Case 33
I am a twelve‑year‑old boy. I have felt very badly ever since my father abandoned us about eight years ago. I am sad to not have him here with me. When I ask my mother why he left us, she says that he went to [another country] to work so he could send us money; but he never came back. He communicates with my oldest sister, who is fifteen now, to send some money; but [...]
Case 32
I am now twenty‑eight years old. Twenty years ago my father sexually abused me. It went on until I was ten years old, when my younger brother told my mother what was going on. (My father threatened to kill himself if I told anyone.) When my mother found out about the abuse, I thought she would take my side. Instead, she accused me of seducing my father.... Even today she sees me as her rival, [...]
Case 31
I was at the point of taking my own life. I have suffered nights of insomnia, crying without anyone seeing. [I am a young man.] It’s been almost two years that I’ve been depressed. My self‑esteem is as low as it can get. I have a hard time even smiling. I have lost my job and my studies. My body hurts. Every day it feels like something bad is going to happen. No one can [...]
Case 30
I was married for three years to a loving, respectful, responsible professional man... but our marriage got into a rut. I didn’t feel that I was growing as a person, so I decided we should get separated. Since then, I have been even more miserable. I have been with several other men, but those relationships, far from making me feel complete, have made me feel worse. Now all I can think about is the wonderful [...]
Case 29
When I found out my wife was pregnant, I promised [God] that I would not break my marriage vow to be faithful to her. But I failed her, and she has had a very difficult pregnancy.... [Now she] is just about to lose the baby. Only a miracle will save the child; but I am convinced that breaking a promise to God is the worst thing you can do. When you promise God something, it [...]
Case 28
Almost two years ago I started having sex with my boyfriend. Now I am pregnant, and even though before this happened my boyfriend spoke with my mom about us getting married, now he comes up with any excuse he can to avoid the subject. My family keeps asking me for a wedding date, and I don’t have any idea how to answer them. I am despondent. I would like to leave him, but I love [...]
Case 27
I had it all! My dreams and aspirations had come true, and I had a wonderful family: a selfless, understanding, and supportive wife, and two children who filled my life with joy from the moment they were born. Nevertheless, I met another woman and fell in love with her. I got my hopes up in a very short time and threw away all I had carefully built in the past to live with this other [...]
Case 26
We have a four‑year‑old daughter who is giving us a difficult time with regard to discipline, obedience, respect, and following our orders. She has become rebellious: she doesn’t obey, hits us, and answers us with arrogance in spite of how young she is. We have tried various methods of discipline, including not giving her rewards, sitting her in a time-out chair for three or four minutes, taking away TV time, etc. But now we even [...]
Case 25
I have a seventeen‑year‑old son, and I have tried to protect him from bad influences. However, there was a time in my marriage when I did not have the desire to have marital relations with my husband, and one of my husband’s reactions was to get pornographic videos and bring them into our bedroom. I didn’t know it at the time, but my son found them in our room and took them, not knowing what [...]