Case Study

Case Study of Roland

NGina N. Cain

Liberty University

Roland is a 39 year old African-American man who came to counseling due problems he is having in his relationship. Roland works for United Cerebral Palsy as a direct care worker. He has three children by his ex-wife. Kacey is 16 years old, Rachel is 14 years old, and Janet is 6 years old. He had a very dysfunctional relationship with his ex-wife. The children have witness violence between their parents all their lives. Roland does not spend that much time with his children. The children live with their mother who has emotional issues due to an abusive childhood. Roland met his current girlfriend, Melissa, 4 years ago at a mutual friend’s house. Melissa is 36 years old and has no children.

Roland grew up in Brooklyn, NY in public housing. His mother is a Con-Edison employee, but did not start working until Roland was 16 years old. Roland was raised by his step-father who has been deceased since he was 16 years old. His biological had a relationship with him growing up, but he only saw his father occasionally growing up. Roland resents is father leaving the family and starting a family with a new woman. His mother still works at Con-Edison and lives about 2 miles away from him.

Roland’s family of origin had the appearance of a close family. Although, family dysfunction and problems are ignored by the family as a whole. His mother displayed a lot of love and attention to Roland, but never really disciplined him when he did anything wrong. He would apologize and that was enough for his mother to forgive and forget the wrong act Roland committed. Roland had a mentally retarded brother who passed away when he was a child. Nobody mentions this brother. Roland’s mother does not have any pictures of her family in her house.

Roland and Melissa moved in together only a month after dating. Melissa is a social worker. Melissa was a very outgoing woman, but due to Roland’s jealousy, she tries not to interact with...