Laura Parker Case Study Sample

Brief Description of Client

Laura Parker is a forty-five year old female who lives in Lacey, WA. She is single and a mother to a grown son. Laura is a recovering drug addict; she has been clean now for eight months. She has been diagnosed with schizophrenia, anxiety, and experiences constant auditory hallucinations. These auditory hallucinations tell her to do cruel things to herself and others. A majority of the acts she is being told to do by the voices are illegal. When the voices are overpowering, Laura cannot say no to them. Laura has minimal job experience, and upon high school completion she went straight to college with the goal to become a lawyer. She worked sporadically while she went to community college, however, when she went
Laura wants to show her family that she has changed, lead by example for her son, and manage her symptoms of anxiety and schizophrenia. Laura wants to manage her symptoms for herself, her family, and her future career. However, Laura is frightened that she is going to fail. Frightened that she is going to return to her old habits. She is terrified that her schizophrenia and anxiety is going to control her, and that she will be exposing other people to her diagnoses. Laura states, “I just want to be normal.” Laura has also expressed wanting to reconnect with her
It was not the abuse itself that lead to her drinking, but the faulty thinking that the drinking would withdraw her from the situation (Corey, 2017) The three life tasks include, social task, love-marriage task, and the occupation task (Corey, 2017). Laura has never been married and states that she never desires to be married. She does however desire to find and maintain friendships within her family and the community. This desire would fulfill the social task. Laura is currently seeing a Vocational Rehabilitation counselor to work towards her intended occupational goal. When Laura obtains this goal it is perceived that she will have fulfilled the occupational task where she feels as though she is making a difference in the community. Impairment to any of the life tasks is an indicator of a psychological disorder. This could mean that Laura’s Schizophrenia, anxiety and auditory hallucinations could be contributing factors to her lack of the love-marriage task. Laura is struggling in two out of the three life tasks, and states that she has no desire to fulfill the love marriage task. Adler states that often when individuals seek therapy, it is “because they are struggling unsuccessfully to meet one or more of these life tasks.” (Corey, 2017, p. 101). Adler poses the question what an individual would do if they were well. The client would state that she would have her