COUN/HUSR 380 – Theory Integration Paper #1 CASE STUDY 1 – TOM Tom’s father (Des) died from a heart attack five months ago. Tom is 25 years old and has been estranged from his father for over five years. His father’s death has had an unexpected impact on Tom, who begins exhibiting very intimidating and aggressive behavior toward his colleagues and friends. Tom had always been very sensitive and introverted, so this is significantly out of character for him. He has assumed that this behavior is in some way connected to his father’s death but is not sure how to stop it. Tom has not shed a tear over his father’s death and is mostly concerned for his mother and her grief. Tom’s father was a very intimidating man who ruled the house through a fear campaign. Despite this, Tom’s mother stayed by his side until the end. Although Tom has not spoken with his father for over five years he has had moderate contact with his mother. Tom is by nature an emotionally withdrawn man, who has difficulty expressing his emotions – a consequence he has surmised from a childhood of not letting his father see that he’s hurt him or give him the satisfaction of seeing him cry.