How Did Marilyn Monroe Develop A Counseling Plan
Developing a Counseling Plan – Marilyn Monroe
Brenda Feeler
Counseling 6722
Dr. Latoya Pierce
Walden University
August 17, 2013
Developing a Counseling Plan
Marilyn Monroe was born June 1926 in Los Angeles, California ("Biography for Marilyn Monroe," 1990-2013). Marilyn’s mother dealt with mental illnesses and she did spend much of her time in and out of mental institutions, which left Marilyn to the care of foster homes, shuffled from one foster home to another and even a few orphanages ("Marilyn Monroe Biography," 2013). Marilyn was 16 before she found a way to leave the last foster home that she resided in. Marilyn’s grandparents also suffered from mental illnesses as well and were also institutionalized.
Case History
Background …show more content…
Information
At the age of 15 Marilyn dropped out of school and married Jimmy Dougherty who as a Merchant Marine and he was sent to the South Pacific where he was deployed. Marilyn was discovered by a photographer and became a model while working in a munitions factory, while her husband was away on duty ("Biography for Marilyn Monroe," 1990-2013).
Marilyn later became a famous movie star where her problems with mental illness truly started to affect her. Marilyn began to have self-doubt issues to which she turned to alcohol and the use of drugs along with a large amount of sleeping pills. Marilyn became depressed, but did not seek help for her depression.
Description of Presenting Problem
Marilyn became a star in her younger years, but she did not address her mental conditions. During her long career Marilyn married on different occasions and even found her own company. During her marriage to Arthur Miller, Marilyn had several miscarriages that lead her to excessively use alcohol and drugs to help with her depressed state ("Marilyn Monroe Biography," 2013).
Marilyn’s addictions and lateness became apparent, and she was dismissed from the set of the movie, “Something’s got to give” leading her to be committed to different mental institutions. Adding to her current problems Marilyn’s mother died, which deepened her depression, and Marilyn displayed explosive behavior toward others and was aggressive ("Marilyn Monroe Biography," 2013).
On August 1962, at the age of 36 Marilyn Monroe took a bottle of sleeping pills and was later found naked and dead in her home in California. Throughout Marilyn’s career she was never known to take mental health medications, while it was Marilyn herself that prevented any comfort and relief for her mental state.
Client’s Family Background and Developmental History
Marilyn’s life revolved around foster homes and feeling abandoned. Marilyn created her life around her career, and this allowed her to establish a film career with Twentieth Century Fox in 1946 ("Marilyn Monroe Biography," 2013). In her early film appearances were irrelevant, but she did performance in “The Asphalt Jungle and All about Eve” ("Marilyn Monroe Biography," 2013, p. 2), which aired in 1950, drew a lot of attention. Around 1952, Marilyn won a leading role in “Don’t Bother to Knock which aired in 1953” (Crusum & Greenson, 2006, p. 2). Marilyn was known for being the “dumb-blonde” that was used to the comical effect in successive films that later abided on her seductiveness. However, her career took off with “How to Marry a Millionaire and the Seven Year Itch, in 1955” ("Biography for Marilyn Monroe," 1990-2013, p. 5). Marilyn was limited by typecasting and she did study at the Actors Studio to help her to broaden her range. Marilyn’s had her own production company that soon released the movie “The Prince and the Showgirl in 1957”, which earned her a Golden Globe Award ("Biography for Marilyn Monroe," 1990-2013).
During the last years of Marilyn’s life were clear to many. Her life was mocked with personal illnesses, and her reputation for being unreliable was clear. Even though the circumstances of her death were surrounded by an overdose barbiturate, this caused speculation in Hollywood. Through officially categorized as a “probable suicide and the possibility of an accidental overdose, as well as of homicide, have not been ruled out” ("Marilyn Monroe’s Biography," 2003-2013, p. 4).
After her death, in “1999 Marilyn was ranked the sixth-greatest female star of all time by the American Film Institute” ("Marilyn Monroe Biography," 2013, p. 7). In the following years that passed and this was based around her death, Marilyn was cited as both as a cultural and a modern icon, and an American sex symbol.
Clients Current Living and Work Environment
Marilyn Monroe was different than what the public had made her out be. Marilyn was a real individual, and to those who knew the real Marilyn Monroe deep down she was a dedicated, but yet troubled, rising actress who took her art extremely. Marilyn was someone who could be annoying to work with in most conditions, but she was unprofessional with a deep sense of uncertainties.
“During the filming of her 1956 drama the Bus Stop, which was based on William Inge’s Broadway hit, Marilyn played a young woman named Cherie, who had an underlying dream of going to Hollywood and Vine” ("Marilyn Monroe Biography," 2013, p. 10). Most directors saw that Marilyn was trying to prove that in fact she was a dedicated actress who just did not want to be a movie star playing roles that were not serious.
Her current work environment proved to be what most had anticipated. Marilyn was experiencing problems which caused her not to remember her lines. Marilyn showed a lack of discipline. Even though she was an experienced film actress, Marilyn would often forget most of the mechanical techniques. However, on the sets where most new Marilyn she would constantly miss most of her cues and would be out of focus or “in the shadow.” Marilyn presented a lack of self-reliance and for a person who loved the attention in front of the camera, Marilyn was frightened of going in front of the camera, and as a result she would often develop rashes that required medical attention ("Biography for Marilyn Monroe," 1990-2013).
Marilyn had definitely a combination of skill and ambition that would send fear in most of the directors. “One singer and dancer Mitzi Gaynor performed with Marilyn in the 1954 hit movie musical There’s No Business Like Show Business, along with other movie veterans Ethel Merman, Dan Dailey, and Donald O’Connor” ("Biography for Marilyn Monroe," 1990-2013, p. 6). When Marilyn was with others she would bask in the glory of her diamonds and the hit movie that made her a star, “Diamonds Are A Girl’s Best Friend.” The directors never saw Marilyn so devoted and she worked hard to do a good job, and still lacked the sense of confidence that later resulted in depression.
During the many films that Marilyn made she had a close relationship only with her makeup artist “Allan Whitey.” However, Allan made a promise to Marilyn in the event of her death, that is she would in fact die that Allan would make her up so that the paparazzi would at least see the real Marilyn Monroe ("Marilyn Monroe Biography," 2013). Even though Marilyn was just a major star, Marilyn did continue to work on her acting skills. During the late 1950’s Marilyn studied at the Actors Studio in New York, and this would lead to her Oscar nomination with co-star Martin Landau, who at the time currently ran the Actors Studio West along aside director Mark Rydell. Most who knew Marilyn remember being in class at the studio alongside Marilyn and remembers seeing her being in her own distant world showing symptoms of docile and attentive.
Even though Marilyn showed her sexuality on screen as well as off screen, Monroe was at the height of her stardom and beauty, while suffering from insecurities and depression.
Client’s Physical Appearance, Mood, and Demeanor
During the time of Marilyn’s life, little knew of the physical appearance and demeanor of this once elegant star. During a time in her life she stated openly to others that she was sexually abused as a child, and she expressed that her dependency on drugs and alcohol relieved her emotional state.
Marilyn’s demeanor, voice, and other characteristics matched to the once sexualized child. Even though her screen persona was innocent and childlike, she still did gain affection and attention through her sexual persona. This is a key point in sexually abused children, and from gaining affection and attention from his or her abuser and then applying this type of behavior to acquire favors and getting attention from those who surrounded her, gave her a sense of love. This pattern of drugs and alcohol followed Marilyn through her adulthood.
“Marilyn was one of the first, if not the very first, celebrity to speak openly about being sexually abused as a child” ("Marilyn Monroe’s Biography," 2003-2013, p. 3). Marilyn came out of the dark with her life experience, when during this time abuse was simply never discussed. In the beginning, no one took Marilyn seriously. Often Marilyn was often mocked about her allegations. Most believe that these gentlemen paid Marilyn to keep silent. Other sources revealed that Marilyn often disclosed her abuse to some other female costars. Marilyn was ostracized, punished, and not believed by the woman. Most of Marilyn’s patterns of depression and mental illness were that she was made to believe that the abuser was a “good Christian.” “The evidence suggests that Marilyn Monroe was indeed molested and severely sexually abused as a child, and probably by more than one man” ("CMG," 2013, p. 5). During the late 1950’s some public allegations of this abuse almost did end her career, and this is when Marilyn spoke openly about the molestation and that indeed it was not made up in her way of thinking.
Marilyn Monroe’s abuse as a child is the main issue for her alcohol and drug addictions and this is believed to trigger her suicide attempt. “According to Leaming’s book, Marilyn Monroe suffered many years of the common symptoms of child sexual abuse” ("CMG," 2013, p. 6). Some of the other symptoms that Marilyn portrayed were insecurity, inability to trust, and insomnia. Other signs displayed violent mood swings, and depression and her mental mood displayed negative reactions to conversations. Marilyn displayed being a perfectionist and was psychologically devastating for her. It was to the point that Marilyn could not get something right, and most felt the sense of desperation pervaded within the room.
Summary of the Topics Covered
Marilyn Monroe or “Norma Jeane Mortensen” was born June of 1926 in Lost Angeles, California.
During Marilyn’s short life, she experienced a difficult childhood, while rising to fame. During her career most of her films grossed “200 million and she died of a drug overdose on August 5, 1962, at the age of 36” (Leibovich, 2009, p. 7). During her short life Marilyn admired actor Clark Gable and often thought of him as a father. Marilyn’s own mother tried to smother Marilyn with a pillow in her crib. This was one short term memory of her younger childhood years. Growing up, Marilyn did spend some of her time in foster homes and orphanages. In 1937, a friend of the family took care of Marilyn for only a few years. “The couple that housed Marilyn was deeply religious and followed a fundamentalist doctrines among other prohibited activities” ("Marilyn Monroe Biography," 2013, p. 10). Marilyn wed at the age of 16, to Jimmy Dougherty. Marilyn’s education ended at the age of 16, and worked in a weaponries factory in Burbank, California, where she was discovered by a merchant marine photographer. By the time when Dougherty returned from the South Pacific, Marilyn was an aspiring model, which later led to her name change to Marilyn …show more content…
Monroe.
Counseling Plan and the Conceptualization to the Client’s Presenting Problem
The counseling plan for Marilyn Monroe revolves around that she was a public figure for six decades, and this is considered the truth of her life. Most of Marilyn’s childhood experiences along with her family history show complexes that she struggled with her adult life. Over several subjects Marilyn could be diagnosed and evaluated with many disorders. Some of the theories do indicate that her behavior showed symptoms of her feelings, emotions, and inner thoughts. Overtime her childhood experiences shaped her underlying personality and which did eventually make her commit suicide.
Some of Marilyn’s problems did revolve around her family heritage. Some of her close family had a strong history of mental illnesses, which did involve her grandmother, grandfather, and even her mother. Her grandfather committed suicide, and her mother had a complex of her own. Marilyn’s mother was married and divorced twice, and seemed very dependent on men. When Marilyn was only two weeks old, she started her long journey with foster homes, and her mother was absent from most of her life. These feelings let Marilyn insecure and unwanted and emotions of rejection (Spoto, 1993).
The first incident, of being abused occurred when Marilyn was only 11. Marilyn’s second assault occurred less than a year after the first assault. One of Marilyn’s cousins attempted to rape her and he was successful. This showed signs that Marilyn dissociated sexual intercourse for affection (Spoto, 1993). Marilyn did experience minor illness throughout her life and showed signs of psychological distress. At early ages, Marilyn went into fits of despair, crying, and was withdrawn and started to stutter. Some of her symptoms showed that Marilyn believed that Clark Gable was indeed her father, and her mother was now in a nursing home.
“During Marilyn’s final marriage, she suffered from two miscarriages and an ectopic pregnancy” (Spoto, 1993, p. 393). This showed signs of a chronic condition of endometriosis, which showed signs of excessive menstrual bleeding and she had problems with pancreatitis. Marilyn suffered from insomnia for many years and formed a habit with sleeping pills. Marilyn often did take barbiturates and hypnotics (Spoto, 1993). This reveled signs of depression, which started the trend of her missing work, while feeling abandoned, worthless, and isolated.
In life, Marilyn did show a desperate need for sympathy and attention. Other signs of her life showed that Marilyn would often make up fantasies and fake memories of her childhood, while seeing herself as an object for the pleasure of others.
Marilyn at a young age had a history of stuttering, and she did satisfy the requirement of one or more symptoms. Marilyn showed signs of insomnia, considering that she did fail to fall asleep, and a difficult time maintaining rest, and this caused problems with her work and how it related to other matters (American Psychiatric Association, 2000). Marilyn showed signs of trying to be the center of attention and she displayed signs of being sexually seductive along with a confrontational behavior. This showed signs of Histrionic Personality Disorder (American Psychiatric Association, 2000). Marilyn displayed her endometriosis and her failure to have children along with her relocations, parental absences, and history of sexual assault ("American Psychiatric Association," 2000).
Theory aided to the Creation of Counseling goals
Considering the Histrionic Personality Disorder that Marilyn portrays, some different personality theories can be matched with Marilyn’s problems. One theory that matches her symptoms is Carl Jung’s theory of complex that is supported by Marilyn’s desire to have children from her past childhood. These concepts she did associate with her mother were not desirable. Marilyn did expose most of her fear of lost freedom and did display negative experiences that were related to her relationship with her mother.
Marilyn became dependent on others, according to Alder and this may have something to do with her being the last born in her family. This is despite her non-traditional family life. Most of the individuals believe “Marilyn does follow five of the ten neurotic trends that are proposed by Karen Horney” (Engler, 2009, p. 4). Marilyn also displayed the desire for attention and needed the dominance of a male partner. Marilyn needed some personal admiration, while displaying signs of being perfectionists.
Marilyn’s mode of relating seemed to move out of the way of being emotionally detached. “Marilyn did express many neurotic behaviors, while considering the basic need by Erik Fromm, Marilyn grew up without several of the required needs for healthy development, relatedness, rootedness, sense of identity, excitation, and stimulation” (Engler, 2009, p. 137).
This proves that under circumstances that surround Marilyn’s death some of the evidence has been ignored. Most of these theories touch Marilyn’s childhood problems and her adulthood complexes.
The treatment plan for Marilyn would be to find her boundaries and professionalism. These factors are important conditions in her therapeutic experiences for a strong treatment. For counselors who are serious clients can be emotional and have symptoms of being sexually excited, and some do find themselves fantasizing with most of the clients.
Research of Selected Theory
Carl Jung’s extroversion and introversion theory helps with the symptoms that Marilyn displayed. The feature of the Histrionic Personality Disorder that I think that Marilyn displayed has an excessive pattern of attention-seeking behavior and emotionally unstable. Many individuals who show these symptoms are enthusiastic, flirtatious, lively, and dramatic. Most individuals are sexually provocative, and are influenced by others.
Histrionic Personality Disorder is characterized by self-dramatization, and expression of emotions, while showing the lack of consideration for other individuals. Some of these individuals can engage in inappropriate seductiveness and are easily hurt, and seek excitement, appreciate, and attention.
Individuals like in Marilyn’s case show signs of extroversion, which has the tendency to be talkative, outgoing, warm, energetic, and affectionate (Capuzzi & Gross, 2011). In another form extroversion is optimistic, high-spirited, and buoyant. Some of these factors coalesce into what we know as a personality disorder.
Carl Jung’s theory prevails that individuals often see themselves as sociable, agreeable, and friendly. Marilyn is considered to be stimulating, charming, and was well-liked. Marilyn did have the capacity to attract people and be the center of attention, by her physical appearance. For individuals with HPD, he or she shows signs of weakness, distress, hostility, and depression, and this makes more room for denial and Marilyn was not included in her sense of being herself.
On the other side of her countertransference issues, most providers are drawn into the position of enjoying and being entertained. Some clients often communicate to treatment providers that are idealized, and have helped others in the past. HPD clients like Marilyn try to make strides in treatment for a short amount of time.
Conclusion
Marilyn Monroe was a talented and beautiful individual, whose life came to a sudden end when she was young and at the height of her career. The once enigmatic blonde hair girl combined much of her talent that made her an American legend. Through all of her difficulties, Marilyn toward the end of her life demonstrated the same sort of resilience that she once had as a child. Even though Marilyn wrought these images through her films, most of the controversy surrounds her death. According to many theories and opinions surrounding her death, this woman was one of the leading influential individuals that made a difference in the lives that she touched.
References
Biography for Marilyn Monroe.
(1990-2013). Retrieved August 15, 2013, from http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000054/bio.
Capuzzi, D., & Gross, D. R. (Ed.). (2011). Counseling and psychotherapy: Theories and interventions (5th ed.). Retrieved August 15, 2013, from Alexandria VA: American Counseling Association
CMG Worldwide, Inc. Official Marilyn Monroe. (2013). Retrieved August 15, 2013, from http://www.cmgww.com/stars/monroe/about/bio.html.
Crusum, P., & Greenson, R. (2006). Romeo Samuel Greenschpoon. Retrieved August 15, 2013, from http://www.cursumperficio.net/FicheAG22.html.
Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders: DSM-IV-TR. (2000). Retrieved August 16, 2013, from Washington, DC: Author.
Engler, B. (2009). Personality Theories. Retrieved August 16, 2013, from Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
Leibovich, L. (2009). Revelations from a new biography. The Secret Life of Marilyn Monroe. Retrieved August 15, 2013, from
http://www.shine.yahoo.com/healthy.living/marilyn-monroe-was-more-mentally-ill-than-we-knew-520110.html.
Marilyn Monroe Biography. (2013). Retrieved August 15, 2013, from http://www.biography.com/people/marilyn-monroe-9412123?page=3
Monsters and Critics, Marilyn Monroe Biography. (2003-2013). Retrieved August 15, 2013, from http://www.monstersandcritics.com/people/Marilyn-Monroe/biography.
Spoto, D. (2003). Marilyn Monroe: The Biography. Retrieved August 16, 2013, from New York: Harper Collins.
Brenda Feeler
Counseling 6722
Dr. Latoya Pierce
Walden University
August 17, 2013
Developing a Counseling Plan
Marilyn Monroe was born June 1926 in Los Angeles, California ("Biography for Marilyn Monroe," 1990-2013). Marilyn’s mother dealt with mental illnesses and she did spend much of her time in and out of mental institutions, which left Marilyn to the care of foster homes, shuffled from one foster home to another and even a few orphanages ("Marilyn Monroe Biography," 2013). Marilyn was 16 before she found a way to leave the last foster home that she resided in. Marilyn’s grandparents also suffered from mental illnesses as well and were also institutionalized.
Case History
Background …show more content…
Information
At the age of 15 Marilyn dropped out of school and married Jimmy Dougherty who as a Merchant Marine and he was sent to the South Pacific where he was deployed. Marilyn was discovered by a photographer and became a model while working in a munitions factory, while her husband was away on duty ("Biography for Marilyn Monroe," 1990-2013).
Marilyn later became a famous movie star where her problems with mental illness truly started to affect her. Marilyn began to have self-doubt issues to which she turned to alcohol and the use of drugs along with a large amount of sleeping pills. Marilyn became depressed, but did not seek help for her depression.
Description of Presenting Problem
Marilyn became a star in her younger years, but she did not address her mental conditions. During her long career Marilyn married on different occasions and even found her own company. During her marriage to Arthur Miller, Marilyn had several miscarriages that lead her to excessively use alcohol and drugs to help with her depressed state ("Marilyn Monroe Biography," 2013).
Marilyn’s addictions and lateness became apparent, and she was dismissed from the set of the movie, “Something’s got to give” leading her to be committed to different mental institutions. Adding to her current problems Marilyn’s mother died, which deepened her depression, and Marilyn displayed explosive behavior toward others and was aggressive ("Marilyn Monroe Biography," 2013).
On August 1962, at the age of 36 Marilyn Monroe took a bottle of sleeping pills and was later found naked and dead in her home in California. Throughout Marilyn’s career she was never known to take mental health medications, while it was Marilyn herself that prevented any comfort and relief for her mental state.
Client’s Family Background and Developmental History
Marilyn’s life revolved around foster homes and feeling abandoned. Marilyn created her life around her career, and this allowed her to establish a film career with Twentieth Century Fox in 1946 ("Marilyn Monroe Biography," 2013). In her early film appearances were irrelevant, but she did performance in “The Asphalt Jungle and All about Eve” ("Marilyn Monroe Biography," 2013, p. 2), which aired in 1950, drew a lot of attention. Around 1952, Marilyn won a leading role in “Don’t Bother to Knock which aired in 1953” (Crusum & Greenson, 2006, p. 2). Marilyn was known for being the “dumb-blonde” that was used to the comical effect in successive films that later abided on her seductiveness. However, her career took off with “How to Marry a Millionaire and the Seven Year Itch, in 1955” ("Biography for Marilyn Monroe," 1990-2013, p. 5). Marilyn was limited by typecasting and she did study at the Actors Studio to help her to broaden her range. Marilyn’s had her own production company that soon released the movie “The Prince and the Showgirl in 1957”, which earned her a Golden Globe Award ("Biography for Marilyn Monroe," 1990-2013).
During the last years of Marilyn’s life were clear to many. Her life was mocked with personal illnesses, and her reputation for being unreliable was clear. Even though the circumstances of her death were surrounded by an overdose barbiturate, this caused speculation in Hollywood. Through officially categorized as a “probable suicide and the possibility of an accidental overdose, as well as of homicide, have not been ruled out” ("Marilyn Monroe’s Biography," 2003-2013, p. 4).
After her death, in “1999 Marilyn was ranked the sixth-greatest female star of all time by the American Film Institute” ("Marilyn Monroe Biography," 2013, p. 7). In the following years that passed and this was based around her death, Marilyn was cited as both as a cultural and a modern icon, and an American sex symbol.
Clients Current Living and Work Environment
Marilyn Monroe was different than what the public had made her out be. Marilyn was a real individual, and to those who knew the real Marilyn Monroe deep down she was a dedicated, but yet troubled, rising actress who took her art extremely. Marilyn was someone who could be annoying to work with in most conditions, but she was unprofessional with a deep sense of uncertainties.
“During the filming of her 1956 drama the Bus Stop, which was based on William Inge’s Broadway hit, Marilyn played a young woman named Cherie, who had an underlying dream of going to Hollywood and Vine” ("Marilyn Monroe Biography," 2013, p. 10). Most directors saw that Marilyn was trying to prove that in fact she was a dedicated actress who just did not want to be a movie star playing roles that were not serious.
Her current work environment proved to be what most had anticipated. Marilyn was experiencing problems which caused her not to remember her lines. Marilyn showed a lack of discipline. Even though she was an experienced film actress, Marilyn would often forget most of the mechanical techniques. However, on the sets where most new Marilyn she would constantly miss most of her cues and would be out of focus or “in the shadow.” Marilyn presented a lack of self-reliance and for a person who loved the attention in front of the camera, Marilyn was frightened of going in front of the camera, and as a result she would often develop rashes that required medical attention ("Biography for Marilyn Monroe," 1990-2013).
Marilyn had definitely a combination of skill and ambition that would send fear in most of the directors. “One singer and dancer Mitzi Gaynor performed with Marilyn in the 1954 hit movie musical There’s No Business Like Show Business, along with other movie veterans Ethel Merman, Dan Dailey, and Donald O’Connor” ("Biography for Marilyn Monroe," 1990-2013, p. 6). When Marilyn was with others she would bask in the glory of her diamonds and the hit movie that made her a star, “Diamonds Are A Girl’s Best Friend.” The directors never saw Marilyn so devoted and she worked hard to do a good job, and still lacked the sense of confidence that later resulted in depression.
During the many films that Marilyn made she had a close relationship only with her makeup artist “Allan Whitey.” However, Allan made a promise to Marilyn in the event of her death, that is she would in fact die that Allan would make her up so that the paparazzi would at least see the real Marilyn Monroe ("Marilyn Monroe Biography," 2013). Even though Marilyn was just a major star, Marilyn did continue to work on her acting skills. During the late 1950’s Marilyn studied at the Actors Studio in New York, and this would lead to her Oscar nomination with co-star Martin Landau, who at the time currently ran the Actors Studio West along aside director Mark Rydell. Most who knew Marilyn remember being in class at the studio alongside Marilyn and remembers seeing her being in her own distant world showing symptoms of docile and attentive.
Even though Marilyn showed her sexuality on screen as well as off screen, Monroe was at the height of her stardom and beauty, while suffering from insecurities and depression.
Client’s Physical Appearance, Mood, and Demeanor
During the time of Marilyn’s life, little knew of the physical appearance and demeanor of this once elegant star. During a time in her life she stated openly to others that she was sexually abused as a child, and she expressed that her dependency on drugs and alcohol relieved her emotional state.
Marilyn’s demeanor, voice, and other characteristics matched to the once sexualized child. Even though her screen persona was innocent and childlike, she still did gain affection and attention through her sexual persona. This is a key point in sexually abused children, and from gaining affection and attention from his or her abuser and then applying this type of behavior to acquire favors and getting attention from those who surrounded her, gave her a sense of love. This pattern of drugs and alcohol followed Marilyn through her adulthood.
“Marilyn was one of the first, if not the very first, celebrity to speak openly about being sexually abused as a child” ("Marilyn Monroe’s Biography," 2003-2013, p. 3). Marilyn came out of the dark with her life experience, when during this time abuse was simply never discussed. In the beginning, no one took Marilyn seriously. Often Marilyn was often mocked about her allegations. Most believe that these gentlemen paid Marilyn to keep silent. Other sources revealed that Marilyn often disclosed her abuse to some other female costars. Marilyn was ostracized, punished, and not believed by the woman. Most of Marilyn’s patterns of depression and mental illness were that she was made to believe that the abuser was a “good Christian.” “The evidence suggests that Marilyn Monroe was indeed molested and severely sexually abused as a child, and probably by more than one man” ("CMG," 2013, p. 5). During the late 1950’s some public allegations of this abuse almost did end her career, and this is when Marilyn spoke openly about the molestation and that indeed it was not made up in her way of thinking.
Marilyn Monroe’s abuse as a child is the main issue for her alcohol and drug addictions and this is believed to trigger her suicide attempt. “According to Leaming’s book, Marilyn Monroe suffered many years of the common symptoms of child sexual abuse” ("CMG," 2013, p. 6). Some of the other symptoms that Marilyn portrayed were insecurity, inability to trust, and insomnia. Other signs displayed violent mood swings, and depression and her mental mood displayed negative reactions to conversations. Marilyn displayed being a perfectionist and was psychologically devastating for her. It was to the point that Marilyn could not get something right, and most felt the sense of desperation pervaded within the room.
Summary of the Topics Covered
Marilyn Monroe or “Norma Jeane Mortensen” was born June of 1926 in Lost Angeles, California.
During Marilyn’s short life, she experienced a difficult childhood, while rising to fame. During her career most of her films grossed “200 million and she died of a drug overdose on August 5, 1962, at the age of 36” (Leibovich, 2009, p. 7). During her short life Marilyn admired actor Clark Gable and often thought of him as a father. Marilyn’s own mother tried to smother Marilyn with a pillow in her crib. This was one short term memory of her younger childhood years. Growing up, Marilyn did spend some of her time in foster homes and orphanages. In 1937, a friend of the family took care of Marilyn for only a few years. “The couple that housed Marilyn was deeply religious and followed a fundamentalist doctrines among other prohibited activities” ("Marilyn Monroe Biography," 2013, p. 10). Marilyn wed at the age of 16, to Jimmy Dougherty. Marilyn’s education ended at the age of 16, and worked in a weaponries factory in Burbank, California, where she was discovered by a merchant marine photographer. By the time when Dougherty returned from the South Pacific, Marilyn was an aspiring model, which later led to her name change to Marilyn …show more content…
Monroe.
Counseling Plan and the Conceptualization to the Client’s Presenting Problem
The counseling plan for Marilyn Monroe revolves around that she was a public figure for six decades, and this is considered the truth of her life. Most of Marilyn’s childhood experiences along with her family history show complexes that she struggled with her adult life. Over several subjects Marilyn could be diagnosed and evaluated with many disorders. Some of the theories do indicate that her behavior showed symptoms of her feelings, emotions, and inner thoughts. Overtime her childhood experiences shaped her underlying personality and which did eventually make her commit suicide.
Some of Marilyn’s problems did revolve around her family heritage. Some of her close family had a strong history of mental illnesses, which did involve her grandmother, grandfather, and even her mother. Her grandfather committed suicide, and her mother had a complex of her own. Marilyn’s mother was married and divorced twice, and seemed very dependent on men. When Marilyn was only two weeks old, she started her long journey with foster homes, and her mother was absent from most of her life. These feelings let Marilyn insecure and unwanted and emotions of rejection (Spoto, 1993).
The first incident, of being abused occurred when Marilyn was only 11. Marilyn’s second assault occurred less than a year after the first assault. One of Marilyn’s cousins attempted to rape her and he was successful. This showed signs that Marilyn dissociated sexual intercourse for affection (Spoto, 1993). Marilyn did experience minor illness throughout her life and showed signs of psychological distress. At early ages, Marilyn went into fits of despair, crying, and was withdrawn and started to stutter. Some of her symptoms showed that Marilyn believed that Clark Gable was indeed her father, and her mother was now in a nursing home.
“During Marilyn’s final marriage, she suffered from two miscarriages and an ectopic pregnancy” (Spoto, 1993, p. 393). This showed signs of a chronic condition of endometriosis, which showed signs of excessive menstrual bleeding and she had problems with pancreatitis. Marilyn suffered from insomnia for many years and formed a habit with sleeping pills. Marilyn often did take barbiturates and hypnotics (Spoto, 1993). This reveled signs of depression, which started the trend of her missing work, while feeling abandoned, worthless, and isolated.
In life, Marilyn did show a desperate need for sympathy and attention. Other signs of her life showed that Marilyn would often make up fantasies and fake memories of her childhood, while seeing herself as an object for the pleasure of others.
Marilyn at a young age had a history of stuttering, and she did satisfy the requirement of one or more symptoms. Marilyn showed signs of insomnia, considering that she did fail to fall asleep, and a difficult time maintaining rest, and this caused problems with her work and how it related to other matters (American Psychiatric Association, 2000). Marilyn showed signs of trying to be the center of attention and she displayed signs of being sexually seductive along with a confrontational behavior. This showed signs of Histrionic Personality Disorder (American Psychiatric Association, 2000). Marilyn displayed her endometriosis and her failure to have children along with her relocations, parental absences, and history of sexual assault ("American Psychiatric Association," 2000).
Theory aided to the Creation of Counseling goals
Considering the Histrionic Personality Disorder that Marilyn portrays, some different personality theories can be matched with Marilyn’s problems. One theory that matches her symptoms is Carl Jung’s theory of complex that is supported by Marilyn’s desire to have children from her past childhood. These concepts she did associate with her mother were not desirable. Marilyn did expose most of her fear of lost freedom and did display negative experiences that were related to her relationship with her mother.
Marilyn became dependent on others, according to Alder and this may have something to do with her being the last born in her family. This is despite her non-traditional family life. Most of the individuals believe “Marilyn does follow five of the ten neurotic trends that are proposed by Karen Horney” (Engler, 2009, p. 4). Marilyn also displayed the desire for attention and needed the dominance of a male partner. Marilyn needed some personal admiration, while displaying signs of being perfectionists.
Marilyn’s mode of relating seemed to move out of the way of being emotionally detached. “Marilyn did express many neurotic behaviors, while considering the basic need by Erik Fromm, Marilyn grew up without several of the required needs for healthy development, relatedness, rootedness, sense of identity, excitation, and stimulation” (Engler, 2009, p. 137).
This proves that under circumstances that surround Marilyn’s death some of the evidence has been ignored. Most of these theories touch Marilyn’s childhood problems and her adulthood complexes.
The treatment plan for Marilyn would be to find her boundaries and professionalism. These factors are important conditions in her therapeutic experiences for a strong treatment. For counselors who are serious clients can be emotional and have symptoms of being sexually excited, and some do find themselves fantasizing with most of the clients.
Research of Selected Theory
Carl Jung’s extroversion and introversion theory helps with the symptoms that Marilyn displayed. The feature of the Histrionic Personality Disorder that I think that Marilyn displayed has an excessive pattern of attention-seeking behavior and emotionally unstable. Many individuals who show these symptoms are enthusiastic, flirtatious, lively, and dramatic. Most individuals are sexually provocative, and are influenced by others.
Histrionic Personality Disorder is characterized by self-dramatization, and expression of emotions, while showing the lack of consideration for other individuals. Some of these individuals can engage in inappropriate seductiveness and are easily hurt, and seek excitement, appreciate, and attention.
Individuals like in Marilyn’s case show signs of extroversion, which has the tendency to be talkative, outgoing, warm, energetic, and affectionate (Capuzzi & Gross, 2011). In another form extroversion is optimistic, high-spirited, and buoyant. Some of these factors coalesce into what we know as a personality disorder.
Carl Jung’s theory prevails that individuals often see themselves as sociable, agreeable, and friendly. Marilyn is considered to be stimulating, charming, and was well-liked. Marilyn did have the capacity to attract people and be the center of attention, by her physical appearance. For individuals with HPD, he or she shows signs of weakness, distress, hostility, and depression, and this makes more room for denial and Marilyn was not included in her sense of being herself.
On the other side of her countertransference issues, most providers are drawn into the position of enjoying and being entertained. Some clients often communicate to treatment providers that are idealized, and have helped others in the past. HPD clients like Marilyn try to make strides in treatment for a short amount of time.
Conclusion
Marilyn Monroe was a talented and beautiful individual, whose life came to a sudden end when she was young and at the height of her career. The once enigmatic blonde hair girl combined much of her talent that made her an American legend. Through all of her difficulties, Marilyn toward the end of her life demonstrated the same sort of resilience that she once had as a child. Even though Marilyn wrought these images through her films, most of the controversy surrounds her death. According to many theories and opinions surrounding her death, this woman was one of the leading influential individuals that made a difference in the lives that she touched.
References
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