Introduction
In the current case, Mike has two primary problems – interpersonal relationships and anxiety about the future. Considering the former, Mike does not have friends in school and experiences bullying, resulting in fear and stress. In addition, his father is verbally abusive because of Mike’s falling grades and “lazy American attitude.” This interpersonal problem leads to concerns about the future since Mike wants to support his family but does not wish to study for those professions that his father approves of. In other words, not only is Mike not interested in these academic areas, but he also receives no positive reinforcement from his father to pursue success in these subjects.
Hypothesis
Mike experiences anxiety and a feeling of inadequacy due to problems in interpersonal relationships and his father’s pressure. Because of these issues, Mike is hopeless about his future and struggles with some of his classes. Moreover, stress and anxiety make him believe that he is responsible for the tension in the family between his mother, who supports him, and his father, who disapproves of his academic success and friend choices. Ultimately, Mike’s problems are complex, and there is a need for psychotherapy for him and, if possible, family counseling with his father.
Treatment Goals
Assuming only Mike is participating in counseling services, the primary treatment goal is to reduce his anxiety levels and improve his cognitive control. Both objectives will allow Mike to make more weighted decisions and rationalize other people’s demands (Vernon, 2016). Educating Mike about this decision-making approach will introduce a sense of structure in his life, mitigating feelings of inadequacy and hopelessness about the future.
Interventions
Cognitive Restructuring
According to cognitive behavioral theories (CBTs), cognitive restructuring is one of the most effective interventions. It aims to help clients reevaluate their thought patterns and eventually substitute them with positive ideas (Curtiss et al., 2021). There is extensive evidence regarding its high efficiency in dealing with depression and anxiety disorders (Powers & Kalodner, 2016).
Moreover, in the current case, it is beneficial for Mike because cognitive restructuring can help him reevaluate the significance of his father’s demands and focus on the positive aspects of his life (Curtiss et al., 2021). It is possible to supplement this approach with other CBT interventions, such as positive reinforcement, reframing, thought-stopping, and other cognitive, emotive, and behavioral techniques. As a result, this approach should lower Mike’s anxiety levels and teach him about healthy coping strategies.
Rational Emotive Imagery
The second potential intervention is rational emotive imagery (REI), one of the most relevant techniques in rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT). It generally has the same objective as cognitive restructuring, which transforms dysfunctional/irrational thoughts into functional instruments (Stefan et al., 2019).
However, rationalization during therapeutic sessions is used to guide the client in changing their perception of their thoughts (Vernon, 2016). Vernon (2016) notes that this approach can be highly effective in mitigating anxiety, but it takes skill, and “clients are usually encouraged to practice REI for 30 days” (p. 444). However, if the patient masters the technique, it can help them rationalize their worries meaningfully, mitigating stress and feelings of hopelessness about the future.
Expected Outcomes and Conclusion
Due to the complexity of the problems, particularly in Mike’s relationship with his father, the treatment is unlikely to resolve all issues. However, both general CBT and REBT can significantly improve Mike’s resilience toward other people’s demands, lowering his anxiety levels and allowing him to rationalize his life (Powers & Kalodner, 2016; Vernon, 2016). This sense of structure is necessary for Mike, who worries about his future and his inability to meet his father’s requirements. Ultimately, both interventions are helpful and might significantly lower Mike’s anxiety levels.
References
Curtiss, J. E., Levine, D. S., Ander, I., & Baker, A. W. (2021). Cognitive-behavioral treatments for anxiety and stress-related disorders. Focus, 19(2), 184-189. Web.
Powers, Y. O., & Kalodner, C. R. (2016). Cognitive behavior theories. In D. Capuzzi & M. D. Stauffer (Eds.), Counseling and psychotherapy: Theories and interventions (pp. 348-383). American Counseling Association.
Stefan, S., Cristea, I. A., Szentagotai Tatar, A., & David, D. (2019). Cognitiveābehavioral therapy (CBT) for generalized anxiety disorder: Contrasting various CBT approaches in a randomized clinical trial. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 75(7), 1188-1202. Web.
Vernon, A. (2016). Rational emotive behavior therapy. In D. Capuzzi & M. D. Stauffer (Eds.), Counseling and psychotherapy: Theories and interventions (pp. 424-461). American Counseling Association.