Conceptualizing Lucy’s Case Using the Cognitive Behavioral Theory of Personality

by | May 28, 2024 | Psychology

 

When counselors are forming a treatment plan, the case should be understood (or conceptualized) through a theoretical lens. That is, a theory of personality should be used to explain clients presentation. This becomes the case conceptualization. From this conceptualization, a counselor can form a treatment plan utilizing the theoretical approaches associated with the theory of personality as interventions.

For this assignment, review your completed biopsychosocial assessment of Lucy. In 750-1,000 words, conceptualize Lucys case using a theory of personality of your choice. In your submission, include the following:

Discuss what treatment theory (e.g., Freudian, Adlerian, Cognitive, Behavioral, Rational Emotive) you would use with Lucy, describing how the theory explains Lucys presentation. Be sure to discuss how your theory of choice describes the formulation of problems, the change process, and the utilization of the theorys associated therapeutic techniques as intervention and prevention strategies.
Provide a description of how you would address any mental health, medical, legal, and substance use issues that the client exhibits in the case study through the lens of your counseling theory of choice.
Include how you would prioritize the needs and formulate agreed-upon outcomes, measures, and strategies. Be sure to include four to five scholarly resources in your paper.
Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center.

 

 

Sample solution

Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell. 

In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.


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God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.

Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.

To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.

 

References

Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.

Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.

Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.

Sample Answer

Sample Answer

 

Conceptualizing Lucy’s Case Using the Cognitive Behavioral Theory of Personality

Introduction

In the field of counseling, it is essential to understand and conceptualize a client’s case through a theoretical lens to effectively develop a treatment plan. This essay will focus on conceptualizing Lucy’s case using the Cognitive Behavioral Theory (CBT) of personality. CBT is a widely used approach that emphasizes the interconnectedness of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and how they influence an individual’s mental health. This theory provides a structured framework for understanding and addressing psychological issues.

Understanding Lucy’s Presentation

Lucy presents with symptoms of anxiety, low self-esteem, and relationship difficulties in the biopsychosocial assessment. Through the lens of CBT, her presentation can be understood as stemming from maladaptive thought patterns and beliefs about herself and others. These cognitive distortions contribute to her feelings of inadequacy and fear, which manifest in her anxious behaviors and interpersonal challenges.

Application of CBT in Treatment

In working with Lucy, a CBT approach would focus on identifying and restructuring her negative thought patterns to bring about behavioral and emotional changes. The formulation of problems in CBT involves recognizing automatic thoughts, cognitive distortions, and core beliefs that contribute to emotional distress. Through cognitive restructuring techniques, Lucy can challenge and replace these maladaptive thoughts with more realistic and positive ones.

The change process in CBT is gradual and involves cognitive restructuring, behavior modification, and skill-building exercises. By addressing Lucy’s cognitive distortions and teaching her coping strategies, she can learn to manage her anxiety and improve her self-esteem. CBT also utilizes behavioral techniques such as exposure therapy and relaxation training to help clients overcome their fears and develop healthier coping mechanisms.

Addressing Mental Health, Medical, Legal, and Substance Use Issues

In addressing Lucy’s mental health issues, CBT would target her anxiety symptoms through cognitive restructuring and exposure therapy. For medical concerns, collaboration with healthcare providers may be necessary to ensure holistic care. Legal issues would be approached by helping Lucy explore and address any underlying issues contributing to her difficulties. Substance use issues would be addressed through cognitive-behavioral strategies to manage cravings and develop healthier coping mechanisms.

Prioritizing Needs and Formulating Strategies

To prioritize Lucy’s needs, a collaborative approach would be taken to establish treatment goals and outcomes. By setting specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals, both the counselor and Lucy can track progress effectively. Strategies would include regular therapy sessions focusing on cognitive restructuring, behavioral experiments, and homework assignments to reinforce learning outside of sessions.

Conclusion

In conclusion, conceptualizing Lucy’s case through the Cognitive Behavioral Theory provides a comprehensive framework for understanding and addressing her psychological issues. By utilizing CBT techniques to challenge maladaptive thoughts, modify behaviors, and build coping skills, Lucy can work towards improving her mental health and overall well-being. Through a personalized treatment plan grounded in CBT principles, Lucy can embark on a journey of self-discovery and growth.

References:

– Beck, J. S. (2011). Cognitive behavior therapy: Basics and beyond. Guilford Press.
– Hofmann, S. G., Asnaani, A., Vonk, I. J., Sawyer, A. T., & Fang, A. (2012). The efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy: A review of meta-analyses. Cognitive therapy and research, 36(5), 427-440.
– Leahy, R. L. (2018). Cognitive therapy techniques: A practitioner’s guide. Guilford Press.
– National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2020). Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (Alcohol, Marijuana, Cocaine, Methamphetamine) [Brochure]. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
– National Institute of Mental Health. (2019). Anxiety disorders. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/anxiety-disorders/index.shtml

 

 

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