Theresa Crew Case Study

Receiving a diagnosis of any mental disorder can be terrifying and debilitating, however a mother receiving a diagnosis for a child with a mental disorder can be perceive it as a death sentence to their child, particularly a Christian mother who has been praying for a child. Theresa Crew is a 50 year old mother, wife and English Professor. She is the mother of twenty-one year old Johnathan who was recently diagnosed with schizophrenia. Theresa is a devout Christian and has difficulty accepting her son’s diagnosis. She refuses to partake in medication and in the last 3 months has brought him to four different pastors who she believes can deliver him from the “spirit of schizophrenia.” On the other hand her husband Jeff secretly administers medication to their son. It was his suggestion that she needed counseling on the importance and role of medication with schizophrenia.
Since Johnathan’s diagnosis Theresa has had many sleepless nights, is quickly agitated, snapping at everyone and has used most of her sick days. She is in disbelief about her son’s diagnosis and believes that if she accepts it she will be conceding to the illness. She complained that the only reasons she sought counseling is as a result of her husband threatening to leave her. Furthermore, she admitted to sleepless nights, is quickly agitated, often snapping at everyone, has taken frequent sick days from work and is preoccupied with deliverance from “evil spirits’. Additionally, she admitted to losing interest in herself and is cognizant of her recent weight loss she states is as a result of her lack of …show more content…
Theresa is confident that her son is healed and refuses to give him medication. However, Theresa adof her recent weight loss and states it is as a result of her lack of appetite. Additionally she stated that she is mad at her husband for his lack of faith and is cognizant that he gives the son the