Abstract
Counseling is a process that involves identifying and correcting a psychological problem. Although counselors use various approaches to diagnose conditions, each method bears ethical considerations that provide regulation in treatment.
This paper evaluates a treatment process when dealing with conflicts that arise because of changes experienced in adolescence and the relative parenting challenges associated with these conflicts.
Introduction
A doctor has a responsibility to provide therapy or counseling in the most professional manner and his or her actions are subject to scrutiny and debate. Doctor Dorothy Breen, is comprehensive in her assessment and the entire counseling process, where she treated a condition she diagnosed as a teenage related problem with emphasis that it was a psychophysical aspect of adolescence.
Is this diagnosis accurate in spite of the successful treatment?
Errors in approach
In the medical practice, many cases of wrong diagnosis have been reported though the doctor successfully treated the condition based on the recommendations. Katie’s unhappy profile is indicative of a child undergoing suppression and gradually being overcome by depression. However, the counselor found this to be another case of poor communication skills and lack of understanding between parents and their child. She simplified her diagnosis, narrowing it to insensitivity to a child’s growth and development, and being over attentive about her welfare. According to Golden (2002), when a child contemplates suicide, he/she is always withdrawn, blames and blurts out at the family, it is indicative of depression.
As such, we can argue against this diagnosis and project depression as the proper diagnosis? Katie’s behavior is indicative of suppressed anger, frustration, and hopeless. She has silently struggled with her own insights about what she idealizes against what her parents idealize. Two attitudes prevalent throughout Katie’s condition are competition and rebellion: although she would be keen on obeying her parents, they hardly show a sensitive attitude; theirs is an arrogant approach drawn from their upper hand as her parents (Charles, 1999).
On the other hand, her parents have been irresponsible. Their approach towards parenting is bent on dictating rather than delegating. While each of these should be carried out gently and in a manner that will help a child identify the parents authority and role, the parents’ approach should not compromise their social responsibility as parents (Heppner et al, 2008).
Kate’s parents have done just the opposite; they have compromised their position and abused their social responsibilities as parents. They have abandoned their parenting roles by allowing Katie to develop a rebellious attitude and habit – she has the audacity to shout and exchange with them, which is indicative of poor parenting. Kate cannot be blamed either way; the parents bear the larger responsibility and should therefore be counseled on parenting.
Parenting is all about being a role model and a mentor. Allowing the child to exchange and shout at them reveals their failure in meeting parenting obligations. There is also the need to examine the role of John in the house who seems to be completely defunct as a father. For instance, he does not intervene in the quarrels between his wife and daughter. In effect, Katie’s behavior is an exit plan aimed at intimidating her parents who have failed to identify with their roles as parents. Through this behavior, Katie is able to get away with whatever she wants (Golden, 2002).
Literature review
The doctor has however managed to treat the condition using communication as the right therapy. Is this right? Therapy sessions present themselves as relevant to the problem and gradually bear fruit (Jaffe, 1998). The daughter is participating, responding, and the parents are trying as much, to identify with her. However, the therapy has only given Katie the upper hand. She can manipulate her parents since their superior role as the heads and guardians has been reduced to partners in the process of life. They have to do it so that Katie’s withdrawal symptoms can be managed.
Golden (2002) and Jaffe (1998) outline various symptoms of conditions and both argue that a counselor should be thorough in his or her analysis and diagnosis. Katie’s symptoms are indicative of depression related to poor parenting and a failing relationship between her and her parents. Although the therapy was healthy, it failed to help the parents become aware of their role as the head of the family.
Conclusion
This is a case of wrong diagnosis. The counselor has managed to help a teenage girl become an equal partner in her family house; she and her parents have entered into an arrangement whereby the parents will have to do what she wants rather than delegate and instruct in principal. Rather than solving a problem completely, the counselor created one and increased the parent’s inability to control their child and disciplining the child.
In counseling, resolving and correcting a problem is vital. Resolving temporarily while correcting the cause and destroying the foundations of the problem is most important. It helps seal the cause of the problem completely. The counselor is focused on treating his/her client rather than permanently resolve the problem comprehensively. In most cases, counseling involves the involvement of all parties collectively. This helps bring about collective responsibility. In this case, the counselor has failed to identify this as his responsibility.