Genna Bovinet
Walden University
Counseling and Psychotherapy Theories
Coun 6722-18
Developing a Counseling Plan This paper focuses on a case study of famous actor/musician, Mark Wahlberg. Mark Wahlberg began a life of juvenile crime at age ten that culminated in his attempted murder arrest, and subsequent prison sentence, at the age of 16. The paper will explore his early life and family issues leading to his delinquent behavior as well as counseling theories and interventions that would be successful in treating a youth with similar difficulties.
Case Study
Mark Wahlberg, known to many as Marky Mark, was born the youngest of nine children in a working class Irish Catholic family ("Mark Wahlberg biography," 2013). For Mark Wahlberg, trouble started when his parents divorced. He was eleven years old at the time and was deeply affected. The divorce took a detrimental toll on Mark’s mother, Alma, and she “has since blamed her own emotional neglect for her youngest son's descent into juvenile delinquency” (“Mark Wahlberg biography”, 2013). It was during this time that Mark’s older brothers introduced him to drugs by getting him high for the first time.
By the age of 14, Mark Wahlberg was spiraling deeper into a life of crime. He had dropped out of school and had several arrests for theft and various drug charges. He had developed a cocaine addiction and was making a living on the streets by dealing drugs (“Mark Wahlberg biography”, 2013). Mark’s case became serious at age 16 when he was arrested and convicted for his part in the beating of a Vietnamese man that left the man blind in one eye (“Mark Wahlberg biography, 2013). He was charged with attempted murder, but took a plea bargain for a lesser charge of assault. He was sentenced to two years in prison but only served 45 days.
Treatment Plan Mark Wahlberg’s delinquent behavior is directly related to disruption in the family unit. A successful counseling plan for Mark would
References: Cook, L. S. (2001). Adolescent addiction and delinquency in the family system. Issues In Mental Health Nursing, 22(2), 151-157. doi:10.1080/01612840117669. Retrieved from http://ehis.ebscohost.com.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=7fef91f8-6ac1-4595-939a-24f5d5b0c43b%40sessionmgr10&vid=8&hid=107 Mark Wahlberg biography. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.biography.com/people/mark-wahlberg-9542335?page=1 Morgan, J. (2004, March 15). Mark Wahlberg helps juvenile offenders. USA Today. Retrieved from http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/health/spotlighthealth/2004-03-12-wahlberg_x.htm Sexton, T. L., & Alexander, J. F. Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, (2000). Functional family therapy. Retrieved from website: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/ojjdp/184743.pdf Wilde, J. (2009, December 26). Mark Wahlberg: I left the mean streets for Hollywood. Associated Newspapers Ltd. Retrieved from http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/moslive/article-1238052/Mark-Wahlberg-I-left-mean-streets-Hollywood.html