PSY FPX 6015 Assessment 3 Adolescent Case Intervention Analysis

Student Name

Capella University

PSY FPX 6015 Lifespan Development

Prof. Name

Date

Adolescent Case Intervention Analysis: Case Study of Jasmine

Jasmine, a 17-year-old Chinese American who migrated from China to the United States two years ago, resides in Oregon, attends public school, and grapples with linguistic challenges. Being the youngest in her family and the newcomer in her classroom exacerbates her struggle with the English language. Furthermore, Jasmine is the sole minority in her classroom and frequently endures teasing and bullying from her peers. Consequently, her academic performance suffers, and she finds it challenging to cultivate positive relationships with her classmates. Interestingly, the leader of her classroom teases her, but exhibits kindness towards her when separated from other kids.

Jasmine often receives additional assistance in the resource room due to her frustration and sense of being lost in the classroom environment. She harbors depressive feelings, yet keeps them concealed as she fears her parents may not comprehend. Moreover, Jasmine grapples with thoughts of wishing she were not alive. She feels isolated in her identity as a Chinese American amidst her peers and struggles to reconcile her cultural heritage with her parents’ religious traditions. The derogatory remarks and stares from her peers on social media further exacerbate her sense of alienation.

Development

Psychological and sociological professionals employ a prism for lifespan development to comprehensively explore an individual’s growth and development. According to the Theory of Lifespan Development, individuals are expected to contribute to society through their quality of work and continuous learning from conception onward (Broderick & Belwitt, 2020). This theory facilitates the monitoring and interpretation of patterns of development, education, socialization, and growth to identify areas for improvement.

Psychological Theories Related to Case

Erik Erikson’s 8 Stages of Development provides valuable insights into Jasmine’s case study, particularly regarding her age-related experiences of identity and role confusion. Adolescents in Jasmine’s age group commonly grapple with identity formation, a key aspect of Erikson’s theory (J.J. Thompson, 2021). Additionally, Cultural Psychology, rooted in the work of Lev Vygotsky, sheds light on how cultural norms and beliefs influence psychological processes (Wagoner et al., 2014). In Jasmine’s case, cultural biases contribute to her feelings of alienation and depressive symptoms.

Presenting Challenges

Early adolescence presents unique challenges characterized by questioning of values and perceptions. Jasmine’s struggle with peer relationships and cultural identity aligns with typical challenges faced during this developmental stage (Broderick & Belwitt, 2020). The conflict between autonomy and cultural conformity further complicates Jasmine’s developmental trajectory, hindering her ability to establish productive relationships and achieve self-regulation.

PSY FPX 6015 Assessment 3 Adolescent Case Intervention Analysis

Primary Issues

Jasmine’s identity and development are significantly impacted by her cultural background, particularly her adherence to her parents’ religious traditions. This adherence limits her autonomy and impedes her ability to establish meaningful peer connections, further exacerbating her sense of identity confusion and low self-esteem (Ngai et al., 2018).

Learning Evaluation and Intervention

Studies by Donovan et al. (2013), Demir et al. (2010), Zisk et al. (2019), and Yang et al. (2020) offer valuable insights into interventions for adolescents experiencing depression and identity confusion. Family therapy, such as attachment-based family therapy, has been shown to significantly reduce depressive symptoms, particularly in adolescents with strained family relationships (Zisk et al., 2019). Additionally, dialectical behavioral group therapy (DBT) has demonstrated efficacy in reducing suicidal ideation and depressive symptoms in adolescents (Yang et al., 2020).

Jasmine’s Case Study in Relation to Psychedelic Therapy

While unconventional, psychedelic therapy presents a potential intervention for adolescents like Jasmine experiencing treatment-resistant depression. Studies by Davis et al. (2021) and Carhart-Harris et al. (2017, 2021) have reported significant reductions in depressive symptoms following psilocybin-assisted therapy. Furthermore, psychedelic therapy promotes feelings of connectedness, which could address Jasmine’s feelings of isolation and alienation (Forstmann et al., 2020).

Conclusion

Theoretical frameworks such as Erikson’s stages of development and Cultural Psychology provide valuable insights into Jasmine’s experiences as an adolescent navigating cultural identity and peer relationships. Interventions such as family therapy and dialectical behavioral group therapy offer promising avenues for addressing Jasmine’s depressive symptoms and identity confusion. Additionally, psychedelic therapy presents a novel approach to treating treatment-resistant depression in adolescents. By addressing Jasmine’s unique challenges within a culturally sensitive framework, interventions can facilitate her integration into her new cultural environment and alleviate her depressive symptoms.

References

Broderick, P. C., & Blewitt, P. (2020). The Life Span: Human Development for Helping Professionals. Pearson Education, Inc.

Carhart-Harris, R. L., Roseman, L., Bolstridge, M., Demetriou, L., Pannekoek, J. N., Wall, M. B., Tanner, M., Kaelen, M., McGonigle, J., Murphy, K., Leech, R., Curran, H. V., & Nutt, D. J. (2017). Psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression: FMRI-measured brain mechanisms. Scientific Reports, 7(1), 13187-11. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-13282-7