Case Summary
Sarah presents with a constellation of problems, largely centered on a sense of being totally inadequate and having a deep lack of confidence that infiltrates not only her personal life but also her professional life. Many times, she feels undermined by colleagues at work or overruled by her children at home. It is, however, worsened by the fact that she has difficulty expressing many of her interests or preferences. She finds it difficult to meet her needs and wants to meet them by continuously giving in to others, and then she feels resentful.
Case Analysis
The 5P approach provides a holistic framework for understanding Sarah’s situation and her harsh, unrealistic upbringing regarding assertiveness, especially from female figures in the family. Precipitating factors could well comprise recent increases in workplace demands, or personal life changes that have rendered her usual coping resources deficient (Corey, 2016).
Perpetuating factors could include a paucity of supportive feedback mechanisms or environments that reinforce her passive behavior. Protective factors, such as her capacity to reflect on the situation and seek help, point toward some motivation to change and potential resilience (Corey, 2016). The presenting problem is the confluence of these issues, in which the client’s current level of distress and dissatisfaction becomes apparent.
Therapy
The intervention strategy applies a cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) perspective to assist Sarah. The training employs a core approach that helps Sarah develop skills to express herself when communicating with her colleagues. Imaginal exposure will be used to help Sarah confront the anxiety-related assertive behaviors in a controlled and therapeutic environment. To target this, Sarah must be taught progressive muscle relaxation techniques and deep breathing exercises that would help her control her physiological symptoms of anxiety and pave the way for better grounds for learning effective communication (Corey, 2016).
As for the exact behavioral patterns in Sarah’s case, these would include maintaining direct eye contact with people, causing her voice to tremble, and playing with her hair, which she most likely would acquire as a habit. This wide and comprehensive approach to Sarah aims to build optimum self-efficacy that leads to well-being, transcending her current challenges.
Reference
Corey, G. (2016). Cognitive behavior therapy. Theory and practice of counseling and psychotherapy (10th ed., pp. 269–310). Cengage Learning.