Anger and Abandonment

After being removed by the Office of Family & Children (Welfare) from the home of her cocaine-abusing mother, the 14-year-old young lady was excited to return to her mother's care. But, after a brief period of time, her mother quickly returned to her addiction and the neglectful behavior that led to the initial removal of her child.

Now at 16 years of age, the laws have changed, and the young lady faces the fact that she will not return to her mother's care. Her father wants to sign his parental rights away, but the courts will not accept his termination until they secure the mother's. The mother, still active in her addiction, will not willingly give up her child. The plan is for rights to be terminated and for this young lady to go live with a relative, preferably the one with whom she is currently residing.

This young lady has anger management issues, fear of abandonment, and a sense of helplessness and hopelessness. No matter what she does, no matter how "good" she is, the adults will still dictate what will happen to her by their behavior. Currently, she accepts that she will not be able to return home. She no longer wants to live with her mother, but she misses the idea of what a mother and father could have been. Now she is faced with the reality that neither biological parent will ever be there for her.

When living with an addicted parent, it becomes very easy to step outside your role as a child and become the caretaker.

Behavior at home and at school have both become problematic because she is being treated as a 16-year-old adolescent, and she is no longer in control of the adults in her life.

Therapy focuses on these frustrations and building the self-worth and self-esteem that is so necessary to create a healthy, productive citizen. The end is in sight for this young lady.

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Suicidal Ideations

It would seem that a 56-year-old housewife and mother of several adult children had an easy life, especially if you were on the outside looking in.

But, after experiencing some suicidal ideations, she admitted herself to a local hospital. There it was discovered that she was not a housewife by choice, but had experienced so much anxiety in her life that she was unable to report to work. Her eating, sleeping, and daily routines were completely disrupted. She needed medication and long-term therapy to help deal with the problems that had devastated her life. But, with no insurance or income, her attending psychiatrist knew that her hospital stay had to be short and that therapy from a private practitioner would cost $80 to $200 an hour.

The client was referred to FCS where she was evaluated by a master level, licensed clinical social worker and referred to the psychiatrist for possible medication. January 2003 was the one-year anniversary of coming to FCS. Medication has been evaluated, prescribed, and modified. Currently, the client finds relief with an anti-psychotic medication in conjunction with anti-anxiety prescriptions.

Although she is unable to return to work, she has begun the process to receive disability until she can return to work. No longer suicidal, and able to avoid an further hospitalizations, she continues with her therapy and is enjoying spending time with her grandchildren.

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Ravages of Drug Addiction

After completing the Women in Recovery Program at FCS for her multiple addiction issues, this mother fulfilled her requirements for the court system. However, now it was time for her pre-adolescent daughter to return to her care. Nine months in foster care was more than enough for this family to know what they wanted. They wanted to live together. Goals of better parenting, established healthy boundaries, and gainful employment all play a factor in this family's reunification.

The father is currently under sanctions of the court, but as he returns home, his involvement will be necessary to bring this family to the place it needs to be -- a strong, healthy family unit that has survived the neglect of a small child and the ravages of drug addiction, but is no in a position to honor, respect, and love one another like a family unit is supposed to do.

Weekly sessions of individual and family therapy will help these people to build the foundation and develop the tools necessary to accomplish their goals.

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