Case Study on Treating a Teenager Having Problems

Case Study on Treating a Teenager Having Problems

A seventeen-year-old high school student is showing difficulty in his academics at school. He has lately been a "troublemaker" in his class and his grades have significantly dropped. After a conference scheduled with the mother, the teacher discovered that recently his father died of alcohol poisoning which emotionally disturbed the young boy. On the other hand, she also discovered that the mother was having an affair with another man in California and so did not show much emotion towards her late husband.

As a result, the son became frustrated and angry towards his mother and started interacting with the wrong peer group. The student was recently caught with the possession of drugs and was in question of being expelled from the high school and recommended for counseling. During counseling, the student further admitted to drinking himself and spending nights with his girlfriend because his mother was always in California. The teacher and administrators are extremely concerned of the support and counseling the student may need.

Evaluation

After reviewing the student's case history, an analysis of the student's psychological state of mind was created to assist the student with much support.

The first hypothesis was based on the Kohlberg's moral theories. Specifically, the preconventionl level in which during adolescence, egocentrism is built in the young individual's mind. The young student feels invulnerable towards anything damaging because of his ego. In this case, the adolescent has developed immunity towards harmful things such as drugs alcohol and sexually transmitted diseases and hence doesn't realize the potential perils lying ahead of him.

In co...

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...egative identity because of linking his mother's affair to his father's death.

At this point, the family seems to be a supportable family in which outside support is definitely needed to restore the structure of a healthy family.

Recommendation

The primary concern of this case is for the young boy to seek help immediately via counseling and family therapy with his mother. He needs to be given time and understanding to speak his mind. The mother though, also needs to understand that she needs to give her son support and comfort in order to steer in a positive direction. The mother needs counseling on how to be a "nurturing yet firm" parent- perhaps using the authoritarian method of parenting. With the collaboration of the school, counseling, and mother's help, a strong effort to revive this adolescent's life in a healthy and happier way can be achieved.