her dad and mom’ acceptance and approval. Elena defined that her household is extraordinarily
vital to her and he or she believes she has an “obligation” to her dad and mom. But she additionally needs the
alternative to satisfy new folks and to have new experiences; she expressed concern that “If I keep
with my household my complete life, I’ll be a failure… I’ll have wasted all my potential.” Elena reported making an attempt to
clarify her perspective to her dad and mom, however mentioned she felt they have been unable to know her as a result of
“they hear what they wish to hear.” She additionally acknowledged that she is receiving conflicting sources of stress
concerning the school resolution and doesn’t wish to “disappoint” anybody. Whereas her dad and mom need her to
keep dwelling, her boyfriend and buddies, whose dad and mom are typically very supportive of their purposes to
school, consider Elena ought to depart. Elena described feeling pulled in two totally different instructions and mentioned
she is “caught within the center… If I make the mistaken resolution I’ll remorse it ceaselessly.”
Elena additionally worries about “bombing at school” as a result of her schoolwork now not appears vital, she
has issue concentrating, and her varied sources of fear (i.e., mother, school, grades) really feel like “too
a lot” to deal with. Elena additional described feeling “blah” towards engaged on the college newspaper, of
which she as soon as served as editor. Elena admitted that she generally thinks it might be simpler “if I
wasn’t right here,” however famous she wouldn’t damage herself by stating, “I wouldn’t try this to my household,
particularly my mother.” She admitted ingesting Vodka by herself one evening within the hopes it would make her
really feel higher, however insisted that her dad and mom “freaked out” over nothing once they discovered the bottle; she
swore that medication and alcohol are “not the sort of factor I do; I’m not likely into that.”
Household Background
Elena’s dad and mom are each Mexican; they immigrated from Mexico 30 years in the past. Most of Elena’s prolonged
household nonetheless lives in Mexico. Elena’s household at the moment enjoys middle-class standing; her father owns a small
enterprise and her mom labored part-time as a secretary earlier than her sickness prohibited her from working
exterior the house. Elena is the youngest of three youngsters. Her older brother is in his first 12 months of school,
aspiring to be a dentist. Elena mentioned she is pleased with and near her brother, but she feels resentful that
“he received away [from the family], whereas I’ve to remain right here.” She described “hating” her older sister who
has a historical past of drug utilization and sometimes visits the household. Elena reported that her sister “ruined
every thing for me,” explaining that their dad and mom unfairly evaluate Elena to her sister and “if I make one
mistaken transfer… [they think] I’m going to finish up identical to her; I’m going to be a whole failure and a unhealthy
daughter.”
Elena doesn’t communicate Spanish; her dad and mom had a “exhausting time” once they got here to the US and, not
wanting their youngsters to expertise related anti-immigrant discrimination, refused to talk Spanish to
them. Elena mentioned that though her dad and mom have discovered English, she generally wonders whether or not not
speaking in a shared native language hinders their capability to know each other. She recalled
an incident when she was youthful: she requested her mom to choose her up from a good friend’s dwelling at a
sure hour; her mom misunderstood her instructions and arrived 6 hours late. Elena recalled feeling
deserted by, indignant at, and ashamed of her mom. Elena reported additionally feeling that her dad and mom don’t
“get” that American youths are historically afforded extra independence and freedom than Mexican
youths. Elena’s mom’s sickness has drastically impacted the household. Though her mom might stay 10-15
extra years, her imminent dying and compromised bodily state have forged a shadow upon the household.
Elena acknowledged that her mom wants a whole lot of Help. She apparently feels conflicted in that she
desires to offer this Help but is indignant in being the one little one anticipated to take care of her.
Elena mentioned she has all the time been “actually shut” to her dad and mom, particularly her mom. She expressed
gratitude for the sacrifices they made on her behalf. Whereas she famous feeling they are often unfairly strict
together with her, Elena certified her concern by saying that, “They’re strict as a result of they care.” Elena described
the customs—i.e., cooking Mexican meals and visiting Mexico—and the qualities—i.e., rigidly Catholic
and close-knit—that she believes makes them a “conventional Mexican-American” household. She famous that
though her father is the first breadwinner, her mom has the “actual energy” within the household with
regard to creating choices.
Relational and Interpersonal Historical past
Elena reported a supportive circle of buddies however admitted feeling that her buddies “don’t hearken to me.”
She defined that her buddies, like most college students in her highschool, are white European People and
she feels they “don’t wish to hear about how my household works” in a different way from theirs. She famous that
some buddies have just lately expressed concern that she has began performing “like I don’t care anymore.”
Nonetheless, Elena doesn’t really feel she will actually speak to her buddies about her issues. She experiences their
concern that she be allowed to go to school as one more supply of stress. Elena’s boyfriend of 5
months is additionally white. Elena mentioned their relationship has just lately been strained by her indecision over
school. She described him as “thoughtless” and as unfairly judging her dad and mom to be “silly and
ignorant” concerning their stance on Elena’s future, quite than they contemplating that they merely “suppose
in a different way.”
Coping Methods
Elena has no historical past of earlier therapy for an emotional drawback. She typically perceives her
family and friends as supportive but expressed disbelief that anybody actually understands her. When
probed for coping methods, she famous that writing in her journal, taking walks, and spending time
alone generally helps to ease her feeling that “persons are all the time on my again.” She denied common use
of alcohol however admitted that her current experimentation with Vodka considerably helped her to loosen up. To
cope together with her mom’s sickness, Elena mentioned that her household relied largely on faith and household solidarity.
Profession Progress
Academically, Elena reported she has historically achieved effectively, significantly in English. She expressed
curiosity in finding out journalism as a result of she is intrigued by folks’s tales and distinctive cultural
experiences. Elena mentioned she thinks her dad and mom are supportive of her schooling, however they consider that “household comes first.”

Question Assignment

Elena has issues because___________.
2. Elena might be wholesome when ____________.
Three. What influences ideas, emotions and behaviors? Why do they alter or not
change?
four. What is my position in change?
5. What is Elena’s position in change?
6. What interventions from this mannequin would I exploit to handle this
drawback? Why?
7. How would I consider Elena’s progress towards change?

These purposes will aid you to articulate a specific theoretical lens and the way
that lens shapes the work that you just do with households.
Every utility requires you to use a specific concept to a case that is supplied to you (Elena). This task is extra than simply answering every Question Assignment; you have to to indicate that the idea has been adequately utilized after which appropriately defined. You could write in full sentences and absolutely clarify your solutions.
Every task should use this case utility format by itemizing every Question Assignment as a heading, so I do know the place you meant to reply the Question Assignment. Your case utility must be 2-Three double-spaced pages. You’ll apply the assigned concept by pondering by means of every of the next questions in gentle of the case
materials after which reply every of the questions absolutely. Your write up wants to include class readings on the subject.

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