DescriptionThis phenomenological case study was a first-person practitioner account of an in-home therapist working for a case management organization that provides therapeutic counseling services to children. The psychosocial development of this 16-year-old Latina female, a recent immigrant to the United States, occurred in a medicalized environment with biological treatments that led to the development of an illness identity and the need for medication to manage emotions. The case includes a discussion of the side effects of medication, the impact of culture, and role of attachment. The pharmaceutical industry has invested significant financial resources in the treatment of mental illness and emotional/behavioral disorders in children. Little is known, however, about the long-term side effects of psychotropic medication in individuals who initiate use at a young age. This case study argues for a reduction in long-term use of psychotropic medication in children. The author utilized cognitive behavioral therapeutic techniques to teach coping skills and to reintegrate the child into the community after an extended hospitalization and subsequent residential placement.