Joe CampbellJoe is a 35 year old Caucasian male who is estranged from his father Bob. Joe has not talked to Bob since his father left the family over 25 years ago. Joe’s mother is in the local nursing home, after having been diagnosed with early onset dementia at the age of 57. Joe says he picks his mom up every Sunday to attend the Lutheran church. He reports being very close to his mother, and says he is frustrated that Karen and the kids refuse to go to church with them.Joe has two older sisters who live in the same town. He says he tries to see them, but Karen doesn’t get along with them, so “it’s not really worth the effort.”Joe is an Army veteran and served for two years in Afghanistan after his high school graduation, shortly after marrying Karen.Joe is a long–haul truck driver. He was once a police officer, but he was injured on the job 10 years ago. After he left the force, he started working for his brother–in–law’s trucking business. He says it helps his marriage to be away from home for long periods of time, but because he is gone so much, the kids don’t listen and “everything has fallen apart.”Joe is an active member of the American Legion and he is there most nights that he is not working, talking to the other police officers and community members.Joe says Karen was his high school girlfriend, and when she got pregnant he did the right thing by marrying her. He says he joined the Army so he could provide a better life for his family, and he was devastated when Karen moved out of their home to live with her mother.. He says he had to beg her to come back, and it was only after she became pregnant with Jacob that they reconciled.Joe says he left again two years ago and moved in with his sister and brother“in”law after Karen’s mother died. Karen had started to drink heavily, and began to be angry and violent towards him. He moved back home about a year ago when he realized his kids were out of control and Karen needed some help in dealing with their behaviors.Joe said in his individual intake that he wants a divorce. “I can’t stand Karen, her drinking, and how she has given up, but I am afraid for my kids if I leave,” he said. “They’re already a mess because of her, and if I leave, who knows what will happen?”Joe smokes cigarettes on a daily basis and “drinks beers with the guys.” He denies any previous psychological diagnosis.
