Family News
Jake's Story... What do you think?
Jake's is 12 and the eldest son with four step siblings. He has a different father to the others, his mother being pregnant as the result of a 'mistake' as she calls it. Jake has known no other way, as his mother married when he was 22 months old.
His birth father, Frank wants nothing to do with him and hasn't seen Jake since he was 8 months of age. Jake wonders about Frank and has begun to ask his mother questions about him. He has changed schools a couple of times in the last two years as the family moved house. He has a 'matey' kind of relationship with his mother and they joke around a lot. There is a great bond between them and she has great influence on Jake.
Jake has very strong, verbal and physical outbursts that frighten both himself and others. Telling him to do something eg eating his vegetables, sets him off and at times his parents give in to him because they can't cope with the anger.
He showed 'out of control' behavior on his first visit to counselling. When he was calmer he spoke about the incident with much sadness and admitted he had a problem.
By the end of the session Jake had promised to come to counselling the following week. He apologized properly for his actions.
WHERE TO FROM HERE?
- What do you see as Jake's possible issues?
- What do his parents need to know and do?
- How would you deal with Jake?
- What labels might be put on a boy with his behavior?
- Do you think Jake needs counselling?
