CASE 2
Andy is a 21-year-old male who identifies as biracial of Asian and Black descent.He was adopted at the age of 3 by a White family.Due to a birth defect, his right arm was amputated.He stated that he feels lucky to be adopted by an amazing family but feels that parts of his cultural identity were dismissed. “I feel like my mom hyperfocused on me being Asian and dismissed or ignored the other half of me—the Black side of me.” There was an unspoken expectation that I should be “very smart academically.” He shared he felt pressured to bring home perfect grades and attend college. While he did not struggle academically, he felt more drawn toward the arts.
Regarding his disability, he shared that his parents “fought to ensure I had every experience.” While he appreciates this, he felt that he was often allowed to be in some places and spaces, but he did not feel included. He stated, “I really felt as though my attendance was a checked box on a diversity checklist.”
Andy recently graduated from college with a degree in electrical engineering but is struggling to find a career path that supports the life he really wants. He stated he feels guilt as he wants to make his adoptive parents proud, but he feels like pursuing a career path as an electrical engineer would leave him emotionally drained and detached and ultimately unhappy long-term.
How do you conceptualize Andy’s situation?
Would Andy’s gender and racial/ethnic background make any difference in your case conceptualization?
What interventions and goals would you suggest for Andy? How could you present these to him?