Cognitive Therapy Case Conceptualization

The client Elena Elena is an adolescent female, coming to the therapy process demonstrating by actions and language a great deal of anxiety and overall stolidity for her situation. Elena is a smart, socially engaged Mexican the Statesn attending public game school. She opens the session with presenting problems regarding conflict over what she might do after high-pitched school. Preliminary conceptualization from a cognitive berth Overall, there is an translucent feeling of disempowered regarding her right and or dexterity to make bread and butter decisions.She comes from a close-knit family, though some of her siblings pull in moved away to try out goals beyond those that they may feel their parents are putting upon them. She has lately begun to draw pedantically and socially as she feels the urgency of choosing to adhere to family impost or to go out on her make love, like her peers. though she says she has not yet made a decision, kat once that cognition mediates af fect and behavior (Friedburg 101).From this perspective a therapist might conclude that her recent apathy toward academics and isolating herself from her peers show that she indeed is letting the thoughts of I mustiness get word to my parents drive her life perspective. It is promising from a cognitive stand prognosticate, that she shows some green-eyed monster toward her boyfriend and others Perhaps the anger when discussing her family dynamics and recent history is closely telling that Elena could benefit from Becks Socratic dialogue.The pluralistic views that come from her possess identity within her bi paganism are strongly embedded, and the therapist demonstrated this by demonstrating lots of open straitss. Letting Elena focus on herself as an singular(a) rather than a Mexican-American could lead to meaningful exploration and collaborative cognitive change to help Elena feel more empowered.When counseling adolescents from a cognitive perspective the counselor must reme mber that under any batch this may be the first time that these clients might see their actions and behaviors, and suspicion the touchs that may have become embedded during childhood. Elena obviously needs a relatively short-term look into these feelings due to her grades slipping and applying for colleges, if she so chooses. petition a client what is going through your mind right now (Murdock 337) is unitary of the base approaches to bringning to help the client recognize their individual thought patterns.This is a question that is difficult for many adults, and though adolescents in general can be more open to change, Elenas worldview as a bi ethnic young woman is overpowering any other autoloading(prenominal) thoughts that she might have it is paganly appropriate for a young Mexican American to disregard her own thoughts and needs for the good of the familywhich Elena does in item voice (Rochlen 2009). As an observer to this case scenario, the argufy, due to age and cul ture, seems genuinely difficult. The video demonstrates this strong dodge Elena has developed that exudes this overwhelming disempowerment.I believe this schema of overall disempowerment is deeply embedded and will be difficult to repugn through cognitive therapy. Additionally, Mexican culture tends to see the counselor as expert and the collaborative facet of cognitive therapy may prove to be at the least uncomfortable for Elena, if not in importive. Elena may continue to desire on others to make decisions for her, to give her an unconditional guarantee (Corey 107), if this base belief cannot be penetrated due to adherence to cultural tradition, fear of change, or if Elena is unavailing to fetch to differentiate these automatic thoughts. Possible cognitive strategiesIn general, Hispanic Americans traditionally have strong family bonds and honor generational wisdom (Sue 377) Through the rate of flow political venue of the United States and popular culture, Mexican-Americans may fall predate to stereotypes and inherently feel a dis plug into or poor self-image American beliefs certainly account for this inner campaign Elena is feeling. Because this is pervasive and overarching in American culture where to begin with Elena in imperative. There is a lot seat these feelings, and as an adolescent who is struggling the counselor should take these omnipresent cultural truths into consideration.It is promising to me that Elena is already speaking almost her siblings I see this as an open door for initiating questions that challenge Elenas view of herself as a young Mexican American. I would certainly recognize Elenas licking and give lots of positive regard as she speaks close her presenting problem. Cognitively, I would go back to Elenas conversation regarding the varying paths her siblings have chosen. I would respect fully move through this aspect of cognitive therapy so as to not threaten Elenas loyalty to her family.Since Becks model is base on a l eading rather than a more confrontational approach, I would use this to my advantage to set aside her to explore her emotions about her siblings and their life choices. I see this as an aspect of Elenas life experience that may allow Elena to begin to explore self-identity outside of the effects of biculturalism. holding the central focus of thought exploration on how she might challenge her beliefs about her life choices through reflecting on her siblings life choices may be a practiced way to allow Elena to begin connecting the deeper thoughts behind her ability to make life choices.From a cognitive perspective and the lens of cultural identity, my goal for Elena would be for her to begin understanding that many are cladding overwhelming decisions within their own cultural context. At some point everyone must decide to respect family wishes or go out on her own. Elena would be challenged to explore the beliefs she holds regarding herself as a Mexican American she could begin t o see how the complex construct is not a means to an end. back up Elena expose automatic thoughts and change subsequent behaviors could serve to identify the struggle she will face as a bicultural woman in America today.Obviously, this grander focus this approach toward the big picture provides empowerment, but is daunting. Collaboratively, it would be specimen to praise Elena for exploring her identity on a grander scale. At this point, I would win Elena to do some homework Her recent social isolation undermines her stand system and exploration of self-identity. Many of her friends to do not sound as if they are struggling as bicultural adolescents Meeting with a Latino cultural group on her local college campus would be an ideal way to allow her to feel empowered as well as supported.I am sealed that many others have faced this kind of multicultural dilemma in their formative years, and have come up with myriad life choices. Though I can help Elena begin to understand and pos sibly question her core beliefs that drive her behaviors, she will need safe and pertinent slipway to explore them. Elena is a very intelligent young lady, and I do think from our observation that she inherently knows that as well.Finding go unders and people with whom she can identify will empower hernot pressuring her into making a decision about her next step in life with a goal toward earshot other stories of biculturalism in America and give her a comfortable place to explore her wishes for her own future and how she might find congruency between her choices and her heritage. I am certain that once her belief of what it means to be Mexican-American is challenged in some authentic way, she will begin to explore her automatic thoughts about cultural identity.My hope in working with Elena from a cognitive perspective is that she will begin to see her own identity and realize how her own thoughts had created a situation that most certainly is not the only workable scenario for h er path in life. Relevant multicultural considerations From the perspective of a bilingualist educator and a culturally aware individual, I was ultimately ineffectual to separate Elenas biculturalism from the cognitive approaches and questioning that I would practice with Elena.Though this aspect of Elenas life situation appears hopeless to her now, I believe through finding authentic ways to identify with successful, independent Mexican-Americans she might begin to expose the prevailing automatic thoughts leading her to these isolating, dichotomous conclusions. The last germane(predicate) multicultural aspect that I have not addressed is it would be imperative that I find an opportunity to speak with Elenas family, and connect them with other families who are raising children in a bicultural environment.This is ideal because Latino families need opportunities to be involved in the community and support one another in myriad ways. non-productive cognitive approaches Note how at th e seed of this integrated discourse regarding Elenas pull toward family tradition and sense of button for her dreams of going to college I was careful to note which door felt safe and respectful to collaboratively open with Elena.Siblings, cousins, aunts and uncles may stay out of family business much(prenominal) as the pressure from her mother, but it would be culturally insensitive for me to have Elena challenge her thoughts and risking her attaching them to family ties. That is already were Elena is, and traditionally Mexican-Americans see the counselor as expert, which could disengage long-standing family traditions and dynamics. I am convinced that approaching Elena through questions about herself, her riends, her academic life, and family would have made her feel that cognition is knowable and accessible, which is an underlying pes of Becks theory. If a counselor were to solely base their approach, without multicultural considerations, on cognitive therapy with Elena as an individual it could serve to not allow herself to fully feel her gracious emotions, nor to bring awareness that change is central to the human process.I do not think asking Elena to explain how her beliefs construct her human race without first finding meaningful ways for her to relate to others outside of herself could she effect any change at all. Cognitive therapy, through the lens of multiculturalism, must always consider the bigger picture of what their life perspective actually is If challenged directly about her mother Elena may have only foster solidified her commitment to fail at school to have a concrete reason to obey her parents.