Introduction
According to the trait theory, people exhibit different personalities depending on the nature of upbringing, social environment and genetic predisposition. Individuals who possess a strong personality in life exhibit confidence and a resilient self esteem which enables them to overcome bad influence and wrong judgment. The trait theory therefore classifies individuals through a structure that identifies with people’s character and social wellbeing. Socialization plays a major role in shaping people’s traits since they obtain justifications to commit certain actions from values and principles cherished in the society (Delanty, 2009). For instance, criminals engage in deviant behavior depending on the environment they are brought up in taking into consideration the people they socialize with. A stable family background where both parents participate in guiding children towards acquiring behavior that is socially acceptable eliminates chances of delinquency and deviance. On the other hand, the lack of a strong social bond between parents and children due to divorce or separation limits the potential of children developing a solid personality against mischief. Personality can be described as the internal potential to be decisive and principled in character (Torres & Morrow, 2005). Character trait is shaped by a person’s emotional wellbeing and social background. Psychological disengagement from the society and oneself provides the moral legitimacy for criminal behavior. Below is a Genogram that illustrates intergenerational changes in behavior across the lifespan.
Genogram structure
Maternal Great grandmother, Annie Piggott, married to James Piggott:
- Annie Piggott, born August 25, 1901,
- James Piggott born September 5, 1900.
Had four children:
- Herma, Ida, Linda and Keith.
- Annie had one child before her marriage to James. Locksley Webber, no known information about his father.
- Locksley Webber 11/18/1921 married Doris Parris 4/15/1948, had 4 children, Adrian, Yvonne, George and Llewellyn Webber, Locksley was an alcohol abuser.
Adrian Webber had six children of which I am the oldest of the six. Adrian Webber never married. Apart from me, the other children are:
- Garfield Thaxter (9/6/1967- 11/1/2010),
- Michelle Campbell (08/25/1969)
- Nicola Blackwood 2/3/1975)
- Craig Blackwood 9/13/1979,
- Opal Campbell 11/30/1984.
Arlene Bradshaw (11/25/1964) married to Winston Stewart 03/17/1960 has five children namely:
- Annique Hall, 11/7/1985 Daughter.
- Yanick Stewart 7/14/1987, Son.
- Vijhae Stewart, 4/15/89 Son,
- Jabari Stewart, 11/7/1991 son,
- Alake Phillips, 7/29/1994 Daughter
Yvonne Webber, married to Cleveland Berry, had two children:
- Marcia Berry, 5/19/60 and Kaharee Berry 12/25/1975.
George Webber, 11/13/1948 – 7/6/2010 one son
- David Webber
Llewellyn Webber, 1/29/1950- 10/15/2000 two daughters never married;
- Shana Webber, 5/14/1969, and Marie Webber 3/18/1972.
Human personality functions
It is conceived that all people are born “angels” but society shape people’s traits into either conventional behavior or deviance. The values and principles which people acquire in life are a summation of different factors which include psychological development and emotional wellbeing (Trope & Chaiken, 2009). As people interact in the society, they tend to adjust their perceptions of right and wrong depending on what the immediate social group they belong to subscribes to. Family background is central to development of character and conventional personality functions. Different behavioral attributes are a function of people’s response to feelings, emotions and thoughts which generate from physical and environmental causes. The society helps people to identify a particular manner of response to certain issues based on beliefs, traditions and values which identify with it (Edberg, 2007).
Feelings of despair and disenchantment originate from a state of lawlessness and hopelessness in the mainstream society. Distorted thinking arises from negative thought patterns which are a function of poor attitudes. A person’ cognitive faculties enable him/her to appreciate the environment. Based on prior knowledge and perceptions, judgment is made on the relevance of various activities in society to an individual (Turner, 2006). Individuality is therefore derived from a particular philosophical background and psychological status. Knowledge of oneself is important in defining purpose in life and orientation towards the right thing. Inability to appreciate the concept of individuality and personality condemns one into a state of confusion and fear. Anxious moments degenerate a person’s emotional wellbeing into disorderliness and resentment.
Professional background
Throughout my professional career, I have dedicated my time and skills in helping patients from diverse backgrounds recuperate from intergenerational cycles of emotional abuse. I have identified five cycles of emotional abuse as “enmeshment, extreme overprotection, complete neglect, rage and rejection” (Edberg, 2007). The family is the primary institution capable of identifying cases of emotional abuse as well as substance abuse at its onset for quick intervention. Family members and colleagues can therefore facilitate the process of early diagnosis of emotional abuse particularly for naïve patients. Repetitive cycles of emotional abuse are capable of distorting a client’s perception of life. Patients suffer from horrific patterns of psychological torment and agony because of broken or abuse relationships. The inner pain of having their feelings taken for granted and the process of recovering from past abusive relationships leads to resentment and suffering which can only be relieved through psychotherapeutic counseling.
Healing process
I have identified the role of psychotherapy in relieving the inner pain and emotional suffering that clients experience for long periods if they are not assisted to resolve the underlying issues from their past relationships. Psychotherapy goals are designed to help individual clients develop trust in people despite of what happened in their previous relationships. Goals include the objective of achieving mutual life trust, hope, insight, autonomy and an “emotional sense of direction” (Gehart, 2010). The end goal of the psychotherapeutic counseling is to clear client’s anxieties and to promote an environment where clients are motivated to change perceptions and mentalities in life.
My treatment model utilizes concrete tools that assist patients to understand ‘five cycles of emotional abuse” and the degree to which each of the cycles has impacted their social life in previous broken relationships. The underlying concept is referred to as “artist-guide” while the core technique is known as Inner Self-dialogue meant to guide clients alleviates emotional pain from past broken relationships (Edberg, 2007). I have helped clients from overprotective families to understand why they have been rejecting social partners. On the other hand, clients from a family background characterized by rejection have equally been helped to appreciate the meaning of love and belonging in relationships. The group counseling technique helps clients derive an aspect of overprotection that translates into love and friendship. Clients who have experienced rejection in their families are more likely to harbor rage and bitterness in their emotional and social relationships in subsequent life.
My professional therapeutic model utilizes an approach that integrates different methodologies of group psychotherapy where nonproductive behaviors and attitudes are resolved and modified. The model borrows heavily from family life education that explores intimacy, communication and friendship as the most salient pillars for working relationships (Gehart, 2010). Intensive psychotherapy is utilized to alleviate the anxieties of life in individual isolation that arise from the miseries of distorted relationships. My therapeutic model also explores conjoint, marriage and family approaches coupled with individual therapy to help clients renew their motivations and attitudes in life. Clients are encouraged to work in groups where social interaction and collaboration in private practices and social service settings fosters emotional healing.
Initial contact with client
The initial request by clients is recognized and appreciated before individual group or family therapy (Edberg, 2007). Family sessions are encouraged for families where intimacy, love and belonging are required. Therapeutic approach may involve the entire members of the family where parents and children are socialized together with the psychotherapist. Referrals could be made to a medical practitioner for further clinical and pharmacological approaches in case the initial contact reveals the need for medication. During the initial interview, I make sure that the client is comfortable enough to communicate their feelings. The initial contact provides the right opportunity of establishing rapport and trust that is necessary for the nature of partnership required for emotional healing. During the initial contact, I present to the client various options with regard to referrals and the techniques available at my disposal for assistance. My initial interview with the client targets to identify the root cause of the client’s misery and their unconditional consent for participation in my therapeutic model of treatment.
Essentially, the initial contact with the client is meant to determine the connection between emotional abuse and the nature of relationships the client has experienced in life. Initial evaluation helps in identifying communication difficulties, control and intimacy problems from the life history of the client (Gehart, 2010). My role as a social worker depends on the mutual contract that exists between us with respect to either time-limited therapy or unlimited therapy. As such, prior to the group sessions of counseling, individual sessions are necessary with each of the interested clients before participation in the therapeutic treatment program. Contract issues include the problem of extramarital affairs, poor workplace relations between employees are employers, dysfunctional social relationships as well as individual feelings of confusion in life (Gehart, 2010). I get involved in clients’ contract issues based on my experience and insight in the aforementioned areas using the five-cycle model of emotional abuse as a guiding principle. I work out a period through which clients can be helped to determine opportunities in life which could restore love, work and friendship towards greater freedom as an end-goal.
Conclusion
Intensive group counseling helps clients who have experienced the pain of growth and loss to work together towards avoiding a relapse while setting the pace for better life in the future. Throughout my professional as a psychotherapist, I have noted that emotional abuse affects people from all social and economic backgrounds. A look into individual reflections of clients, reveal loss of self-esteem, diminished confidence and general confusion as the main features of emotional abuse (Gehart, 2010). Social relationships appear to be lacking important ingredients of trust, honesty and love. My therapeutic model of treating emotional utilizes interventions that restore an emotional sense of direction in client’s lives.
Reference list
Delanty, G. (2009): Social Theory in a changing World: Conceptions of Modernity, Wiley- Blackwell.
Edberg, M.C. (2007). Essentials of Health Behavior: Social and Behavioral Theory in Public Health. London: Jones and Bartlett.
Gehart, D. R. (2010). Mastering Competencies in Family Therapy: a Practical Approach to Theories and Clinical Case Documentation. Belmont, Calif.: Cengage Learning.
Torres, C. A. & Morrow R.A (2005): Social Theory and Education: a critique of Theories of Social and Cultural Reproduction, SUNY Press.
Trope, Y. & Chaiken, S. (2009): Dual-process Theories in Social Psychology, Guilford Press. Turner, S. (2006): Social Theory and Sociology: the Classics and beyond, Wiley- Blackwell.