Cameo

Case of Maria by Brooke and Morahan-Martin

Part II—The Therapist


Maria has been in therapy with Dr. C, a white, female, feminist psychologist. For the last few sessions, Dr. C has been focusing on Esteban’s sexist attitude. Further, she has been trying to help Maria “be her own person.” Dr. C has stressed that Maria has an equal right in the decisions made in the home, that she should not allow anyone to oppress her, that she did not need her husband’s approval to attend night school, and that having children was an equal and joint responsibility. She has encouraged Maria to consider divorcing Esteban. In addition, she has also recommended that Maria take assertiveness training and has scheduled Maria to participate in a program located in her community.

Questions

In your groups, address the following questions. Write the group’s responses to the questions on a large sheet and then put it up in the room.

  1. What assumptions does Dr. C have about Maria and her critical problems?
  2. How do these assumptions impact the course of Maria’s therapy?
  3. As a group, collectively decide what could be done differently to help Maria.

 

Originally published at http://www.sciencecases.org/therapeutic_relationship/therapeutic_relationship2.asp

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