Psych 6214

Description

Respond to at least two of your colleagues, preferably one with the same client as you, and one with a different client. Offer new perspectives, approaches, suggestions, or considerations for working with the client and family

mechelle:

Main Post- Marcus Anderson

Summary of Developmental Crises:

Marcus Anderson, a 15-year-old African American adolescent, is facing multiple developmental crises related to his physical, emotional, and identity development. He exhibits behaviors consistent with body image disturbances, possibly linked to his obsession watching his eating and exercising. Marcus is also dealing with the challenges of accepting his sexual orientation as a gay teenager within a conservative Southern Baptist family and community, which has led to self-harm for him to cope. His fear of rejection from his grandmother and church family, combined with his internal struggles to reconcile his sexual orientation and his faith, places him in a complex emotional and developmental crisis (Broderick & Blewitt, 2020).

Risk-Taking Behaviors and Protective Factors:

Marcus’s risk-taking behaviors include self-harm (cutting) and potentially disordered eating or excessive exercise. These behaviors are concerning because they may serve as maladaptive coping mechanisms for his underlying emotional distress, possibly leading to more severe mental health issues such as depression or an eating disorder (American Psychological Association, 2018). However, one protective factor is his connection to his grandmother, Audrey, despite his fear of her reaction. Her insistence on seeking counseling suggests a strong familial bond that may serve as a buffer against further emotional decline (Broderick & Blewitt, 2020).

Impact on Marcus and His Family:

Marcus’s behaviors have created significant distress within his family, especially for his grandmother, who is alarmed by his weight loss, withdrawal from social activities, and self-harming tendencies. His secrecy regarding his sexual orientation likely enhances his internal conflict, heightening his sense of isolation from both his family and church. The cultural and religious context of his family complicates Marcus’s experience, as Southern Baptist communities often hold traditional views on sexuality, which may lead Marcus to fear of rejection or judgment. This fear of social and familial rejection can intensify Marcus’s emotional pain, further entrenching his maladaptive coping strategies and creating tension in family relationships (Gates & Lerner, 2017).

Conclusion:

Marcus’s developmental crises highlight the complex interplay between identity development, cultural expectations, and mental health during adolescence. His risk-taking behaviors, such as self-harm and restrictive eating, are symptomatic of deeper emotional struggles. Protective factors like his relationship with his grandmother may help mitigate these risks if addressed through appropriate interventions, including family therapy and support for his identity formation.

References: American Psychological Association. (2018). Adolescence and risk-taking behaviors.
Broderick, P. C., & Blewitt, P. (2020). The life span: Human development for helping professionals (5th ed.). Hoboken, NJ: Pearson Education.

Gates, J. A., & Lerner, M. D. (2017). Efficacy of group social skills interventions for youth with autism spectrum disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Clinical Psychology Review, 52, 164-18

Response 2: Emily

Main Post: John Reeves (M, 13 Years)

Growing up in a single-parent family can decrease family attachment and increase criminal behavior in a child as a single-parent may have additional responsibilities and financial strains limiting their time spent with the child (Kroese, J., et al, 2021). With limited time to engage with and monitor their child, the parent may end up insufficiently providing their child with support they need. In an already stressed family, John Reeves, has begun engaging in criminal behavior that could have severe consequences on his future as well as negatively impact the whole family.

Risk Taking Behaviors

John Reeves was arrested for robbing a convenience store along with two other boys (ages 14 and 16 years). This was his first offense however the other two boys assaulted the store owner during the robbery. It is suspected that this crime was gang related and, when asked about the gang, John states “At least someone cares about me.” John is feeling somewhat neglected by his family and has sought what he is lacking from his peers. While some transfer of emotional dependency, from parent to peers, is normal around 11 – 1y years old (Broderick & Blewitt (2020), John is more dependent on peers than may be considered normal. With a lack of parental monitoring from his father, John has more opportunity to engage in delinquent activities. John’s father also rolled his eyes when John stated, “At least someone cares about me.” This suggests there is a lack of emotional support from father to son which could be influencing John’s behavior. While there are multiple factors that influence a child’s behavior one important influencer is parental support which stresses emotional availability, interest, and being accepting (Broderick & Blewitt, 2020). Without the support of his father, John may continue down his path of delinquency negatively impacting himself and his family.

Family Impact

Family is still an important aspect of the adolescent world. While many parents begin to back off in parental monitoring as their child goes through adolescence, “lack of parental monitoring is associated with involvement in risky behavior and delinquent activities” (Broderick & Blewitt, 2020). John’s father has other children in his care and they each have complex needs of their own. This could be driving John’s delinquent behavior as he is not receiving support or monitoring from his father. Unless there are changes made, John’s behavior will continue and could lead to severe emotional and financial stress on the family. In addition to the effect of his behavior on his family, he could end up committing more severe and frequent criminal acts impacting his opportunities in adulthood should he go to prison.

Summary

John is on a risky path that requires intervention to minimize the potential impact his criminal delinquency has on his future, he would benefit from more parental engagement, parental monitoring, and parental support. His father is an only father and there are other children in the family, which could be contributing to his neglectful parenting style. With a family focused counseling approach, his father could be educated in ways he can balance the needs of the children. This is only one of multiple influencers of behavior that John would benefit from improving. Additional influencers to explore further would be social (his peer groups) and his self-perception. Adolescence is a time of exploration and single parents are often at a disadvantage when balancing other responsibilities. Sometimes the parent becomes neglectful in how they approach parenting and child responds with criminal deviancy. Intervention is necessary in these cases with a family focused approach to address the whole family’s needs.

References:

Broderick, P. C., & Blewitt, P. (2020). The life span: Human development for helping professionals (5th ed.). Hoboken, NJ: Pearson Education.