Bio-Psychosocial History

For this assignment I had the pleasure of assessing Ms. Marlena Jackson. The purpose
for this assessment is to find out why Ms. Jackson feels she is suffering from depression. During
this assessment I will go through Ms. Jackson issue(s), which is, as stated she feels she is
suffering from depression and also the reason why she feels that the only people who love her
are the many men she engages in sexual conduct with. I will be going over Ms. Jacksons
religious, educational, and employment history as well as her relationship/sexual, family or
origin, and health history plus many other things so we can see perhaps find out who and or what
might be the cause of Ms. Jacksons issue(s).

Bio-Psychosocial History

Marlena Jackson stated that she is suffering from depression, although it has not been
medically diagnosed Ms. Jackson says she is always sad and sometimes her sadness last for
weeks at a time. Ms. Jackson also stated that she feels unloved by many and that the only time
she may feel loved is when she is being sexually active with many men. When the question of
how long Ms. Jackson had been feeling depressed and unloved she responded with the word of
forever.
When is comes to Ms. Jacksons parents she only knows very little about her biological
mother because she became a foster child at the age of 3, and she knows nothing about her
biological father simply because she was never in her life. Ms. Jacksons mother was of the
young age of 15 when Ms. Jackson was born, her parents were never married and she stated that
she believes that she might be the product of a one-night stand her biological mothers name is
Linda Myrie and her biological fathers name is unknown. Just from knowing that she might be
the product of a one-night stand let me know that Ms. Jackson was not a planned pregnancy.
Ms. Jackson stated that she was put into the system along with her 3 siblings at the age of 5,
after they had been removed from her mothers home due to her mother becoming a drug addict
and ultimately not be able to support herself or her 4 children. At the age of 5 Ms. Jackson along
with only one of her sibling were adopted into the family of hell as Ms. Jackson wanted to
refer to it. Growing up as an adopted child is and will always be a horrible experience Ms.
Jackson told me, she stated that she never really felt like it was her family and even though she
had her younger sister there with her to Ms. Jackson is was like she would also watch her
family enjoy certain things. The holidays were the worst for Ms. Jackson, even though she
received toys like the other children for Christmas and birthdays she just never shared that

Bio-Psychosocial History

special connection that her adopted brothers and sister felt with their biological mother and
stepfather. Ms. Jackson has a adopted brother and sister who were in there only a few years
older than she and her sister, her adopted parents who go by the names of Leonard and Joann
Grey never went to college after high-school and out of all of the siblings including Ms. Jackson
herself, her adopted sister Love is the only one to go on to college and obtain her masters degree
in Political Science, while her adopted brother Mark went on to pursue his dream of becoming a
professional boxer but later was brutally murdered at the age of 31 in 2004.
When a few questions regarding Ms. Jacksons developmental history came about Ms.
Jackson had to reach out to her biological aunt on her mothers side because Linda refuses to
discuss with Ms. Jackson anything regarding her past and the incidents that took place. Ms.
Jackson was born 3 weeks before her mothers due date, she had to be induced because she was a
breeched baby (her feet were down instead of her head). Ms. Jackson was diagnosed with
Jaundice and was hospitalized for 5 days after her birth. She was a bottle fed baby and stayed on
the bottle until the age of 2, she was walking by the age of 13 months and was completely potty
trained by the age of 3. Ms. Jackson stated that she was unfortunately held back in kindergarten
due to developmental delays such as not being able to count to a certain number or not knowing
her alphabets and various other reasons.
Ms. Jackson describes her health as a child as picture perfect despite the Jaundice at birth
she has not had anything worse that the common cold, shes never had any broken bones or
major surgeries. Ms. Jackson today however does have issues with her weight, which causes
some of her depression. There are no family illnesses and she claimed that everyone who has
died in her family, which so far has only been her, adopted grandparents had both died from old
age

Bio-Psychosocial History

On Ms. Jacksons 14th birthday she became a woman and began her menstrual cycle.
Approximately 2 months later Ms. Jackson lost her virginity and became sexually active. The
man Ms. Jackson was sexually active with was 19 years old and she told me that her first time
was her worst time she also said she felt obligated to have sex with her for fear that if she didnt
engage in sex with him then she would be cheated on. That relationship lasted only 3 months
and when it was over Ms. Jackson said she felt relieved. Due to certain side affects in birth
control, the only form of birth control that she used were her periods of abstinence and condoms.
Since Ms. Jacksons family was always busy traveling to Las Vegas and she and her siblings were
always enrolled in some program to keep them off the streets Ms. Jackson didnt come in contact
with her second sex partner until the age of 18 whose name is Derrick. Derrick was Ms.
Jacksons first love or so she thought. The two had a relationship for about 3 years and at the age
of 21 Ms. Jackson became pregnant with her first child, although the pregnancy was not planned
Ms. Jackson wanted to have her child while on the other had Derrick did not. Derrick thought it
would be a good idea for Ms. Jackson to proceed with an abortion and when Ms. Jackson refused
the relationship became violent. The relationship ultimately ended and as Ms. Jackson went on
with her pregnancy Derrick chose not to. Derrick and Ms. Jackson did not speak until the day
their daughter Giana Milan Green was born which was August 10, 2003. After Giana was born
Ms. Jackson said that she thought that Derrick would come around and despite the domestic
violence that occurred prior to the birth of Giana she hoped that they could be a family and raise
their daughter together in one home. Derrick and Ms. Jackson tired to make their relationship
work but due to arguing, abuse both verbal and physical and as well as Ms. Jackson finding out
Derrick had been unfaithful in their relationship it ended when Giana was 6 months old. After
the break-up between Derrick and Ms. Jackson she stated that she was devastated and lost

Bio-Psychosocial History

herself and she began looking for love in all the wrong places. Ms. Jackson stated that it was
that particular moment when she began to wonder if anybody would love her and also why
wasnt she good enough to be loved.
Although Ms. Jackson engaged in sexually conduct with many men she stated that she
did not get into another committed relationship until she met her youngest daughter Jorydns
father who is named John. When the two met, through a mutual friend John was 34 years old
and Ms. Jackson was 28 years old. Ms. Jackson stated that John was not her type he was a
high school dropout, couldnt keep a job and had a long criminal record, but he was extremely
nice to her in a way that Derrick wasnt. Ms. Jackson being with John was ten times worse than
being with Derrick. Ms. Jackson told me how the abuse began and wouldnt stop, but she felt as
is she couldnt leave because she had nowhere to go and she didnt want to end up in a shelter
with her young child. Ms. Jackson stated that when John couldnt keep a job he ended up selling
drugs and the money was good and also John provided for her so if she left she and her daughter
would become homeless. When Ms. Jackson turned 29 she found out she was pregnant with her
second child. Like her first pregnancy this one was also unplanned yet the only difference Ms.
Jackson tells me is that John supported her decision to keep the baby. Jordyn Sanford was born
July 18 2010. John is an active parent in Jordyn's life but Ms. Jackson and John are no longer
together.
When it comes to Ms. Jackson and her religion she states that she is a Christian and
believes in the higher power of God, yet she has never established a relationship with him. Ms.
Jackson hardly went to church as a child and as she grew up and got older the issue was never
forced on her or her siblings. Ms. Jackson did however state that she wants to find a church
home where she can take her children so they can learn more about God but she feels that she

Bio-Psychosocial History

has failed God. The subject of religion was a touchy area so she really didnt tell me much else
about it.
Ms. Jackson attended Roosevelt elementary school in Ferndale Michigan and then went
to middle school at Levey Middle School and there she graduated with honors and then went to
attend Southfield Lathrup high school for 9th and 10th grade where was played volleyball,
softball, and basketball and she states that she was exceptional at all 3 sports. Ms. Jackson ended
up getting expelled from Southfield Lathrup for fighting and had to attend Oak Park high school
for the remainder of her high school career. Again Ms. Jackson graduated from high school with
honors but unfortunately due to finical problems and the fact that she did not receive any college
scholarships she was unable to attend college. Ms. Jackson did attend Everest Technical where
in June of 2006 she obtained a certificate in Medical Assisting.
Although Ms. Jackson received her certificate for medical assisting she was unable to get
a job in the medical field due to her criminal record, from having a DUI all the way to
embezzlement you name it and it was on Ms. Jacksons record. Ms. Jackson states that she did
not work as a teenager because her family supported her financially and felt that school was
more important than working. Ms. Jackson also stated that when she did start working at the age
of 25 she has worked nothing but minimum wage jobs, and even those minimum wage jobs she
ended up losing once her background check came back and her employers saw what was on her
record. Ms. Johnson feels that she will probably never find a job that she will enjoy because of
the mistakes shes made and she is currently working for AT&T wireless which she stated that
she likes it because it gives her a free phone and phone bill which is one less bill she has to pay,
but if it werent for that perk she would probably not work there.

Bio-Psychosocial History

Ms. Jackson is a very talented and skilled woman. She briefly stated that her goal is to go
to college she just needs to find an area that she wants to study. She originally wanted to pursue
nursing but because of her criminal record she stated that her attorney told her for the next 5-7
years that anything in the medical field is not an option for her. I asked Ms. Jackson what keeps
her going and she simply replied her children, they support her with everything she does. He
oldest daughter Giana who will be 11 in August is always giving her words of encouragement.
After completion of this assessment I know where the issue(s) lie and I have some idea of
where to begin with coming up with goal(s) for Ms. Jackson. For Ms. Jacksons sake and for the
sake of myself we will put together specific goal(s), making sure they are measurable, attainable
and also realistic, and hopefully the goal(s) will be met within a specific timeframe.

Bio-Psychosocial History

8
Introduction

This is a continuation of Mrs. Jacksons assessment just briefly going over

what her problem(s) is/are and what possible goal she and I can come up and
also how she and I can reach these goal in a specific, measurable, attainable,
realistic and time phased manner.

Bio-Psychosocial History

Problem

Mrs. Jackson feels that she may be suffering from depression along
with low self-esteem and feeling unloved. She believes that no one loves her
since her biological mother lost her due to drugs when she was a young
child. She feels that she has no one to talk to for support.

Bio-Psychosocial History

10

Goals

Mrs. Jackson would like to have a medical exam to find out if she is in
fact suffering from depression, gain a support system, register for fall classes
in a university pursuing a degree in Liberal Arts and reconnect with her
biological siblings.

Objectives

1. Mrs. Jackson will find out if she is indeed suffering from depression or not
by March 3, 2014. Mrs. Jackson as well as myself is concerned about
whether she might be depressed. Although I am cannot medically diagnosis
Mrs. Jackson with depression from what she has shared with me such as her
constant crying spells, loss of interest in the things she used to enjoy, etc. I
can only recommend that Mrs. Jackson see a doctor who can further help her.
This is the first objective since it is dealing with her mental health, this take
priority over everything else. I gave her the deadline of March 3, 2014

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11

because the longer Mrs. Jackson waits to find out if she is suffering from
depression or not the longer it will take for everything else to begin.

2. Mrs. Jackson will join the support group Sisters Who Are Powerful (SWAP)
that meets once a week (Mondays) four times a month by March 17, 2014.
When Mrs. Jackson and I briefly spoke prior to coming up with the goals for
her, she mentioned that she would prefer a support group that was all
female. After doing research the SWAP group would be the best group for
Mrs. Jackson. The group meets once a week from 6p-8p every Monday of the
month and it does not interfere with her children and their needs. Mrs.
Jackson informed me that her sister would be joining her in the group
meetings as well.

3. Mrs. Jackson will decide which community college either Wayne County
Community College or Oakland Community College that she would like to
attend and fill out financial aid forms by March 31, 2014. Since the deadlines
for financial aid is March 31, 2014 Mrs. Jackson needs decided which school
to attend and also fill out financial aid forms on or before March 31, 2014.

4. Mrs. Jackson will reach out to her siblings for a possible reconnection by
April 7, 2014. Mrs. Jackson wants to reconnect with her biological siblings,
she has a family reunion in July 2014 and Mrs. Jackson along with one of her

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12

biological siblings believes it would be a good idea for all of the siblings to
attend and meet some of their family members that they might not know.
Mrs. Jackson has set the date of April 7, 2014 because her 32nd birthday is
April 27th, she would like to get together with her siblings for that which will
more than likely allow them to keep in contact to further discuss the family
reunion.