Clinical Application of Explanatory Theories

Base of the case presentation of Jenna analyze the case in terms of Modern Attachment Theory, which is an integration of Attachment Theory and Neurobiology. The latter would include information on how stress affects your client. Next, please switch to a Self-Psychology paradigm, analyzing the case using a Kohut framework.

Client is 38 year-old Hispanic women, Jenna, who has been married for five years with two children from a previous marriage. Jenna is currently employed, is a homeowner and identifies as Catholic. Jenna grew up in the foster system. Being abandoned at birth she was placed in four different homes before permanently placed and aging out of the system. She was permanently place at age 16 in a signal parent foster home with two other children. In this home she developed a parent-child relationship with the foster parent, even though she was never adopted. After turning 18 Jenna left her foster home and moved in with the children’s biological father. The relationship was emotional abusive and controlling, when the ex-husband divorce Jenna she stated that she felt abandoned again and that he had also abandoned the children. Jenna struggled is self-esteem, assertiveness and interpersonal relationships. Her foster mother helped Jenna go to trade school and get her certificate as office manager. Jenna remarried and has stated that he is a loving and supportive husband, who is good to her children.
Jenna sought help for processing the discovery that her 14 year-old daughteris in an intimate relationship with a 16 year-old girl. Initial Jenna presented with grief, confusions and guilt believing that she had failed to be a good mother. Not knowing what how to respond she looked to the husband and the biological father whom had different perspectives on homosexuality. The husband, who has a gay relative, expressed comfort with the development while the biological father was against it. Jenna sought professional services to learn how to deal with the situation, as she referred to it. During the middle phase the daughter moved out of Jenna’s home and later threated suicide when forbade from contact with the girlfriend. It was after this that Jenna decided to be accepting of her daughter because family was the most important aspect of her life.