Ishmeal's Case Study

The traumatic experiences children face when endured as casualties of warfare is devastating this is exasperated by those children who are forced to actively participant as soldiers increasing their risks of physical and psychological repercussions. In addition, children from lower socio-economic environments have higher risk factors for development of post-stress symptoms such as depression, anxiety and behavioral concerns (Vindevogel, 2011). An significant socio-cultural factor in this case is the history of civil war in Sierra Leone. The client mentions stories from his father's days about liberation of the country and unspoken atrocities regarding violence ensued by child soldiers in the past. This political instability leads to cultural fear, mistrust in government and confusion of safety (Betancourt et al., 2010). Additionally, the lack of communication about children and warfare to the children are all contributing factors to the clients transition to soldier of war (Shepler, 2005). All of these issues are seen in the clients experiences throughout. Thus
Often, and as in the clients experienced, children were manipulated into believing and knowing who the enemies of war were and that violence was an answer or solution to the warfare. Use of terminologies further enforcing the notion of who is control and who is the enemy. Once violence was introduced as a means of securing food and supplies for survival, Ishmeal begins associating his own people as civilians and his the soldier maintaining order. Later, this confusion extrapolates feelings of guilt when the realization of their actions. As discussed during the intervention section these conditions require therapy to be more individualized, rather than structural and greater care taken to the reintegration process both by the child and the community in which they transition into (Vindevogal, 2011, Bentancourt et al.,