As a therapist, it is ideal to observe the clients, read their verbal/nonverbal signs and experience them in a way that is meaningful. With the case of Juan and Cassandra, it was beneficial to identify their issues and sought to understand them as a couple. In order to accomplish that the first 10-15 minutes was spent on building trust and rapport with them which then followed by a brief intake conversation.
During the initial intake, it revealed Juan and Cassandra have been married for almost 30 years and have three children. Juan is 51 years old and is an electrician. Cassandra is 45 years old and works in cookie factory.
After being separated for 2 months and beginning the process of divorce, they decided to seek couples counseling …show more content…
In regards to Juan, he was born and raised in Mexico until the age of 21 years old. Growing up in a low income, traditional Mexican home with strict rules, Juan witnessed his father physically/verbally abuse his mother and siblings. Not only was Juan a victim of physical/verbal abuse at an early age as well, but he was also sold to a landowner to work in the fields at the age of 15 years old. His father sold him to pay for a gambling debt that his father had owed. He continued to share his experience with female prostitutes at the age of 18 years old. It is noteworthy to indicate Juan’s body language while he shared his complicated upbringing and experiences. For his facial expression was serious (no smile, eyebrows lowered) by yet seemed relaxed in the chair he was sitting (arms stretched on chair arms and legs crossed). He also spoke with a low straightforward tone, without expressing any type of emotion and did not look at his wife once, as he shared his …show more content…
For she also grew up in Mexico near the same town as Juan. She was born and raised there until she was 18 years old. Similar to Juan, she also grew up in a traditional Mexican home with gender role responsibilities and strict rules. Unlike Juan’s family, Cassandra’s family had a family business that owned several retail and grocery stores. Although she grew up in a wealthy home, it did not excuse her from witnessing and experiencing the physical/verbal abuse from her father towards her and her mother. Not only was her father an alcoholic, he was a womanizer as
During the initial intake, it revealed Juan and Cassandra have been married for almost 30 years and have three children. Juan is 51 years old and is an electrician. Cassandra is 45 years old and works in cookie factory.
After being separated for 2 months and beginning the process of divorce, they decided to seek couples counseling …show more content…
In regards to Juan, he was born and raised in Mexico until the age of 21 years old. Growing up in a low income, traditional Mexican home with strict rules, Juan witnessed his father physically/verbally abuse his mother and siblings. Not only was Juan a victim of physical/verbal abuse at an early age as well, but he was also sold to a landowner to work in the fields at the age of 15 years old. His father sold him to pay for a gambling debt that his father had owed. He continued to share his experience with female prostitutes at the age of 18 years old. It is noteworthy to indicate Juan’s body language while he shared his complicated upbringing and experiences. For his facial expression was serious (no smile, eyebrows lowered) by yet seemed relaxed in the chair he was sitting (arms stretched on chair arms and legs crossed). He also spoke with a low straightforward tone, without expressing any type of emotion and did not look at his wife once, as he shared his …show more content…
For she also grew up in Mexico near the same town as Juan. She was born and raised there until she was 18 years old. Similar to Juan, she also grew up in a traditional Mexican home with gender role responsibilities and strict rules. Unlike Juan’s family, Cassandra’s family had a family business that owned several retail and grocery stores. Although she grew up in a wealthy home, it did not excuse her from witnessing and experiencing the physical/verbal abuse from her father towards her and her mother. Not only was her father an alcoholic, he was a womanizer as