Executive Summary
The current report explores the topic of diverse identities and intersectionality in relation to Ganesh, a 20-year-old client experiencing extreme stress. The purpose of this study is to identify potential sources of stress and outline the approach for the first two counseling sessions. The issue is the need to determine how anxiety is induced, whether correlating mental health conditions are present, and ways in which Ganesh can alleviate negative feelings.
The findings reveal that stress, to an extent, is related to the client’s experience as a low-income minority, and the counselor is to focus on helping Ganesh open up at the beginning of the counseling journey. This will minimize the distance between the therapist and the client (Tschuschke et al., 2021). The intersectionality theory is applied in the report and recommendations, which are to be culturally sensitive, discuss the client’s family and relocation from India, and recommend stress management techniques such as yoga and medication.
Introduction
The purpose of counseling is to help clients find solutions to their problems by identifying the barriers they experience. Needless to say, all individuals face different issues, which is why client-centered therapy is needed. However, it is also essential to acknowledge the importance of considering diverse identities, which shape the perception of the world and our interactions with it. Ganesh is an individual experiencing significant stress, which hinders his ability to find a job and form relationships, which is why providing appropriate counseling is a significant aspect of his improvement.
The current paper aims to analyze the case study in which a client seeks to manage his anxiety. Guiding Ganesh to find coping mechanisms and understand himself is crucial in maximizing his well-being, which is why it is recommended that he explore further his relationships with his father and the effects of relocation to Australia. The report will contain the main findings, a discussion of intersectionality, a conclusion, and recommendations.
Findings
Ganesh is a 20-year-old Indian male with a low socioeconomic status who has been living in Australia for the past five years. He may have experienced a lack of inclusivity due to his ethnicity, financial background, and potential. This aligns with the intersectionality framework, which acknowledges the systems of oppression that hinder one’s opportunities and impact mental health (Kriger et al., 2022). According to the theory, one’s diverse identities have a significant influence on most aspects of life, including psychological well-being.
Discussion
The client’s diverse identities play a significant role in their mental health. As per the case study, Ganesh experiences stress correlating with social situations as a result of fear of rejection and criticism. Diverse identities are a concept that highlights the fact that people have contrasting characteristics that impact how they interact with the world (Lin, 2020).
To effectively examine the role of diverse identities, it is essential to select a framework that will serve as the basis for the analysis. The intersectionality framework is a model that highlights the interconnection between social factors and power structures (Etherington et al., 2020). Hence, it will be applied to determine the specific case study in relation to intersectionality.
Diverse Identities
A variety of elements are impacted through the prism of diverse identities. Researchers note that intersectionality, as a whole, is rooted in the fact that social position significantly impacts one’s world navigation (Bauer et al., 2021). Since the critical role of a client’s diverse identities in mental health has been established, it is essential to consider the positive and negative aspects that are being generated.
On the one hand, positive benefits can be highlighted. By considering intersectionality, the client can gain a deeper understanding of themselves and how to interact with others by acknowledging that each person is unique (Thomas et al., 2021). Hence, Ganesh can accept that he has a unique experience and that there are systems in place that can hinder his perception of the world and do his best to work within the giver paradigm. Currently, he is stressed about interacting with the world, but by admitting that intersectionality exists, he will perceive the environment more clearly.
Additionally, he will acknowledge that the people he interacts with live under the same premises in which power structures can minimize and maximize one’s experience. The client can communicate effectively considering diverse identities, which will allow them to overcome specific barriers and establish more efficient communication pathways (Tinner et al., 2023). As a result, his social stress will be alleviated as he will have a tool to consider when interacting with others. Needless to say, acknowledging the impact of intersectionality will also help the client connect with people who have similar experiences to his own. Hence, social connections will be formed, and Ganesh will be able to build healthy relationships with other people.
Regarding adverse impacts, diverse identities can hinder one’s drive to achieve success. Intersectionality has been linked to adverse mental health impacts in low-income immigrants in countries in which immigration policies are harsh (Kern et al., 2020). One of the reasons is the stress that minorities experience when navigating environments in which they are not represented (Brown & Moloney, 2018). A similar effect can be highlighted in Ganesh’s experience. Additionally, individuals are discouraged when they acknowledge that specific systems are in place to hinder their success. In this case, motivation is diminished, and one’s mental health suffers due to the feeling of hopelessness and inability to attain set goals.
Broader Impact
In addition to the impact highlighted by the client, namely, stress, insecurity, and fear in social situations, a more substantial effect may have been formed. Furthermore, the broader effect could have influenced multiple aspects of Ganesh’s life. For example, researchers mention that immigrants often have post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety (Turcios, 2023). Considering that the client has an abusive father, the diagnosis may have a stronger basis in this case.
It is also essential to consider that the client, although potentially having the aforementioned condition, may not have access to the necessary support to manage it. Immigrants and their children are often unaware of the resources they can access or do not have support systems (Todd & Martin, 2020). Stigma is another aspect that can indirectly impact the client’s mental health. Based on the broader impact that has been assessed,
Ganesh is hindered in his ability to form social relationships, work, build relationships, or receive counseling. Regarding professional achievements, depression is associated with absenteeism and reduced productivity (Ersel et al., 2022). Additionally, anxiety negatively impacts one’s navigation of social relationships (Du & Field, 2020).
Hence, Ganesh is most likely unable to form connections and build relationships due to the stress he experiences, which can be the result of an anxiety disorder. Last but not least, his socio-economic and minority status, in combination with his potential diagnosis, impairs counseling (Dogan & Dollarhide, 2021). Due to his experience, Ganesh may be reluctant to share specific details with counselors due to stigma, anxiety, and a belief that the sessions with the counselors will not be practical.
Counseling
The first two counseling sessions are focused on forming a relationship with the client. This is the process in which the therapist helps the client open up about struggles, life events, and emotions (Kleiven et al., 2020). The disadvantage of the approach is that it is more challenging to apply with immigrant clients due to the potential stigma that they face.
During the first half of the counseling session, Ganesh shared about his abusive father and supportive mother, immigration to Australia from India, poverty, and stress, which hindered his opportunities. During the remainder of the first session, the topic that could be further explored is Ganesh’s medical history, as well as the relocation to Australia. While relocation is not explicitly discussed in specific settings, counselors are advised to consider an individual’s diverse identity, which can be attributed to their social and developmental history (Cormier et al., 2016).
Ganesh can discuss how the relocation impacted him, whether he was more socially confident in India, and the changes in his relationships with friends and acquaintances, as well as the changes in these aspects of his life experiences as he immigrated. The positive aspect of the solution is that it will enable the counselor to determine whether the challenges are primarily associated with the drastic relocation or have been present from the outset.
During the second session, it would be helpful to discuss Ganesh’s father. First and foremost, knowledge of the father’s potential medical history with mental health issues can provide insight into the client’s personal experience with psychological barriers (Sell et al., 2021). Furthermore, a deeper exploration of the father-son relationship will be performed.
The client will be further inquired about the interactions with the father to assess how they impacted him in his adult life. Researchers have linked mental health limitations with abusive parents (Rosso, 2022). Additionally, the impact of being estranged from his father will be discussed, as, despite the problematic parental behavior, losing contact with a parent can be a traumatic experience that induces loneliness (Blake et al., 2019). Specific questions will be asked:
- Did you have a positive father-son relationship in your childhood?
- How did your father make you feel?
- Was your father supportive of you?
- Did your father have a history of psychological conditions?
- Was the divorce between your parents traumatic, or was it a relief?
- How would you describe your relationship with your father now?
Conclusion
The purpose of the report is to identify the client’s problem and determine ways to address it in the first two sessions. The findings reveal that Ganesh’s symptoms, which are perceived from the perspective of intersectionality and diverse identities, correlate with his family relationships as well as the relocation to Australia and the lack of economic and social resources. It is recommended that the first sessions be used to connect with the client by gathering more information.
Recommendations
Several recommendations can be applied in relation to the client. First and foremost, considering his cultural background during counseling is essential (Tanaka-Matsumi, 2022). Minorities are more likely to suffer from several mental health conditions, which is why an in-depth assessment of Ganesh’s state is required (Rosa, 2019). The counselor is expected to remain culturally sensitive when discussing family matters and childhood experiences (Rosa, 2019).
Family involvement can also be approached by having a therapy session with the mother (Fernandes & Lane, 2020). However, the initial sessions are to be focused on helping the client open up to the therapist (Taukeni, 2020). Additionally, yoga and meditation are recommended as stress-coping and management strategies. The recommendations correlate with the theory of diverse identities and intersectionality.
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