Integrative Essay 
Integrative Essay
SOCWK 322R: Child Abuse and Maltreatment
Case Study: I have found my Voice
Student ID: 20338725
Due: April 3 2013
Case Study Background
Mary1 has been abused by her stepfather starting at the age of eight. Mary’s mother was unaware of the abuse because she was always at work when the abuse occurred. The trauma that Mary endured negatively her ability to form close relationships; because of this, she was not able to form any close friendships and this caused her to become depressed, at which point she began to overeat and began to neglect taking care of herself. Despite this, she was able to form one close friendship with “Steve” having a close relationship with Steve, Mary and Steve began dating when Mary was seventeen. Mary’s stepfather stopped sexually abusing Mary when she began her relationship with Steve. Although Mary was abused from the age of eight to seventeen, she was able to form a close, trusting and mutual relationship with Steve. Their relationship blossomed and after three years Mary and Steve were married. Mary made Steve the centre of her life; she assumes that he will be able to provide the love and acceptance that she never felt as a child. Although Steve tries his best to support Mary, there is still an unbalance; there is an unbalance because Mary does not know how to effectively communicate the sexual trauma that she endured. Nevertheless, after two years of marriage, Mary was able to effectively express her desire to have a child. Mary and Steve had their first child; Mary feels that her child could provide the love and acceptance that Steve was not able to provide. Mary attempts to be the best mother that she could possibly be and thus, she became very overprotective of her children. When her eldest daughter decided to move out, Mary was upset; she wanted her daughter to live at home longer, but ultimately, Mary lets her children live their own lives. After Mary’s eldest daughter “Samantha” moved
SOCWK 322R: Child Abuse and Maltreatment
Case Study: I have found my Voice
Student ID: 20338725
Due: April 3 2013
Case Study Background
Mary1 has been abused by her stepfather starting at the age of eight. Mary’s mother was unaware of the abuse because she was always at work when the abuse occurred. The trauma that Mary endured negatively her ability to form close relationships; because of this, she was not able to form any close friendships and this caused her to become depressed, at which point she began to overeat and began to neglect taking care of herself. Despite this, she was able to form one close friendship with “Steve” having a close relationship with Steve, Mary and Steve began dating when Mary was seventeen. Mary’s stepfather stopped sexually abusing Mary when she began her relationship with Steve. Although Mary was abused from the age of eight to seventeen, she was able to form a close, trusting and mutual relationship with Steve. Their relationship blossomed and after three years Mary and Steve were married. Mary made Steve the centre of her life; she assumes that he will be able to provide the love and acceptance that she never felt as a child. Although Steve tries his best to support Mary, there is still an unbalance; there is an unbalance because Mary does not know how to effectively communicate the sexual trauma that she endured. Nevertheless, after two years of marriage, Mary was able to effectively express her desire to have a child. Mary and Steve had their first child; Mary feels that her child could provide the love and acceptance that Steve was not able to provide. Mary attempts to be the best mother that she could possibly be and thus, she became very overprotective of her children. When her eldest daughter decided to move out, Mary was upset; she wanted her daughter to live at home longer, but ultimately, Mary lets her children live their own lives. After Mary’s eldest daughter “Samantha” moved