Marci: Analysis of a Counseling Situation

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Diagnosis Impression
Rationale
Treatment recommendations
Conclusion
Reference List

Introduction

Drug addiction is one of the major issues that a number of American teenagers and young adults have to deal with. Though the problem is quite complicated on its own, it is often reinforced by the family members, who undertake wrong and, therefore, futile attempts to prevent the drug addict from taking illegal substances.

A recent case of Marci, a teenager, who is trapped between her drug addiction and the unbearable overprotection of her parents, need a dual intervention strategy and a complex therapy in order to get rid of drug abuse.

Diagnosis Impression

In the taxonomy provided by DSM-V, the problem that Marci is currently facing can be defined as a “Conduct Disorder” (American Psychiatric Association, 2013, p. 461), which, in its turn, falls under the category of “Parent-Child Relational Problem” (American Psychiatric Association, 2013, p. 715).

To be more exact, the issues of “engagement in dangerous, risky, and potentially self-damaging activities” (American Psychiatric Association, 2013, p. 780) resulting from the drug abuse and “inadequate parental control” (American Psychiatric Association, 2013, p. 715) must be mentioned when talking about Marci’s case.

Therefore, it will be reasonable to assume that the case in point is the exact representation of what is defined in the DSM-V as a dual diagnosis, with the elements of a “substance-related diagnosis” (American Psychiatric Association, 2013, p. 22) and “problems with primary support group” (American Psychiatric Association, 2013, p. 715–716).

Hence, the complexity of the issue concerns the fact that two problems must be addressed at the same time. As a result, the patient is diagnosed with two major issues, as well as the possibility of developing what the DSM-V defines as the “Major Depressive Disorder” (American Psychiatric Association, 2013, p. 22).

The urgency of the situation is also predetermined by the fact that the patient (Marci) is likely to develop a “Major Depressive Disorder” (American Psychiatric Association, 2013, p. 22) because of the despair that she experiences at present.

More to the point, the patient seems to have developed a Conduct Disorder (American Psychiatric Association, 2013, p. 726), which manifests itself in poor academic performance, unwillingness to comply with her parents’ requests and the lack of enthusiasm concerning her therapy sessions. Thus, the elements of an “Oppositional Defiant Disorder” (American Psychiatric Association, 2013, p. 815) can also be traced in Marci’s behavior.

Rationale

When it comes to defining the rationale for the intervention to be undertaken, one must mention the fact that, apart from the obvious drug abuse issue, Marci is suffering greatly from the environment, in which she lives.

instead of promoting a healthier lifestyle and allowing the young woman to cope with her problems as an adult, her family creates obstacles on her way, therefore, making it obvious that they do not treat her like a grown-up person. As a result, a severe backlash in the form of a protest and the following attempt to resort to drugs as a symbol of being independent emerges.

As it has been stated above, Marci is suffering from what is defined in the DSM-V as “problems with primary support group” (American Psychiatric Association, 2013, p. 715–716) on the Axis IV (Psychosocial and Environmental Problems) (American Psychiatric Association, 2013).

In other words, apart from her addiction to marijuana, Marci will have to handle the depression that is triggered by her emotionally devastating environment. Herein the rationale for the design of a unique intervention stems from.

Unlike typical situations, in which one develops drug addiction under the influence of a specific environment (e.g., the influence of marijuana smoking friends), in Marci’s case, the patient resorts to smoking pot as a response to stressors that come not only from her college, but also from her family.

The rationale behind the reconsideration of the case, therefore, is predetermined by the necessity to define the diagnosis of the patient in a more precise manner and provide the proper intervention based therapy that the patient needs at present.

Treatment recommendations

It should also be kept in mind that, apart from drug addiction, Marci is also facing the challenge of depression and anxiety, which she will also have to develop a coping mechanism for. Indeed, a closer look at Marci’s case will reveal that her parents have become increasingly overbearing to the point where they seem to deny their daughter any personal freedom.

As a result, Marci protests, and her unwillingness to follow her parents’ orders takes the shape of drug addiction and troublemaking. Therefore, among the therapeutic strategies to be suggested for Marci’s recovery, an efficient coping mechanism must be provided for her to deal with the stress that she is currently under. At this point, it will be necessary to bring up the issue of family involvement.

According to the latest researches, the cooperation of the family members allows for retrieving the desired result and allowing for a faster recovery of the patient, starting from her sooner realization of the necessity of the intervention.

Choosing an appropriate strategy for reducing stress for Marci, one might suggest the introduction of a role model for Marci, e.g., a family member, who is trying to quit smoking or get rid of another addictive habit. Thus, Marci will be able to take the process of treatment seriously and follow the therapist’s guidance (Copello, Vellemna & Templeton, 2005, p. 371).

An overbearing strategy of watching every step made by the patient, which the family is clearly following at present, should be prohibited. Therefore, the issue should be considered on the Axis IV (Severity of Psychosocial Stressors) of the DSM-V.

Apart from the inclusion of the family support into the list of strategies, an appropriate intervention for addressing Marci’s drug issue should be created. In order to help the patient realize the necessity to continue the treatment procedures, as well as prove the importance of interventions to Marci, it will be crucial to appeal to her desire to become an adult and be able to make adult decisions.

In other words, the intervention for Marci will have to be focused on acknowledging her as a grown-up individual. However, apart from helping Marci to get rid of her addiction, a major change in her parents’ strategy of upbringing their daughter should be carried out.

It will be crucial to convince her parents to stop being overprotective and start recognizing their daughter’s right to make her own choices. It is only by having an example of reasonable and responsible adults that Marci will be able to abandon her bad habit and become a self-sufficient and grown-up person.

Conclusion

As an in-depth study of the case in question has shown, the factors that trigger Marci’s unwillingness to abandon her habit of using drugs include not merely the physical dependency on drugs that Marci has developed, but a range of biopsychosociospiritual factors causing Marci to resort to smoking marijuana whenever she feels uncomfortable.

Reference List

American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders. DSM-V. 5th ed. Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association.

Copello, A. G., Vellemna, R. B. D. & Templeton, L. J. (2005). Family interventions in the treatment of alcohol and drug problems. Drug and Alcohol Review, 24(4), 369 – 385.

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