Description
This is a series of two parent sessions that illustrate Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy sessions with a mother and son who are biologically related. Jackson is now 16 years of age and engaging in risky behaviour, relying on substances to cope and is often angry and rejecting of his mother and step father. He has been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder and Oppositional Defiant Disorder in the past and has not had successful school experiences. Only recently has a mental health professional talked about trauma as a lens through which to understand his behaviour. Sophia was only 17 years old when she gave birth to Jackson and was alone and overwhelmed. She relied on alcohol and drugs to cope and that meant that Jackson often experienced neglect and abuse in those first 5 years of his life as well as an apprehension to out-of-home care. He could not rely on his mother and this mis-trust has generalized to all relationships. This makes it so difficult for his mother to comfort and influence him now years later when she is doing well and is in a position to meet his needs.
In the first session, we have relied on initial parent work to help Sophia understand Jackson’s behaviour and importantly to integrate some of her own shame so that when Jackson is in the session we can fully concentrate on his psychological needs.
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