Shirley Jackson Case Paper

For this case, I would be paying attention to how Jackson’s father and sister’s mental illnesses contribute to the family dynamic and Jackson’s experiences. It is fact that two people in the family have received diagnoses let me to consider potential genetic and environmental causes for Jackson’s struggles. Also, the family’s report that they use their religious affiliation to explain other people’s behaviors in a judgmental manner may be contributing to how Jackson views himself. It would be helpful to gain a better sense of Jackson’s (spiritual or otherwise) values, which influences his worldview and self-understanding.

Jackson’s report of depressed mood, diminished interest in educational activity, and suicidal ideation warrant the assessment
One of Jackson’s struggles is family relationship especially with his father and sister. At the same time, he identifies how his mother protects him. It is reasonable to consider his mother as his strength. The treatment plan should include a consideration for strengthening the mother-son relationship as he explores ways to better navigate his relationships with his father and sister. Jackson also reported having a few friends who he considers a support network. Similarly to his relationship with his mother, the treatment goal should include strengthening and expanding his social and support network outside of family. His interpersonal relationship outside of his family would likely to help him gain autonomy and offset stress stemming from the family
From this perspective, whatever interventions the therapist and client use needs to assist them in identifying and developing the client’s strengths. This is a collaborative discovery process, which requires presence and commitment of both the therapist and client (see Jones-Smith, 2014). Previously mentioned Existential-Humanistic approach is fitting with the strengths-based approach. The therapist who works from the Existential-Humanistic approach considers his/herself as a fellow traveler of the client’s process (Yalom & Josselson, 2014). The therapist utilizes one’s own internal experience of the client and the therapeutic relationship to deepen the understanding of the client. E-H Therapy encourages both the therapist and client to attune to their own the whole here-and-now bodily experience (Friedman,