Your supervisor has assigned you the following case. This is your first marital case since you joined White Loft Family Service Centre, one year ago after your graduation.

The couple, Tommy and Laura were referred to your agency by their Church Pastor, Mr Anthony Yeo for marital counselling. According to Mr Yeo, he has known the couple since they were in primary school. Both are “God-fearing children who are very committed to their marriage.” Though they seem to want to make their marriage work, they are having great challenges.

Tommy and Laura, both 27 years old, married in January this year and moved into their condominium unit at Bukit Timah. They were sweethearts from junior college. Upon completion of their ‘A’ Levels, Laura decided to pursue a teaching degree locally. Tommy, on the other hand, completed his National Service and subsequently left to Australia to pursue his double degree in Computing and Law.

It was during this time that Laura’s dad, Mr Loh was diagnosed with lung cancer. Mr Loh, who used to be a taxi driver quit his job to fully focus on his treatment. Mrs. Loh, 63 years old, a homemaker, became the main support for her husband. As the older child, Laura assumed financial responsibility for the family. She decided to put on hold her degree plans to take on home-based tutoring on a full-time basis as she is very close to her dad.

Such an arrangement also gave Laura the flexibility to attend to her dad’s daily care needs. Laura’s younger brother, Lionel, 19, who has Down Syndrome, occasionally chips in with some simple household chores. Laura very quickly took on the new roles of managing the family finances as well as overseeing the daily running of the household. Though she felt overwhelmed having to
suddenly juggle all the various roles, she often kept her real feelings to herself. She did not want to bring unnecessary worry to the rest of her family members.