Posted: April 16th, 2015

CASE STUDY FOR SEMINAR ANALYSIS AND PRACTICE: SWP5APC

CASE STUDY FOR SEMINAR ANALYSIS AND PRACTICE: SWP5APC

GEMMA ANDERSON

Gemma is a 38 year old woman whose parents migrated from the UK when Gemma was 6 years old. Gemma’s mother died from cancer last year after a long period of illness and her father, Walter aged 74, is now living on his own in the family home where Gemma grew up. He is retired and reclusive. His health is poor dies to a lifetime of smoking and drinking and he does not cope well either physically or emotionally. Gemma tries to visit regularly and provide him with support, but she has two children of her own, she is working part time and her husband runs a building business.

Gemma has been experiencing panic attacks, but has tried to hide these from her children and husband, Pete, aged 41 years. She can’t understand why she is feeling so anxious and she has been missing work and arguing with Pete over trivial issues. Their children are boys— Leslie aged 15 and Archie aged 13 years. Both boys are active and outgoing, demanding of attention and tend to have difficulties in relationships with teachers at school due to disruptive behaviour in classes which are not strongly structured. The difficulties that erupt from time to time at school place additional stress on Gemma, while Pete thinks they are “just being boys” and will grow out of it. Pete didn’t do well at school, himself, and thinks the school system leaves much to be desired when it comes to teaching and managing students properly. He leaves Gemma to deal with school issues and spends most of his time at work or in activities away from home. Pete has never been close to his sons and had a difficult childhood due to his father’s violence.

At work, Gemma has two close colleagues with whom she shares her thoughts and ideas during breaks. She has noticed that her childhood experiences are very different to her colleague’s accounts of growing up. Gemma’s older brother, Evan, who left home at 16 following a row with his father, had always been in trouble. He has had no contact with the family since his early 20s, and he doesn’t know of his mother’s death as Gemma didn’t know where to contact him. But in her colleagues’ families, siblings are described and being close and they frequently do family things together. Her colleagues describe their adolescence as being a time for making friends and going out, taking risks and having boyfriends. Gemma remembers having to help at home after school. She wouldn’t have dared to argue with her parents or defy them in any way; and she didn’t have a boyfriend until she met Pete.

The appointment for counselling is precipitated by Leslie and Archie being accused of bullying a younger student from an African refugee family. The African family has demanded the school ensure their children are safe from racism and bullying, both whilst at school and walking to and from home. Leslie took very little notice of Gemma when she has tried to discuss the accusations with him, while Archie looked shamefaced. Pete has said very little and Gemma is wondering if he has racist ideas too, as he has sometimes made disparaging remarks about migrants, especially those of dark skin, and won’t employ them in the business.

Gemma comes alone to the first counselling appointment to explore the issues she and her family are facing.

 

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