Jane's Multicultural- Feminist Theory of Counseling

Introduction

According to the case study, Jane is a senior woman who is depressed as a result of a knee injury that has made her poorer than she was and therefore unable to do the things she used to do. Since the patient is unable to embrace her current condition, she was unable to undergo treatment in the expectation that she will eventually heal and no longer need it. According to the facts of the case, the doctors have given her any possible psychiatric medication that can be suggested to support her and have administered pain relievers. Nonetheless, she refuses to take them because the medications leave her sluggish. She is still uncomfortable traveling with a walker. It is clear that the problems of Jane are not only physical but also psychological and that they are also rooted in her gender and her roles as a woman. She is not comfortable with the inability to perform her roles in the society. Therefore, the best techniques that should be applied are the feminist, multicultural techniques to help her recover.

Cultural Analysis

One of the techniques that would be applicable in counseling Jane would be cultural analysis. According to feminists, the problems that the counselor and the patient discuss in their sessions should be in the context of the cultures of the patients. The therapist should consider the extent to which dominion over women by men in the culture affects the problem of the client. The professional should also look at the myths that exist in the society about gender roles. For example, in the case of Jane, the professional should discuss with her what she does as a woman and how the new condition will affect her. According to the case, she worked part-time. The counselor should discuss the impact of the injury and its medication on her employment and the impact on her role in the society and her husband.

Cultural Intervention

Another technique that is applicable is cultural intervention. The technique involves analyzing the life of the client and the stories of the life of the client to know the cultural issues affecting them. In the case of Jane, it may be important to know what she does at home and her job and the impact of her work on her life and that of her husband. Knowing the culture of the client may help know who and when to involve in the therapy sessions. For example, in the case of Jane, it may be important to involve her husband who supported the idea of going for therapy when she was reluctant.

Gender Role Analysis and Intervention

Gender role analysis and intervention should also be applied. The first part will involve analyzing whether exploring the societal gender roles have a real impact on Jane or not. In the case of Jane, her part-time working may be necessary for sustaining her family as a woman. The therapist should focus on the issue and use it as a rationale for positive evaluation of Jane. She should be made to understand that taking her drugs may make her feel weak, but that does not make her weak in the mind.

Power Analysis and Intervention

Power analysis and intervention are other techniques that should be used. The client should be allowed to choose their definition of power. In the case of Jane, her power is her physical strength. She feels like she lost important aspects of her such as working to feed the family or make financial decisions. She should be done to acquire a sense of self-value. The counselor should assist her to see how she could still be powerful as a woman even with physical weakness.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Jane's depression as the result of the accident can be relieved through therapy that helps her feel valuable even with the acquired weakness. The psychologist should talk to her in the context of her culture and help her feel useful in her new condition as a woman despite the inability to do what she could do initially.

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