Reference no: EM133528590

Question

Karen is a 28-year-old hospitality manager, who has been taking medication for depression since she was 14. She has admitted to suicidal ideation in the past, but has never made a suicide attempt. Karen is the eldest of four siblings to whom she is very close. She is also close to her mother, but at the same time harbours anger from her past, feeling that her mother failed her and her siblings by staying with an abusive stepfather for several years. The marriage ended 10 years ago, but Karen and the other children still bear the psychological wounds of abuse. Her mother's father committed suicide and Karen's mother suffers deep guilt and fear associated with Karen's depression. Four months ago, Karen ended her relationship with her boyfriend (with whom she had been living for nine years). She moved interstate, determined to become as independent as possible. She was doing well in her new job but she was lonely and the woman from whom she was renting a room constantly criticised her and interfered in her life. Karen felt that this made it impossible to socialise, at home, with her work mates. Karen was often in tears and found herself wishing.