Case Conceptualization
Demographics
My patient in this case will be Tracy Freeland from Catherine Hardwicke’s Thirteen. Tracy is a thirteen-year-old female schoolgirl. A White girl, she lives with her mother in a state of socioeconomic turmoil as her alcoholic mother strives to support Mason, her older brother, and her through school. She can barely afford decent or ‘trendier clothes’ for Tracy. Tracy is not handicapped in any manner and currently has neither a boyfriend nor children.
Chief Complaint
“I have been feeling ignored by my mother since she is always pre-occupied with her boyfriend. The feeling has landed me in depression and worsened my stress. Consequently, I have been using drugs and sex as my source of coping up with the current situation. Gradually, I have become addicted to sex and drugs which have combined to deteriorate my health. I wish to stop but I have no clue how to do that. Please help.”
Presenting Concerns
The symptoms of Miss Freeland’s depression and stress include paranoia, suicidal tendencies demonstrated by frequently cutting herself to cope with stress, and violent acts like hitting her friend Evie after heavy drinking. She began on this trend of behavior since the beginning of her mother’s recovery from alcohol addiction and does it as frequent as anytime she pleases. Correspondingly, her life and behavioral pattern has changed drastically. Tracy is deep into sex and drugs, and even engages in petty theft. She has grown violent and in disregard of her studies. Her primary source of stressor is the neglect with which her mother treats them in the course of her recovery. Besides, Tracy feels that it is unjustified for her mother to be concerned with Brandon, her boyfriend, more than she is with them.
Treatment History