This paper is an assessment and a treatment plan for the movie character Precious, with the movie of the same name. It discusses the MEBES model as the method in assessing the character. A treatment plan is then constructed which is based on the PLISSIT model of sex therapy. Assessment and Treatment Plan for Precious The Movie Precious is a movie about a 16-year-old black girl named Clareese Precious Jones (Gabourey Sidebe) based on a novel Push by Sapphire. The movie won two Oscars.
One was for the best performance by an actress in a supporting role, and the other was best in writing screen play based on material previously produced or published. It was nominated for best achievement in directing, editing, best motion picture of the year, and best performance by an actress in a leading role. Along with these, the movie won 70 more awards and 55 nominations (“Precious”, n. d. ). The setting is in 1987 in a neighborhood in New York City called Harlem.
Precious has a dysfunctional family and is impregnated twice by her father as a result of rape. She also experiences physical and mental abuse by her mother, who is unemployed. Precious’s first child is named “Mongo” because of down syndrome and is being cared for by her grandmother. The movie starts when she was already carrying in her womb her second baby and was called from class to the principal’s office because of her condition. She was then suspended and was advised to shift to an alternative school. Precious agreed and hoped to get her life back in track.
In response to all these negative experiences, she indulged herself to a world of fantasy and imagination. When she was being raped by her father, she imagined herself as a superstar in a music video, where she was the focus of attention. When she was looking at her photo albums, she imagined the pictures to be talking to her. These fantasies, however, were being ruined by the appearance of her mother in her fantasies. When she looked in the mirror, she was in another world where she would become a thin white blonde girl loved and appreciated.
She was often told by her mother that schooling will not get her anywhere and she should just go to social services to get some money. However, Precious was determined to put direction in her life. She pursues the alternative school and gained appreciation and love from her classmates and her teacher, Ms. Rain (Paula Patton). Every thing in Precious’s life seemed to get better until she found out that she was positive with the HIV virus, but not her child. She began to break down and pour out all her emotions saying how miserable her life was.
Her teacher assured her that she was loved and appreciated. Towards the end of the movie, Precious and her mother met for the last time in Mrs. Weiss’ (Mariah Carey) office in social services. Mary, Precious’s mother, was asked about the abuse that she was inflicting on her daughter. She said that the reason why she treated her daughter that way was because she was broken hearted, feeling that her husband would rather have sex with her daughter than with her. Precious then got up and got her children, telling her mother that she would never see her again.
The PLISSIT Model of Sex Therapy and the MEBES Model In assessing the condition of Precious in terms of the sexual aspect of her life, the MEBES model can be used. This model stands for Mind, Emotion, Body Behavior, Energy, and Spirituality. It is a model that is developed by Dr. Patti Britton. This approach is very different from psychotherapy since it does not tackle the aspects involving family, friends, and relationships. The MEBES model is a form of assessment which determines what clients need in the sexual aspect of their lives (Britton, 2010).