The Case of Sherry Sherry is a 26-year-old female

Posted: April 4th, 2019

The Case of Sherry Sherry is a 26-year-old female that comes to see you due to problems she is having living at home with her family. She tells you that she feels dependent both financially and emotionally on her parents and that although she would like to move out and live on her own or with a friend, she is scared. “The world is a scary place and I people are cruel. Everyone is just out to step on everyone else to move up in the world. As long as I am living at home, I am safe, anywhere outside of this house, who know… It is not that I don’t want to leave and get my own place, I do, but there is no way I could find an apartment on my budget in a neighborhood that is safe.” Sherry further explained that she tried moving out once when she was 23, but her apartment was broken into. She was not home during the break-in, she feels that she would never be safe living anywhere on her own again. Sherry also explained that she currently works as a bar tender. This means that she wants a safe place to come home to, because her shifts often end between 2-4 am. Sherry explains, “I really wish I could get another job. Although the money is good, the hours are horrible, and I know bar-tending can never be anything more than a dead-end job. I have become a flawed human being. I am afraid to sleep any where other than my parent’s house, I am stuck in a job with no future, and I am 26 with no skills other than pouring drunk people drinks. I feel worthless, and I will always be a worthless bar-tender that is afraid to move away from home.

References
Manaster, G. J. (1977). Birth Order: An Overview. Journal of Individual Psychology
(00221805), 33(1), 3.
Neukrug, E. (2018). Counseling theory and practice (2nd ed.). San Diego, CA: Cognella
Silverman, D. (2005) What Works in Psychotherapy and How Do We Know? What
evidence-based practice has to offer. Psychoanalytic Psychology, 22(2).
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Revised version:

The Case of Jen
Tiffany Brown-Smith
Department of Counseling: Lamar University
CNDV 5311: Individual Counseling Theory Technique
Dr. Robert Carlisle
July 17, 2022

Introduction:
Jen is a 19-year-old sophomore in college who has experienced a life-changing event during her childhood, which has deeply influenced her perception of men and self-doubts. As her therapist, I aim to use the information from her past to determine the most suitable theoretical approach to address her concerns. By exploring the central concepts of the chosen approach, I will support my selection. Nevertheless, each approach has its strengths and limitations, and I must carefully consider them to ensure the most effective counseling for Jen. Additionally, as a counselor, I recognize the importance of self-reflection, as it allows me to empathize with clients and apply effective techniques from the chosen approach.

Presenting Concern:
Jen has expressed several concerns that help identify the appropriate approach to address her challenges. The key issue revolves around her feelings of inadequacy and her perception that she cannot trust men due to her father’s actions. The most suitable approach to help Jen is Adlerian Therapy, Individual Psychology, as it focuses on understanding and changing faulty private logic developed during childhood.

Three Central Concepts:

Birth Order: Jen’s position as the oldest child and only daughter significantly impacts her feelings of inferiority and beliefs. Understanding how her role changed when her father had twin sons is essential to comprehend her sense of inadequacy and rivalry.

Social Interest: Jen’s sense of inferiority affected her ability to develop social interest, leading to negative beliefs about men. By fostering her social interest, she can grow into an adult capable of empathy and positive relationships.

Fictional Final Goal: Jen’s subjective final goal involves blaming her father, which hinders her growth and prevents her from taking responsibility for her perceptions. By uncovering the origin of her inferiority feelings, we can work towards changing her subjective final goal.

Strengths and Limitations:
Adlerian Therapy has several strengths, such as its client-centered approach without a rigid timeframe, allowing therapy to continue until the client experiences progress. The focus on positivity and encouragement enables clients like Jen to build confidence and self-worth. However, a limitation lies in the limited research on the approach’s efficacy compared to other therapies.

Reflection:
As a therapist, I recognize my own struggles with expressing opinions and feelings due to my upbringing. Applying the “catching oneself” technique will help me overcome this challenge and become more comfortable sharing my thoughts. However, I might face difficulty with task-setting techniques, which require creating a goal, as I tend to self-doubt and take time to feel confident in my choices.

Conclusion:
By employing Adlerian Therapy, Individual Psychology, and understanding the central concepts, I can effectively assist Jen in addressing her self-doubts and perception of men. With self-reflection and understanding my own limitations, I aim to provide a supportive and empathetic environment to help Jen find a positive path forward in her life.

THEORIES: PsychoanalysisEdward Neukrug & Tim SeiblesCounselor Education

Analytical (Jungian) TherapyEdward Neukrug & Tim SeiblesCounselor Education

Individual PsychologyEdward Neukrug & Tim SeiblesCounselor Education,

Presenting Concerns:
a. I will use the Adlerian Therapy approach to conceptualize Sherry’s case. This approach emphasizes understanding and addressing feelings of inferiority, which seem to be prevalent in Sherry’s statements about her self-worth and fear of the outside world.
b. Sherry’s presenting concerns include feeling financially and emotionally dependent on her parents, fear of living independently due to safety concerns, and dissatisfaction with her current job as a bartender. She also expresses feelings of worthlessness and lack of skills.

c. Based on the concerns identified, I would address Sherry’s feelings of inferiority and self-worth first. Adlerian Therapy focuses on understanding and changing faulty private logic, and by exploring the origin of her feelings of worthlessness, we can work towards changing her perception of herself and the world around her.

One Central Concept of the Approach:
a. One central concept of Adlerian Therapy is “birth order” – how the position a person holds within their family significantly impacts their feelings of inferiority, beliefs, and behavior.
b. This central concept is relevant to understanding Sherry’s case as she mentions feeling inadequate and compares herself to her siblings. Exploring her role as the only daughter and how her father’s twins changed her position could help uncover her sense of inferiority and rivalry, contributing to her current struggles.

One Technique:
a. A technique I could use with Sherry is “Encouragement.” In Adlerian Therapy, encouragement is employed to foster confidence and self-worth in clients, promoting a positive perception of themselves and their abilities.
b. I chose this technique because Sherry expresses feelings of worthlessness and fear, and encouragement can help her develop a more positive self-view and recognize her strengths and potential.

Strengths and Limitations:
a. One strength of Adlerian Therapy for working with Sherry is its client-centered nature, allowing therapy to continue without a strict timeframe until she experiences progress. This approach’s focus on positivity and encouragement aligns with Sherry’s need for building self-worth and confidence.
b. One limitation is the limited research on the approach’s efficacy compared to other therapies, which might raise doubts about its effectiveness. Ensuring that Sherry feels comfortable and motivated throughout the therapy process is essential to address this limitation.

Reflection:
a. Applying the “Encouragement” technique to my life, I aimed to be more positive and affirming towards myself. I learned that self-encouragement boosts my confidence and helps me focus on my strengths rather than dwelling on my weaknesses.
b. One challenge I encountered was being consistent in self-encouragement. It was challenging to maintain a positive mindset during difficult situations. However, with practice, I have become more resilient and optimistic.

c. When applying Adlerian Therapy to my life, I noticed that its focus on understanding individual experiences and fostering a positive mindset is culturally responsive. It allows individuals from various cultural backgrounds to explore their unique experiences and develop a healthier perception of themselves and the world.