Orientation to Therapy Video

The segment occurs approximately 4 weeks into the therapy. In the first session, Alisha and Kathy agreed to work on their relationship. Alisha was guarded and expressed her belief that her mother wasn’t capable of giving her what she needed. Kathy was tearful throughout the first session and required caretaking by the therapist.

The therapist has met alone with the adolescent twice and has a good understanding of what contributes to Alisha’s depression, substance use and suicidal ideation.The therapist is also beginning to understand what was getting in the way of feeling supported by her mother as well as her anger towards her mother. Alisha reported that she feels like her mother prioritizes her relationships with men over their relationship. In general, Alisha finds her mother to be unable to take care of Alisha emotionally even around normal teenage issues such as academics, friend problems and romantic relationship problems. Alisha is parentified and often takes care of her mother’s emotional needs. The dynamic between Alisha and her mother results in Alisha being angry with her mother, but also pitying her mother and having to care for her.

The therapist has met alone with the mother twice to discuss current stressors (recent domestic violence, breakup with boyfriend, betrayal by ex-boyfriend, financial stress, mom’s own mental health).In the 2nd session alone with mom, the therapist also explored mom’s intergenerational history and the impact it had on her as a kid. Mom’s childhood was filled with domestic violence and abuse. Mom indicates her family was quite poor and often struggled to have money for food or clothing. Mom was abused by her father and witnessed her father abuse her mother. She was very protective of her own mother and her worst memories were seeing her own mother hurt. She learned to shut off her emotions as a young child to protect herself from the emotional pain. The domestic violence she witnessed and abuse she experienced was never discussed with her mother. In this video segment, the therapist will focus on the impact mother’s own intergenerational history has on her parenting and/or adolescent.

Instructions:
First, you will watch the therapy video through in its entirety. Then, you will re-watch the therapy video, pausing at key moments to reflect on what is happening during the therapy session.

As you are watching:
1. Notice how the therapist helps mom gain insight into how her own history has impacted her parenting and daughter while also taking care of her and not making her feel blamed.
2. Think about how you might use what you know about mom’s history in this conversation.