Case Conceptualization



Abstract

The research aims to identify the concerns of Helen and recommend an effective cognitive therapy for her treatment. Helen has been experiencing low self-esteem and confidence due to domestic issues. The study identifies Helen's suffering as depression. Furthermore, the study recommends REBT for the treatment of Helen, which may offer effective interventions to deal with Helen's depression.

Case Conceptualization

Client's Presenting Concerns

Depression is a problem that affects the general population. This problem affects more women than men. Depression can be defined as a set of physiological and cognitive symptoms and behavior. The physiological symptoms may include an inhibition of nerve activity, but most important is in the cognitive aspects. In the case of Helen, she has been experiencing low self-esteem and confidence due to issues in her relationship with Steve. Helen has been suffering from depression, which is a state in which the she has frequent thoughts of defeat and a low mood without apparent cause. Although, it has what might be called "all of life" in the sense that it has reason to feel bad emotionally, but despite this is still feeling bad.

Case Conceptualization

Cognitive Model

The cognitive model of depression, considers that the main alteration in the depression is in the processing of information. During the depression are on a number of schemes (ways of perceiving reality that include beliefs and emotions) that support growth. These schemes usually acquired in childhood, but can remain dormant (inactive) and activated when the subject is related to stressful situations those in which they formed. These schemas activated during depression become predominant, favoring (filtering) the perception and memory of stimuli consistent with them (Knaus, 2001). Therefore, the depressed person is convinced that things are so negative as she sees them. For Beck, the content of depressogenic schemes is constituted by the "Cognitive triad", which is the negative view of self, world and future. The depressive mode (set of schemes related to depression) presents a series of systematic distortions in the processing of information, among which:

Overgeneralization

Dichotomous thinking

Arbitrary Inferences

Magnification-minimization

Selective Abstraction

Personalization

These systematic biases in information processing, along with the triad cognitive disturbances occur in the processing of the information manifested in the depression. In it, the patient tends to keep his negative view of self, world and the future, but could be more plausible alternative interpretations. Emotions and behaviors typical of depression are largely determined measured by the manner in which the depressed perceives reality. The personal paradigm of depression leads him to have a distorted view of himself and the world.

Depression

Ten to fifteen percent of adults have symptoms of depression at some point in their lives. These symptoms are linked to affective disorders that are directly linked to impaired emotional capacity of the individual, which is evident not only in the case of sadness, but also the inability to receive love from those around them. Therefore, depression can be interpreted by an impaired ability to capture, feel and express emotions. Although, depression is one of the most common mental illnesses, it is also true that ...