April Case Study

Case Study of April

The effect of trauma experienced during a child’s life isn’t dependent on the degree of the trauma but by how it is treated (Terr, 1991). April, who is five years old, has presented with emotional, physical and behavioral changes, which recently occurred after the suicide of her father, George. Her mother, Joy, and grandmother, Violet, reported prior to the suicide April was a very happy and healthy child. In the last several months, there have been significant changes in April’s life (i.e. George’s suicide, the family moving, and Joy returning to work). Each following theories are used in to assess April either by illuminating developmental phases in her life or in context of her interaction with her present environment.

A bio-psycho-social perspective in assessment of April, using milestones in human development, and Freud’s psychodynamic theory provides two distinct perspectives foundationally influential to the generations of theories that proceeded. As an initial assessment these models considers the diversity of aspects impacting April allowing for a broad and holistic frame of reference conducive to a dynamic thoughtful analysis (Robbins, Chatterjee, & Canda, 2011).

Humans, uniquely individual, develop along consistently similar lines that are explained best using concepts of human development (Sroufe, Egeland, Carlson & Collins, 2009). This process understands that growth is continuous and orderly, age levels have distinct characteristics associated with them, personal dissimilarity is significant, and heredity and social surroundings are influential (Robbins, Chatterjee, & Canda, 2011). A profile of task accomplishments spanning from four months to 11 years old provides a framework of normal of growth patterns. A complete evaluation considers levels of mastery concurrently in the two categories; motor skills, and physical/biological changes (Robbins, Chatterjee, & Canda, 2011).

April has been early for most of her milestone,...