Case Study and Therapy Plan for Olivia Benson
Author’s Note: This is my final paper for my Therapeutic Techniques and Counseling class. We had to write a case study on a fictional character and then create a realistic treatment plan for them. This piece contains in-depth descriptions of PTSD, its symptomology, Olivia Benson’s symptoms, and her trauma. Trigger warnings abound for abuse, alcoholism, sexual assault, and kidnapping. If you need something lighter from me, my Disney publication is here:
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Case Study
Olivia “Liv” Margaret Benson is a 54-year-old single mother from New York City. She was raised as an only child by her mother, Serena, in New York City. However, she later discovered she had a half-brother, named Simon. Olivia and her mother had a toxic and abusive relationship. She is a product of rape. The circumstances of her birth both meant that her mother’s rapist was not in her life and that Serena was traumatized. Serena’s trauma led to her becoming an alcoholic and being physically and verbally abusive to her only child. This trauma affected Olivia in the beginning of her career. As a teenager, Olivia was deeply in love with and engaged to one of her mother’s students. When Serena found out…
