Carol Alden Case

Summary Carol Alden was referred to an infant mental health program by a public health nurse. At that time, she was suffering from postpartum depression, agoraphobia, and possible domestic abuse. Ms. Alden was 4 months pregnant with her second child; her first child, Kyle, was 16 months old. The children’s father did not live in the home, and the relationship between him and Ms. Alden was turbulent. She eventually pursued legal involvement to restrain him from further contact with her. An infant mental health (IMH) specialist visited Ms. Alden in her home. During that visit the specialist discussed her role and acclimated Ms. Alden to the therapeutic process. She emphasized that it was a collaborative process, and Ms. Alden had control over

Alden was the unstable relationship with the children’s father. She had to accept that the reality of her family would not be what she initially envisioned for herself. Also, Ms. Alden experienced distress when contemplating why she gravitated toward unhealthy relationships. Finally, after striving to work through her emotional issues and learning to be a better parent, her daughter was born with a serious medical condition. The resulting stress and lack of support system, aside from the IMH specialist, was burdensome for Ms. Alden.

Difficult Areas for the IMH Specialist? The IMH specialist was emotionally available to Ms. Alden and highly invested in this family. As the therapeutic relationship between she and Ms. Alden progressed, Ms. Alden greatly depended on the emotional stability of the specialist. It seemed as though the IMH specialist found it challenging to consistently set and maintain boundaries as a professional helper and not a friend. Additionally, the baby’s birth and the subsequent discovery of her medical condition seemed to be hard for the specialist. She recalled her birth experiences and how they had been positive and healthy experiences. She seemed to genuinely grieve for Ms. Alden regarding the unknown prognosis of the infant.

Difficult Areas for the Student to

Either scenario would certainly have a tremendous effect on the children and Ms. Alden as well. Unarguably, the therapeutic relationship between Ms. Alden and the IMH specialist was a catalyst for growth. However, more specific methods the specialist used was not mentioned. It would have been helpful to understand what techniques were most successful throughout the therapeutic process.

If You Were Beginning to Work With This Family, Where Would You Start? Building rapport is imperative. People are not always open books, and it can take time to earn trust. I would start much like the IMH specialist by explaining what my role will be and what the process would look like. I would spend time talking with the mom about her goals for herself and her family, what her concerns were, and how I could help. Also, I would want to determine if she and her son were safe, or if they were in danger from the children’s father and go from there.

What Would You Struggle With Most in Your Work With This