Assignment Task: Please read the following case study and answer the questions to the best of your ability.
Tom and Van were classmates in graduate school. Tom grew up in a family that was dysfunctional in many ways. His father was an alcoholic who was often without a job, and his mother was constantly dealing with the stress of balancing a full-time job at a local supermarket with the constant demands of housekeeping and caring for her children. His siblings, who were both much older than him, were mostly cold and distant. Tom helped his mother with many of the house-related chores even as he remained focused on his schoolwork. Van, by contrast, grew up with his twin sister and parents who showered them with love and attention and often found himself in social situations that offered opportunities to grow mentally. Van's family was not affluent but they weren't poor either. His father earned enough to spare money for a weekend getaway once every month. The only problem was that his father was a traveling salesman and was rarely at home.
Both Tom and Van were licensed at the same time and opened an office together when they began their private practice. Tom was able to work very empathetically with his clients as many of them had problems similar to the ones he experienced growing up. Van did not do as well as Tom but had a steady stream of clients coming to his office.
Over time, however, Tom and Van went in very different directions. Tom worked long hours, took no physical exercise, gained weight, and talked of his stress constantly yet never did anything about it. He seemed to become progressively less sensitive to the need of his clients and could never figure out why. Van too kept a busy schedule but took time off when he was stressed, took good care of himself physically and emotionally, and seemed to have a good sense of how to be a professional therapist without neglecting his personal care. Consequently, word of mouth meant that while Van gained more clients Tom met only a few every month.
Question 1: What, if any, issues of professional resiliency do you see in this case?
Question 2: Explore the possibility that Tom studied to become a helper in an attempt to understand how to fix his own problems. What is your advice to those considering becoming a professional helper?
Question 3: In light of the deterioration in Tom's professional life, do you believe helpers should be immune to the need to be needed? Explain.