Stenson Recovery Summary

Stenson will be challenged through the intervention phase by the therapist. The key objective at this point is for her to realize new ways of thinking. The Adlerian will challenge Stenson to try new behaviors, new thinking processes and new perspectives. Being a mother of three children and a wife has its challenges, especially with a son with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, both marriage going through financial struggles, her daughter and mother also dealing with depression and living with her mother that may be dealing with substance abuse and possibly affected by bipolar disorder. With so many negative dynamics within her family that ultimately contributes to Stenson stress, “panic mode” and are a part of her responsibilities it may be beneficial for some of her sessions to involve her family.
By incorporating her family, Stenson will be able to incorporate different aspects and the perspective of her family within her therapy.
Most importantly the chance to set goals and new behaviors within her family to help decrease stress levels and increase positive behavior from her family and herself; which could be most helpful with her hypertension, obesity and hypercholesterolemia. Through exploring eating and exercise habits of the entire family and assist with setting goals that would improve these factors that negatively contribute to her poor health; she could see much improvements with her health which could lead her to reducing her intake of medication and/or improving her sleeping habit, memory and energy level. Thomas J. Sweeney, author of Adlerian Counseling: A Practitioner’s Approach, advises that “a family intervention at some point can be very important if not essential in some cases.” An Adlerian must assure that the conclusion of this intervention level should result in a feeling and conviction that success is possible with action and the benefits are well worth the effort
(1998).