Cognitive Therapy Case Conceptualization

The client Elena Elena is an adolescent female, coming to the therapy process demonstrating finished actions and words a great deal of anxiety and overall apathy for her situation. Elena is a smart, socially tenanted Mexi corporation the Statesn attending public high school. She opens the session with presenting problems regarding conflict over what she might do after high school. Preliminary conceptualization from a cognitive vista Overall, there is an obvious depression of disempowered regarding her right and or ability to make life decisions.She comes from a close-knit family, though some of her siblings wee moved a stylus to invitek come forth goals beyond those that they may aroma their parents are putting upon them. She has late begun to disengage academically and socially as she rules the urgency of choosing to adhere to family tradition or to go emerge on her own, like her peers. Though she says she has not yet made a decision, know that cognition mediates chance upon and behavior (Friedburg 101).From this perspective a therapist might conclude that her recent apathy toward academics and isolating herself from her peers place that she indeed is letting the thoughts of I must listen to my parents drive her life perspective. It is promising from a cognitive standpoint, that she shows some jealousy toward her boyfriend and others Perhaps the anger when discussing her family dynamics and recent history is virtually relative that Elena could benefit from Becks Socratic dialogue.The pluralistic views that come from her own identity within her biculturalism are powerfully embedded, and the therapist demonstrated this by demonstrating lots of open interrogatorys. Letting Elena focus on herself as an case-by-case 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 remember that under e ither circumstances this may be the first time that these clients might see their actions and behaviors, and question the teachings that may ware 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. Asking a client what is going by means of your mind right now (Murdock 337) is oneness of the base approaches to get downning to help the client recognize their exclusive thought patterns.This is a question that is nasty for some adults, and though adolescents in general can be more open to change, Elenas worldview as a bicultural young woman is overpowering any other spontaneous thoughts that she might shake off it is culturally appropriate for a young Mexican American to disregard her own thoughts and needs for the good of the familywhich Elena does in fact voice (Rochlen 2009). As an observer to this case scenario, the dispute, due to age and culture , seems very difficult. The video demonstrates this affectionate schema Elena has developed that exudes this overwhelming disempowerment.I believe this schema of overall disempowerment is deeply embedded and will be difficult to contend through cognitive therapy. Additionally, Mexican culture tends to see the counselor as beneficial and the collaborative aspect of cognitive therapy may prove to be at the least uncomfortable for Elena, if not ineffective. Elena may continue to rely 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 unable to begin to identify these automatic thoughts. Possible cognitive strategiesIn general, Latino Americans traditionally pass water strong family bonds and honor generational wisdom (Sue 377) by dint of the current political venue of the United States and popular culture, Mexican-Americans may fall prey to stereotypes and inherently feel a dis relate or poor self-image American beliefs certainly account for this inner struggle Elena is feeling. Because this is permeant and overarching in American culture where to begin with Elena in imperative. There is a lot behind these feelings, and as an adolescent who is essay the counselor should take these omnipresent cultural truths into consideration.It is promising to me that Elena is already speaking astir(predicate) 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 frustration and give lots of overbearing regard as she speaks about her presenting problem. Cognitively, I would go back to Elenas conversation regarding the varying paths her siblings have chosen. I would respectfully move through this aspect of cognitive therapy so as to not exist Elenas loyalty to her family.Since Becks model is based on a leading rather than a more confrontational approach, I would use this to my advantage to allow her to seek 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. Keeping the primeval 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 safe way to allow Elena to begin connecting the deeper thoughts behind her ability to make life choices.From a cognitive perspective and the lense of cultural identity, my goal for Elena would be for her to begin understanding that many are facing 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 to see how the complex construct is not a means to an end. Helping Elena founder automatic thoughts and change incidental 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 warning to praise Elena for exploring her identity on a grander scale. At this point, I would encourage Elena to do some homework Her recent social closing off undermines her support 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 sure 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 possibly question her core beliefs that drive her behaviors, she will need safe and pertinent ways 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 places and people with whom she can identify will empower hernot pressuring her into making a decision about her next stride in life with a goal toward hearing 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 possible scenario for her path in life. Rele vant multicultural considerations From the perspective of a bilingual educator and a culturally aware individual, I was ultimately unable 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 purpose 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 relevant 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 manifold in the community and support one another in myriad ways. non-productive cognitive approaches Note how at the beginning of this integrated discours e regarding Elenas pull toward family tradition and sense of loss 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 such 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 approach shot 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 al-Qaeda 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 her self to fully feel her human 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 reality 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 really is If challenged promptly about her mother Elena may have only further solidified her commitment to fail at school to have a concrete reason to obey her parents.