ABSTRACT
Micah, a 16-year-old adolescent male, had been residing in a residential treatment facility for juvenile offenders for 14 months when he first begins attending a trauma group for youth struggling with emotional and behavioral difficulties. He has been attending group consistently for the last 5 weeks and has recently begun to participate more actively where previously he had abstained, instead choosing to sit by himself in a chair by the window. Staff report that for the most part he interacts well with other residents and adults; however they often feel as if he’s a ticking time bomb and can be “very touchy” and “easily set off.” His clinician and group leaders describe him as “thoughtful” and protective of the younger residents and some female staff. They additionally observe that he can be quite sensitive to perceived criticism or hostility. Micah has never met his father and hasn’t seen his mother or four siblings in 7 months. His mother reports she has difficulty arranging childcare and transportation to the facility where he resides an hour and a half away, and feels that she is unable to handle him and is considering terminating her parental rights.
