Psychology Case Study: Analyzing the Perez Family's Challenges

This case study delves into the psychological challenges faced by the Perez family, focusing on Maria Perez, a 40-year-old woman who recently immigrated to the U.S. with her family. The case highlights the stressors Maria experiences, including her husband's declining health (Multiple Sclerosis), financial difficulties, her daughter's unexpected pregnancy, and her mother-in-law's emotional distance. The assignment explores Maria's emotional state, her confusion about her life, and the application of psychoeducation to help her understand and manage her problems. The transcript of a session with Maria is included, demonstrating the process of identifying key issues and offering support. The goal is to provide Maria with a greater understanding of her situation, thereby enabling her to regain control and foster a positive self-esteem. The case study references several articles on family therapy and psychoeducation to support the analysis and proposed interventions.

Running head: PSYCHOLOGY
Perez Family Case Study
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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PSYCHOLOGY
Identification Details of the client-
 Name- Maria Perez
 Age- 40years
 Gender- Female
 Status- Married (housewife)
 Husband’s name- Luis Perez
Brief case history of Maria-
Maria has been emigrated from Argentina to U.S with her in-laws, husbands and
seven children. However, issue that she has stated has started showing its sign since they
have shifted in this new place. Maria was educated in a convent all-girls’ school and got
married just completing her school at the age of 19years. Maria has always considered her in-
laws house to be her own as she had lost her parents at a very young age in a car accident.
After shifting to US, the first thing she found was that her husband and father in law are
struggling to develop their family business. Then suddenly her father-in-law died and her
mother-in-law due to her loneliness, made herself distant from the family.
She is currently at the beginning of menopause and thus, gets easily fatigued while
doing the entire daily household works alone. However, with all these things still going on
she came to know that one of her children is pregnant. She was unable to tell this to her
husband as she know he is already stress and cannot even ask advice from her mother-in-law
as she has already made herself too distant from the family. Last but not the least her
situations worsen when his husband all of a sudden was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis
and was admitted in the hospital for engaging in rehabilitation.

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Problem: The client named Maria is confused about her current state of life. She cannot
figure out what had happened in her life.
Goal: To provide Maria Psychoeducation by which she will have a greater level of
understanding of all her problems. Therefore, she will be more relaxed and in control to deal
with life and a positive self-esteem will get to reflect in herself.
Transcript
** The words of the Client Maria who has difficulty speaking English has been translated in
English and used in this transcript.
Me: Hello Maria
Maria: Hi
Me: How are you feeling today?
Maria: I do not know
Me: Is there anything that is bothering you?
Maria: *silent* *looking downwards*
Me: You can tell me Maria, I am here to help you. Please tell me what the difficulty is.
Maria: Actually….I just cannot understand what had happened to my life. Our family was
very much successful when we were in Argentina. Then Luis felt that for our children it
would have been better if we come to US with our entire family.
Me: Then

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Maria: Then suddenly one day my father-in-law died and it became all the more difficult for
Luis to handle the financial stress as well as it was in his back of the mind that our elder son
Rolando has to postpone his college to help him in the field work.
Me: Then
Maria: In between all these, one of my daughters, Graciela became pregnant. I was unable to
share this with my husband as he was already stressed neither could I ask for any advice from
my mother-in-law as she was already struggling with her loneliness.
Me: Then what happened
Maria: Nothing can be more terrible then what came next to us. Luis was diagnosed with
Multiple sclerosis and has been hospitalized.
*Maria was weeping*
Maria: I just cannot understand what happened in my life.
Me: *lending her the tissue box*
Me: I am here to help as well as guide you to understand where exactly you are standing right
at this moment. First, look at me. Now tell me from the situation that you are going through
that can you identify what are the most serious issues you are facing right at this moment?
Maria: No
Me: Maria currently as your entire family needs a strong supporting pillar because along with
you they are also facing severe crisis. The main issues that are affecting you are your
husband’s health, Rolando’s future and Graciela’s pregnancy. Can you understand what I am
saying? Do you agree with me?

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Maria: Yes, I can understand what you are talking. Yes, I do agree with you.
Me: Now is the problem clear that what is the main issue in your life?
Maria: Yes
Me: Don’t you think that you have to strongly handle the situation by taking care of yourself
and your family? I found you to be a confident woman and capable of overcoming this
situation.
Maria: Yes, knowing what my issues are I think I can deal with them now and can support
my family.

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PSYCHOLOGY
References
Carr, A. (2014). The evidence base for couple therapy, family therapy and systemic
interventions for adult‐focused problems. Journal of Family Therapy, 36(2), 158-194.
Lucksted, A., McFarlane, W., Downing, D., & Dixon, L. (2012). Recent developments in
family psychoeducation as an evidence‐based practice. Journal of marital and family
therapy, 38(1), 101-121.
Niles, B. L., Klunk-Gillis, J., Ryngala, D. J., Silberbogen, A. K., Paysnick, A., & Wolf, E. J.
(2012). Comparing mindfulness and psychoeducation treatments for combat-related
PTSD using a telehealth approach. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research,
Practice, and Policy, 4(5), 538.
Taylor-Rodgers, E., & Batterham, P. J. (2014). Evaluation of an online psychoeducation
intervention to promote mental health help seeking attitudes and intentions among
young adults: randomised controlled trial. Journal of affective disorders, 168, 65-71.
Van Daele, T., Hermans, D., Van Audenhove, C., & Van den Bergh, O. (2012). Stress
reduction through psychoeducation: a meta-analytic review. Health Education &
Behavior, 39(4), 474-485.