Shirley Jackson Case Paper

For this case, I would be paying attention to how Jackson’s father and sister’s mental illnesses contribute to the family dynamic and Jackson’s experiences. It is fact that two people in the family have received diagnoses let me to consider potential genetic and environmental causes for Jackson’s struggles. Also, the family’s report that they use their religious affiliation to explain other people’s behaviors in a judgmental manner may be contributing to how Jackson views himself. It would be helpful to gain a better sense of Jackson’s (spiritual or otherwise) values, which influences his worldview and self-understanding.

Jackson’s report of depressed mood, diminished interest in educational activity, and suicidal ideation warrant the assessment
for depressive disorder. Medication such as SSRIs can be helpful in conjunction with psychotherapy in treatment of depression (Ingersoll & Rak, 2016). To determine the necessity for a medication evaluation, a thorough assessment, which include a diagnosis is necessary. Furthermore, prior to making such recommendation, I would like to have a discussion with Jackson about his thoughts regarding medication. Such discussion will help gain a better understanding of the client as well as strengthen treatment alliance.

Based on the strengths-based approach, it is crucial to identify the client’s individual strengths.
One of Jackson’s struggles is family relationship especially with his father and sister. At the same time, he identifies how his mother protects him. It is reasonable to consider his mother as his strength. The treatment plan should include a consideration for strengthening the mother-son relationship as he explores ways to better navigate his relationships with his father and sister. Jackson also reported having a few friends who he considers a support network. Similarly to his relationship with his mother, the treatment goal should include strengthening and expanding his social and support network outside of family. His interpersonal relationship outside of his family would likely to help him gain autonomy and offset stress stemming from the family
dynamic.
Although the family dynamic is the primary source of Jackson’s distress, his family is also his strength. Discussing how he wishes to change their interactions so that the family becomes less of the source of conflict and distress would be helpful in identifying appropriate goals and interventions. To explore his wishes for a change, it would be helpful to explore what is important for him at this juncture. As the existential-humanistic approach asserts, the therapist needs to strive to meet the client in the present moment as where he is (Schneider & Krug, 2009). From there, through presence and honesty, the therapist accompanies the client’s process toward authenticity and ability to choose what is meaningful or important for him or her (Gendlin, 1964, 1973; Schneider & Krug, 2009; Yalom & Josselson, 2014). It is not about attending to what the therapist thinks is important but to what is truly important for the client. The therapist’s personal value and agenda can hinder the client’s progress if those do not match with the client’s experience (Friedman, 2005).

From the strengths-based approach, the therapist avoids pathologizing the client and focuses on positive aspects of the client (Jones-Smith, 2014).
From this perspective, whatever interventions the therapist and client use needs to assist them in identifying and developing the client’s strengths. This is a collaborative discovery process, which requires presence and commitment of both the therapist and client (see Jones-Smith, 2014). Previously mentioned Existential-Humanistic approach is fitting with the strengths-based approach. The therapist who works from the Existential-Humanistic approach considers his/herself as a fellow traveler of the client’s process (Yalom & Josselson, 2014). The therapist utilizes one’s own internal experience of the client and the therapeutic relationship to deepen the understanding of the client. E-H Therapy encourages both the therapist and client to attune to their own the whole here-and-now bodily experience (Friedman,
2005).
Inquiring Jackson about what and how he thinks about his challenges is necessary. Through a mutual understanding of his current circumstance, the therapist and client develop an appropriate treatment plan and goals. Moreover, it would be helpful to take a time to review the treatment process throughout the course of the treatment. Duncan (2010) suggested eliciting feedback from the client at the end of each session as a way to assess strength of therapeutic alliance and how well the therapy process is going for the client. Such regular feedback from client would assist the therapist to adjust treatment plan, if necessary, and address a potential obstacle between them in a timely manner. Further, soliciting such feedback would help in keeping an open line of communication between them that would help strengthening therapeutic alliance (Duncan, 2010; see Safran & Muran, 2000).