Can you tell me a little bit about your childhood? Dr. Gilchrist: Sure. I grew up with my mom and my younger brother; four years Shannon: he’s younger than I am. My parents divorced when I was 8, so for the longest time it was just my mom, my brother, and me. We kind of bounced around a lot, she worked two jobs to support the two of us as a single mom. So been feeling overwhelmed for a long time now. Dr. Gilchrist: you’ve Yeah, and actually probably say even before I was 8, before they got Shannon: I’d divorced, because my dad is an alcoholic, so even when they were together it was just chaotic. And I always wanted to protect my brother and help my mom. Help your mom how so? Dr. Gilchrist: Around the house, and helping out with my younger brother-taking care of Shannon: him. I have a childhood, I guess, because I did a lot of adult things. really…didn’t Adult things like? Dr. Gilchrist: Doing the dishes, cooking dinners, staying in to watch my brother while my Shannon: friends are outside at the park and stuff. So lots of things I guess. So it sounds like you had a lot of responsibility for taking care of your Dr. Gilchrist: younger brother. Uh huh. Shannon: What did you do for you? Dr. Gilchrist: Me? an interesting guess for me, I got Shannon: That’s question…I straight A’s. an accomplishment. Dr. Gilchrist: That’s Yeah, but I really stressed myself out doing that. Shannon: How did you stress yourself out? Dr. Gilchrist: like I have to make straight and not even or only in school. I Shannon: Just…feeling A’s, do that at work-I have to be the best employee. I do that at home, I do that with my friends, my roommates, and even in relationships, romantic relationships. So it seems like you strive to be perfect in school and in other areas. You Dr. Gilchrist: might even be striving to be the best client. Yeah, I guess. Shannon:
Dr. Gilchrist: Can you tell me a little bit about your childhood? Shannon: Sure. I grew up with my mom and my younger brother; he’s four years younger than I am. My parents divorced when I was 8, so for the longest time it was just my mom, my brother, and me. We kind of bounced around a lot, she worked two jobs to support the two of us as a single mom. Dr. Gilchrist: So you’ve been feeling overwhelmed for a long time now. Shannon: Yeah, and actually I’d probably say even before I was 8, before they got divorced, because my dad is an alcoholic, so even when they were together it was just chaotic. And I always wanted to protect my brother and help my mom. Dr. Gilchrist: Help your mom how so? Shannon: Around the house, and helping out with my younger brother-taking care of him. I really…didn’t have a childhood, I guess, because I did a lot of adult things. Dr. Gilchrist: Adult things like? Shannon: Doing the dishes, cooking dinners, staying in to watch my brother while my friends are outside at the park and stuff. So lots of things I guess. Dr. Gilchrist: So it sounds like you had a lot of responsibility for taking care of your younger brother. Shannon: Uh huh. Dr. Gilchrist: What did you do for you? Shannon: Me? That’s an interesting question…I guess for me, I got straight A’s. Dr. Gilchrist: That’s an accomplishment. Shannon: Yeah, but I really stressed myself out doing that. Dr. Gilchrist: How did you stress yourself out? Shannon: Just…feeling like I have to make straight A’s, and not even or only in school. I do that at work-I have to be the best employee. I do that at home, I do that with my friends, my roommates, and even in relationships, romantic relationships. Dr. Gilchrist: So it seems like you strive to be perfect in school and in other areas. You might even be striving to be the best client. Shannon: Yeah, I guess.