Case Studies

The following 3 case studies are examples of measurable results from applying Needs-Based Communication practices in Probation. All 3 case studies were conducted by Michael Oden.

CASE STUDY #1

Applying Needs Based Practices Communication in Probation

By Michael S. Oden

Overview of Observable Facts:

  • Defendant  was “touched sexually” by Aunt (Mother’s sister) for approximately 2 years (9 to 11 years)
  • Defendant joined Lennox 13th St. gang
  • Defendant was given alcohol, money, toys, gifts to keep silent
  • Defendant’s mother trusted her son was in a safe environment
  • Defendant  never told family member’s or anyone about the experience with his Aunt
  • Defendant consumed various narcotics (marijuana, cocaine, primos, shermisticks speed) to escape feelings.
  • Defendant was considered  a problem child by his family
  • Defendant has behavioral issues at school and at home
  • Defendant spent custody time in various juvenile  and adult institutions: (Central, Los Padrinos and Sylmar Juvenile Hall, Camp Afferlbaugh, LA County’s Men’s Central Jail, Bizcailutz and Mira Loma Detention Centers, Twin Towers and a few State Prisons.
  • Defendant was arrested for narcotic possession and placed on Probation-Proposition 36

Story:

In our initial interview I observed the Defendant, as nervous and tentative.  I assured the Defendant that whatever we discussed will be kept confidential.  I stated to the Defendant that if he was willing, we could discover the “root” cause of his drug use.  I explained to him that his excessive drug use is the effect.  I wanted to know the “cause.” I mentioned that my reason for using this process is to discover the ”whys” of his excessive drug use and also what “needs” were being met by doing so.

The Defendant stated that his life changed for the worse when he was being supervised by his Mother’s sister after school for several hours.  He stated that his Aunt gave him alcohol (Jack Daniel’s on the rocks) so that he could be incoherent.  It was at this time his Aunt would have sexual intercourse and touch him in ways that he did not really understand.  The Defendant stated that he didn’t really know what was happening to him so he tried to block out each experience as it occurred.  After several months of having contact with his Aunt, the Defendant stated that he was too afraid to say anything to his parents because he was too embarrassed and ashamed.  He mentioned that every time he went to his Aunt’s house, he would try to numb himself and try to forget what was happening to him.

This behavior continued for approximately 2 years or until he was old enough not to be supervised.

Due to these reoccurring events, the Defendant stated he became angry, hostile and rebellious.  He said he had all these pent up emotions and he didn’t know how to identify them, what to do with them or how to get rid of them.  He stated he tried to find stability in the gang life (Lennox 13).  However, he saw his life spinning out of control b going in and out of Juvenile Hall as a minor.

As a young adult, he caused a lot of stress on his family by consuming drugs on a consistent basis.  Because of his behavior, he was arrested several times and spent time in the men’s county jail and the California state prison system.

The Process of Restoration:

During this session I then began to decompress him by giving him an understanding what he was “feeling” and what “ needs” were being met  or not met during the event with his Aunt.

First and foremost, I wanted to have the Defendant understand why using narcotics, excessively, and joining the Lennox 13th St. gang was important to him.

The Defendant needed to understand what he was feeling and needing at the time of his tragic experience.  From the information given, it appears he was feeling helpless, sad, lonely, distant, depressed, scared, afraid, furious, confused, uncomfortable, embarrassed, ashamed and guilty.  The “needs” that were not being met by his Aunt were those of:  choice, self-empowerment, comfort, self-worth, self-respect, being heard, control, empathy all being met tragically.

I explained to the Defendant that he had numerous feelings operating simultaneously which caused him the feeling of being over-whelmed or depressed.  I, then, explained to him that his excessive use of narcotic was meeting his “need” for temporary peace and harmony in his life by numbing the aforementioned feelings.  I explained to the Defendant that drug use is one of many; common ways a person will meet is his/her needs, tragically, when a debilitation event occurs in a person’s life.

After the Defendant was stopped being supervised by his Aunt, he joined the “Lennox 13th street gang.  By joining the gang, the Defendant had the feelings of joy, excitement, content, playful excited, happy and relieved.  The interpersonal needs that were being met were those of choice, identity, self-empowerment, bonding, self-worth, self-respect purpose, connection, trust, appreciation, predictability, stability, emotional safety, friendship, validation and community.  The Defendant went from being a powerless individual to a, tragically, empowered individual by being part of a group that meets their need for respect, validation, acceptance and community, tragically.

The Defendant stated that for the first time in his life someone made sense as to  how his feelings were directly related to why he behaved as he did in the past and how that related to which of his needs were being met or not met.  The Defendant mentioned that he was thoroughly relieved and at peace knowing he is not this terrible person he thought he was because of how he behaved in the past.  He now understands and is aware he was only meeting his needs as he believed they needed to be met.

However, the Defendant needed to understand that the feelings he experienced in the past were those same feelings that caused him to use narcotics in the present time.  The problem with most individuals is that they are unable to identify those feelings.

Now that the Defendant has identified his feelings and understands what needs of his were not being met at that particular time, he has the ability to choose to make any life serving adjustments he sees fit.

Future Direction:

The Defendant had needs that were being met through excessive drug use: peace and harmony; self-worth, self-empowerment, choice, emotional safety.(tragically)

The next step would be to reconnect him with getting those needs met in a way that is life serving.  (Example: When he is in a situation where he believes his needs of respect of fairness are not being met, he will make a conscious decision to verbalize the need that is not being met and make a request to get that need met.)  The Defendant will also need to identify his needs and what he is feeling at the present time and make any necessary adjustments that are life serving to him.

Evaluations and Outcomes:

  • The Defendant is feeling relieved, hopeful and inspired about his new found understanding and awareness of his situation regarding his feelings and needs.
  • The Defendant can now apply a need and a feeling to each situation for his past and present events.
  • The Defendant is looking forward to moving on with his life and with his new tools.  He mentioned that he will apply them when necessary.
  • The Defendant has reconnected with family.
  • The Defendant has become more trusting and expressive because he has become empowered by his understand of his feelings and needs.

Conclusion:

  • Since the conclusion of our NVC sessions, the Defendant was inspired enough to enroll and attend a graphic arts school in Santa Monica, Ca.
  • The Defendant empowered himself to write a letter to his Aunt describing her misdeeds. (Certified Letter)  To which she was banned from the family and has taken ill.
  • The Defendant has the support of his family.
  • The Defendant attends support groups for those who have been in his situation.

CASE STUDY #2

Apply Needs Based Practices Communication in Probation

By Michael S. Oden

Overview of the Observable Facts:

  • Defendant is 42 year old white male
  • Defendant began using drugs at the age of 20
  • Defendant used drugs ad sex excessively for over 20 years
  • Defendant’s parents divorced when he was 10 or 11 years of age
  • At age 15, the father told the Defendant that they were to move into to a house together and the Defendant was to get his own room
  • The Father’s girlfriend derailed all of those plans.
  • The Father did not defend for fight for his children, the girlfriend took over
  • The father choose the girlfriend over the children
  • The Defendant is left alone with no father.
  • The Defendant became depressed and hostile for over 20 years
  • The Defendant used women for sex, he never let anyone get close
  • The Defendant was in and out of jail for years/arrested many times
  • The Defendant was arrested for narcotic possession and put on Proposition 36

Story:

During our interview, I asked the defendant to discuss his life and to described to me when and whey drugs and sex became an important part of his life.  I explained to him that my reason for using this process is to discover “why” of his excessive use of narcotics and sex.

The Defendant shared that when he as in high school, he wasn’t big enough to play on the football team or the baseball team.  The coach would not allow him to try out because of his size, The Defendant told his father about his unfair situation and his father did not do anything about it.  The Father’s lack of support angered the Defendant.  The Defendant stated that his Father never really stood up for him about anything he did.

The event that really hurt the Defendant was when his Father and Uncle made plans to build a house where he and his tow other siblings would live.  The Defendant was told that he was going to have his own room.

The events shifted when the Father bought his new girlfriend into the equation.  The girlfriend did not want the Defendant to have his own room and the Father sided with the girlfriend.  In the end, the Father sent the Defendant and his siblings to live with the Mother because the girlfriend did not want to live with 3 kids.

The Defendant has carried an emotional burden of helplessness, anger, hostility and hopelessness for the past 20 years because the Father chose the girlfriend over his children.  Since that time, the Defendant began to use narcotic and sex, excessively, for the next 20 years, to deal with his collective emotions that had accumulated inside him.

The Defendant was constantly getting arrested fro possession of Methamphetamine, going in and out of jail, attending various drug and alcohol treatment centers and finally getting arrested and put on Probation-Proposition 36.

The Defendant never really understood how a Father could do that to his son and did not have the tools to understand how his own feelings and lack of interpersonal needs attributed to his behavior over the past 20 years.

The Process of Restoration:

During our session, I began to decompress the Defendant by getting him to understand and be aware of his feelings and needs and where they originated.  The Defendant also needed to know why excessive use of narcotics and sex played an important role in his life for so many years and what need was being met by participating in these activities.

The Defendant needed to know what he was feeling when he father chose the girlfriend over him and his siblings and the interpersonal needs that were never met by his father.  The defendant stated he felt sad, lonely, helpless, confused, angry, hostile, embarrassed, ET. Al because his father didn’t meet his need for respect, connection, support, emotional safety and empowerment.  I explained that he had an abundant of feelings operating inside him, running concurrently, and that caused him to feel either constantly depressed or emotionally overwhelmed.  The Defendant  needed to know that he didn’t have the ability to identity what he was needing or feeling at the time, so he used and excessive amount of drugs to cope with his emotional trauma.

The Defendant also needed to understand that he was not responsible for his Father’s ability or inability to meet any of his needs.  In this case, the Father was incapable of meeting the interpersonal needs of the Defendant, such as, connection, acceptance, validation, self-worth and security of home and family.  Therefore, the Defendant believed he was the problem.  The most enlightening moment came when the Defendant needed to have empathy for his father by understanding that he didn’t have the ability to stand by himself with a decision.  In other words, the Father was easily influenced by his girlfriend.  So, throughout the past 20 years, the Defendant would constantly use judgment, criticism and blame on his person which would incite all his negative feelings.  Then, the Defendant would “shame” himself, into believing that he was a worthless human being.  Therefore, all of his self-loathing contributed to the excessive use of methamphetamine to meet his need for peace/harmony or numbness, tragically.

Now that the Defendant has an understanding and awareness of his drug use, he can now begin the process of accepting his past feelings and behavior and not blame himself or his Father for using these tactics or methods to handle his emotional suffering.

Future Direction:

The Defendant had needs of self-worth, self-respect, empowerment, affection, love, validation, emotional safety met, tragically, through drug use due to him feeling lonely, helpless, embarrassed and one of being uncomfortable.  The Defendant will need to be aware when his need is being met or not met and what feeling is connected to that need.  He will learn to begin to shift his former way of behaving in a particular situation to a behavioral way that is more life serving.

Evaluation and Outcomes:

  • Defendant, after several months of not using narcotics, tested positive for methamphetamine when he found out his father was coming to visit him.
  • Defendant asked his father he left him for his girlfriend 20 years ago.
  • Father apologizes; Mr. Westhead feels his body shift and stated that for the first time in his life that he is at peace.
  • Defendant is steadily working with his brother as a roofer.
  • Defendant stated he will attend college not that he is off Probation  and will pursue journalism
  • Defendant stated that he doesn’t have any desire, whatsoever, to use any drugs now that he has found peace with his father.

CASE STUDY #3

Applying Needs Based Practices of Communication in Probation

By Michael S. Oden

Overview of Observable Facts:

  • Mother divorced Father when  Defendant was 14 years old
  • First divorce a 14 years of age, sister stayed with the Mother
  • Second divorce at 19 years of age
  • Defendant’s Father was a Priest of a parish in Chicago
  • Defendant lived with the Father after the first divorce
  • Father spent many hours at the job, had high expectations for his son(defendant)
  • Defendant was not allowed to play sports or interact with other kids
  • Defendant had to perform church duties
  • Defendant left home of Father after high school: attended Marquette University
  • Defendant played rugby and began to use cocaine with friends
  • Cocaine used increased each year
  • Cocaine increased  confidence to play rugby and to talk to girls
  • Cocaine helped cope with fantasies (unreachable goals) dating cheerleaders, becoming a successful lawyer (believed he was not as smart as the others), he wanted to keep up with his classmates and to study more.
  • Defendant quit cocaine sue after college for 7 years
  • Defendant was 29 years of age when daughter was born
  • Defendant moved to California due to wife’s new job promotion.  Defendant had to quit his job.
  • Defendant hates his job, marital problems; drugs and alcohol begin
  • On 8/02 Defendant  gets into care accident while drinking
  • Divorces wife to save the house
  • Defendant begins to consume hard liquor (whiskey, brandy, etc)
  • Defendant stated wife always in control, makes all of the decisions just like his father.  Defendant has no say in any family matters.
  • Defendant is told to leave the house and fend for himself.

Story:

During our interview, I asked client to describe his life and to describe to me when and why drugs and alcohol became an important part of his life.  I explained to him that my reason for using this process is to discover the “whys” of his excessive use of drugs and alcohol.

The Defendant shared that when he was 15 years of age his Mother wanted a divorce for his Father, due to his spending the majority of his time with the ministry.  Client went to live with his Father while his sister went to live with his Mother.  Client was feeling upset, angry, confused and helpless with the split up of the family.  While living with his father, Client stated that he was never allowed to play any sports.  He was instructed to assist his father with his church duties. Client’s inability to express himself and be creative proceeded from the ages of 15 to 18 years of age or until Client left home and went away to college at the Marquette University.  Client began to use cocaine fro the first time in college during his freshmen year with his newly acquainted friends.  He also played rugby.  He mentioned that his cocaine increased every year because it gave him confidence to play rugby and to talk to the opposite sex. He also stated that cocaine usage assisted him in coping with his unreachable fantasies such as, dating cheerleaders for becoming a lawyer.  Client didn’t believe he was as smart as his peers and the cocaine assisted him in studying longer which would increase his grade point average.  Client, subsequently, graduated from college and did not consume any type of drug for the next 7 years.

Client was later married to a woman who had the consistent behavior and personality of his father.  He stated that his wife had everything under her control and left no room for Client to have any choice (autonomy) in their family matters.  He had a daughter at the age of 29 and then moved to LA due to his wife getting a promotion.  Therefore, he had to quite his current job in Chicago and Obtain new employment in California.  Client didn’t like his job and began to have martial problems.  Because of these situations, he begins to consume drugs and alcohol, excessively.  He got into a car accident while drinking in August of 2002.  So his wife and child would not be homeless, he proceeded with a divorce to save the house.  He consumed more hard liquor, whiskey and bourbon. Due to the accident, Client was placed on Proposition 36 and is currently in treatment.

The Process of Restoration:

During Session:  I then began t decompress him regarding what needs were being met and not being met with the break up of his family and him giving to obey the orders of his father..  It appeared the break up of he family as due to he father spending most of his time developing his work for the ministry.  His mother’s needs for connection, respect, emotional safety, affection, being heard and family were not being met, hence her wanting a divorce.  I empathized with the mother so Client could understand whey she made the decision to leave.  I also wanted Client to understand that need to blame himself for her wanting the divorce.

I then discussed with Client the needs that were not met during his pre-adolescent and adolescent years.  It appeared that Client never had any autonomy, choice or identity at this time in his life.  He also was unable to express himself because his father demanded that he follow his instructions.  So, Client had no say in what he, really, wanted to do.  He submitted, himself, to his father’s authority for the next 5 years.

Once in college, Client began to express his autonomy by joining the rugby tram and consuming drugs with his peers.  For the first time in his life he believed he was allowed to express himself, make choices and become independent from his past.  His cocaine use increased because it empowered him, causing him to behave with confidence that he didn’t believe he could possess without it, as well as, becoming more efficient with his studies so he could keep up with his peers, academically.

For 7 years Client didn’t consume any drugs.  It appeared that Client went back to obeying and pleasing other, giving up his autonomy.  He mentioned he married a woman who possessed the same characteristics as his father.  He, again, followed and obeyed her every word as he did with his father.  Client became overwhelmed when he had to move to California due to his wife’s promotion, in which he had to give up a job he enjoyed.  Client began to consume alcohol and drugs to meet his need for peace, comfort and autonomy.  I explained to him that making the choice to drink and consume drugs was the only time in his life where he had a choice and independence in his life due to the feelings of helplessness, embarrassment and loneliness.

Client stated that for the first time in his life someone had made complete sense of his behavior and how his feelings where directly related to what needs are being met or not met at that time.  He mentioned that he feels a complete sense of relief and peace.  He can how see what had transpired over the years and make the necessary changes he desires because he chooses too and because of his new found awareness and understand.

Future Direction:

Client hand needs that were being met, tragically, by drug use; autonomy, choice, self-worth/self-respect, self-expression.  The next steps would be to reconnect him in getting those needs met in a life serving way.  (Example:  If he and his wife were to go to restaurant after church, he would make a request as to where the family will eat, instead of his wife)  He will also learn to say, “no” if he chooses not to participate in an event he doesn’t wish to participate.

Evaluations & Outcomes:

  • Client is feeling hopeful and inspired about his newly discovered truth.
  • Client now understands what he had bee feeling over the years and what unmet needs were connected to those feelings.
  • Client is looking forward to getting more insight into his life and what changes he can make to empower himself.
  • Client no longer wants to be “ordered around” by his ex-wife.
  • Client has learned to say “no” to his ex-wife.
  • Client has stopped blaming himself for his past behaviors.