Psychotherapy Application for Emily Parker
PSY 472 - Clinical Psychology
Arizona State University
Emily Parker is a 27-year-old woman and a graduate student of Social Work who has been
experiencing heightened anxiety and a depressed mood accompanied by some panic attacks
after her mother passed away due to pancreatic cancer. Even though she had mildly
suffered anxiety during her teenage life, the awe-desolating effect of the loss of her mother
has greatly spurred up her suffering. Being in a common apartment with two roommates
and coping with all the stresses caused by her study load, Emily ends up being swept by her
emotions, resulting in concentration and academic problems. She wants to have a better
understanding of her anxiety, grief, and emotional well-being and through psychological
support learn how to deal with such emotions. This evaluation is going to examine the
extent of her emotional disorder and what kind of therapeutic procedures can be applied to
give her the means to put her life and mental state back under her control.
Gearing Up!
Emily Parker was sent to a psychological examination because of growing mood inferiority,
anxiety, concentrating disorder, and panic attacks revealed in recent times. These
symptoms increased when her mother who died of pancreatic cancer acted as an important
emotional catalyst. Anxiety is not a new problem that Emily has discovered, as she has felt
this way since her teenage years; however, the recent grief has become an additional
problem to her emotional stability. She rents an apartment together with 2 roommates, yet
her school needs and bereavement have caused alienation in her, despite the social
environment. Being a graduate student who lives in a combination setup, Emily has to deal
with various stressors, and the loss of her mom has largely increased her emotional burden.
The stress that she experiences in her studies mixed with the personal loss seems to have
exacerbated her anxiety, which manifested in panic attacks and concentration issues.
Previous psychological assistance: Emily has not made any attempts at seeking psychological
help before, but now, she understands how much her mental health has cost, and she is
willing to consider psychotherapy as the way to find her emotional equilibrium again.
During therapy preparation, Emily would ask herself how psychotherapy would assist her.
She found out that psychotherapy although having varied forms has several factors in
common that make it effective. The therapeutic relationship, client involvement, and
emotional support play a crucial role in providing change. These supporting factors create a
feeling of assurance and hope that the therapy may give her the means of coping with her
sorrow and anxiety (Holohan & Fiske, 2021). The main objective in the case of Emily should
be how to enable her to cope with both her grief and anxiety and apply therapy to give tools
to her that would enable her once again to have control over her emotional reactions and
focus on her academic achievements.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Participation Journal: CBT Session with Dr. Harris
Dr. Harris seemed to break through in the session we had today. We narrowed down on
establishing my negative thinking patterns which contribute to my anxiety. As a case in
point, I tend to say, that I am not good enough or I cannot cope with it, especially in case of
academic bombardment. Dr. According to Harris, the mechanism behind CBT is tasking such
cognitive distortions and substituting them with healthier and more rational thoughts. The
concept is that when the thoughts change, then the emotion and actions will be different
and I can be different by the way I can change my thoughts.
We also did some work in which I needed to write down the thoughts that happen when I
am feeling anxious and then check whether it is accurate. Dr. To monitor the thoughts
during the week, Harris provided me with a worksheet. She has highlighted the value of
becoming aware of automatic thoughts and disrupting the pattern of negative thoughts. I
am optimistic and doubtful at the same time that this thinking process will help: and how
significant will these changes be?
Another study shared by Dr. Harris is the one by Eells (2022), who states that CBT is a useful
approach when treating anxiety disorders because it makes the person self-aware of how
they think and trains them to recreate the patterns they have. This gave me hope that this
would be beneficial to me because the study was quite successful in suppressing symptoms
of people fighting with anxiety. I would be glad to test the worksheets, but I am not sure
that they will be such effective tools as Dr. Harris claims.
Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT)
How it happened: Journal Entry: ACT Session with Dr. Lee
This was not like the session with Dr. Lee today. She has acquainted me with Acceptance
and Commitment Therapy (ACT) which is aimed at accepting an unpleasant thought or
emotion rather than attempting to deal with them in any way. Dr. Lee informed me that the
more I strive to battle or avoid my anxiety, the more I make it worse. ACT, instead, teaches
me to be mindful and not judge my feelings, so I will forget the struggle.
At first, I was a bit confused because I had been taught never to fight the negative. But as
Dr. Lee assured me, acceptance is not resignation, but it is to accept that the feelings are
there but they are not to rule me and my actions. She prescribed me what she calls the
mindfulness practice where I am supposed to take note of the anxious thoughts and move
on without necessarily attaching myself to them
Dr. Lee talked about a study by Hayes et al. (2006), which discovered that ACT effectively
helps to decrease anxiety levels by enhancing the element of psychological flexibility. This
would be a matter of knowing how to go through discomfort without being unable to
continue achieving my targets. I was relieved by the thought that I do not have to get rid of
my anxiety and all I have to do is to alter my relationship with it. This process is uncommon,
and I am interested in the way it can work in my case. Nevertheless, I still do not know how
well I can apply it.
Short-Term Pzychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP)
STPP Journal Page: Dr. Collins
In my case, Dr. Collins today introduced me to Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy
(STPP) which deals with acquiring insights into my past experiences that led to me
presenting an emotional dilemma. Dr. Collins feels that my grief and pending matters with
my relationship with my mother are some of the reasons leading to my present anxiety. We
had to spend some time on my early relationship with my mother and how it could have
impacted my reactions nowadays.
Dr. Collins enlightened me about transference, which could be the possibility of my previous
relationships being projected onto my current emotions. She proposed that learning about
these unconscious processes would allow me to be able to cope with anxiety and grief more
efficiently. Dr. Collins also provided a study by Vigan (2025) that shows that STPP can be a
very effective intervention to overcome such emotional struggles as grief or anxiety. The
research demonstrated that much can be achieved in the area of emotional well-being
through the unmasking of unconscious conflicts.
I would say I learned a lot during the session, as it was somehow intense. The thought that
my current responses are being affected by my past emotional experiences seems relieving
and overwhelming. I do not know whether, by going back to these dynamics of the past, I
will feel better, yet I am willing to dig deeper. The prospect of teasing out the inner layers of
my bereavement seems to have potential, yet I am also afraid to face these feelings in full
force.
A Year After
A year later, Emily has already made considerable progress in their emotional development.
Despite high anxiety not being eliminated, it feels more manageable. The devices she was
taught during Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) have permeated the latter because
attacking the negative ideas is part of the techniques she has adopted and has allowed her
to deal with academic stress more adequately. Although she has reduced her panic attacks,
she still has a few instances of anxiety but she is no longer being overwhelmed by them.
In Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) practices mentioned, she has become more
accepting of her emotions and that has lowered her emotional struggle. She has become
less victimized by her anxiety and therefore she does not attempt to repress it anymore so
she lets it run its course.
Through Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP) Emily has come to appreciate
how her childhood grief and attachment problems affected her and have contributed to her
current sufferings. Through these unresolved problems, Emily has succeeded in reconciling
the death of her mother and she has managed to proceed more healthily.
Emily is now a stronger girl. She is still using the methods of her therapy, and though she
still has some cases of anxiety, it does not restrain her anymore. She has acquired her
Master's degree and is serving as a social worker to others with her own experiences in
mind. Emily is open to going back to therapy in case she requires it in the future, but at
present, she believes that she has what it takes to handle her emotions using the new
strategies she acquired.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Emily moved through the therapy and achieved considerable changes in the
spheres of anxiety, grief, and emotional distress. The therapeutic combination of Cognitive
Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Short-Term
Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP) has provided her with a variety of coping abilities so
that she can accommodate the cognitive and emotional parts of her woes. Emily has been
able to change her negative thought pattern through CBT, which has made her less anxious.
Act has also enabled her to embrace her feelings without any bias, something which has
reduced the power they have over her. Moreover, STPP made Emily able to interpret the
unexplainable grief associated with the death of her mother which gave her the emotional
elucidation needed to continue moving on. Although she still feels slightly anxious, Emily has
become stronger in regulating her emotions and has a more resilient attitude to life. Now
that she is still practicing social work, the lessons in therapy follow her because she knows
that therapy is not a single-strike cure but rather a way to move on with life and get to know
a better version of herself.
Emily Parker is a 27-year-old woman and a graduate student of Social Work who has been
experiencing heightened anxiety and a depressed mood accompanied by some panic attacks
after her mother passed away due to pancreatic cancer. Even though she had mildly
suffered anxiety during her teenage life, the awe-desolating effect of the loss of her mother
has greatly spurred up her suffering. Being in a common apartment with two roommates
and coping with all the stresses caused by her study load, Emily ends up being swept by her
emotions, resulting in concentration and academic problems. She wants to have a better
understanding of her anxiety, grief, and emotional well-being and through psychological
support learn how to deal with such emotions. This evaluation is going to examine the
extent of her emotional disorder and what kind of therapeutic procedures can be applied to
give her the means to put her life and mental state back under her control.
Gearing Up!
Emily Parker was sent to a psychological examination because of growing mood inferiority,
anxiety, concentrating disorder, and panic attacks revealed in recent times. These
symptoms increased when her mother who died of pancreatic cancer acted as an important
emotional catalyst. Anxiety is not a new problem that Emily has discovered, as she has felt
this way since her teenage years; however, the recent grief has become an additional
problem to her emotional stability. She rents an apartment together with 2 roommates, yet
her school needs and bereavement have caused alienation in her, despite the social
environment. Being a graduate student who lives in a combination setup, Emily has to deal
with various stressors, and the loss of her mom has largely increased her emotional burden.
The stress that she experiences in her studies mixed with the personal loss seems to have
exacerbated her anxiety, which manifested in panic attacks and concentration issues.
Previous psychological assistance: Emily has not made any attempts at seeking psychological
help before, but now, she understands how much her mental health has cost, and she is
willing to consider psychotherapy as the way to find her emotional equilibrium again.
During therapy preparation, Emily would ask herself how psychotherapy would assist her.
She found out that psychotherapy although having varied forms has several factors in
common that make it effective. The therapeutic relationship, client involvement, and
emotional support play a crucial role in providing change. These supporting factors create a
feeling of assurance and hope that the therapy may give her the means of coping with her
sorrow and anxiety (Holohan & Fiske, 2021). The main objective in the case of Emily should
be how to enable her to cope with both her grief and anxiety and apply therapy to give tools
to her that would enable her once again to have control over her emotional reactions and
focus on her academic achievements.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Participation Journal: CBT Session with Dr. Harris
Dr. Harris seemed to break through in the session we had today. We narrowed down on
establishing my negative thinking patterns which contribute to my anxiety. As a case in
point, I tend to say, that I am not good enough or I cannot cope with it, especially in case of
academic bombardment. Dr. According to Harris, the mechanism behind CBT is tasking such
cognitive distortions and substituting them with healthier and more rational thoughts. The
concept is that when the thoughts change, then the emotion and actions will be different
and I can be different by the way I can change my thoughts.
We also did some work in which I needed to write down the thoughts that happen when I
am feeling anxious and then check whether it is accurate. Dr. To monitor the thoughts
during the week, Harris provided me with a worksheet. She has highlighted the value of
becoming aware of automatic thoughts and disrupting the pattern of negative thoughts. I
am optimistic and doubtful at the same time that this thinking process will help: and how
significant will these changes be?
Another study shared by Dr. Harris is the one by Eells (2022), who states that CBT is a useful
approach when treating anxiety disorders because it makes the person self-aware of how
they think and trains them to recreate the patterns they have. This gave me hope that this
would be beneficial to me because the study was quite successful in suppressing symptoms
of people fighting with anxiety. I would be glad to test the worksheets, but I am not sure
that they will be such effective tools as Dr. Harris claims.
Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT)
How it happened: Journal Entry: ACT Session with Dr. Lee
This was not like the session with Dr. Lee today. She has acquainted me with Acceptance
and Commitment Therapy (ACT) which is aimed at accepting an unpleasant thought or
emotion rather than attempting to deal with them in any way. Dr. Lee informed me that the
more I strive to battle or avoid my anxiety, the more I make it worse. ACT, instead, teaches
me to be mindful and not judge my feelings, so I will forget the struggle.
At first, I was a bit confused because I had been taught never to fight the negative. But as
Dr. Lee assured me, acceptance is not resignation, but it is to accept that the feelings are
there but they are not to rule me and my actions. She prescribed me what she calls the
mindfulness practice where I am supposed to take note of the anxious thoughts and move
on without necessarily attaching myself to them
Dr. Lee talked about a study by Hayes et al. (2006), which discovered that ACT effectively
helps to decrease anxiety levels by enhancing the element of psychological flexibility. This
would be a matter of knowing how to go through discomfort without being unable to
continue achieving my targets. I was relieved by the thought that I do not have to get rid of
my anxiety and all I have to do is to alter my relationship with it. This process is uncommon,
and I am interested in the way it can work in my case. Nevertheless, I still do not know how
well I can apply it.
Short-Term Pzychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP)
STPP Journal Page: Dr. Collins
In my case, Dr. Collins today introduced me to Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy
(STPP) which deals with acquiring insights into my past experiences that led to me
presenting an emotional dilemma. Dr. Collins feels that my grief and pending matters with
my relationship with my mother are some of the reasons leading to my present anxiety. We
had to spend some time on my early relationship with my mother and how it could have
impacted my reactions nowadays.
Dr. Collins enlightened me about transference, which could be the possibility of my previous
relationships being projected onto my current emotions. She proposed that learning about
these unconscious processes would allow me to be able to cope with anxiety and grief more
efficiently. Dr. Collins also provided a study by Vigan (2025) that shows that STPP can be a
very effective intervention to overcome such emotional struggles as grief or anxiety. The
research demonstrated that much can be achieved in the area of emotional well-being
through the unmasking of unconscious conflicts.
I would say I learned a lot during the session, as it was somehow intense. The thought that
my current responses are being affected by my past emotional experiences seems relieving
and overwhelming. I do not know whether, by going back to these dynamics of the past, I
will feel better, yet I am willing to dig deeper. The prospect of teasing out the inner layers of
my bereavement seems to have potential, yet I am also afraid to face these feelings in full
force.
A Year After
A year later, Emily has already made considerable progress in their emotional development.
Despite high anxiety not being eliminated, it feels more manageable. The devices she was
taught during Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) have permeated the latter because
attacking the negative ideas is part of the techniques she has adopted and has allowed her
to deal with academic stress more adequately. Although she has reduced her panic attacks,
she still has a few instances of anxiety but she is no longer being overwhelmed by them.
In Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) practices mentioned, she has become more
accepting of her emotions and that has lowered her emotional struggle. She has become
less victimized by her anxiety and therefore she does not attempt to repress it anymore so
she lets it run its course.
Through Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP) Emily has come to appreciate
how her childhood grief and attachment problems affected her and have contributed to her
current sufferings. Through these unresolved problems, Emily has succeeded in reconciling
the death of her mother and she has managed to proceed more healthily.
Emily is now a stronger girl. She is still using the methods of her therapy, and though she
still has some cases of anxiety, it does not restrain her anymore. She has acquired her
Master's degree and is serving as a social worker to others with her own experiences in
mind. Emily is open to going back to therapy in case she requires it in the future, but at
present, she believes that she has what it takes to handle her emotions using the new
strategies she acquired.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Emily moved through the therapy and achieved considerable changes in the
spheres of anxiety, grief, and emotional distress. The therapeutic combination of Cognitive
Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Short-Term
Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP) has provided her with a variety of coping abilities so
that she can accommodate the cognitive and emotional parts of her woes. Emily has been
able to change her negative thought pattern through CBT, which has made her less anxious.
Act has also enabled her to embrace her feelings without any bias, something which has
reduced the power they have over her. Moreover, STPP made Emily able to interpret the
unexplainable grief associated with the death of her mother which gave her the emotional
elucidation needed to continue moving on. Although she still feels slightly anxious, Emily has
become stronger in regulating her emotions and has a more resilient attitude to life. Now
that she is still practicing social work, the lessons in therapy follow her because she knows
that therapy is not a single-strike cure but rather a way to move on with life and get to know
a better version of herself.
Emily Parker is a 27-year-old woman and a graduate student of Social Work who has been
experiencing heightened anxiety and a depressed mood accompanied by some panic attacks
after her mother passed away due to pancreatic cancer. Even though she had mildly
suffered anxiety during her teenage life, the awe-desolating effect of the loss of her mother
has greatly spurred up her suffering. Being in a common apartment with two roommates
and coping with all the stresses caused by her study load, Emily ends up being swept by her
emotions, resulting in concentration and academic problems. She wants to have a better
understanding of her anxiety, grief, and emotional well-being and through psychological
support learn how to deal with such emotions. This evaluation is going to examine the
extent of her emotional disorder and what kind of therapeutic procedures can be applied to
give her the means to put her life and mental state back under her control.
Gearing Up!
Emily Parker was sent to a psychological examination because of growing mood inferiority,
anxiety, concentrating disorder, and panic attacks revealed in recent times. These
symptoms increased when her mother who died of pancreatic cancer acted as an important
emotional catalyst. Anxiety is not a new problem that Emily has discovered, as she has felt
this way since her teenage years; however, the recent grief has become an additional
problem to her emotional stability. She rents an apartment together with 2 roommates, yet
her school needs and bereavement have caused alienation in her, despite the social
environment. Being a graduate student who lives in a combination setup, Emily has to deal
with various stressors, and the loss of her mom has largely increased her emotional burden.
The stress that she experiences in her studies mixed with the personal loss seems to have
exacerbated her anxiety, which manifested in panic attacks and concentration issues.
Previous psychological assistance: Emily has not made any attempts at seeking psychological
help before, but now, she understands how much her mental health has cost, and she is
willing to consider psychotherapy as the way to find her emotional equilibrium again.
During therapy preparation, Emily would ask herself how psychotherapy would assist her.
She found out that psychotherapy although having varied forms has several factors in
common that make it effective. The therapeutic relationship, client involvement, and
emotional support play a crucial role in providing change. These supporting factors create a
feeling of assurance and hope that the therapy may give her the means of coping with her
sorrow and anxiety (Holohan & Fiske, 2021). The main objective in the case of Emily should
be how to enable her to cope with both her grief and anxiety and apply therapy to give tools
to her that would enable her once again to have control over her emotional reactions and
focus on her academic achievements.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Participation Journal: CBT Session with Dr. Harris
Dr. Harris seemed to break through in the session we had today. We narrowed down on
establishing my negative thinking patterns which contribute to my anxiety. As a case in
point, I tend to say, that I am not good enough or I cannot cope with it, especially in case of
academic bombardment. Dr. According to Harris, the mechanism behind CBT is tasking such
cognitive distortions and substituting them with healthier and more rational thoughts. The
concept is that when the thoughts change, then the emotion and actions will be different
and I can be different by the way I can change my thoughts.
We also did some work in which I needed to write down the thoughts that happen when I
am feeling anxious and then check whether it is accurate. Dr. To monitor the thoughts
during the week, Harris provided me with a worksheet. She has highlighted the value of
becoming aware of automatic thoughts and disrupting the pattern of negative thoughts. I
am optimistic and doubtful at the same time that this thinking process will help: and how
significant will these changes be?
Another study shared by Dr. Harris is the one by Eells (2022), who states that CBT is a useful
approach when treating anxiety disorders because it makes the person self-aware of how
they think and trains them to recreate the patterns they have. This gave me hope that this
would be beneficial to me because the study was quite successful in suppressing symptoms
of people fighting with anxiety. I would be glad to test the worksheets, but I am not sure
that they will be such effective tools as Dr. Harris claims.
Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT)
How it happened: Journal Entry: ACT Session with Dr. Lee
This was not like the session with Dr. Lee today. She has acquainted me with Acceptance
and Commitment Therapy (ACT) which is aimed at accepting an unpleasant thought or
emotion rather than attempting to deal with them in any way. Dr. Lee informed me that the
more I strive to battle or avoid my anxiety, the more I make it worse. ACT, instead, teaches
me to be mindful and not judge my feelings, so I will forget the struggle.
At first, I was a bit confused because I had been taught never to fight the negative. But as
Dr. Lee assured me, acceptance is not resignation, but it is to accept that the feelings are
there but they are not to rule me and my actions. She prescribed me what she calls the
mindfulness practice where I am supposed to take note of the anxious thoughts and move
on without necessarily attaching myself to them
Dr. Lee talked about a study by Hayes et al. (2006), which discovered that ACT effectively
helps to decrease anxiety levels by enhancing the element of psychological flexibility. This
would be a matter of knowing how to go through discomfort without being unable to
continue achieving my targets. I was relieved by the thought that I do not have to get rid of
my anxiety and all I have to do is to alter my relationship with it. This process is uncommon,
and I am interested in the way it can work in my case. Nevertheless, I still do not know how
well I can apply it.
Short-Term Pzychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP)
STPP Journal Page: Dr. Collins
In my case, Dr. Collins today introduced me to Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy
(STPP) which deals with acquiring insights into my past experiences that led to me
presenting an emotional dilemma. Dr. Collins feels that my grief and pending matters with
my relationship with my mother are some of the reasons leading to my present anxiety. We
had to spend some time on my early relationship with my mother and how it could have
impacted my reactions nowadays.
Dr. Collins enlightened me about transference, which could be the possibility of my previous
relationships being projected onto my current emotions. She proposed that learning about
these unconscious processes would allow me to be able to cope with anxiety and grief more
efficiently. Dr. Collins also provided a study by Vigan (2025) that shows that STPP can be a
very effective intervention to overcome such emotional struggles as grief or anxiety. The
research demonstrated that much can be achieved in the area of emotional well-being
through the unmasking of unconscious conflicts.
I would say I learned a lot during the session, as it was somehow intense. The thought that
my current responses are being affected by my past emotional experiences seems relieving
and overwhelming. I do not know whether, by going back to these dynamics of the past, I
will feel better, yet I am willing to dig deeper. The prospect of teasing out the inner layers of
my bereavement seems to have potential, yet I am also afraid to face these feelings in full
force.
A Year After
A year later, Emily has already made considerable progress in their emotional development.
Despite high anxiety not being eliminated, it feels more manageable. The devices she was
taught during Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) have permeated the latter because
attacking the negative ideas is part of the techniques she has adopted and has allowed her
to deal with academic stress more adequately. Although she has reduced her panic attacks,
she still has a few instances of anxiety but she is no longer being overwhelmed by them.
In Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) practices mentioned, she has become more
accepting of her emotions and that has lowered her emotional struggle. She has become
less victimized by her anxiety and therefore she does not attempt to repress it anymore so
she lets it run its course.
Through Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP) Emily has come to appreciate
how her childhood grief and attachment problems affected her and have contributed to her
current sufferings. Through these unresolved problems, Emily has succeeded in reconciling
the death of her mother and she has managed to proceed more healthily.
Emily is now a stronger girl. She is still using the methods of her therapy, and though she
still has some cases of anxiety, it does not restrain her anymore. She has acquired her
Master's degree and is serving as a social worker to others with her own experiences in
mind. Emily is open to going back to therapy in case she requires it in the future, but at
present, she believes that she has what it takes to handle her emotions using the new
strategies she acquired.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Emily moved through the therapy and achieved considerable changes in the
spheres of anxiety, grief, and emotional distress. The therapeutic combination of Cognitive
Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Short-Term
Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP) has provided her with a variety of coping abilities so
that she can accommodate the cognitive and emotional parts of her woes. Emily has been
able to change her negative thought pattern through CBT, which has made her less anxious.
Act has also enabled her to embrace her feelings without any bias, something which has
reduced the power they have over her. Moreover, STPP made Emily able to interpret the
unexplainable grief associated with the death of her mother which gave her the emotional
elucidation needed to continue moving on. Although she still feels slightly anxious, Emily has
become stronger in regulating her emotions and has a more resilient attitude to life. Now
that she is still practicing social work, the lessons in therapy follow her because she knows
that therapy is not a single-strike cure but rather a way to move on with life and get to know
a better version of herself.
Emily Parker is a 27-year-old woman and a graduate student of Social Work who has been
experiencing heightened anxiety and a depressed mood accompanied by some panic attacks
after her mother passed away due to pancreatic cancer. Even though she had mildly
suffered anxiety during her teenage life, the awe-desolating effect of the loss of her mother
has greatly spurred up her suffering. Being in a common apartment with two roommates
and coping with all the stresses caused by her study load, Emily ends up being swept by her
emotions, resulting in concentration and academic problems. She wants to have a better
understanding of her anxiety, grief, and emotional well-being and through psychological
support learn how to deal with such emotions. This evaluation is going to examine the
extent of her emotional disorder and what kind of therapeutic procedures can be applied to
give her the means to put her life and mental state back under her control.
Gearing Up!
Emily Parker was sent to a psychological examination because of growing mood inferiority,
anxiety, concentrating disorder, and panic attacks revealed in recent times. These
symptoms increased when her mother who died of pancreatic cancer acted as an important
emotional catalyst. Anxiety is not a new problem that Emily has discovered, as she has felt
this way since her teenage years; however, the recent grief has become an additional
problem to her emotional stability. She rents an apartment together with 2 roommates, yet
her school needs and bereavement have caused alienation in her, despite the social
environment. Being a graduate student who lives in a combination setup, Emily has to deal
with various stressors, and the loss of her mom has largely increased her emotional burden.
The stress that she experiences in her studies mixed with the personal loss seems to have
exacerbated her anxiety, which manifested in panic attacks and concentration issues.
Previous psychological assistance: Emily has not made any attempts at seeking psychological
help before, but now, she understands how much her mental health has cost, and she is
willing to consider psychotherapy as the way to find her emotional equilibrium again.
During therapy preparation, Emily would ask herself how psychotherapy would assist her.
She found out that psychotherapy although having varied forms has several factors in
common that make it effective. The therapeutic relationship, client involvement, and
emotional support play a crucial role in providing change. These supporting factors create a
feeling of assurance and hope that the therapy may give her the means of coping with her
sorrow and anxiety (Holohan & Fiske, 2021). The main objective in the case of Emily should
be how to enable her to cope with both her grief and anxiety and apply therapy to give tools
to her that would enable her once again to have control over her emotional reactions and
focus on her academic achievements.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Participation Journal: CBT Session with Dr. Harris
Dr. Harris seemed to break through in the session we had today. We narrowed down on
establishing my negative thinking patterns which contribute to my anxiety. As a case in
point, I tend to say, that I am not good enough or I cannot cope with it, especially in case of
academic bombardment. Dr. According to Harris, the mechanism behind CBT is tasking such
cognitive distortions and substituting them with healthier and more rational thoughts. The
concept is that when the thoughts change, then the emotion and actions will be different
and I can be different by the way I can change my thoughts.
We also did some work in which I needed to write down the thoughts that happen when I
am feeling anxious and then check whether it is accurate. Dr. To monitor the thoughts
during the week, Harris provided me with a worksheet. She has highlighted the value of
becoming aware of automatic thoughts and disrupting the pattern of negative thoughts. I
am optimistic and doubtful at the same time that this thinking process will help: and how
significant will these changes be?
Another study shared by Dr. Harris is the one by Eells (2022), who states that CBT is a useful
approach when treating anxiety disorders because it makes the person self-aware of how
they think and trains them to recreate the patterns they have. This gave me hope that this
would be beneficial to me because the study was quite successful in suppressing symptoms
of people fighting with anxiety. I would be glad to test the worksheets, but I am not sure
that they will be such effective tools as Dr. Harris claims.
Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT)
How it happened: Journal Entry: ACT Session with Dr. Lee
This was not like the session with Dr. Lee today. She has acquainted me with Acceptance
and Commitment Therapy (ACT) which is aimed at accepting an unpleasant thought or
emotion rather than attempting to deal with them in any way. Dr. Lee informed me that the
more I strive to battle or avoid my anxiety, the more I make it worse. ACT, instead, teaches
me to be mindful and not judge my feelings, so I will forget the struggle.
At first, I was a bit confused because I had been taught never to fight the negative. But as
Dr. Lee assured me, acceptance is not resignation, but it is to accept that the feelings are
there but they are not to rule me and my actions. She prescribed me what she calls the
mindfulness practice where I am supposed to take note of the anxious thoughts and move
on without necessarily attaching myself to them
Dr. Lee talked about a study by Hayes et al. (2006), which discovered that ACT effectively
helps to decrease anxiety levels by enhancing the element of psychological flexibility. This
would be a matter of knowing how to go through discomfort without being unable to
continue achieving my targets. I was relieved by the thought that I do not have to get rid of
my anxiety and all I have to do is to alter my relationship with it. This process is uncommon,
and I am interested in the way it can work in my case. Nevertheless, I still do not know how
well I can apply it.
Short-Term Pzychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP)
STPP Journal Page: Dr. Collins
In my case, Dr. Collins today introduced me to Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy
(STPP) which deals with acquiring insights into my past experiences that led to me
presenting an emotional dilemma. Dr. Collins feels that my grief and pending matters with
my relationship with my mother are some of the reasons leading to my present anxiety. We
had to spend some time on my early relationship with my mother and how it could have
impacted my reactions nowadays.
Dr. Collins enlightened me about transference, which could be the possibility of my previous
relationships being projected onto my current emotions. She proposed that learning about
these unconscious processes would allow me to be able to cope with anxiety and grief more
efficiently. Dr. Collins also provided a study by Vigan (2025) that shows that STPP can be a
very effective intervention to overcome such emotional struggles as grief or anxiety. The
research demonstrated that much can be achieved in the area of emotional well-being
through the unmasking of unconscious conflicts.
I would say I learned a lot during the session, as it was somehow intense. The thought that
my current responses are being affected by my past emotional experiences seems relieving
and overwhelming. I do not know whether, by going back to these dynamics of the past, I
will feel better, yet I am willing to dig deeper. The prospect of teasing out the inner layers of
my bereavement seems to have potential, yet I am also afraid to face these feelings in full
force.
A Year After
A year later, Emily has already made considerable progress in their emotional development.
Despite high anxiety not being eliminated, it feels more manageable. The devices she was
taught during Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) have permeated the latter because
attacking the negative ideas is part of the techniques she has adopted and has allowed her
to deal with academic stress more adequately. Although she has reduced her panic attacks,
she still has a few instances of anxiety but she is no longer being overwhelmed by them.
In Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) practices mentioned, she has become more
accepting of her emotions and that has lowered her emotional struggle. She has become
less victimized by her anxiety and therefore she does not attempt to repress it anymore so
she lets it run its course.
Through Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP) Emily has come to appreciate
how her childhood grief and attachment problems affected her and have contributed to her
current sufferings. Through these unresolved problems, Emily has succeeded in reconciling
the death of her mother and she has managed to proceed more healthily.
Emily is now a stronger girl. She is still using the methods of her therapy, and though she
still has some cases of anxiety, it does not restrain her anymore. She has acquired her
Master's degree and is serving as a social worker to others with her own experiences in
mind. Emily is open to going back to therapy in case she requires it in the future, but at
present, she believes that she has what it takes to handle her emotions using the new
strategies she acquired.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Emily moved through the therapy and achieved considerable changes in the
spheres of anxiety, grief, and emotional distress. The therapeutic combination of Cognitive
Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Short-Term
Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP) has provided her with a variety of coping abilities so
that she can accommodate the cognitive and emotional parts of her woes. Emily has been
able to change her negative thought pattern through CBT, which has made her less anxious.
Act has also enabled her to embrace her feelings without any bias, something which has
reduced the power they have over her. Moreover, STPP made Emily able to interpret the
unexplainable grief associated with the death of her mother which gave her the emotional
elucidation needed to continue moving on. Although she still feels slightly anxious, Emily has
become stronger in regulating her emotions and has a more resilient attitude to life. Now
that she is still practicing social work, the lessons in therapy follow her because she knows
that therapy is not a single-strike cure but rather a way to move on with life and get to know
a better version of herself.
Emily Parker is a 27-year-old woman and a graduate student of Social Work who has been
experiencing heightened anxiety and a depressed mood accompanied by some panic attacks
after her mother passed away due to pancreatic cancer. Even though she had mildly
suffered anxiety during her teenage life, the awe-desolating effect of the loss of her mother
has greatly spurred up her suffering. Being in a common apartment with two roommates
and coping with all the stresses caused by her study load, Emily ends up being swept by her
emotions, resulting in concentration and academic problems. She wants to have a better
understanding of her anxiety, grief, and emotional well-being and through psychological
support learn how to deal with such emotions. This evaluation is going to examine the
extent of her emotional disorder and what kind of therapeutic procedures can be applied to
give her the means to put her life and mental state back under her control.
Gearing Up!
Emily Parker was sent to a psychological examination because of growing mood inferiority,
anxiety, concentrating disorder, and panic attacks revealed in recent times. These
symptoms increased when her mother who died of pancreatic cancer acted as an important
emotional catalyst. Anxiety is not a new problem that Emily has discovered, as she has felt
this way since her teenage years; however, the recent grief has become an additional
problem to her emotional stability. She rents an apartment together with 2 roommates, yet
her school needs and bereavement have caused alienation in her, despite the social
environment. Being a graduate student who lives in a combination setup, Emily has to deal
with various stressors, and the loss of her mom has largely increased her emotional burden.
The stress that she experiences in her studies mixed with the personal loss seems to have
exacerbated her anxiety, which manifested in panic attacks and concentration issues.
Previous psychological assistance: Emily has not made any attempts at seeking psychological
help before, but now, she understands how much her mental health has cost, and she is
willing to consider psychotherapy as the way to find her emotional equilibrium again.
During therapy preparation, Emily would ask herself how psychotherapy would assist her.
She found out that psychotherapy although having varied forms has several factors in
common that make it effective. The therapeutic relationship, client involvement, and
emotional support play a crucial role in providing change. These supporting factors create a
feeling of assurance and hope that the therapy may give her the means of coping with her
sorrow and anxiety (Holohan & Fiske, 2021). The main objective in the case of Emily should
be how to enable her to cope with both her grief and anxiety and apply therapy to give tools
to her that would enable her once again to have control over her emotional reactions and
focus on her academic achievements.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Participation Journal: CBT Session with Dr. Harris
Dr. Harris seemed to break through in the session we had today. We narrowed down on
establishing my negative thinking patterns which contribute to my anxiety. As a case in
point, I tend to say, that I am not good enough or I cannot cope with it, especially in case of
academic bombardment. Dr. According to Harris, the mechanism behind CBT is tasking such
cognitive distortions and substituting them with healthier and more rational thoughts. The
concept is that when the thoughts change, then the emotion and actions will be different
and I can be different by the way I can change my thoughts.
We also did some work in which I needed to write down the thoughts that happen when I
am feeling anxious and then check whether it is accurate. Dr. To monitor the thoughts
during the week, Harris provided me with a worksheet. She has highlighted the value of
becoming aware of automatic thoughts and disrupting the pattern of negative thoughts. I
am optimistic and doubtful at the same time that this thinking process will help: and how
significant will these changes be?
Another study shared by Dr. Harris is the one by Eells (2022), who states that CBT is a useful
approach when treating anxiety disorders because it makes the person self-aware of how
they think and trains them to recreate the patterns they have. This gave me hope that this
would be beneficial to me because the study was quite successful in suppressing symptoms
of people fighting with anxiety. I would be glad to test the worksheets, but I am not sure
that they will be such effective tools as Dr. Harris claims.
Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT)
How it happened: Journal Entry: ACT Session with Dr. Lee
This was not like the session with Dr. Lee today. She has acquainted me with Acceptance
and Commitment Therapy (ACT) which is aimed at accepting an unpleasant thought or
emotion rather than attempting to deal with them in any way. Dr. Lee informed me that the
more I strive to battle or avoid my anxiety, the more I make it worse. ACT, instead, teaches
me to be mindful and not judge my feelings, so I will forget the struggle.
At first, I was a bit confused because I had been taught never to fight the negative. But as
Dr. Lee assured me, acceptance is not resignation, but it is to accept that the feelings are
there but they are not to rule me and my actions. She prescribed me what she calls the
mindfulness practice where I am supposed to take note of the anxious thoughts and move
on without necessarily attaching myself to them
Dr. Lee talked about a study by Hayes et al. (2006), which discovered that ACT effectively
helps to decrease anxiety levels by enhancing the element of psychological flexibility. This
would be a matter of knowing how to go through discomfort without being unable to
continue achieving my targets. I was relieved by the thought that I do not have to get rid of
my anxiety and all I have to do is to alter my relationship with it. This process is uncommon,
and I am interested in the way it can work in my case. Nevertheless, I still do not know how
well I can apply it.
Short-Term Pzychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP)
STPP Journal Page: Dr. Collins
In my case, Dr. Collins today introduced me to Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy
(STPP) which deals with acquiring insights into my past experiences that led to me
presenting an emotional dilemma. Dr. Collins feels that my grief and pending matters with
my relationship with my mother are some of the reasons leading to my present anxiety. We
had to spend some time on my early relationship with my mother and how it could have
impacted my reactions nowadays.
Dr. Collins enlightened me about transference, which could be the possibility of my previous
relationships being projected onto my current emotions. She proposed that learning about
these unconscious processes would allow me to be able to cope with anxiety and grief more
efficiently. Dr. Collins also provided a study by Vigan (2025) that shows that STPP can be a
very effective intervention to overcome such emotional struggles as grief or anxiety. The
research demonstrated that much can be achieved in the area of emotional well-being
through the unmasking of unconscious conflicts.
I would say I learned a lot during the session, as it was somehow intense. The thought that
my current responses are being affected by my past emotional experiences seems relieving
and overwhelming. I do not know whether, by going back to these dynamics of the past, I
will feel better, yet I am willing to dig deeper. The prospect of teasing out the inner layers of
my bereavement seems to have potential, yet I am also afraid to face these feelings in full
force.
A Year After
A year later, Emily has already made considerable progress in their emotional development.
Despite high anxiety not being eliminated, it feels more manageable. The devices she was
taught during Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) have permeated the latter because
attacking the negative ideas is part of the techniques she has adopted and has allowed her
to deal with academic stress more adequately. Although she has reduced her panic attacks,
she still has a few instances of anxiety but she is no longer being overwhelmed by them.
In Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) practices mentioned, she has become more
accepting of her emotions and that has lowered her emotional struggle. She has become
less victimized by her anxiety and therefore she does not attempt to repress it anymore so
she lets it run its course.
Through Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP) Emily has come to appreciate
how her childhood grief and attachment problems affected her and have contributed to her
current sufferings. Through these unresolved problems, Emily has succeeded in reconciling
the death of her mother and she has managed to proceed more healthily.
Emily is now a stronger girl. She is still using the methods of her therapy, and though she
still has some cases of anxiety, it does not restrain her anymore. She has acquired her
Master's degree and is serving as a social worker to others with her own experiences in
mind. Emily is open to going back to therapy in case she requires it in the future, but at
present, she believes that she has what it takes to handle her emotions using the new
strategies she acquired.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Emily moved through the therapy and achieved considerable changes in the
spheres of anxiety, grief, and emotional distress. The therapeutic combination of Cognitive
Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Short-Term
Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP) has provided her with a variety of coping abilities so
that she can accommodate the cognitive and emotional parts of her woes. Emily has been
able to change her negative thought pattern through CBT, which has made her less anxious.
Act has also enabled her to embrace her feelings without any bias, something which has
reduced the power they have over her. Moreover, STPP made Emily able to interpret the
unexplainable grief associated with the death of her mother which gave her the emotional
elucidation needed to continue moving on. Although she still feels slightly anxious, Emily has
become stronger in regulating her emotions and has a more resilient attitude to life. Now
that she is still practicing social work, the lessons in therapy follow her because she knows
that therapy is not a single-strike cure but rather a way to move on with life and get to know
a better version of herself.
Emily Parker is a 27-year-old woman and a graduate student of Social Work who has been
experiencing heightened anxiety and a depressed mood accompanied by some panic attacks
after her mother passed away due to pancreatic cancer. Even though she had mildly
suffered anxiety during her teenage life, the awe-desolating effect of the loss of her mother
has greatly spurred up her suffering. Being in a common apartment with two roommates
and coping with all the stresses caused by her study load, Emily ends up being swept by her
emotions, resulting in concentration and academic problems. She wants to have a better
understanding of her anxiety, grief, and emotional well-being and through psychological
support learn how to deal with such emotions. This evaluation is going to examine the
extent of her emotional disorder and what kind of therapeutic procedures can be applied to
give her the means to put her life and mental state back under her control.
Gearing Up!
Emily Parker was sent to a psychological examination because of growing mood inferiority,
anxiety, concentrating disorder, and panic attacks revealed in recent times. These
symptoms increased when her mother who died of pancreatic cancer acted as an important
emotional catalyst. Anxiety is not a new problem that Emily has discovered, as she has felt
this way since her teenage years; however, the recent grief has become an additional
problem to her emotional stability. She rents an apartment together with 2 roommates, yet
her school needs and bereavement have caused alienation in her, despite the social
environment. Being a graduate student who lives in a combination setup, Emily has to deal
with various stressors, and the loss of her mom has largely increased her emotional burden.
The stress that she experiences in her studies mixed with the personal loss seems to have
exacerbated her anxiety, which manifested in panic attacks and concentration issues.
Previous psychological assistance: Emily has not made any attempts at seeking psychological
help before, but now, she understands how much her mental health has cost, and she is
willing to consider psychotherapy as the way to find her emotional equilibrium again.
During therapy preparation, Emily would ask herself how psychotherapy would assist her.
She found out that psychotherapy although having varied forms has several factors in
common that make it effective. The therapeutic relationship, client involvement, and
emotional support play a crucial role in providing change. These supporting factors create a
feeling of assurance and hope that the therapy may give her the means of coping with her
sorrow and anxiety (Holohan & Fiske, 2021). The main objective in the case of Emily should
be how to enable her to cope with both her grief and anxiety and apply therapy to give tools
to her that would enable her once again to have control over her emotional reactions and
focus on her academic achievements.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Participation Journal: CBT Session with Dr. Harris
Dr. Harris seemed to break through in the session we had today. We narrowed down on
establishing my negative thinking patterns which contribute to my anxiety. As a case in
point, I tend to say, that I am not good enough or I cannot cope with it, especially in case of
academic bombardment. Dr. According to Harris, the mechanism behind CBT is tasking such
cognitive distortions and substituting them with healthier and more rational thoughts. The
concept is that when the thoughts change, then the emotion and actions will be different
and I can be different by the way I can change my thoughts.
We also did some work in which I needed to write down the thoughts that happen when I
am feeling anxious and then check whether it is accurate. Dr. To monitor the thoughts
during the week, Harris provided me with a worksheet. She has highlighted the value of
becoming aware of automatic thoughts and disrupting the pattern of negative thoughts. I
am optimistic and doubtful at the same time that this thinking process will help: and how
significant will these changes be?
Another study shared by Dr. Harris is the one by Eells (2022), who states that CBT is a useful
approach when treating anxiety disorders because it makes the person self-aware of how
they think and trains them to recreate the patterns they have. This gave me hope that this
would be beneficial to me because the study was quite successful in suppressing symptoms
of people fighting with anxiety. I would be glad to test the worksheets, but I am not sure
that they will be such effective tools as Dr. Harris claims.
Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT)
How it happened: Journal Entry: ACT Session with Dr. Lee
This was not like the session with Dr. Lee today. She has acquainted me with Acceptance
and Commitment Therapy (ACT) which is aimed at accepting an unpleasant thought or
emotion rather than attempting to deal with them in any way. Dr. Lee informed me that the
more I strive to battle or avoid my anxiety, the more I make it worse. ACT, instead, teaches
me to be mindful and not judge my feelings, so I will forget the struggle.
At first, I was a bit confused because I had been taught never to fight the negative. But as
Dr. Lee assured me, acceptance is not resignation, but it is to accept that the feelings are
there but they are not to rule me and my actions. She prescribed me what she calls the
mindfulness practice where I am supposed to take note of the anxious thoughts and move
on without necessarily attaching myself to them
Dr. Lee talked about a study by Hayes et al. (2006), which discovered that ACT effectively
helps to decrease anxiety levels by enhancing the element of psychological flexibility. This
would be a matter of knowing how to go through discomfort without being unable to
continue achieving my targets. I was relieved by the thought that I do not have to get rid of
my anxiety and all I have to do is to alter my relationship with it. This process is uncommon,
and I am interested in the way it can work in my case. Nevertheless, I still do not know how
well I can apply it.
Short-Term Pzychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP)
STPP Journal Page: Dr. Collins
In my case, Dr. Collins today introduced me to Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy
(STPP) which deals with acquiring insights into my past experiences that led to me
presenting an emotional dilemma. Dr. Collins feels that my grief and pending matters with
my relationship with my mother are some of the reasons leading to my present anxiety. We
had to spend some time on my early relationship with my mother and how it could have
impacted my reactions nowadays.
Dr. Collins enlightened me about transference, which could be the possibility of my previous
relationships being projected onto my current emotions. She proposed that learning about
these unconscious processes would allow me to be able to cope with anxiety and grief more
efficiently. Dr. Collins also provided a study by Vigan (2025) that shows that STPP can be a
very effective intervention to overcome such emotional struggles as grief or anxiety. The
research demonstrated that much can be achieved in the area of emotional well-being
through the unmasking of unconscious conflicts.
I would say I learned a lot during the session, as it was somehow intense. The thought that
my current responses are being affected by my past emotional experiences seems relieving
and overwhelming. I do not know whether, by going back to these dynamics of the past, I
will feel better, yet I am willing to dig deeper. The prospect of teasing out the inner layers of
my bereavement seems to have potential, yet I am also afraid to face these feelings in full
force.
A Year After
A year later, Emily has already made considerable progress in their emotional development.
Despite high anxiety not being eliminated, it feels more manageable. The devices she was
taught during Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) have permeated the latter because
attacking the negative ideas is part of the techniques she has adopted and has allowed her
to deal with academic stress more adequately. Although she has reduced her panic attacks,
she still has a few instances of anxiety but she is no longer being overwhelmed by them.
In Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) practices mentioned, she has become more
accepting of her emotions and that has lowered her emotional struggle. She has become
less victimized by her anxiety and therefore she does not attempt to repress it anymore so
she lets it run its course.
Through Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP) Emily has come to appreciate
how her childhood grief and attachment problems affected her and have contributed to her
current sufferings. Through these unresolved problems, Emily has succeeded in reconciling
the death of her mother and she has managed to proceed more healthily.
Emily is now a stronger girl. She is still using the methods of her therapy, and though she
still has some cases of anxiety, it does not restrain her anymore. She has acquired her
Master's degree and is serving as a social worker to others with her own experiences in
mind. Emily is open to going back to therapy in case she requires it in the future, but at
present, she believes that she has what it takes to handle her emotions using the new
strategies she acquired.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Emily moved through the therapy and achieved considerable changes in the
spheres of anxiety, grief, and emotional distress. The therapeutic combination of Cognitive
Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Short-Term
Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP) has provided her with a variety of coping abilities so
that she can accommodate the cognitive and emotional parts of her woes. Emily has been
able to change her negative thought pattern through CBT, which has made her less anxious.
Act has also enabled her to embrace her feelings without any bias, something which has
reduced the power they have over her. Moreover, STPP made Emily able to interpret the
unexplainable grief associated with the death of her mother which gave her the emotional
elucidation needed to continue moving on. Although she still feels slightly anxious, Emily has
become stronger in regulating her emotions and has a more resilient attitude to life. Now
that she is still practicing social work, the lessons in therapy follow her because she knows
that therapy is not a single-strike cure but rather a way to move on with life and get to know
a better version of herself.
Emily Parker is a 27-year-old woman and a graduate student of Social Work who has been
experiencing heightened anxiety and a depressed mood accompanied by some panic attacks
after her mother passed away due to pancreatic cancer. Even though she had mildly
suffered anxiety during her teenage life, the awe-desolating effect of the loss of her mother
has greatly spurred up her suffering. Being in a common apartment with two roommates
and coping with all the stresses caused by her study load, Emily ends up being swept by her
emotions, resulting in concentration and academic problems. She wants to have a better
understanding of her anxiety, grief, and emotional well-being and through psychological
support learn how to deal with such emotions. This evaluation is going to examine the
extent of her emotional disorder and what kind of therapeutic procedures can be applied to
give her the means to put her life and mental state back under her control.
Gearing Up!
Emily Parker was sent to a psychological examination because of growing mood inferiority,
anxiety, concentrating disorder, and panic attacks revealed in recent times. These
symptoms increased when her mother who died of pancreatic cancer acted as an important
emotional catalyst. Anxiety is not a new problem that Emily has discovered, as she has felt
this way since her teenage years; however, the recent grief has become an additional
problem to her emotional stability. She rents an apartment together with 2 roommates, yet
her school needs and bereavement have caused alienation in her, despite the social
environment. Being a graduate student who lives in a combination setup, Emily has to deal
with various stressors, and the loss of her mom has largely increased her emotional burden.
The stress that she experiences in her studies mixed with the personal loss seems to have
exacerbated her anxiety, which manifested in panic attacks and concentration issues.
Previous psychological assistance: Emily has not made any attempts at seeking psychological
help before, but now, she understands how much her mental health has cost, and she is
willing to consider psychotherapy as the way to find her emotional equilibrium again.
During therapy preparation, Emily would ask herself how psychotherapy would assist her.
She found out that psychotherapy although having varied forms has several factors in
common that make it effective. The therapeutic relationship, client involvement, and
emotional support play a crucial role in providing change. These supporting factors create a
feeling of assurance and hope that the therapy may give her the means of coping with her
sorrow and anxiety (Holohan & Fiske, 2021). The main objective in the case of Emily should
be how to enable her to cope with both her grief and anxiety and apply therapy to give tools
to her that would enable her once again to have control over her emotional reactions and
focus on her academic achievements.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Participation Journal: CBT Session with Dr. Harris
Dr. Harris seemed to break through in the session we had today. We narrowed down on
establishing my negative thinking patterns which contribute to my anxiety. As a case in
point, I tend to say, that I am not good enough or I cannot cope with it, especially in case of
academic bombardment. Dr. According to Harris, the mechanism behind CBT is tasking such
cognitive distortions and substituting them with healthier and more rational thoughts. The
concept is that when the thoughts change, then the emotion and actions will be different
and I can be different by the way I can change my thoughts.
We also did some work in which I needed to write down the thoughts that happen when I
am feeling anxious and then check whether it is accurate. Dr. To monitor the thoughts
during the week, Harris provided me with a worksheet. She has highlighted the value of
becoming aware of automatic thoughts and disrupting the pattern of negative thoughts. I
am optimistic and doubtful at the same time that this thinking process will help: and how
significant will these changes be?
Another study shared by Dr. Harris is the one by Eells (2022), who states that CBT is a useful
approach when treating anxiety disorders because it makes the person self-aware of how
they think and trains them to recreate the patterns they have. This gave me hope that this
would be beneficial to me because the study was quite successful in suppressing symptoms
of people fighting with anxiety. I would be glad to test the worksheets, but I am not sure
that they will be such effective tools as Dr. Harris claims.
Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT)
How it happened: Journal Entry: ACT Session with Dr. Lee
This was not like the session with Dr. Lee today. She has acquainted me with Acceptance
and Commitment Therapy (ACT) which is aimed at accepting an unpleasant thought or
emotion rather than attempting to deal with them in any way. Dr. Lee informed me that the
more I strive to battle or avoid my anxiety, the more I make it worse. ACT, instead, teaches
me to be mindful and not judge my feelings, so I will forget the struggle.
At first, I was a bit confused because I had been taught never to fight the negative. But as
Dr. Lee assured me, acceptance is not resignation, but it is to accept that the feelings are
there but they are not to rule me and my actions. She prescribed me what she calls the
mindfulness practice where I am supposed to take note of the anxious thoughts and move
on without necessarily attaching myself to them
Dr. Lee talked about a study by Hayes et al. (2006), which discovered that ACT effectively
helps to decrease anxiety levels by enhancing the element of psychological flexibility. This
would be a matter of knowing how to go through discomfort without being unable to
continue achieving my targets. I was relieved by the thought that I do not have to get rid of
my anxiety and all I have to do is to alter my relationship with it. This process is uncommon,
and I am interested in the way it can work in my case. Nevertheless, I still do not know how
well I can apply it.
Short-Term Pzychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP)
STPP Journal Page: Dr. Collins
In my case, Dr. Collins today introduced me to Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy
(STPP) which deals with acquiring insights into my past experiences that led to me
presenting an emotional dilemma. Dr. Collins feels that my grief and pending matters with
my relationship with my mother are some of the reasons leading to my present anxiety. We
had to spend some time on my early relationship with my mother and how it could have
impacted my reactions nowadays.
Dr. Collins enlightened me about transference, which could be the possibility of my previous
relationships being projected onto my current emotions. She proposed that learning about
these unconscious processes would allow me to be able to cope with anxiety and grief more
efficiently. Dr. Collins also provided a study by Vigan (2025) that shows that STPP can be a
very effective intervention to overcome such emotional struggles as grief or anxiety. The
research demonstrated that much can be achieved in the area of emotional well-being
through the unmasking of unconscious conflicts.
I would say I learned a lot during the session, as it was somehow intense. The thought that
my current responses are being affected by my past emotional experiences seems relieving
and overwhelming. I do not know whether, by going back to these dynamics of the past, I
will feel better, yet I am willing to dig deeper. The prospect of teasing out the inner layers of
my bereavement seems to have potential, yet I am also afraid to face these feelings in full
force.
A Year After
A year later, Emily has already made considerable progress in their emotional development.
Despite high anxiety not being eliminated, it feels more manageable. The devices she was
taught during Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) have permeated the latter because
attacking the negative ideas is part of the techniques she has adopted and has allowed her
to deal with academic stress more adequately. Although she has reduced her panic attacks,
she still has a few instances of anxiety but she is no longer being overwhelmed by them.
In Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) practices mentioned, she has become more
accepting of her emotions and that has lowered her emotional struggle. She has become
less victimized by her anxiety and therefore she does not attempt to repress it anymore so
she lets it run its course.
Through Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP) Emily has come to appreciate
how her childhood grief and attachment problems affected her and have contributed to her
current sufferings. Through these unresolved problems, Emily has succeeded in reconciling
the death of her mother and she has managed to proceed more healthily.
Emily is now a stronger girl. She is still using the methods of her therapy, and though she
still has some cases of anxiety, it does not restrain her anymore. She has acquired her
Master's degree and is serving as a social worker to others with her own experiences in
mind. Emily is open to going back to therapy in case she requires it in the future, but at
present, she believes that she has what it takes to handle her emotions using the new
strategies she acquired.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Emily moved through the therapy and achieved considerable changes in the
spheres of anxiety, grief, and emotional distress. The therapeutic combination of Cognitive
Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Short-Term
Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP) has provided her with a variety of coping abilities so
that she can accommodate the cognitive and emotional parts of her woes. Emily has been
able to change her negative thought pattern through CBT, which has made her less anxious.
Act has also enabled her to embrace her feelings without any bias, something which has
reduced the power they have over her. Moreover, STPP made Emily able to interpret the
unexplainable grief associated with the death of her mother which gave her the emotional
elucidation needed to continue moving on. Although she still feels slightly anxious, Emily has
become stronger in regulating her emotions and has a more resilient attitude to life. Now
that she is still practicing social work, the lessons in therapy follow her because she knows
that therapy is not a single-strike cure but rather a way to move on with life and get to know
a better version of herself.
Emily Parker is a 27-year-old woman and a graduate student of Social Work who has been
experiencing heightened anxiety and a depressed mood accompanied by some panic attacks
after her mother passed away due to pancreatic cancer. Even though she had mildly
suffered anxiety during her teenage life, the awe-desolating effect of the loss of her mother
has greatly spurred up her suffering. Being in a common apartment with two roommates
and coping with all the stresses caused by her study load, Emily ends up being swept by her
emotions, resulting in concentration and academic problems. She wants to have a better
understanding of her anxiety, grief, and emotional well-being and through psychological
support learn how to deal with such emotions. This evaluation is going to examine the
extent of her emotional disorder and what kind of therapeutic procedures can be applied to
give her the means to put her life and mental state back under her control.
Gearing Up!
Emily Parker was sent to a psychological examination because of growing mood inferiority,
anxiety, concentrating disorder, and panic attacks revealed in recent times. These
symptoms increased when her mother who died of pancreatic cancer acted as an important
emotional catalyst. Anxiety is not a new problem that Emily has discovered, as she has felt
this way since her teenage years; however, the recent grief has become an additional
problem to her emotional stability. She rents an apartment together with 2 roommates, yet
her school needs and bereavement have caused alienation in her, despite the social
environment. Being a graduate student who lives in a combination setup, Emily has to deal
with various stressors, and the loss of her mom has largely increased her emotional burden.
The stress that she experiences in her studies mixed with the personal loss seems to have
exacerbated her anxiety, which manifested in panic attacks and concentration issues.
Previous psychological assistance: Emily has not made any attempts at seeking psychological
help before, but now, she understands how much her mental health has cost, and she is
willing to consider psychotherapy as the way to find her emotional equilibrium again.
During therapy preparation, Emily would ask herself how psychotherapy would assist her.
She found out that psychotherapy although having varied forms has several factors in
common that make it effective. The therapeutic relationship, client involvement, and
emotional support play a crucial role in providing change. These supporting factors create a
feeling of assurance and hope that the therapy may give her the means of coping with her
sorrow and anxiety (Holohan & Fiske, 2021). The main objective in the case of Emily should
be how to enable her to cope with both her grief and anxiety and apply therapy to give tools
to her that would enable her once again to have control over her emotional reactions and
focus on her academic achievements.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Participation Journal: CBT Session with Dr. Harris
Dr. Harris seemed to break through in the session we had today. We narrowed down on
establishing my negative thinking patterns which contribute to my anxiety. As a case in
point, I tend to say, that I am not good enough or I cannot cope with it, especially in case of
academic bombardment. Dr. According to Harris, the mechanism behind CBT is tasking such
cognitive distortions and substituting them with healthier and more rational thoughts. The
concept is that when the thoughts change, then the emotion and actions will be different
and I can be different by the way I can change my thoughts.
We also did some work in which I needed to write down the thoughts that happen when I
am feeling anxious and then check whether it is accurate. Dr. To monitor the thoughts
during the week, Harris provided me with a worksheet. She has highlighted the value of
becoming aware of automatic thoughts and disrupting the pattern of negative thoughts. I
am optimistic and doubtful at the same time that this thinking process will help: and how
significant will these changes be?
Another study shared by Dr. Harris is the one by Eells (2022), who states that CBT is a useful
approach when treating anxiety disorders because it makes the person self-aware of how
they think and trains them to recreate the patterns they have. This gave me hope that this
would be beneficial to me because the study was quite successful in suppressing symptoms
of people fighting with anxiety. I would be glad to test the worksheets, but I am not sure
that they will be such effective tools as Dr. Harris claims.
Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT)
How it happened: Journal Entry: ACT Session with Dr. Lee
This was not like the session with Dr. Lee today. She has acquainted me with Acceptance
and Commitment Therapy (ACT) which is aimed at accepting an unpleasant thought or
emotion rather than attempting to deal with them in any way. Dr. Lee informed me that the
more I strive to battle or avoid my anxiety, the more I make it worse. ACT, instead, teaches
me to be mindful and not judge my feelings, so I will forget the struggle.
At first, I was a bit confused because I had been taught never to fight the negative. But as
Dr. Lee assured me, acceptance is not resignation, but it is to accept that the feelings are
there but they are not to rule me and my actions. She prescribed me what she calls the
mindfulness practice where I am supposed to take note of the anxious thoughts and move
on without necessarily attaching myself to them
Dr. Lee talked about a study by Hayes et al. (2006), which discovered that ACT effectively
helps to decrease anxiety levels by enhancing the element of psychological flexibility. This
would be a matter of knowing how to go through discomfort without being unable to
continue achieving my targets. I was relieved by the thought that I do not have to get rid of
my anxiety and all I have to do is to alter my relationship with it. This process is uncommon,
and I am interested in the way it can work in my case. Nevertheless, I still do not know how
well I can apply it.
Short-Term Pzychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP)
STPP Journal Page: Dr. Collins
In my case, Dr. Collins today introduced me to Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy
(STPP) which deals with acquiring insights into my past experiences that led to me
presenting an emotional dilemma. Dr. Collins feels that my grief and pending matters with
my relationship with my mother are some of the reasons leading to my present anxiety. We
had to spend some time on my early relationship with my mother and how it could have
impacted my reactions nowadays.
Dr. Collins enlightened me about transference, which could be the possibility of my previous
relationships being projected onto my current emotions. She proposed that learning about
these unconscious processes would allow me to be able to cope with anxiety and grief more
efficiently. Dr. Collins also provided a study by Vigan (2025) that shows that STPP can be a
very effective intervention to overcome such emotional struggles as grief or anxiety. The
research demonstrated that much can be achieved in the area of emotional well-being
through the unmasking of unconscious conflicts.
I would say I learned a lot during the session, as it was somehow intense. The thought that
my current responses are being affected by my past emotional experiences seems relieving
and overwhelming. I do not know whether, by going back to these dynamics of the past, I
will feel better, yet I am willing to dig deeper. The prospect of teasing out the inner layers of
my bereavement seems to have potential, yet I am also afraid to face these feelings in full
force.
A Year After
A year later, Emily has already made considerable progress in their emotional development.
Despite high anxiety not being eliminated, it feels more manageable. The devices she was
taught during Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) have permeated the latter because
attacking the negative ideas is part of the techniques she has adopted and has allowed her
to deal with academic stress more adequately. Although she has reduced her panic attacks,
she still has a few instances of anxiety but she is no longer being overwhelmed by them.
In Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) practices mentioned, she has become more
accepting of her emotions and that has lowered her emotional struggle. She has become
less victimized by her anxiety and therefore she does not attempt to repress it anymore so
she lets it run its course.
Through Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP) Emily has come to appreciate
how her childhood grief and attachment problems affected her and have contributed to her
current sufferings. Through these unresolved problems, Emily has succeeded in reconciling
the death of her mother and she has managed to proceed more healthily.
Emily is now a stronger girl. She is still using the methods of her therapy, and though she
still has some cases of anxiety, it does not restrain her anymore. She has acquired her
Master's degree and is serving as a social worker to others with her own experiences in
mind. Emily is open to going back to therapy in case she requires it in the future, but at
present, she believes that she has what it takes to handle her emotions using the new
strategies she acquired.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Emily moved through the therapy and achieved considerable changes in the
spheres of anxiety, grief, and emotional distress. The therapeutic combination of Cognitive
Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Short-Term
Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP) has provided her with a variety of coping abilities so
that she can accommodate the cognitive and emotional parts of her woes. Emily has been
able to change her negative thought pattern through CBT, which has made her less anxious.
Act has also enabled her to embrace her feelings without any bias, something which has
reduced the power they have over her. Moreover, STPP made Emily able to interpret the
unexplainable grief associated with the death of her mother which gave her the emotional
elucidation needed to continue moving on. Although she still feels slightly anxious, Emily has
become stronger in regulating her emotions and has a more resilient attitude to life. Now
that she is still practicing social work, the lessons in therapy follow her because she knows
that therapy is not a single-strike cure but rather a way to move on with life and get to know
a better version of herself.
Emily Parker is a 27-year-old woman and a graduate student of Social Work who has been
experiencing heightened anxiety and a depressed mood accompanied by some panic attacks
after her mother passed away due to pancreatic cancer. Even though she had mildly
suffered anxiety during her teenage life, the awe-desolating effect of the loss of her mother
has greatly spurred up her suffering. Being in a common apartment with two roommates
and coping with all the stresses caused by her study load, Emily ends up being swept by her
emotions, resulting in concentration and academic problems. She wants to have a better
understanding of her anxiety, grief, and emotional well-being and through psychological
support learn how to deal with such emotions. This evaluation is going to examine the
extent of her emotional disorder and what kind of therapeutic procedures can be applied to
give her the means to put her life and mental state back under her control.
Gearing Up!
Emily Parker was sent to a psychological examination because of growing mood inferiority,
anxiety, concentrating disorder, and panic attacks revealed in recent times. These
symptoms increased when her mother who died of pancreatic cancer acted as an important
emotional catalyst. Anxiety is not a new problem that Emily has discovered, as she has felt
this way since her teenage years; however, the recent grief has become an additional
problem to her emotional stability. She rents an apartment together with 2 roommates, yet
her school needs and bereavement have caused alienation in her, despite the social
environment. Being a graduate student who lives in a combination setup, Emily has to deal
with various stressors, and the loss of her mom has largely increased her emotional burden.
The stress that she experiences in her studies mixed with the personal loss seems to have
exacerbated her anxiety, which manifested in panic attacks and concentration issues.
Previous psychological assistance: Emily has not made any attempts at seeking psychological
help before, but now, she understands how much her mental health has cost, and she is
willing to consider psychotherapy as the way to find her emotional equilibrium again.
During therapy preparation, Emily would ask herself how psychotherapy would assist her.
She found out that psychotherapy although having varied forms has several factors in
common that make it effective. The therapeutic relationship, client involvement, and
emotional support play a crucial role in providing change. These supporting factors create a
feeling of assurance and hope that the therapy may give her the means of coping with her
sorrow and anxiety (Holohan & Fiske, 2021). The main objective in the case of Emily should
be how to enable her to cope with both her grief and anxiety and apply therapy to give tools
to her that would enable her once again to have control over her emotional reactions and
focus on her academic achievements.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Participation Journal: CBT Session with Dr. Harris
Dr. Harris seemed to break through in the session we had today. We narrowed down on
establishing my negative thinking patterns which contribute to my anxiety. As a case in
point, I tend to say, that I am not good enough or I cannot cope with it, especially in case of
academic bombardment. Dr. According to Harris, the mechanism behind CBT is tasking such
cognitive distortions and substituting them with healthier and more rational thoughts. The
concept is that when the thoughts change, then the emotion and actions will be different
and I can be different by the way I can change my thoughts.
We also did some work in which I needed to write down the thoughts that happen when I
am feeling anxious and then check whether it is accurate. Dr. To monitor the thoughts
during the week, Harris provided me with a worksheet. She has highlighted the value of
becoming aware of automatic thoughts and disrupting the pattern of negative thoughts. I
am optimistic and doubtful at the same time that this thinking process will help: and how
significant will these changes be?
Another study shared by Dr. Harris is the one by Eells (2022), who states that CBT is a useful
approach when treating anxiety disorders because it makes the person self-aware of how
they think and trains them to recreate the patterns they have. This gave me hope that this
would be beneficial to me because the study was quite successful in suppressing symptoms
of people fighting with anxiety. I would be glad to test the worksheets, but I am not sure
that they will be such effective tools as Dr. Harris claims.
Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT)
How it happened: Journal Entry: ACT Session with Dr. Lee
This was not like the session with Dr. Lee today. She has acquainted me with Acceptance
and Commitment Therapy (ACT) which is aimed at accepting an unpleasant thought or
emotion rather than attempting to deal with them in any way. Dr. Lee informed me that the
more I strive to battle or avoid my anxiety, the more I make it worse. ACT, instead, teaches
me to be mindful and not judge my feelings, so I will forget the struggle.
At first, I was a bit confused because I had been taught never to fight the negative. But as
Dr. Lee assured me, acceptance is not resignation, but it is to accept that the feelings are
there but they are not to rule me and my actions. She prescribed me what she calls the
mindfulness practice where I am supposed to take note of the anxious thoughts and move
on without necessarily attaching myself to them
Dr. Lee talked about a study by Hayes et al. (2006), which discovered that ACT effectively
helps to decrease anxiety levels by enhancing the element of psychological flexibility. This
would be a matter of knowing how to go through discomfort without being unable to
continue achieving my targets. I was relieved by the thought that I do not have to get rid of
my anxiety and all I have to do is to alter my relationship with it. This process is uncommon,
and I am interested in the way it can work in my case. Nevertheless, I still do not know how
well I can apply it.
Short-Term Pzychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP)
STPP Journal Page: Dr. Collins
In my case, Dr. Collins today introduced me to Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy
(STPP) which deals with acquiring insights into my past experiences that led to me
presenting an emotional dilemma. Dr. Collins feels that my grief and pending matters with
my relationship with my mother are some of the reasons leading to my present anxiety. We
had to spend some time on my early relationship with my mother and how it could have
impacted my reactions nowadays.
Dr. Collins enlightened me about transference, which could be the possibility of my previous
relationships being projected onto my current emotions. She proposed that learning about
these unconscious processes would allow me to be able to cope with anxiety and grief more
efficiently. Dr. Collins also provided a study by Vigan (2025) that shows that STPP can be a
very effective intervention to overcome such emotional struggles as grief or anxiety. The
research demonstrated that much can be achieved in the area of emotional well-being
through the unmasking of unconscious conflicts.
I would say I learned a lot during the session, as it was somehow intense. The thought that
my current responses are being affected by my past emotional experiences seems relieving
and overwhelming. I do not know whether, by going back to these dynamics of the past, I
will feel better, yet I am willing to dig deeper. The prospect of teasing out the inner layers of
my bereavement seems to have potential, yet I am also afraid to face these feelings in full
force.
A Year After
A year later, Emily has already made considerable progress in their emotional development.
Despite high anxiety not being eliminated, it feels more manageable. The devices she was
taught during Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) have permeated the latter because
attacking the negative ideas is part of the techniques she has adopted and has allowed her
to deal with academic stress more adequately. Although she has reduced her panic attacks,
she still has a few instances of anxiety but she is no longer being overwhelmed by them.
In Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) practices mentioned, she has become more
accepting of her emotions and that has lowered her emotional struggle. She has become
less victimized by her anxiety and therefore she does not attempt to repress it anymore so
she lets it run its course.
Through Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP) Emily has come to appreciate
how her childhood grief and attachment problems affected her and have contributed to her
current sufferings. Through these unresolved problems, Emily has succeeded in reconciling
the death of her mother and she has managed to proceed more healthily.
Emily is now a stronger girl. She is still using the methods of her therapy, and though she
still has some cases of anxiety, it does not restrain her anymore. She has acquired her
Master's degree and is serving as a social worker to others with her own experiences in
mind. Emily is open to going back to therapy in case she requires it in the future, but at
present, she believes that she has what it takes to handle her emotions using the new
strategies she acquired.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Emily moved through the therapy and achieved considerable changes in the
spheres of anxiety, grief, and emotional distress. The therapeutic combination of Cognitive
Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Short-Term
Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP) has provided her with a variety of coping abilities so
that she can accommodate the cognitive and emotional parts of her woes. Emily has been
able to change her negative thought pattern through CBT, which has made her less anxious.
Act has also enabled her to embrace her feelings without any bias, something which has
reduced the power they have over her. Moreover, STPP made Emily able to interpret the
unexplainable grief associated with the death of her mother which gave her the emotional
elucidation needed to continue moving on. Although she still feels slightly anxious, Emily has
become stronger in regulating her emotions and has a more resilient attitude to life. Now
that she is still practicing social work, the lessons in therapy follow her because she knows
that therapy is not a single-strike cure but rather a way to move on with life and get to know
a better version of herself.
Emily Parker is a 27-year-old woman and a graduate student of Social Work who has been
experiencing heightened anxiety and a depressed mood accompanied by some panic attacks
after her mother passed away due to pancreatic cancer. Even though she had mildly
suffered anxiety during her teenage life, the awe-desolating effect of the loss of her mother
has greatly spurred up her suffering. Being in a common apartment with two roommates
and coping with all the stresses caused by her study load, Emily ends up being swept by her
emotions, resulting in concentration and academic problems. She wants to have a better
understanding of her anxiety, grief, and emotional well-being and through psychological
support learn how to deal with such emotions. This evaluation is going to examine the
extent of her emotional disorder and what kind of therapeutic procedures can be applied to
give her the means to put her life and mental state back under her control.
Gearing Up!
Emily Parker was sent to a psychological examination because of growing mood inferiority,
anxiety, concentrating disorder, and panic attacks revealed in recent times. These
symptoms increased when her mother who died of pancreatic cancer acted as an important
emotional catalyst. Anxiety is not a new problem that Emily has discovered, as she has felt
this way since her teenage years; however, the recent grief has become an additional
problem to her emotional stability. She rents an apartment together with 2 roommates, yet
her school needs and bereavement have caused alienation in her, despite the social
environment. Being a graduate student who lives in a combination setup, Emily has to deal
with various stressors, and the loss of her mom has largely increased her emotional burden.
The stress that she experiences in her studies mixed with the personal loss seems to have
exacerbated her anxiety, which manifested in panic attacks and concentration issues.
Previous psychological assistance: Emily has not made any attempts at seeking psychological
help before, but now, she understands how much her mental health has cost, and she is
willing to consider psychotherapy as the way to find her emotional equilibrium again.
During therapy preparation, Emily would ask herself how psychotherapy would assist her.
She found out that psychotherapy although having varied forms has several factors in
common that make it effective. The therapeutic relationship, client involvement, and
emotional support play a crucial role in providing change. These supporting factors create a
feeling of assurance and hope that the therapy may give her the means of coping with her
sorrow and anxiety (Holohan & Fiske, 2021). The main objective in the case of Emily should
be how to enable her to cope with both her grief and anxiety and apply therapy to give tools
to her that would enable her once again to have control over her emotional reactions and
focus on her academic achievements.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Participation Journal: CBT Session with Dr. Harris
Dr. Harris seemed to break through in the session we had today. We narrowed down on
establishing my negative thinking patterns which contribute to my anxiety. As a case in
point, I tend to say, that I am not good enough or I cannot cope with it, especially in case of
academic bombardment. Dr. According to Harris, the mechanism behind CBT is tasking such
cognitive distortions and substituting them with healthier and more rational thoughts. The
concept is that when the thoughts change, then the emotion and actions will be different
and I can be different by the way I can change my thoughts.
We also did some work in which I needed to write down the thoughts that happen when I
am feeling anxious and then check whether it is accurate. Dr. To monitor the thoughts
during the week, Harris provided me with a worksheet. She has highlighted the value of
becoming aware of automatic thoughts and disrupting the pattern of negative thoughts. I
am optimistic and doubtful at the same time that this thinking process will help: and how
significant will these changes be?
Another study shared by Dr. Harris is the one by Eells (2022), who states that CBT is a useful
approach when treating anxiety disorders because it makes the person self-aware of how
they think and trains them to recreate the patterns they have. This gave me hope that this
would be beneficial to me because the study was quite successful in suppressing symptoms
of people fighting with anxiety. I would be glad to test the worksheets, but I am not sure
that they will be such effective tools as Dr. Harris claims.
Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT)
How it happened: Journal Entry: ACT Session with Dr. Lee
This was not like the session with Dr. Lee today. She has acquainted me with Acceptance
and Commitment Therapy (ACT) which is aimed at accepting an unpleasant thought or
emotion rather than attempting to deal with them in any way. Dr. Lee informed me that the
more I strive to battle or avoid my anxiety, the more I make it worse. ACT, instead, teaches
me to be mindful and not judge my feelings, so I will forget the struggle.
At first, I was a bit confused because I had been taught never to fight the negative. But as
Dr. Lee assured me, acceptance is not resignation, but it is to accept that the feelings are
there but they are not to rule me and my actions. She prescribed me what she calls the
mindfulness practice where I am supposed to take note of the anxious thoughts and move
on without necessarily attaching myself to them
Dr. Lee talked about a study by Hayes et al. (2006), which discovered that ACT effectively
helps to decrease anxiety levels by enhancing the element of psychological flexibility. This
would be a matter of knowing how to go through discomfort without being unable to
continue achieving my targets. I was relieved by the thought that I do not have to get rid of
my anxiety and all I have to do is to alter my relationship with it. This process is uncommon,
and I am interested in the way it can work in my case. Nevertheless, I still do not know how
well I can apply it.
Short-Term Pzychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP)
STPP Journal Page: Dr. Collins
In my case, Dr. Collins today introduced me to Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy
(STPP) which deals with acquiring insights into my past experiences that led to me
presenting an emotional dilemma. Dr. Collins feels that my grief and pending matters with
my relationship with my mother are some of the reasons leading to my present anxiety. We
had to spend some time on my early relationship with my mother and how it could have
impacted my reactions nowadays.
Dr. Collins enlightened me about transference, which could be the possibility of my previous
relationships being projected onto my current emotions. She proposed that learning about
these unconscious processes would allow me to be able to cope with anxiety and grief more
efficiently. Dr. Collins also provided a study by Vigan (2025) that shows that STPP can be a
very effective intervention to overcome such emotional struggles as grief or anxiety. The
research demonstrated that much can be achieved in the area of emotional well-being
through the unmasking of unconscious conflicts.
I would say I learned a lot during the session, as it was somehow intense. The thought that
my current responses are being affected by my past emotional experiences seems relieving
and overwhelming. I do not know whether, by going back to these dynamics of the past, I
will feel better, yet I am willing to dig deeper. The prospect of teasing out the inner layers of
my bereavement seems to have potential, yet I am also afraid to face these feelings in full
force.
A Year After
A year later, Emily has already made considerable progress in their emotional development.
Despite high anxiety not being eliminated, it feels more manageable. The devices she was
taught during Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) have permeated the latter because
attacking the negative ideas is part of the techniques she has adopted and has allowed her
to deal with academic stress more adequately. Although she has reduced her panic attacks,
she still has a few instances of anxiety but she is no longer being overwhelmed by them.
In Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) practices mentioned, she has become more
accepting of her emotions and that has lowered her emotional struggle. She has become
less victimized by her anxiety and therefore she does not attempt to repress it anymore so
she lets it run its course.
Through Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP) Emily has come to appreciate
how her childhood grief and attachment problems affected her and have contributed to her
current sufferings. Through these unresolved problems, Emily has succeeded in reconciling
the death of her mother and she has managed to proceed more healthily.
Emily is now a stronger girl. She is still using the methods of her therapy, and though she
still has some cases of anxiety, it does not restrain her anymore. She has acquired her
Master's degree and is serving as a social worker to others with her own experiences in
mind. Emily is open to going back to therapy in case she requires it in the future, but at
present, she believes that she has what it takes to handle her emotions using the new
strategies she acquired.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Emily moved through the therapy and achieved considerable changes in the
spheres of anxiety, grief, and emotional distress. The therapeutic combination of Cognitive
Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Short-Term
Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP) has provided her with a variety of coping abilities so
that she can accommodate the cognitive and emotional parts of her woes. Emily has been
able to change her negative thought pattern through CBT, which has made her less anxious.
Act has also enabled her to embrace her feelings without any bias, something which has
reduced the power they have over her. Moreover, STPP made Emily able to interpret the
unexplainable grief associated with the death of her mother which gave her the emotional
elucidation needed to continue moving on. Although she still feels slightly anxious, Emily has
become stronger in regulating her emotions and has a more resilient attitude to life. Now
that she is still practicing social work, the lessons in therapy follow her because she knows
that therapy is not a single-strike cure but rather a way to move on with life and get to know
a better version of herself.
Emily Parker is a 27-year-old woman and a graduate student of Social Work who has been
experiencing heightened anxiety and a depressed mood accompanied by some panic attacks
after her mother passed away due to pancreatic cancer. Even though she had mildly
suffered anxiety during her teenage life, the awe-desolating effect of the loss of her mother
has greatly spurred up her suffering. Being in a common apartment with two roommates
and coping with all the stresses caused by her study load, Emily ends up being swept by her
emotions, resulting in concentration and academic problems. She wants to have a better
understanding of her anxiety, grief, and emotional well-being and through psychological
support learn how to deal with such emotions. This evaluation is going to examine the
extent of her emotional disorder and what kind of therapeutic procedures can be applied to
give her the means to put her life and mental state back under her control.
Gearing Up!
Emily Parker was sent to a psychological examination because of growing mood inferiority,
anxiety, concentrating disorder, and panic attacks revealed in recent times. These
symptoms increased when her mother who died of pancreatic cancer acted as an important
emotional catalyst. Anxiety is not a new problem that Emily has discovered, as she has felt
this way since her teenage years; however, the recent grief has become an additional
problem to her emotional stability. She rents an apartment together with 2 roommates, yet
her school needs and bereavement have caused alienation in her, despite the social
environment. Being a graduate student who lives in a combination setup, Emily has to deal
with various stressors, and the loss of her mom has largely increased her emotional burden.
The stress that she experiences in her studies mixed with the personal loss seems to have
exacerbated her anxiety, which manifested in panic attacks and concentration issues.
Previous psychological assistance: Emily has not made any attempts at seeking psychological
help before, but now, she understands how much her mental health has cost, and she is
willing to consider psychotherapy as the way to find her emotional equilibrium again.
During therapy preparation, Emily would ask herself how psychotherapy would assist her.
She found out that psychotherapy although having varied forms has several factors in
common that make it effective. The therapeutic relationship, client involvement, and
emotional support play a crucial role in providing change. These supporting factors create a
feeling of assurance and hope that the therapy may give her the means of coping with her
sorrow and anxiety (Holohan & Fiske, 2021). The main objective in the case of Emily should
be how to enable her to cope with both her grief and anxiety and apply therapy to give tools
to her that would enable her once again to have control over her emotional reactions and
focus on her academic achievements.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Participation Journal: CBT Session with Dr. Harris
Dr. Harris seemed to break through in the session we had today. We narrowed down on
establishing my negative thinking patterns which contribute to my anxiety. As a case in
point, I tend to say, that I am not good enough or I cannot cope with it, especially in case of
academic bombardment. Dr. According to Harris, the mechanism behind CBT is tasking such
cognitive distortions and substituting them with healthier and more rational thoughts. The
concept is that when the thoughts change, then the emotion and actions will be different
and I can be different by the way I can change my thoughts.
We also did some work in which I needed to write down the thoughts that happen when I
am feeling anxious and then check whether it is accurate. Dr. To monitor the thoughts
during the week, Harris provided me with a worksheet. She has highlighted the value of
becoming aware of automatic thoughts and disrupting the pattern of negative thoughts. I
am optimistic and doubtful at the same time that this thinking process will help: and how
significant will these changes be?
Another study shared by Dr. Harris is the one by Eells (2022), who states that CBT is a useful
approach when treating anxiety disorders because it makes the person self-aware of how
they think and trains them to recreate the patterns they have. This gave me hope that this
would be beneficial to me because the study was quite successful in suppressing symptoms
of people fighting with anxiety. I would be glad to test the worksheets, but I am not sure
that they will be such effective tools as Dr. Harris claims.
Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT)
How it happened: Journal Entry: ACT Session with Dr. Lee
This was not like the session with Dr. Lee today. She has acquainted me with Acceptance
and Commitment Therapy (ACT) which is aimed at accepting an unpleasant thought or
emotion rather than attempting to deal with them in any way. Dr. Lee informed me that the
more I strive to battle or avoid my anxiety, the more I make it worse. ACT, instead, teaches
me to be mindful and not judge my feelings, so I will forget the struggle.
At first, I was a bit confused because I had been taught never to fight the negative. But as
Dr. Lee assured me, acceptance is not resignation, but it is to accept that the feelings are
there but they are not to rule me and my actions. She prescribed me what she calls the
mindfulness practice where I am supposed to take note of the anxious thoughts and move
on without necessarily attaching myself to them
Dr. Lee talked about a study by Hayes et al. (2006), which discovered that ACT effectively
helps to decrease anxiety levels by enhancing the element of psychological flexibility. This
would be a matter of knowing how to go through discomfort without being unable to
continue achieving my targets. I was relieved by the thought that I do not have to get rid of
my anxiety and all I have to do is to alter my relationship with it. This process is uncommon,
and I am interested in the way it can work in my case. Nevertheless, I still do not know how
well I can apply it.
Short-Term Pzychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP)
STPP Journal Page: Dr. Collins
In my case, Dr. Collins today introduced me to Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy
(STPP) which deals with acquiring insights into my past experiences that led to me
presenting an emotional dilemma. Dr. Collins feels that my grief and pending matters with
my relationship with my mother are some of the reasons leading to my present anxiety. We
had to spend some time on my early relationship with my mother and how it could have
impacted my reactions nowadays.
Dr. Collins enlightened me about transference, which could be the possibility of my previous
relationships being projected onto my current emotions. She proposed that learning about
these unconscious processes would allow me to be able to cope with anxiety and grief more
efficiently. Dr. Collins also provided a study by Vigan (2025) that shows that STPP can be a
very effective intervention to overcome such emotional struggles as grief or anxiety. The
research demonstrated that much can be achieved in the area of emotional well-being
through the unmasking of unconscious conflicts.
I would say I learned a lot during the session, as it was somehow intense. The thought that
my current responses are being affected by my past emotional experiences seems relieving
and overwhelming. I do not know whether, by going back to these dynamics of the past, I
will feel better, yet I am willing to dig deeper. The prospect of teasing out the inner layers of
my bereavement seems to have potential, yet I am also afraid to face these feelings in full
force.
A Year After
A year later, Emily has already made considerable progress in their emotional development.
Despite high anxiety not being eliminated, it feels more manageable. The devices she was
taught during Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) have permeated the latter because
attacking the negative ideas is part of the techniques she has adopted and has allowed her
to deal with academic stress more adequately. Although she has reduced her panic attacks,
she still has a few instances of anxiety but she is no longer being overwhelmed by them.
In Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) practices mentioned, she has become more
accepting of her emotions and that has lowered her emotional struggle. She has become
less victimized by her anxiety and therefore she does not attempt to repress it anymore so
she lets it run its course.
Through Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP) Emily has come to appreciate
how her childhood grief and attachment problems affected her and have contributed to her
current sufferings. Through these unresolved problems, Emily has succeeded in reconciling
the death of her mother and she has managed to proceed more healthily.
Emily is now a stronger girl. She is still using the methods of her therapy, and though she
still has some cases of anxiety, it does not restrain her anymore. She has acquired her
Master's degree and is serving as a social worker to others with her own experiences in
mind. Emily is open to going back to therapy in case she requires it in the future, but at
present, she believes that she has what it takes to handle her emotions using the new
strategies she acquired.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Emily moved through the therapy and achieved considerable changes in the
spheres of anxiety, grief, and emotional distress. The therapeutic combination of Cognitive
Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Short-Term
Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP) has provided her with a variety of coping abilities so
that she can accommodate the cognitive and emotional parts of her woes. Emily has been
able to change her negative thought pattern through CBT, which has made her less anxious.
Act has also enabled her to embrace her feelings without any bias, something which has
reduced the power they have over her. Moreover, STPP made Emily able to interpret the
unexplainable grief associated with the death of her mother which gave her the emotional
elucidation needed to continue moving on. Although she still feels slightly anxious, Emily has
become stronger in regulating her emotions and has a more resilient attitude to life. Now
that she is still practicing social work, the lessons in therapy follow her because she knows
that therapy is not a single-strike cure but rather a way to move on with life and get to know
a better version of herself.
Emily Parker is a 27-year-old woman and a graduate student of Social Work who has been
experiencing heightened anxiety and a depressed mood accompanied by some panic attacks
after her mother passed away due to pancreatic cancer. Even though she had mildly
suffered anxiety during her teenage life, the awe-desolating effect of the loss of her mother
has greatly spurred up her suffering. Being in a common apartment with two roommates
and coping with all the stresses caused by her study load, Emily ends up being swept by her
emotions, resulting in concentration and academic problems. She wants to have a better
understanding of her anxiety, grief, and emotional well-being and through psychological
support learn how to deal with such emotions. This evaluation is going to examine the
extent of her emotional disorder and what kind of therapeutic procedures can be applied to
give her the means to put her life and mental state back under her control.
Gearing Up!
Emily Parker was sent to a psychological examination because of growing mood inferiority,
anxiety, concentrating disorder, and panic attacks revealed in recent times. These
symptoms increased when her mother who died of pancreatic cancer acted as an important
emotional catalyst. Anxiety is not a new problem that Emily has discovered, as she has felt
this way since her teenage years; however, the recent grief has become an additional
problem to her emotional stability. She rents an apartment together with 2 roommates, yet
her school needs and bereavement have caused alienation in her, despite the social
environment. Being a graduate student who lives in a combination setup, Emily has to deal
with various stressors, and the loss of her mom has largely increased her emotional burden.
The stress that she experiences in her studies mixed with the personal loss seems to have
exacerbated her anxiety, which manifested in panic attacks and concentration issues.
Previous psychological assistance: Emily has not made any attempts at seeking psychological
help before, but now, she understands how much her mental health has cost, and she is
willing to consider psychotherapy as the way to find her emotional equilibrium again.
During therapy preparation, Emily would ask herself how psychotherapy would assist her.
She found out that psychotherapy although having varied forms has several factors in
common that make it effective. The therapeutic relationship, client involvement, and
emotional support play a crucial role in providing change. These supporting factors create a
feeling of assurance and hope that the therapy may give her the means of coping with her
sorrow and anxiety (Holohan & Fiske, 2021). The main objective in the case of Emily should
be how to enable her to cope with both her grief and anxiety and apply therapy to give tools
to her that would enable her once again to have control over her emotional reactions and
focus on her academic achievements.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Participation Journal: CBT Session with Dr. Harris
Dr. Harris seemed to break through in the session we had today. We narrowed down on
establishing my negative thinking patterns which contribute to my anxiety. As a case in
point, I tend to say, that I am not good enough or I cannot cope with it, especially in case of
academic bombardment. Dr. According to Harris, the mechanism behind CBT is tasking such
cognitive distortions and substituting them with healthier and more rational thoughts. The
concept is that when the thoughts change, then the emotion and actions will be different
and I can be different by the way I can change my thoughts.
We also did some work in which I needed to write down the thoughts that happen when I
am feeling anxious and then check whether it is accurate. Dr. To monitor the thoughts
during the week, Harris provided me with a worksheet. She has highlighted the value of
becoming aware of automatic thoughts and disrupting the pattern of negative thoughts. I
am optimistic and doubtful at the same time that this thinking process will help: and how
significant will these changes be?
Another study shared by Dr. Harris is the one by Eells (2022), who states that CBT is a useful
approach when treating anxiety disorders because it makes the person self-aware of how
they think and trains them to recreate the patterns they have. This gave me hope that this
would be beneficial to me because the study was quite successful in suppressing symptoms
of people fighting with anxiety. I would be glad to test the worksheets, but I am not sure
that they will be such effective tools as Dr. Harris claims.
Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT)
How it happened: Journal Entry: ACT Session with Dr. Lee
This was not like the session with Dr. Lee today. She has acquainted me with Acceptance
and Commitment Therapy (ACT) which is aimed at accepting an unpleasant thought or
emotion rather than attempting to deal with them in any way. Dr. Lee informed me that the
more I strive to battle or avoid my anxiety, the more I make it worse. ACT, instead, teaches
me to be mindful and not judge my feelings, so I will forget the struggle.
At first, I was a bit confused because I had been taught never to fight the negative. But as
Dr. Lee assured me, acceptance is not resignation, but it is to accept that the feelings are
there but they are not to rule me and my actions. She prescribed me what she calls the
mindfulness practice where I am supposed to take note of the anxious thoughts and move
on without necessarily attaching myself to them
Dr. Lee talked about a study by Hayes et al. (2006), which discovered that ACT effectively
helps to decrease anxiety levels by enhancing the element of psychological flexibility. This
would be a matter of knowing how to go through discomfort without being unable to
continue achieving my targets. I was relieved by the thought that I do not have to get rid of
my anxiety and all I have to do is to alter my relationship with it. This process is uncommon,
and I am interested in the way it can work in my case. Nevertheless, I still do not know how
well I can apply it.
Short-Term Pzychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP)
STPP Journal Page: Dr. Collins
In my case, Dr. Collins today introduced me to Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy
(STPP) which deals with acquiring insights into my past experiences that led to me
presenting an emotional dilemma. Dr. Collins feels that my grief and pending matters with
my relationship with my mother are some of the reasons leading to my present anxiety. We
had to spend some time on my early relationship with my mother and how it could have
impacted my reactions nowadays.
Dr. Collins enlightened me about transference, which could be the possibility of my previous
relationships being projected onto my current emotions. She proposed that learning about
these unconscious processes would allow me to be able to cope with anxiety and grief more
efficiently. Dr. Collins also provided a study by Vigan (2025) that shows that STPP can be a
very effective intervention to overcome such emotional struggles as grief or anxiety. The
research demonstrated that much can be achieved in the area of emotional well-being
through the unmasking of unconscious conflicts.
I would say I learned a lot during the session, as it was somehow intense. The thought that
my current responses are being affected by my past emotional experiences seems relieving
and overwhelming. I do not know whether, by going back to these dynamics of the past, I
will feel better, yet I am willing to dig deeper. The prospect of teasing out the inner layers of
my bereavement seems to have potential, yet I am also afraid to face these feelings in full
force.
A Year After
A year later, Emily has already made considerable progress in their emotional development.
Despite high anxiety not being eliminated, it feels more manageable. The devices she was
taught during Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) have permeated the latter because
attacking the negative ideas is part of the techniques she has adopted and has allowed her
to deal with academic stress more adequately. Although she has reduced her panic attacks,
she still has a few instances of anxiety but she is no longer being overwhelmed by them.
In Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) practices mentioned, she has become more
accepting of her emotions and that has lowered her emotional struggle. She has become
less victimized by her anxiety and therefore she does not attempt to repress it anymore so
she lets it run its course.
Through Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP) Emily has come to appreciate
how her childhood grief and attachment problems affected her and have contributed to her
current sufferings. Through these unresolved problems, Emily has succeeded in reconciling
the death of her mother and she has managed to proceed more healthily.
Emily is now a stronger girl. She is still using the methods of her therapy, and though she
still has some cases of anxiety, it does not restrain her anymore. She has acquired her
Master's degree and is serving as a social worker to others with her own experiences in
mind. Emily is open to going back to therapy in case she requires it in the future, but at
present, she believes that she has what it takes to handle her emotions using the new
strategies she acquired.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Emily moved through the therapy and achieved considerable changes in the
spheres of anxiety, grief, and emotional distress. The therapeutic combination of Cognitive
Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Short-Term
Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP) has provided her with a variety of coping abilities so
that she can accommodate the cognitive and emotional parts of her woes. Emily has been
able to change her negative thought pattern through CBT, which has made her less anxious.
Act has also enabled her to embrace her feelings without any bias, something which has
reduced the power they have over her. Moreover, STPP made Emily able to interpret the
unexplainable grief associated with the death of her mother which gave her the emotional
elucidation needed to continue moving on. Although she still feels slightly anxious, Emily has
become stronger in regulating her emotions and has a more resilient attitude to life. Now
that she is still practicing social work, the lessons in therapy follow her because she knows
that therapy is not a single-strike cure but rather a way to move on with life and get to know
a better version of herself.
Emily Parker is a 27-year-old woman and a graduate student of Social Work who has been
experiencing heightened anxiety and a depressed mood accompanied by some panic attacks
after her mother passed away due to pancreatic cancer. Even though she had mildly
suffered anxiety during her teenage life, the awe-desolating effect of the loss of her mother
has greatly spurred up her suffering. Being in a common apartment with two roommates
and coping with all the stresses caused by her study load, Emily ends up being swept by her
emotions, resulting in concentration and academic problems. She wants to have a better
understanding of her anxiety, grief, and emotional well-being and through psychological
support learn how to deal with such emotions. This evaluation is going to examine the
extent of her emotional disorder and what kind of therapeutic procedures can be applied to
give her the means to put her life and mental state back under her control.
Gearing Up!
Emily Parker was sent to a psychological examination because of growing mood inferiority,
anxiety, concentrating disorder, and panic attacks revealed in recent times. These
symptoms increased when her mother who died of pancreatic cancer acted as an important
emotional catalyst. Anxiety is not a new problem that Emily has discovered, as she has felt
this way since her teenage years; however, the recent grief has become an additional
problem to her emotional stability. She rents an apartment together with 2 roommates, yet
her school needs and bereavement have caused alienation in her, despite the social
environment. Being a graduate student who lives in a combination setup, Emily has to deal
with various stressors, and the loss of her mom has largely increased her emotional burden.
The stress that she experiences in her studies mixed with the personal loss seems to have
exacerbated her anxiety, which manifested in panic attacks and concentration issues.
Previous psychological assistance: Emily has not made any attempts at seeking psychological
help before, but now, she understands how much her mental health has cost, and she is
willing to consider psychotherapy as the way to find her emotional equilibrium again.
During therapy preparation, Emily would ask herself how psychotherapy would assist her.
She found out that psychotherapy although having varied forms has several factors in
common that make it effective. The therapeutic relationship, client involvement, and
emotional support play a crucial role in providing change. These supporting factors create a
feeling of assurance and hope that the therapy may give her the means of coping with her
sorrow and anxiety (Holohan & Fiske, 2021). The main objective in the case of Emily should
be how to enable her to cope with both her grief and anxiety and apply therapy to give tools
to her that would enable her once again to have control over her emotional reactions and
focus on her academic achievements.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Participation Journal: CBT Session with Dr. Harris
Dr. Harris seemed to break through in the session we had today. We narrowed down on
establishing my negative thinking patterns which contribute to my anxiety. As a case in
point, I tend to say, that I am not good enough or I cannot cope with it, especially in case of
academic bombardment. Dr. According to Harris, the mechanism behind CBT is tasking such
cognitive distortions and substituting them with healthier and more rational thoughts. The
concept is that when the thoughts change, then the emotion and actions will be different
and I can be different by the way I can change my thoughts.
We also did some work in which I needed to write down the thoughts that happen when I
am feeling anxious and then check whether it is accurate. Dr. To monitor the thoughts
during the week, Harris provided me with a worksheet. She has highlighted the value of
becoming aware of automatic thoughts and disrupting the pattern of negative thoughts. I
am optimistic and doubtful at the same time that this thinking process will help: and how
significant will these changes be?
Another study shared by Dr. Harris is the one by Eells (2022), who states that CBT is a useful
approach when treating anxiety disorders because it makes the person self-aware of how
they think and trains them to recreate the patterns they have. This gave me hope that this
would be beneficial to me because the study was quite successful in suppressing symptoms
of people fighting with anxiety. I would be glad to test the worksheets, but I am not sure
that they will be such effective tools as Dr. Harris claims.
Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT)
How it happened: Journal Entry: ACT Session with Dr. Lee
This was not like the session with Dr. Lee today. She has acquainted me with Acceptance
and Commitment Therapy (ACT) which is aimed at accepting an unpleasant thought or
emotion rather than attempting to deal with them in any way. Dr. Lee informed me that the
more I strive to battle or avoid my anxiety, the more I make it worse. ACT, instead, teaches
me to be mindful and not judge my feelings, so I will forget the struggle.
At first, I was a bit confused because I had been taught never to fight the negative. But as
Dr. Lee assured me, acceptance is not resignation, but it is to accept that the feelings are
there but they are not to rule me and my actions. She prescribed me what she calls the
mindfulness practice where I am supposed to take note of the anxious thoughts and move
on without necessarily attaching myself to them
Dr. Lee talked about a study by Hayes et al. (2006), which discovered that ACT effectively
helps to decrease anxiety levels by enhancing the element of psychological flexibility. This
would be a matter of knowing how to go through discomfort without being unable to
continue achieving my targets. I was relieved by the thought that I do not have to get rid of
my anxiety and all I have to do is to alter my relationship with it. This process is uncommon,
and I am interested in the way it can work in my case. Nevertheless, I still do not know how
well I can apply it.
Short-Term Pzychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP)
STPP Journal Page: Dr. Collins
In my case, Dr. Collins today introduced me to Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy
(STPP) which deals with acquiring insights into my past experiences that led to me
presenting an emotional dilemma. Dr. Collins feels that my grief and pending matters with
my relationship with my mother are some of the reasons leading to my present anxiety. We
had to spend some time on my early relationship with my mother and how it could have
impacted my reactions nowadays.
Dr. Collins enlightened me about transference, which could be the possibility of my previous
relationships being projected onto my current emotions. She proposed that learning about
these unconscious processes would allow me to be able to cope with anxiety and grief more
efficiently. Dr. Collins also provided a study by Vigan (2025) that shows that STPP can be a
very effective intervention to overcome such emotional struggles as grief or anxiety. The
research demonstrated that much can be achieved in the area of emotional well-being
through the unmasking of unconscious conflicts.
I would say I learned a lot during the session, as it was somehow intense. The thought that
my current responses are being affected by my past emotional experiences seems relieving
and overwhelming. I do not know whether, by going back to these dynamics of the past, I
will feel better, yet I am willing to dig deeper. The prospect of teasing out the inner layers of
my bereavement seems to have potential, yet I am also afraid to face these feelings in full
force.
A Year After
A year later, Emily has already made considerable progress in their emotional development.
Despite high anxiety not being eliminated, it feels more manageable. The devices she was
taught during Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) have permeated the latter because
attacking the negative ideas is part of the techniques she has adopted and has allowed her
to deal with academic stress more adequately. Although she has reduced her panic attacks,
she still has a few instances of anxiety but she is no longer being overwhelmed by them.
In Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) practices mentioned, she has become more
accepting of her emotions and that has lowered her emotional struggle. She has become
less victimized by her anxiety and therefore she does not attempt to repress it anymore so
she lets it run its course.
Through Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP) Emily has come to appreciate
how her childhood grief and attachment problems affected her and have contributed to her
current sufferings. Through these unresolved problems, Emily has succeeded in reconciling
the death of her mother and she has managed to proceed more healthily.
Emily is now a stronger girl. She is still using the methods of her therapy, and though she
still has some cases of anxiety, it does not restrain her anymore. She has acquired her
Master's degree and is serving as a social worker to others with her own experiences in
mind. Emily is open to going back to therapy in case she requires it in the future, but at
present, she believes that she has what it takes to handle her emotions using the new
strategies she acquired.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Emily moved through the therapy and achieved considerable changes in the
spheres of anxiety, grief, and emotional distress. The therapeutic combination of Cognitive
Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Short-Term
Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP) has provided her with a variety of coping abilities so
that she can accommodate the cognitive and emotional parts of her woes. Emily has been
able to change her negative thought pattern through CBT, which has made her less anxious.
Act has also enabled her to embrace her feelings without any bias, something which has
reduced the power they have over her. Moreover, STPP made Emily able to interpret the
unexplainable grief associated with the death of her mother which gave her the emotional
elucidation needed to continue moving on. Although she still feels slightly anxious, Emily has
become stronger in regulating her emotions and has a more resilient attitude to life. Now
that she is still practicing social work, the lessons in therapy follow her because she knows
that therapy is not a single-strike cure but rather a way to move on with life and get to know
a better version of herself.
Emily Parker is a 27-year-old woman and a graduate student of Social Work who has been
experiencing heightened anxiety and a depressed mood accompanied by some panic attacks
after her mother passed away due to pancreatic cancer. Even though she had mildly
suffered anxiety during her teenage life, the awe-desolating effect of the loss of her mother
has greatly spurred up her suffering. Being in a common apartment with two roommates
and coping with all the stresses caused by her study load, Emily ends up being swept by her
emotions, resulting in concentration and academic problems. She wants to have a better
understanding of her anxiety, grief, and emotional well-being and through psychological
support learn how to deal with such emotions. This evaluation is going to examine the
extent of her emotional disorder and what kind of therapeutic procedures can be applied to
give her the means to put her life and mental state back under her control.
Gearing Up!
Emily Parker was sent to a psychological examination because of growing mood inferiority,
anxiety, concentrating disorder, and panic attacks revealed in recent times. These
symptoms increased when her mother who died of pancreatic cancer acted as an important
emotional catalyst. Anxiety is not a new problem that Emily has discovered, as she has felt
this way since her teenage years; however, the recent grief has become an additional
problem to her emotional stability. She rents an apartment together with 2 roommates, yet
her school needs and bereavement have caused alienation in her, despite the social
environment. Being a graduate student who lives in a combination setup, Emily has to deal
with various stressors, and the loss of her mom has largely increased her emotional burden.
The stress that she experiences in her studies mixed with the personal loss seems to have
exacerbated her anxiety, which manifested in panic attacks and concentration issues.
Previous psychological assistance: Emily has not made any attempts at seeking psychological
help before, but now, she understands how much her mental health has cost, and she is
willing to consider psychotherapy as the way to find her emotional equilibrium again.
During therapy preparation, Emily would ask herself how psychotherapy would assist her.
She found out that psychotherapy although having varied forms has several factors in
common that make it effective. The therapeutic relationship, client involvement, and
emotional support play a crucial role in providing change. These supporting factors create a
feeling of assurance and hope that the therapy may give her the means of coping with her
sorrow and anxiety (Holohan & Fiske, 2021). The main objective in the case of Emily should
be how to enable her to cope with both her grief and anxiety and apply therapy to give tools
to her that would enable her once again to have control over her emotional reactions and
focus on her academic achievements.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Participation Journal: CBT Session with Dr. Harris
Dr. Harris seemed to break through in the session we had today. We narrowed down on
establishing my negative thinking patterns which contribute to my anxiety. As a case in
point, I tend to say, that I am not good enough or I cannot cope with it, especially in case of
academic bombardment. Dr. According to Harris, the mechanism behind CBT is tasking such
cognitive distortions and substituting them with healthier and more rational thoughts. The
concept is that when the thoughts change, then the emotion and actions will be different
and I can be different by the way I can change my thoughts.
We also did some work in which I needed to write down the thoughts that happen when I
am feeling anxious and then check whether it is accurate. Dr. To monitor the thoughts
during the week, Harris provided me with a worksheet. She has highlighted the value of
becoming aware of automatic thoughts and disrupting the pattern of negative thoughts. I
am optimistic and doubtful at the same time that this thinking process will help: and how
significant will these changes be?
Another study shared by Dr. Harris is the one by Eells (2022), who states that CBT is a useful
approach when treating anxiety disorders because it makes the person self-aware of how
they think and trains them to recreate the patterns they have. This gave me hope that this
would be beneficial to me because the study was quite successful in suppressing symptoms
of people fighting with anxiety. I would be glad to test the worksheets, but I am not sure
that they will be such effective tools as Dr. Harris claims.
Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT)
How it happened: Journal Entry: ACT Session with Dr. Lee
This was not like the session with Dr. Lee today. She has acquainted me with Acceptance
and Commitment Therapy (ACT) which is aimed at accepting an unpleasant thought or
emotion rather than attempting to deal with them in any way. Dr. Lee informed me that the
more I strive to battle or avoid my anxiety, the more I make it worse. ACT, instead, teaches
me to be mindful and not judge my feelings, so I will forget the struggle.
At first, I was a bit confused because I had been taught never to fight the negative. But as
Dr. Lee assured me, acceptance is not resignation, but it is to accept that the feelings are
there but they are not to rule me and my actions. She prescribed me what she calls the
mindfulness practice where I am supposed to take note of the anxious thoughts and move
on without necessarily attaching myself to them
Dr. Lee talked about a study by Hayes et al. (2006), which discovered that ACT effectively
helps to decrease anxiety levels by enhancing the element of psychological flexibility. This
would be a matter of knowing how to go through discomfort without being unable to
continue achieving my targets. I was relieved by the thought that I do not have to get rid of
my anxiety and all I have to do is to alter my relationship with it. This process is uncommon,
and I am interested in the way it can work in my case. Nevertheless, I still do not know how
well I can apply it.
Short-Term Pzychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP)
STPP Journal Page: Dr. Collins
In my case, Dr. Collins today introduced me to Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy
(STPP) which deals with acquiring insights into my past experiences that led to me
presenting an emotional dilemma. Dr. Collins feels that my grief and pending matters with
my relationship with my mother are some of the reasons leading to my present anxiety. We
had to spend some time on my early relationship with my mother and how it could have
impacted my reactions nowadays.
Dr. Collins enlightened me about transference, which could be the possibility of my previous
relationships being projected onto my current emotions. She proposed that learning about
these unconscious processes would allow me to be able to cope with anxiety and grief more
efficiently. Dr. Collins also provided a study by Vigan (2025) that shows that STPP can be a
very effective intervention to overcome such emotional struggles as grief or anxiety. The
research demonstrated that much can be achieved in the area of emotional well-being
through the unmasking of unconscious conflicts.
I would say I learned a lot during the session, as it was somehow intense. The thought that
my current responses are being affected by my past emotional experiences seems relieving
and overwhelming. I do not know whether, by going back to these dynamics of the past, I
will feel better, yet I am willing to dig deeper. The prospect of teasing out the inner layers of
my bereavement seems to have potential, yet I am also afraid to face these feelings in full
force.
A Year After
A year later, Emily has already made considerable progress in their emotional development.
Despite high anxiety not being eliminated, it feels more manageable. The devices she was
taught during Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) have permeated the latter because
attacking the negative ideas is part of the techniques she has adopted and has allowed her
to deal with academic stress more adequately. Although she has reduced her panic attacks,
she still has a few instances of anxiety but she is no longer being overwhelmed by them.
In Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) practices mentioned, she has become more
accepting of her emotions and that has lowered her emotional struggle. She has become
less victimized by her anxiety and therefore she does not attempt to repress it anymore so
she lets it run its course.
Through Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP) Emily has come to appreciate
how her childhood grief and attachment problems affected her and have contributed to her
current sufferings. Through these unresolved problems, Emily has succeeded in reconciling
the death of her mother and she has managed to proceed more healthily.
Emily is now a stronger girl. She is still using the methods of her therapy, and though she
still has some cases of anxiety, it does not restrain her anymore. She has acquired her
Master's degree and is serving as a social worker to others with her own experiences in
mind. Emily is open to going back to therapy in case she requires it in the future, but at
present, she believes that she has what it takes to handle her emotions using the new
strategies she acquired.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Emily moved through the therapy and achieved considerable changes in the
spheres of anxiety, grief, and emotional distress. The therapeutic combination of Cognitive
Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Short-Term
Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP) has provided her with a variety of coping abilities so
that she can accommodate the cognitive and emotional parts of her woes. Emily has been
able to change her negative thought pattern through CBT, which has made her less anxious.
Act has also enabled her to embrace her feelings without any bias, something which has
reduced the power they have over her. Moreover, STPP made Emily able to interpret the
unexplainable grief associated with the death of her mother which gave her the emotional
elucidation needed to continue moving on. Although she still feels slightly anxious, Emily has
become stronger in regulating her emotions and has a more resilient attitude to life. Now
that she is still practicing social work, the lessons in therapy follow her because she knows
that therapy is not a single-strike cure but rather a way to move on with life and get to know
a better version of herself.
Emily Parker is a 27-year-old woman and a graduate student of Social Work who has been
experiencing heightened anxiety and a depressed mood accompanied by some panic attacks
after her mother passed away due to pancreatic cancer. Even though she had mildly
suffered anxiety during her teenage life, the awe-desolating effect of the loss of her mother
has greatly spurred up her suffering. Being in a common apartment with two roommates
and coping with all the stresses caused by her study load, Emily ends up being swept by her
emotions, resulting in concentration and academic problems. She wants to have a better
understanding of her anxiety, grief, and emotional well-being and through psychological
support learn how to deal with such emotions. This evaluation is going to examine the
extent of her emotional disorder and what kind of therapeutic procedures can be applied to
give her the means to put her life and mental state back under her control.
Gearing Up!
Emily Parker was sent to a psychological examination because of growing mood inferiority,
anxiety, concentrating disorder, and panic attacks revealed in recent times. These
symptoms increased when her mother who died of pancreatic cancer acted as an important
emotional catalyst. Anxiety is not a new problem that Emily has discovered, as she has felt
this way since her teenage years; however, the recent grief has become an additional
problem to her emotional stability. She rents an apartment together with 2 roommates, yet
her school needs and bereavement have caused alienation in her, despite the social
environment. Being a graduate student who lives in a combination setup, Emily has to deal
with various stressors, and the loss of her mom has largely increased her emotional burden.
The stress that she experiences in her studies mixed with the personal loss seems to have
exacerbated her anxiety, which manifested in panic attacks and concentration issues.
Previous psychological assistance: Emily has not made any attempts at seeking psychological
help before, but now, she understands how much her mental health has cost, and she is
willing to consider psychotherapy as the way to find her emotional equilibrium again.
During therapy preparation, Emily would ask herself how psychotherapy would assist her.
She found out that psychotherapy although having varied forms has several factors in
common that make it effective. The therapeutic relationship, client involvement, and
emotional support play a crucial role in providing change. These supporting factors create a
feeling of assurance and hope that the therapy may give her the means of coping with her
sorrow and anxiety (Holohan & Fiske, 2021). The main objective in the case of Emily should
be how to enable her to cope with both her grief and anxiety and apply therapy to give tools
to her that would enable her once again to have control over her emotional reactions and
focus on her academic achievements.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Participation Journal: CBT Session with Dr. Harris
Dr. Harris seemed to break through in the session we had today. We narrowed down on
establishing my negative thinking patterns which contribute to my anxiety. As a case in
point, I tend to say, that I am not good enough or I cannot cope with it, especially in case of
academic bombardment. Dr. According to Harris, the mechanism behind CBT is tasking such
cognitive distortions and substituting them with healthier and more rational thoughts. The
concept is that when the thoughts change, then the emotion and actions will be different
and I can be different by the way I can change my thoughts.
We also did some work in which I needed to write down the thoughts that happen when I
am feeling anxious and then check whether it is accurate. Dr. To monitor the thoughts
during the week, Harris provided me with a worksheet. She has highlighted the value of
becoming aware of automatic thoughts and disrupting the pattern of negative thoughts. I
am optimistic and doubtful at the same time that this thinking process will help: and how
significant will these changes be?
Another study shared by Dr. Harris is the one by Eells (2022), who states that CBT is a useful
approach when treating anxiety disorders because it makes the person self-aware of how
they think and trains them to recreate the patterns they have. This gave me hope that this
would be beneficial to me because the study was quite successful in suppressing symptoms
of people fighting with anxiety. I would be glad to test the worksheets, but I am not sure
that they will be such effective tools as Dr. Harris claims.
Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT)
How it happened: Journal Entry: ACT Session with Dr. Lee
This was not like the session with Dr. Lee today. She has acquainted me with Acceptance
and Commitment Therapy (ACT) which is aimed at accepting an unpleasant thought or
emotion rather than attempting to deal with them in any way. Dr. Lee informed me that the
more I strive to battle or avoid my anxiety, the more I make it worse. ACT, instead, teaches
me to be mindful and not judge my feelings, so I will forget the struggle.
At first, I was a bit confused because I had been taught never to fight the negative. But as
Dr. Lee assured me, acceptance is not resignation, but it is to accept that the feelings are
there but they are not to rule me and my actions. She prescribed me what she calls the
mindfulness practice where I am supposed to take note of the anxious thoughts and move
on without necessarily attaching myself to them
Dr. Lee talked about a study by Hayes et al. (2006), which discovered that ACT effectively
helps to decrease anxiety levels by enhancing the element of psychological flexibility. This
would be a matter of knowing how to go through discomfort without being unable to
continue achieving my targets. I was relieved by the thought that I do not have to get rid of
my anxiety and all I have to do is to alter my relationship with it. This process is uncommon,
and I am interested in the way it can work in my case. Nevertheless, I still do not know how
well I can apply it.
Short-Term Pzychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP)
STPP Journal Page: Dr. Collins
In my case, Dr. Collins today introduced me to Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy
(STPP) which deals with acquiring insights into my past experiences that led to me
presenting an emotional dilemma. Dr. Collins feels that my grief and pending matters with
my relationship with my mother are some of the reasons leading to my present anxiety. We
had to spend some time on my early relationship with my mother and how it could have
impacted my reactions nowadays.
Dr. Collins enlightened me about transference, which could be the possibility of my previous
relationships being projected onto my current emotions. She proposed that learning about
these unconscious processes would allow me to be able to cope with anxiety and grief more
efficiently. Dr. Collins also provided a study by Vigan (2025) that shows that STPP can be a
very effective intervention to overcome such emotional struggles as grief or anxiety. The
research demonstrated that much can be achieved in the area of emotional well-being
through the unmasking of unconscious conflicts.
I would say I learned a lot during the session, as it was somehow intense. The thought that
my current responses are being affected by my past emotional experiences seems relieving
and overwhelming. I do not know whether, by going back to these dynamics of the past, I
will feel better, yet I am willing to dig deeper. The prospect of teasing out the inner layers of
my bereavement seems to have potential, yet I am also afraid to face these feelings in full
force.
A Year After
A year later, Emily has already made considerable progress in their emotional development.
Despite high anxiety not being eliminated, it feels more manageable. The devices she was
taught during Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) have permeated the latter because
attacking the negative ideas is part of the techniques she has adopted and has allowed her
to deal with academic stress more adequately. Although she has reduced her panic attacks,
she still has a few instances of anxiety but she is no longer being overwhelmed by them.
In Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) practices mentioned, she has become more
accepting of her emotions and that has lowered her emotional struggle. She has become
less victimized by her anxiety and therefore she does not attempt to repress it anymore so
she lets it run its course.
Through Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP) Emily has come to appreciate
how her childhood grief and attachment problems affected her and have contributed to her
current sufferings. Through these unresolved problems, Emily has succeeded in reconciling
the death of her mother and she has managed to proceed more healthily.
Emily is now a stronger girl. She is still using the methods of her therapy, and though she
still has some cases of anxiety, it does not restrain her anymore. She has acquired her
Master's degree and is serving as a social worker to others with her own experiences in
mind. Emily is open to going back to therapy in case she requires it in the future, but at
present, she believes that she has what it takes to handle her emotions using the new
strategies she acquired.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Emily moved through the therapy and achieved considerable changes in the
spheres of anxiety, grief, and emotional distress. The therapeutic combination of Cognitive
Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Short-Term
Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP) has provided her with a variety of coping abilities so
that she can accommodate the cognitive and emotional parts of her woes. Emily has been
able to change her negative thought pattern through CBT, which has made her less anxious.
Act has also enabled her to embrace her feelings without any bias, something which has
reduced the power they have over her. Moreover, STPP made Emily able to interpret the
unexplainable grief associated with the death of her mother which gave her the emotional
elucidation needed to continue moving on. Although she still feels slightly anxious, Emily has
become stronger in regulating her emotions and has a more resilient attitude to life. Now
that she is still practicing social work, the lessons in therapy follow her because she knows
that therapy is not a single-strike cure but rather a way to move on with life and get to know
a better version of herself.
Emily Parker is a 27-year-old woman and a graduate student of Social Work who has been
experiencing heightened anxiety and a depressed mood accompanied by some panic attacks
after her mother passed away due to pancreatic cancer. Even though she had mildly
suffered anxiety during her teenage life, the awe-desolating effect of the loss of her mother
has greatly spurred up her suffering. Being in a common apartment with two roommates
and coping with all the stresses caused by her study load, Emily ends up being swept by her
emotions, resulting in concentration and academic problems. She wants to have a better
understanding of her anxiety, grief, and emotional well-being and through psychological
support learn how to deal with such emotions. This evaluation is going to examine the
extent of her emotional disorder and what kind of therapeutic procedures can be applied to
give her the means to put her life and mental state back under her control.
Gearing Up!
Emily Parker was sent to a psychological examination because of growing mood inferiority,
anxiety, concentrating disorder, and panic attacks revealed in recent times. These
symptoms increased when her mother who died of pancreatic cancer acted as an important
emotional catalyst. Anxiety is not a new problem that Emily has discovered, as she has felt
this way since her teenage years; however, the recent grief has become an additional
problem to her emotional stability. She rents an apartment together with 2 roommates, yet
her school needs and bereavement have caused alienation in her, despite the social
environment. Being a graduate student who lives in a combination setup, Emily has to deal
with various stressors, and the loss of her mom has largely increased her emotional burden.
The stress that she experiences in her studies mixed with the personal loss seems to have
exacerbated her anxiety, which manifested in panic attacks and concentration issues.
Previous psychological assistance: Emily has not made any attempts at seeking psychological
help before, but now, she understands how much her mental health has cost, and she is
willing to consider psychotherapy as the way to find her emotional equilibrium again.
During therapy preparation, Emily would ask herself how psychotherapy would assist her.
She found out that psychotherapy although having varied forms has several factors in
common that make it effective. The therapeutic relationship, client involvement, and
emotional support play a crucial role in providing change. These supporting factors create a
feeling of assurance and hope that the therapy may give her the means of coping with her
sorrow and anxiety (Holohan & Fiske, 2021). The main objective in the case of Emily should
be how to enable her to cope with both her grief and anxiety and apply therapy to give tools
to her that would enable her once again to have control over her emotional reactions and
focus on her academic achievements.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Participation Journal: CBT Session with Dr. Harris
Dr. Harris seemed to break through in the session we had today. We narrowed down on
establishing my negative thinking patterns which contribute to my anxiety. As a case in
point, I tend to say, that I am not good enough or I cannot cope with it, especially in case of
academic bombardment. Dr. According to Harris, the mechanism behind CBT is tasking such
cognitive distortions and substituting them with healthier and more rational thoughts. The
concept is that when the thoughts change, then the emotion and actions will be different
and I can be different by the way I can change my thoughts.
We also did some work in which I needed to write down the thoughts that happen when I
am feeling anxious and then check whether it is accurate. Dr. To monitor the thoughts
during the week, Harris provided me with a worksheet. She has highlighted the value of
becoming aware of automatic thoughts and disrupting the pattern of negative thoughts. I
am optimistic and doubtful at the same time that this thinking process will help: and how
significant will these changes be?
Another study shared by Dr. Harris is the one by Eells (2022), who states that CBT is a useful
approach when treating anxiety disorders because it makes the person self-aware of how
they think and trains them to recreate the patterns they have. This gave me hope that this
would be beneficial to me because the study was quite successful in suppressing symptoms
of people fighting with anxiety. I would be glad to test the worksheets, but I am not sure
that they will be such effective tools as Dr. Harris claims.
Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT)
How it happened: Journal Entry: ACT Session with Dr. Lee
This was not like the session with Dr. Lee today. She has acquainted me with Acceptance
and Commitment Therapy (ACT) which is aimed at accepting an unpleasant thought or
emotion rather than attempting to deal with them in any way. Dr. Lee informed me that the
more I strive to battle or avoid my anxiety, the more I make it worse. ACT, instead, teaches
me to be mindful and not judge my feelings, so I will forget the struggle.
At first, I was a bit confused because I had been taught never to fight the negative. But as
Dr. Lee assured me, acceptance is not resignation, but it is to accept that the feelings are
there but they are not to rule me and my actions. She prescribed me what she calls the
mindfulness practice where I am supposed to take note of the anxious thoughts and move
on without necessarily attaching myself to them
Dr. Lee talked about a study by Hayes et al. (2006), which discovered that ACT effectively
helps to decrease anxiety levels by enhancing the element of psychological flexibility. This
would be a matter of knowing how to go through discomfort without being unable to
continue achieving my targets. I was relieved by the thought that I do not have to get rid of
my anxiety and all I have to do is to alter my relationship with it. This process is uncommon,
and I am interested in the way it can work in my case. Nevertheless, I still do not know how
well I can apply it.
Short-Term Pzychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP)
STPP Journal Page: Dr. Collins
In my case, Dr. Collins today introduced me to Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy
(STPP) which deals with acquiring insights into my past experiences that led to me
presenting an emotional dilemma. Dr. Collins feels that my grief and pending matters with
my relationship with my mother are some of the reasons leading to my present anxiety. We
had to spend some time on my early relationship with my mother and how it could have
impacted my reactions nowadays.
Dr. Collins enlightened me about transference, which could be the possibility of my previous
relationships being projected onto my current emotions. She proposed that learning about
these unconscious processes would allow me to be able to cope with anxiety and grief more
efficiently. Dr. Collins also provided a study by Vigan (2025) that shows that STPP can be a
very effective intervention to overcome such emotional struggles as grief or anxiety. The
research demonstrated that much can be achieved in the area of emotional well-being
through the unmasking of unconscious conflicts.
I would say I learned a lot during the session, as it was somehow intense. The thought that
my current responses are being affected by my past emotional experiences seems relieving
and overwhelming. I do not know whether, by going back to these dynamics of the past, I
will feel better, yet I am willing to dig deeper. The prospect of teasing out the inner layers of
my bereavement seems to have potential, yet I am also afraid to face these feelings in full
force.
A Year After
A year later, Emily has already made considerable progress in their emotional development.
Despite high anxiety not being eliminated, it feels more manageable. The devices she was
taught during Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) have permeated the latter because
attacking the negative ideas is part of the techniques she has adopted and has allowed her
to deal with academic stress more adequately. Although she has reduced her panic attacks,
she still has a few instances of anxiety but she is no longer being overwhelmed by them.
In Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) practices mentioned, she has become more
accepting of her emotions and that has lowered her emotional struggle. She has become
less victimized by her anxiety and therefore she does not attempt to repress it anymore so
she lets it run its course.
Through Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP) Emily has come to appreciate
how her childhood grief and attachment problems affected her and have contributed to her
current sufferings. Through these unresolved problems, Emily has succeeded in reconciling
the death of her mother and she has managed to proceed more healthily.
Emily is now a stronger girl. She is still using the methods of her therapy, and though she
still has some cases of anxiety, it does not restrain her anymore. She has acquired her
Master's degree and is serving as a social worker to others with her own experiences in
mind. Emily is open to going back to therapy in case she requires it in the future, but at
present, she believes that she has what it takes to handle her emotions using the new
strategies she acquired.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Emily moved through the therapy and achieved considerable changes in the
spheres of anxiety, grief, and emotional distress. The therapeutic combination of Cognitive
Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Short-Term
Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP) has provided her with a variety of coping abilities so
that she can accommodate the cognitive and emotional parts of her woes. Emily has been
able to change her negative thought pattern through CBT, which has made her less anxious.
Act has also enabled her to embrace her feelings without any bias, something which has
reduced the power they have over her. Moreover, STPP made Emily able to interpret the
unexplainable grief associated with the death of her mother which gave her the emotional
elucidation needed to continue moving on. Although she still feels slightly anxious, Emily has
become stronger in regulating her emotions and has a more resilient attitude to life. Now
that she is still practicing social work, the lessons in therapy follow her because she knows
that therapy is not a single-strike cure but rather a way to move on with life and get to know
a better version of herself.
Emily Parker is a 27-year-old woman and a graduate student of Social Work who has been
experiencing heightened anxiety and a depressed mood accompanied by some panic attacks
after her mother passed away due to pancreatic cancer. Even though she had mildly
suffered anxiety during her teenage life, the awe-desolating effect of the loss of her mother
has greatly spurred up her suffering. Being in a common apartment with two roommates
and coping with all the stresses caused by her study load, Emily ends up being swept by her
emotions, resulting in concentration and academic problems. She wants to have a better
understanding of her anxiety, grief, and emotional well-being and through psychological
support learn how to deal with such emotions. This evaluation is going to examine the
extent of her emotional disorder and what kind of therapeutic procedures can be applied to
give her the means to put her life and mental state back under her control.
Gearing Up!
Emily Parker was sent to a psychological examination because of growing mood inferiority,
anxiety, concentrating disorder, and panic attacks revealed in recent times. These
symptoms increased when her mother who died of pancreatic cancer acted as an important
emotional catalyst. Anxiety is not a new problem that Emily has discovered, as she has felt
this way since her teenage years; however, the recent grief has become an additional
problem to her emotional stability. She rents an apartment together with 2 roommates, yet
her school needs and bereavement have caused alienation in her, despite the social
environment. Being a graduate student who lives in a combination setup, Emily has to deal
with various stressors, and the loss of her mom has largely increased her emotional burden.
The stress that she experiences in her studies mixed with the personal loss seems to have
exacerbated her anxiety, which manifested in panic attacks and concentration issues.
Previous psychological assistance: Emily has not made any attempts at seeking psychological
help before, but now, she understands how much her mental health has cost, and she is
willing to consider psychotherapy as the way to find her emotional equilibrium again.
During therapy preparation, Emily would ask herself how psychotherapy would assist her.
She found out that psychotherapy although having varied forms has several factors in
common that make it effective. The therapeutic relationship, client involvement, and
emotional support play a crucial role in providing change. These supporting factors create a
feeling of assurance and hope that the therapy may give her the means of coping with her
sorrow and anxiety (Holohan & Fiske, 2021). The main objective in the case of Emily should
be how to enable her to cope with both her grief and anxiety and apply therapy to give tools
to her that would enable her once again to have control over her emotional reactions and
focus on her academic achievements.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Participation Journal: CBT Session with Dr. Harris
Dr. Harris seemed to break through in the session we had today. We narrowed down on
establishing my negative thinking patterns which contribute to my anxiety. As a case in
point, I tend to say, that I am not good enough or I cannot cope with it, especially in case of
academic bombardment. Dr. According to Harris, the mechanism behind CBT is tasking such
cognitive distortions and substituting them with healthier and more rational thoughts. The
concept is that when the thoughts change, then the emotion and actions will be different
and I can be different by the way I can change my thoughts.
We also did some work in which I needed to write down the thoughts that happen when I
am feeling anxious and then check whether it is accurate. Dr. To monitor the thoughts
during the week, Harris provided me with a worksheet. She has highlighted the value of
becoming aware of automatic thoughts and disrupting the pattern of negative thoughts. I
am optimistic and doubtful at the same time that this thinking process will help: and how
significant will these changes be?
Another study shared by Dr. Harris is the one by Eells (2022), who states that CBT is a useful
approach when treating anxiety disorders because it makes the person self-aware of how
they think and trains them to recreate the patterns they have. This gave me hope that this
would be beneficial to me because the study was quite successful in suppressing symptoms
of people fighting with anxiety. I would be glad to test the worksheets, but I am not sure
that they will be such effective tools as Dr. Harris claims.
Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT)
How it happened: Journal Entry: ACT Session with Dr. Lee
This was not like the session with Dr. Lee today. She has acquainted me with Acceptance
and Commitment Therapy (ACT) which is aimed at accepting an unpleasant thought or
emotion rather than attempting to deal with them in any way. Dr. Lee informed me that the
more I strive to battle or avoid my anxiety, the more I make it worse. ACT, instead, teaches
me to be mindful and not judge my feelings, so I will forget the struggle.
At first, I was a bit confused because I had been taught never to fight the negative. But as
Dr. Lee assured me, acceptance is not resignation, but it is to accept that the feelings are
there but they are not to rule me and my actions. She prescribed me what she calls the
mindfulness practice where I am supposed to take note of the anxious thoughts and move
on without necessarily attaching myself to them
Dr. Lee talked about a study by Hayes et al. (2006), which discovered that ACT effectively
helps to decrease anxiety levels by enhancing the element of psychological flexibility. This
would be a matter of knowing how to go through discomfort without being unable to
continue achieving my targets. I was relieved by the thought that I do not have to get rid of
my anxiety and all I have to do is to alter my relationship with it. This process is uncommon,
and I am interested in the way it can work in my case. Nevertheless, I still do not know how
well I can apply it.
Short-Term Pzychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP)
STPP Journal Page: Dr. Collins
In my case, Dr. Collins today introduced me to Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy
(STPP) which deals with acquiring insights into my past experiences that led to me
presenting an emotional dilemma. Dr. Collins feels that my grief and pending matters with
my relationship with my mother are some of the reasons leading to my present anxiety. We
had to spend some time on my early relationship with my mother and how it could have
impacted my reactions nowadays.
Dr. Collins enlightened me about transference, which could be the possibility of my previous
relationships being projected onto my current emotions. She proposed that learning about
these unconscious processes would allow me to be able to cope with anxiety and grief more
efficiently. Dr. Collins also provided a study by Vigan (2025) that shows that STPP can be a
very effective intervention to overcome such emotional struggles as grief or anxiety. The
research demonstrated that much can be achieved in the area of emotional well-being
through the unmasking of unconscious conflicts.
I would say I learned a lot during the session, as it was somehow intense. The thought that
my current responses are being affected by my past emotional experiences seems relieving
and overwhelming. I do not know whether, by going back to these dynamics of the past, I
will feel better, yet I am willing to dig deeper. The prospect of teasing out the inner layers of
my bereavement seems to have potential, yet I am also afraid to face these feelings in full
force.
A Year After
A year later, Emily has already made considerable progress in their emotional development.
Despite high anxiety not being eliminated, it feels more manageable. The devices she was
taught during Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) have permeated the latter because
attacking the negative ideas is part of the techniques she has adopted and has allowed her
to deal with academic stress more adequately. Although she has reduced her panic attacks,
she still has a few instances of anxiety but she is no longer being overwhelmed by them.
In Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) practices mentioned, she has become more
accepting of her emotions and that has lowered her emotional struggle. She has become
less victimized by her anxiety and therefore she does not attempt to repress it anymore so
she lets it run its course.
Through Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP) Emily has come to appreciate
how her childhood grief and attachment problems affected her and have contributed to her
current sufferings. Through these unresolved problems, Emily has succeeded in reconciling
the death of her mother and she has managed to proceed more healthily.
Emily is now a stronger girl. She is still using the methods of her therapy, and though she
still has some cases of anxiety, it does not restrain her anymore. She has acquired her
Master's degree and is serving as a social worker to others with her own experiences in
mind. Emily is open to going back to therapy in case she requires it in the future, but at
present, she believes that she has what it takes to handle her emotions using the new
strategies she acquired.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Emily moved through the therapy and achieved considerable changes in the
spheres of anxiety, grief, and emotional distress. The therapeutic combination of Cognitive
Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Short-Term
Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP) has provided her with a variety of coping abilities so
that she can accommodate the cognitive and emotional parts of her woes. Emily has been
able to change her negative thought pattern through CBT, which has made her less anxious.
Act has also enabled her to embrace her feelings without any bias, something which has
reduced the power they have over her. Moreover, STPP made Emily able to interpret the
unexplainable grief associated with the death of her mother which gave her the emotional
elucidation needed to continue moving on. Although she still feels slightly anxious, Emily has
become stronger in regulating her emotions and has a more resilient attitude to life. Now
that she is still practicing social work, the lessons in therapy follow her because she knows
that therapy is not a single-strike cure but rather a way to move on with life and get to know
a better version of herself.
Emily Parker is a 27-year-old woman and a graduate student of Social Work who has been
experiencing heightened anxiety and a depressed mood accompanied by some panic attacks
after her mother passed away due to pancreatic cancer. Even though she had mildly
suffered anxiety during her teenage life, the awe-desolating effect of the loss of her mother
has greatly spurred up her suffering. Being in a common apartment with two roommates
and coping with all the stresses caused by her study load, Emily ends up being swept by her
emotions, resulting in concentration and academic problems. She wants to have a better
understanding of her anxiety, grief, and emotional well-being and through psychological
support learn how to deal with such emotions. This evaluation is going to examine the
extent of her emotional disorder and what kind of therapeutic procedures can be applied to
give her the means to put her life and mental state back under her control.
Gearing Up!
Emily Parker was sent to a psychological examination because of growing mood inferiority,
anxiety, concentrating disorder, and panic attacks revealed in recent times. These
symptoms increased when her mother who died of pancreatic cancer acted as an important
emotional catalyst. Anxiety is not a new problem that Emily has discovered, as she has felt
this way since her teenage years; however, the recent grief has become an additional
problem to her emotional stability. She rents an apartment together with 2 roommates, yet
her school needs and bereavement have caused alienation in her, despite the social
environment. Being a graduate student who lives in a combination setup, Emily has to deal
with various stressors, and the loss of her mom has largely increased her emotional burden.
The stress that she experiences in her studies mixed with the personal loss seems to have
exacerbated her anxiety, which manifested in panic attacks and concentration issues.
Previous psychological assistance: Emily has not made any attempts at seeking psychological
help before, but now, she understands how much her mental health has cost, and she is
willing to consider psychotherapy as the way to find her emotional equilibrium again.
During therapy preparation, Emily would ask herself how psychotherapy would assist her.
She found out that psychotherapy although having varied forms has several factors in
common that make it effective. The therapeutic relationship, client involvement, and
emotional support play a crucial role in providing change. These supporting factors create a
feeling of assurance and hope that the therapy may give her the means of coping with her
sorrow and anxiety (Holohan & Fiske, 2021). The main objective in the case of Emily should
be how to enable her to cope with both her grief and anxiety and apply therapy to give tools
to her that would enable her once again to have control over her emotional reactions and
focus on her academic achievements.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Participation Journal: CBT Session with Dr. Harris
Dr. Harris seemed to break through in the session we had today. We narrowed down on
establishing my negative thinking patterns which contribute to my anxiety. As a case in
point, I tend to say, that I am not good enough or I cannot cope with it, especially in case of
academic bombardment. Dr. According to Harris, the mechanism behind CBT is tasking such
cognitive distortions and substituting them with healthier and more rational thoughts. The
concept is that when the thoughts change, then the emotion and actions will be different
and I can be different by the way I can change my thoughts.
We also did some work in which I needed to write down the thoughts that happen when I
am feeling anxious and then check whether it is accurate. Dr. To monitor the thoughts
during the week, Harris provided me with a worksheet. She has highlighted the value of
becoming aware of automatic thoughts and disrupting the pattern of negative thoughts. I
am optimistic and doubtful at the same time that this thinking process will help: and how
significant will these changes be?
Another study shared by Dr. Harris is the one by Eells (2022), who states that CBT is a useful
approach when treating anxiety disorders because it makes the person self-aware of how
they think and trains them to recreate the patterns they have. This gave me hope that this
would be beneficial to me because the study was quite successful in suppressing symptoms
of people fighting with anxiety. I would be glad to test the worksheets, but I am not sure
that they will be such effective tools as Dr. Harris claims.
Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT)
How it happened: Journal Entry: ACT Session with Dr. Lee
This was not like the session with Dr. Lee today. She has acquainted me with Acceptance
and Commitment Therapy (ACT) which is aimed at accepting an unpleasant thought or
emotion rather than attempting to deal with them in any way. Dr. Lee informed me that the
more I strive to battle or avoid my anxiety, the more I make it worse. ACT, instead, teaches
me to be mindful and not judge my feelings, so I will forget the struggle.
At first, I was a bit confused because I had been taught never to fight the negative. But as
Dr. Lee assured me, acceptance is not resignation, but it is to accept that the feelings are
there but they are not to rule me and my actions. She prescribed me what she calls the
mindfulness practice where I am supposed to take note of the anxious thoughts and move
on without necessarily attaching myself to them
Dr. Lee talked about a study by Hayes et al. (2006), which discovered that ACT effectively
helps to decrease anxiety levels by enhancing the element of psychological flexibility. This
would be a matter of knowing how to go through discomfort without being unable to
continue achieving my targets. I was relieved by the thought that I do not have to get rid of
my anxiety and all I have to do is to alter my relationship with it. This process is uncommon,
and I am interested in the way it can work in my case. Nevertheless, I still do not know how
well I can apply it.
Short-Term Pzychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP)
STPP Journal Page: Dr. Collins
In my case, Dr. Collins today introduced me to Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy
(STPP) which deals with acquiring insights into my past experiences that led to me
presenting an emotional dilemma. Dr. Collins feels that my grief and pending matters with
my relationship with my mother are some of the reasons leading to my present anxiety. We
had to spend some time on my early relationship with my mother and how it could have
impacted my reactions nowadays.
Dr. Collins enlightened me about transference, which could be the possibility of my previous
relationships being projected onto my current emotions. She proposed that learning about
these unconscious processes would allow me to be able to cope with anxiety and grief more
efficiently. Dr. Collins also provided a study by Vigan (2025) that shows that STPP can be a
very effective intervention to overcome such emotional struggles as grief or anxiety. The
research demonstrated that much can be achieved in the area of emotional well-being
through the unmasking of unconscious conflicts.
I would say I learned a lot during the session, as it was somehow intense. The thought that
my current responses are being affected by my past emotional experiences seems relieving
and overwhelming. I do not know whether, by going back to these dynamics of the past, I
will feel better, yet I am willing to dig deeper. The prospect of teasing out the inner layers of
my bereavement seems to have potential, yet I am also afraid to face these feelings in full
force.
A Year After
A year later, Emily has already made considerable progress in their emotional development.
Despite high anxiety not being eliminated, it feels more manageable. The devices she was
taught during Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) have permeated the latter because
attacking the negative ideas is part of the techniques she has adopted and has allowed her
to deal with academic stress more adequately. Although she has reduced her panic attacks,
she still has a few instances of anxiety but she is no longer being overwhelmed by them.
In Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) practices mentioned, she has become more
accepting of her emotions and that has lowered her emotional struggle. She has become
less victimized by her anxiety and therefore she does not attempt to repress it anymore so
she lets it run its course.
Through Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP) Emily has come to appreciate
how her childhood grief and attachment problems affected her and have contributed to her
current sufferings. Through these unresolved problems, Emily has succeeded in reconciling
the death of her mother and she has managed to proceed more healthily.
Emily is now a stronger girl. She is still using the methods of her therapy, and though she
still has some cases of anxiety, it does not restrain her anymore. She has acquired her
Master's degree and is serving as a social worker to others with her own experiences in
mind. Emily is open to going back to therapy in case she requires it in the future, but at
present, she believes that she has what it takes to handle her emotions using the new
strategies she acquired.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Emily moved through the therapy and achieved considerable changes in the
spheres of anxiety, grief, and emotional distress. The therapeutic combination of Cognitive
Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Short-Term
Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP) has provided her with a variety of coping abilities so
that she can accommodate the cognitive and emotional parts of her woes. Emily has been
able to change her negative thought pattern through CBT, which has made her less anxious.
Act has also enabled her to embrace her feelings without any bias, something which has
reduced the power they have over her. Moreover, STPP made Emily able to interpret the
unexplainable grief associated with the death of her mother which gave her the emotional
elucidation needed to continue moving on. Although she still feels slightly anxious, Emily has
become stronger in regulating her emotions and has a more resilient attitude to life. Now
that she is still practicing social work, the lessons in therapy follow her because she knows
that therapy is not a single-strike cure but rather a way to move on with life and get to know
a better version of herself.
Emily Parker is a 27-year-old woman and a graduate student of Social Work who has been
experiencing heightened anxiety and a depressed mood accompanied by some panic attacks
after her mother passed away due to pancreatic cancer. Even though she had mildly
suffered anxiety during her teenage life, the awe-desolating effect of the loss of her mother
has greatly spurred up her suffering. Being in a common apartment with two roommates
and coping with all the stresses caused by her study load, Emily ends up being swept by her
emotions, resulting in concentration and academic problems. She wants to have a better
understanding of her anxiety, grief, and emotional well-being and through psychological
support learn how to deal with such emotions. This evaluation is going to examine the
extent of her emotional disorder and what kind of therapeutic procedures can be applied to
give her the means to put her life and mental state back under her control.
Gearing Up!
Emily Parker was sent to a psychological examination because of growing mood inferiority,
anxiety, concentrating disorder, and panic attacks revealed in recent times. These
symptoms increased when her mother who died of pancreatic cancer acted as an important
emotional catalyst. Anxiety is not a new problem that Emily has discovered, as she has felt
this way since her teenage years; however, the recent grief has become an additional
problem to her emotional stability. She rents an apartment together with 2 roommates, yet
her school needs and bereavement have caused alienation in her, despite the social
environment. Being a graduate student who lives in a combination setup, Emily has to deal
with various stressors, and the loss of her mom has largely increased her emotional burden.
The stress that she experiences in her studies mixed with the personal loss seems to have
exacerbated her anxiety, which manifested in panic attacks and concentration issues.
Previous psychological assistance: Emily has not made any attempts at seeking psychological
help before, but now, she understands how much her mental health has cost, and she is
willing to consider psychotherapy as the way to find her emotional equilibrium again.
During therapy preparation, Emily would ask herself how psychotherapy would assist her.
She found out that psychotherapy although having varied forms has several factors in
common that make it effective. The therapeutic relationship, client involvement, and
emotional support play a crucial role in providing change. These supporting factors create a
feeling of assurance and hope that the therapy may give her the means of coping with her
sorrow and anxiety (Holohan & Fiske, 2021). The main objective in the case of Emily should
be how to enable her to cope with both her grief and anxiety and apply therapy to give tools
to her that would enable her once again to have control over her emotional reactions and
focus on her academic achievements.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Participation Journal: CBT Session with Dr. Harris
Dr. Harris seemed to break through in the session we had today. We narrowed down on
establishing my negative thinking patterns which contribute to my anxiety. As a case in
point, I tend to say, that I am not good enough or I cannot cope with it, especially in case of
academic bombardment. Dr. According to Harris, the mechanism behind CBT is tasking such
cognitive distortions and substituting them with healthier and more rational thoughts. The
concept is that when the thoughts change, then the emotion and actions will be different
and I can be different by the way I can change my thoughts.
We also did some work in which I needed to write down the thoughts that happen when I
am feeling anxious and then check whether it is accurate. Dr. To monitor the thoughts
during the week, Harris provided me with a worksheet. She has highlighted the value of
becoming aware of automatic thoughts and disrupting the pattern of negative thoughts. I
am optimistic and doubtful at the same time that this thinking process will help: and how
significant will these changes be?
Another study shared by Dr. Harris is the one by Eells (2022), who states that CBT is a useful
approach when treating anxiety disorders because it makes the person self-aware of how
they think and trains them to recreate the patterns they have. This gave me hope that this
would be beneficial to me because the study was quite successful in suppressing symptoms
of people fighting with anxiety. I would be glad to test the worksheets, but I am not sure
that they will be such effective tools as Dr. Harris claims.
Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT)
How it happened: Journal Entry: ACT Session with Dr. Lee
This was not like the session with Dr. Lee today. She has acquainted me with Acceptance
and Commitment Therapy (ACT) which is aimed at accepting an unpleasant thought or
emotion rather than attempting to deal with them in any way. Dr. Lee informed me that the
more I strive to battle or avoid my anxiety, the more I make it worse. ACT, instead, teaches
me to be mindful and not judge my feelings, so I will forget the struggle.
At first, I was a bit confused because I had been taught never to fight the negative. But as
Dr. Lee assured me, acceptance is not resignation, but it is to accept that the feelings are
there but they are not to rule me and my actions. She prescribed me what she calls the
mindfulness practice where I am supposed to take note of the anxious thoughts and move
on without necessarily attaching myself to them
Dr. Lee talked about a study by Hayes et al. (2006), which discovered that ACT effectively
helps to decrease anxiety levels by enhancing the element of psychological flexibility. This
would be a matter of knowing how to go through discomfort without being unable to
continue achieving my targets. I was relieved by the thought that I do not have to get rid of
my anxiety and all I have to do is to alter my relationship with it. This process is uncommon,
and I am interested in the way it can work in my case. Nevertheless, I still do not know how
well I can apply it.
Short-Term Pzychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP)
STPP Journal Page: Dr. Collins
In my case, Dr. Collins today introduced me to Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy
(STPP) which deals with acquiring insights into my past experiences that led to me
presenting an emotional dilemma. Dr. Collins feels that my grief and pending matters with
my relationship with my mother are some of the reasons leading to my present anxiety. We
had to spend some time on my early relationship with my mother and how it could have
impacted my reactions nowadays.
Dr. Collins enlightened me about transference, which could be the possibility of my previous
relationships being projected onto my current emotions. She proposed that learning about
these unconscious processes would allow me to be able to cope with anxiety and grief more
efficiently. Dr. Collins also provided a study by Vigan (2025) that shows that STPP can be a
very effective intervention to overcome such emotional struggles as grief or anxiety. The
research demonstrated that much can be achieved in the area of emotional well-being
through the unmasking of unconscious conflicts.
I would say I learned a lot during the session, as it was somehow intense. The thought that
my current responses are being affected by my past emotional experiences seems relieving
and overwhelming. I do not know whether, by going back to these dynamics of the past, I
will feel better, yet I am willing to dig deeper. The prospect of teasing out the inner layers of
my bereavement seems to have potential, yet I am also afraid to face these feelings in full
force.
A Year After
A year later, Emily has already made considerable progress in their emotional development.
Despite high anxiety not being eliminated, it feels more manageable. The devices she was
taught during Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) have permeated the latter because
attacking the negative ideas is part of the techniques she has adopted and has allowed her
to deal with academic stress more adequately. Although she has reduced her panic attacks,
she still has a few instances of anxiety but she is no longer being overwhelmed by them.
In Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) practices mentioned, she has become more
accepting of her emotions and that has lowered her emotional struggle. She has become
less victimized by her anxiety and therefore she does not attempt to repress it anymore so
she lets it run its course.
Through Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP) Emily has come to appreciate
how her childhood grief and attachment problems affected her and have contributed to her
current sufferings. Through these unresolved problems, Emily has succeeded in reconciling
the death of her mother and she has managed to proceed more healthily.
Emily is now a stronger girl. She is still using the methods of her therapy, and though she
still has some cases of anxiety, it does not restrain her anymore. She has acquired her
Master's degree and is serving as a social worker to others with her own experiences in
mind. Emily is open to going back to therapy in case she requires it in the future, but at
present, she believes that she has what it takes to handle her emotions using the new
strategies she acquired.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Emily moved through the therapy and achieved considerable changes in the
spheres of anxiety, grief, and emotional distress. The therapeutic combination of Cognitive
Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Short-Term
Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP) has provided her with a variety of coping abilities so
that she can accommodate the cognitive and emotional parts of her woes. Emily has been
able to change her negative thought pattern through CBT, which has made her less anxious.
Act has also enabled her to embrace her feelings without any bias, something which has
reduced the power they have over her. Moreover, STPP made Emily able to interpret the
unexplainable grief associated with the death of her mother which gave her the emotional
elucidation needed to continue moving on. Although she still feels slightly anxious, Emily has
become stronger in regulating her emotions and has a more resilient attitude to life. Now
that she is still practicing social work, the lessons in therapy follow her because she knows
that therapy is not a single-strike cure but rather a way to move on with life and get to know
a better version of herself.
Emily Parker is a 27-year-old woman and a graduate student of Social Work who has been
experiencing heightened anxiety and a depressed mood accompanied by some panic attacks
after her mother passed away due to pancreatic cancer. Even though she had mildly
suffered anxiety during her teenage life, the awe-desolating effect of the loss of her mother
has greatly spurred up her suffering. Being in a common apartment with two roommates
and coping with all the stresses caused by her study load, Emily ends up being swept by her
emotions, resulting in concentration and academic problems. She wants to have a better
understanding of her anxiety, grief, and emotional well-being and through psychological
support learn how to deal with such emotions. This evaluation is going to examine the
extent of her emotional disorder and what kind of therapeutic procedures can be applied to
give her the means to put her life and mental state back under her control.
Gearing Up!
Emily Parker was sent to a psychological examination because of growing mood inferiority,
anxiety, concentrating disorder, and panic attacks revealed in recent times. These
symptoms increased when her mother who died of pancreatic cancer acted as an important
emotional catalyst. Anxiety is not a new problem that Emily has discovered, as she has felt
this way since her teenage years; however, the recent grief has become an additional
problem to her emotional stability. She rents an apartment together with 2 roommates, yet
her school needs and bereavement have caused alienation in her, despite the social
environment. Being a graduate student who lives in a combination setup, Emily has to deal
with various stressors, and the loss of her mom has largely increased her emotional burden.
The stress that she experiences in her studies mixed with the personal loss seems to have
exacerbated her anxiety, which manifested in panic attacks and concentration issues.
Previous psychological assistance: Emily has not made any attempts at seeking psychological
help before, but now, she understands how much her mental health has cost, and she is
willing to consider psychotherapy as the way to find her emotional equilibrium again.
During therapy preparation, Emily would ask herself how psychotherapy would assist her.
She found out that psychotherapy although having varied forms has several factors in
common that make it effective. The therapeutic relationship, client involvement, and
emotional support play a crucial role in providing change. These supporting factors create a
feeling of assurance and hope that the therapy may give her the means of coping with her
sorrow and anxiety (Holohan & Fiske, 2021). The main objective in the case of Emily should
be how to enable her to cope with both her grief and anxiety and apply therapy to give tools
to her that would enable her once again to have control over her emotional reactions and
focus on her academic achievements.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Participation Journal: CBT Session with Dr. Harris
Dr. Harris seemed to break through in the session we had today. We narrowed down on
establishing my negative thinking patterns which contribute to my anxiety. As a case in
point, I tend to say, that I am not good enough or I cannot cope with it, especially in case of
academic bombardment. Dr. According to Harris, the mechanism behind CBT is tasking such
cognitive distortions and substituting them with healthier and more rational thoughts. The
concept is that when the thoughts change, then the emotion and actions will be different
and I can be different by the way I can change my thoughts.
We also did some work in which I needed to write down the thoughts that happen when I
am feeling anxious and then check whether it is accurate. Dr. To monitor the thoughts
during the week, Harris provided me with a worksheet. She has highlighted the value of
becoming aware of automatic thoughts and disrupting the pattern of negative thoughts. I
am optimistic and doubtful at the same time that this thinking process will help: and how
significant will these changes be?
Another study shared by Dr. Harris is the one by Eells (2022), who states that CBT is a useful
approach when treating anxiety disorders because it makes the person self-aware of how
they think and trains them to recreate the patterns they have. This gave me hope that this
would be beneficial to me because the study was quite successful in suppressing symptoms
of people fighting with anxiety. I would be glad to test the worksheets, but I am not sure
that they will be such effective tools as Dr. Harris claims.
Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT)
How it happened: Journal Entry: ACT Session with Dr. Lee
This was not like the session with Dr. Lee today. She has acquainted me with Acceptance
and Commitment Therapy (ACT) which is aimed at accepting an unpleasant thought or
emotion rather than attempting to deal with them in any way. Dr. Lee informed me that the
more I strive to battle or avoid my anxiety, the more I make it worse. ACT, instead, teaches
me to be mindful and not judge my feelings, so I will forget the struggle.
At first, I was a bit confused because I had been taught never to fight the negative. But as
Dr. Lee assured me, acceptance is not resignation, but it is to accept that the feelings are
there but they are not to rule me and my actions. She prescribed me what she calls the
mindfulness practice where I am supposed to take note of the anxious thoughts and move
on without necessarily attaching myself to them
Dr. Lee talked about a study by Hayes et al. (2006), which discovered that ACT effectively
helps to decrease anxiety levels by enhancing the element of psychological flexibility. This
would be a matter of knowing how to go through discomfort without being unable to
continue achieving my targets. I was relieved by the thought that I do not have to get rid of
my anxiety and all I have to do is to alter my relationship with it. This process is uncommon,
and I am interested in the way it can work in my case. Nevertheless, I still do not know how
well I can apply it.
Short-Term Pzychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP)
STPP Journal Page: Dr. Collins
In my case, Dr. Collins today introduced me to Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy
(STPP) which deals with acquiring insights into my past experiences that led to me
presenting an emotional dilemma. Dr. Collins feels that my grief and pending matters with
my relationship with my mother are some of the reasons leading to my present anxiety. We
had to spend some time on my early relationship with my mother and how it could have
impacted my reactions nowadays.
Dr. Collins enlightened me about transference, which could be the possibility of my previous
relationships being projected onto my current emotions. She proposed that learning about
these unconscious processes would allow me to be able to cope with anxiety and grief more
efficiently. Dr. Collins also provided a study by Vigan (2025) that shows that STPP can be a
very effective intervention to overcome such emotional struggles as grief or anxiety. The
research demonstrated that much can be achieved in the area of emotional well-being
through the unmasking of unconscious conflicts.
I would say I learned a lot during the session, as it was somehow intense. The thought that
my current responses are being affected by my past emotional experiences seems relieving
and overwhelming. I do not know whether, by going back to these dynamics of the past, I
will feel better, yet I am willing to dig deeper. The prospect of teasing out the inner layers of
my bereavement seems to have potential, yet I am also afraid to face these feelings in full
force.
A Year After
A year later, Emily has already made considerable progress in their emotional development.
Despite high anxiety not being eliminated, it feels more manageable. The devices she was
taught during Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) have permeated the latter because
attacking the negative ideas is part of the techniques she has adopted and has allowed her
to deal with academic stress more adequately. Although she has reduced her panic attacks,
she still has a few instances of anxiety but she is no longer being overwhelmed by them.
In Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) practices mentioned, she has become more
accepting of her emotions and that has lowered her emotional struggle. She has become
less victimized by her anxiety and therefore she does not attempt to repress it anymore so
she lets it run its course.
Through Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP) Emily has come to appreciate
how her childhood grief and attachment problems affected her and have contributed to her
current sufferings. Through these unresolved problems, Emily has succeeded in reconciling
the death of her mother and she has managed to proceed more healthily.
Emily is now a stronger girl. She is still using the methods of her therapy, and though she
still has some cases of anxiety, it does not restrain her anymore. She has acquired her
Master's degree and is serving as a social worker to others with her own experiences in
mind. Emily is open to going back to therapy in case she requires it in the future, but at
present, she believes that she has what it takes to handle her emotions using the new
strategies she acquired.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Emily moved through the therapy and achieved considerable changes in the
spheres of anxiety, grief, and emotional distress. The therapeutic combination of Cognitive
Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Short-Term
Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP) has provided her with a variety of coping abilities so
that she can accommodate the cognitive and emotional parts of her woes. Emily has been
able to change her negative thought pattern through CBT, which has made her less anxious.
Act has also enabled her to embrace her feelings without any bias, something which has
reduced the power they have over her. Moreover, STPP made Emily able to interpret the
unexplainable grief associated with the death of her mother which gave her the emotional
elucidation needed to continue moving on. Although she still feels slightly anxious, Emily has
become stronger in regulating her emotions and has a more resilient attitude to life. Now
that she is still practicing social work, the lessons in therapy follow her because she knows
that therapy is not a single-strike cure but rather a way to move on with life and get to know
a better version of herself.
Emily Parker is a 27-year-old woman and a graduate student of Social Work who has been
experiencing heightened anxiety and a depressed mood accompanied by some panic attacks
after her mother passed away due to pancreatic cancer. Even though she had mildly
suffered anxiety during her teenage life, the awe-desolating effect of the loss of her mother
has greatly spurred up her suffering. Being in a common apartment with two roommates
and coping with all the stresses caused by her study load, Emily ends up being swept by her
emotions, resulting in concentration and academic problems. She wants to have a better
understanding of her anxiety, grief, and emotional well-being and through psychological
support learn how to deal with such emotions. This evaluation is going to examine the
extent of her emotional disorder and what kind of therapeutic procedures can be applied to
give her the means to put her life and mental state back under her control.
Gearing Up!
Emily Parker was sent to a psychological examination because of growing mood inferiority,
anxiety, concentrating disorder, and panic attacks revealed in recent times. These
symptoms increased when her mother who died of pancreatic cancer acted as an important
emotional catalyst. Anxiety is not a new problem that Emily has discovered, as she has felt
this way since her teenage years; however, the recent grief has become an additional
problem to her emotional stability. She rents an apartment together with 2 roommates, yet
her school needs and bereavement have caused alienation in her, despite the social
environment. Being a graduate student who lives in a combination setup, Emily has to deal
with various stressors, and the loss of her mom has largely increased her emotional burden.
The stress that she experiences in her studies mixed with the personal loss seems to have
exacerbated her anxiety, which manifested in panic attacks and concentration issues.
Previous psychological assistance: Emily has not made any attempts at seeking psychological
help before, but now, she understands how much her mental health has cost, and she is
willing to consider psychotherapy as the way to find her emotional equilibrium again.
During therapy preparation, Emily would ask herself how psychotherapy would assist her.
She found out that psychotherapy although having varied forms has several factors in
common that make it effective. The therapeutic relationship, client involvement, and
emotional support play a crucial role in providing change. These supporting factors create a
feeling of assurance and hope that the therapy may give her the means of coping with her
sorrow and anxiety (Holohan & Fiske, 2021). The main objective in the case of Emily should
be how to enable her to cope with both her grief and anxiety and apply therapy to give tools
to her that would enable her once again to have control over her emotional reactions and
focus on her academic achievements.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Participation Journal: CBT Session with Dr. Harris
Dr. Harris seemed to break through in the session we had today. We narrowed down on
establishing my negative thinking patterns which contribute to my anxiety. As a case in
point, I tend to say, that I am not good enough or I cannot cope with it, especially in case of
academic bombardment. Dr. According to Harris, the mechanism behind CBT is tasking such
cognitive distortions and substituting them with healthier and more rational thoughts. The
concept is that when the thoughts change, then the emotion and actions will be different
and I can be different by the way I can change my thoughts.
We also did some work in which I needed to write down the thoughts that happen when I
am feeling anxious and then check whether it is accurate. Dr. To monitor the thoughts
during the week, Harris provided me with a worksheet. She has highlighted the value of
becoming aware of automatic thoughts and disrupting the pattern of negative thoughts. I
am optimistic and doubtful at the same time that this thinking process will help: and how
significant will these changes be?
Another study shared by Dr. Harris is the one by Eells (2022), who states that CBT is a useful
approach when treating anxiety disorders because it makes the person self-aware of how
they think and trains them to recreate the patterns they have. This gave me hope that this
would be beneficial to me because the study was quite successful in suppressing symptoms
of people fighting with anxiety. I would be glad to test the worksheets, but I am not sure
that they will be such effective tools as Dr. Harris claims.
Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT)
How it happened: Journal Entry: ACT Session with Dr. Lee
This was not like the session with Dr. Lee today. She has acquainted me with Acceptance
and Commitment Therapy (ACT) which is aimed at accepting an unpleasant thought or
emotion rather than attempting to deal with them in any way. Dr. Lee informed me that the
more I strive to battle or avoid my anxiety, the more I make it worse. ACT, instead, teaches
me to be mindful and not judge my feelings, so I will forget the struggle.
At first, I was a bit confused because I had been taught never to fight the negative. But as
Dr. Lee assured me, acceptance is not resignation, but it is to accept that the feelings are
there but they are not to rule me and my actions. She prescribed me what she calls the
mindfulness practice where I am supposed to take note of the anxious thoughts and move
on without necessarily attaching myself to them
Dr. Lee talked about a study by Hayes et al. (2006), which discovered that ACT effectively
helps to decrease anxiety levels by enhancing the element of psychological flexibility. This
would be a matter of knowing how to go through discomfort without being unable to
continue achieving my targets. I was relieved by the thought that I do not have to get rid of
my anxiety and all I have to do is to alter my relationship with it. This process is uncommon,
and I am interested in the way it can work in my case. Nevertheless, I still do not know how
well I can apply it.
Short-Term Pzychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP)
STPP Journal Page: Dr. Collins
In my case, Dr. Collins today introduced me to Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy
(STPP) which deals with acquiring insights into my past experiences that led to me
presenting an emotional dilemma. Dr. Collins feels that my grief and pending matters with
my relationship with my mother are some of the reasons leading to my present anxiety. We
had to spend some time on my early relationship with my mother and how it could have
impacted my reactions nowadays.
Dr. Collins enlightened me about transference, which could be the possibility of my previous
relationships being projected onto my current emotions. She proposed that learning about
these unconscious processes would allow me to be able to cope with anxiety and grief more
efficiently. Dr. Collins also provided a study by Vigan (2025) that shows that STPP can be a
very effective intervention to overcome such emotional struggles as grief or anxiety. The
research demonstrated that much can be achieved in the area of emotional well-being
through the unmasking of unconscious conflicts.
I would say I learned a lot during the session, as it was somehow intense. The thought that
my current responses are being affected by my past emotional experiences seems relieving
and overwhelming. I do not know whether, by going back to these dynamics of the past, I
will feel better, yet I am willing to dig deeper. The prospect of teasing out the inner layers of
my bereavement seems to have potential, yet I am also afraid to face these feelings in full
force.
A Year After
A year later, Emily has already made considerable progress in their emotional development.
Despite high anxiety not being eliminated, it feels more manageable. The devices she was
taught during Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) have permeated the latter because
attacking the negative ideas is part of the techniques she has adopted and has allowed her
to deal with academic stress more adequately. Although she has reduced her panic attacks,
she still has a few instances of anxiety but she is no longer being overwhelmed by them.
In Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) practices mentioned, she has become more
accepting of her emotions and that has lowered her emotional struggle. She has become
less victimized by her anxiety and therefore she does not attempt to repress it anymore so
she lets it run its course.
Through Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP) Emily has come to appreciate
how her childhood grief and attachment problems affected her and have contributed to her
current sufferings. Through these unresolved problems, Emily has succeeded in reconciling
the death of her mother and she has managed to proceed more healthily.
Emily is now a stronger girl. She is still using the methods of her therapy, and though she
still has some cases of anxiety, it does not restrain her anymore. She has acquired her
Master's degree and is serving as a social worker to others with her own experiences in
mind. Emily is open to going back to therapy in case she requires it in the future, but at
present, she believes that she has what it takes to handle her emotions using the new
strategies she acquired.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Emily moved through the therapy and achieved considerable changes in the
spheres of anxiety, grief, and emotional distress. The therapeutic combination of Cognitive
Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Short-Term
Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP) has provided her with a variety of coping abilities so
that she can accommodate the cognitive and emotional parts of her woes. Emily has been
able to change her negative thought pattern through CBT, which has made her less anxious.
Act has also enabled her to embrace her feelings without any bias, something which has
reduced the power they have over her. Moreover, STPP made Emily able to interpret the
unexplainable grief associated with the death of her mother which gave her the emotional
elucidation needed to continue moving on. Although she still feels slightly anxious, Emily has
become stronger in regulating her emotions and has a more resilient attitude to life. Now
that she is still practicing social work, the lessons in therapy follow her because she knows
that therapy is not a single-strike cure but rather a way to move on with life and get to know
a better version of herself.
Emily Parker is a 27-year-old woman and a graduate student of Social Work who has been
experiencing heightened anxiety and a depressed mood accompanied by some panic attacks
after her mother passed away due to pancreatic cancer. Even though she had mildly
suffered anxiety during her teenage life, the awe-desolating effect of the loss of her mother
has greatly spurred up her suffering. Being in a common apartment with two roommates
and coping with all the stresses caused by her study load, Emily ends up being swept by her
emotions, resulting in concentration and academic problems. She wants to have a better
understanding of her anxiety, grief, and emotional well-being and through psychological
support learn how to deal with such emotions. This evaluation is going to examine the
extent of her emotional disorder and what kind of therapeutic procedures can be applied to
give her the means to put her life and mental state back under her control.
Gearing Up!
Emily Parker was sent to a psychological examination because of growing mood inferiority,
anxiety, concentrating disorder, and panic attacks revealed in recent times. These
symptoms increased when her mother who died of pancreatic cancer acted as an important
emotional catalyst. Anxiety is not a new problem that Emily has discovered, as she has felt
this way since her teenage years; however, the recent grief has become an additional
problem to her emotional stability. She rents an apartment together with 2 roommates, yet
her school needs and bereavement have caused alienation in her, despite the social
environment. Being a graduate student who lives in a combination setup, Emily has to deal
with various stressors, and the loss of her mom has largely increased her emotional burden.
The stress that she experiences in her studies mixed with the personal loss seems to have
exacerbated her anxiety, which manifested in panic attacks and concentration issues.
Previous psychological assistance: Emily has not made any attempts at seeking psychological
help before, but now, she understands how much her mental health has cost, and she is
willing to consider psychotherapy as the way to find her emotional equilibrium again.
During therapy preparation, Emily would ask herself how psychotherapy would assist her.
She found out that psychotherapy although having varied forms has several factors in
common that make it effective. The therapeutic relationship, client involvement, and
emotional support play a crucial role in providing change. These supporting factors create a
feeling of assurance and hope that the therapy may give her the means of coping with her
sorrow and anxiety (Holohan & Fiske, 2021). The main objective in the case of Emily should
be how to enable her to cope with both her grief and anxiety and apply therapy to give tools
to her that would enable her once again to have control over her emotional reactions and
focus on her academic achievements.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Participation Journal: CBT Session with Dr. Harris
Dr. Harris seemed to break through in the session we had today. We narrowed down on
establishing my negative thinking patterns which contribute to my anxiety. As a case in
point, I tend to say, that I am not good enough or I cannot cope with it, especially in case of
academic bombardment. Dr. According to Harris, the mechanism behind CBT is tasking such
cognitive distortions and substituting them with healthier and more rational thoughts. The
concept is that when the thoughts change, then the emotion and actions will be different
and I can be different by the way I can change my thoughts.
We also did some work in which I needed to write down the thoughts that happen when I
am feeling anxious and then check whether it is accurate. Dr. To monitor the thoughts
during the week, Harris provided me with a worksheet. She has highlighted the value of
becoming aware of automatic thoughts and disrupting the pattern of negative thoughts. I
am optimistic and doubtful at the same time that this thinking process will help: and how
significant will these changes be?
Another study shared by Dr. Harris is the one by Eells (2022), who states that CBT is a useful
approach when treating anxiety disorders because it makes the person self-aware of how
they think and trains them to recreate the patterns they have. This gave me hope that this
would be beneficial to me because the study was quite successful in suppressing symptoms
of people fighting with anxiety. I would be glad to test the worksheets, but I am not sure
that they will be such effective tools as Dr. Harris claims.
Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT)
How it happened: Journal Entry: ACT Session with Dr. Lee
This was not like the session with Dr. Lee today. She has acquainted me with Acceptance
and Commitment Therapy (ACT) which is aimed at accepting an unpleasant thought or
emotion rather than attempting to deal with them in any way. Dr. Lee informed me that the
more I strive to battle or avoid my anxiety, the more I make it worse. ACT, instead, teaches
me to be mindful and not judge my feelings, so I will forget the struggle.
At first, I was a bit confused because I had been taught never to fight the negative. But as
Dr. Lee assured me, acceptance is not resignation, but it is to accept that the feelings are
there but they are not to rule me and my actions. She prescribed me what she calls the
mindfulness practice where I am supposed to take note of the anxious thoughts and move
on without necessarily attaching myself to them
Dr. Lee talked about a study by Hayes et al. (2006), which discovered that ACT effectively
helps to decrease anxiety levels by enhancing the element of psychological flexibility. This
would be a matter of knowing how to go through discomfort without being unable to
continue achieving my targets. I was relieved by the thought that I do not have to get rid of
my anxiety and all I have to do is to alter my relationship with it. This process is uncommon,
and I am interested in the way it can work in my case. Nevertheless, I still do not know how
well I can apply it.
Short-Term Pzychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP)
STPP Journal Page: Dr. Collins
In my case, Dr. Collins today introduced me to Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy
(STPP) which deals with acquiring insights into my past experiences that led to me
presenting an emotional dilemma. Dr. Collins feels that my grief and pending matters with
my relationship with my mother are some of the reasons leading to my present anxiety. We
had to spend some time on my early relationship with my mother and how it could have
impacted my reactions nowadays.
Dr. Collins enlightened me about transference, which could be the possibility of my previous
relationships being projected onto my current emotions. She proposed that learning about
these unconscious processes would allow me to be able to cope with anxiety and grief more
efficiently. Dr. Collins also provided a study by Vigan (2025) that shows that STPP can be a
very effective intervention to overcome such emotional struggles as grief or anxiety. The
research demonstrated that much can be achieved in the area of emotional well-being
through the unmasking of unconscious conflicts.
I would say I learned a lot during the session, as it was somehow intense. The thought that
my current responses are being affected by my past emotional experiences seems relieving
and overwhelming. I do not know whether, by going back to these dynamics of the past, I
will feel better, yet I am willing to dig deeper. The prospect of teasing out the inner layers of
my bereavement seems to have potential, yet I am also afraid to face these feelings in full
force.
A Year After
A year later, Emily has already made considerable progress in their emotional development.
Despite high anxiety not being eliminated, it feels more manageable. The devices she was
taught during Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) have permeated the latter because
attacking the negative ideas is part of the techniques she has adopted and has allowed her
to deal with academic stress more adequately. Although she has reduced her panic attacks,
she still has a few instances of anxiety but she is no longer being overwhelmed by them.
In Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) practices mentioned, she has become more
accepting of her emotions and that has lowered her emotional struggle. She has become
less victimized by her anxiety and therefore she does not attempt to repress it anymore so
she lets it run its course.
Through Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP) Emily has come to appreciate
how her childhood grief and attachment problems affected her and have contributed to her
current sufferings. Through these unresolved problems, Emily has succeeded in reconciling
the death of her mother and she has managed to proceed more healthily.
Emily is now a stronger girl. She is still using the methods of her therapy, and though she
still has some cases of anxiety, it does not restrain her anymore. She has acquired her
Master's degree and is serving as a social worker to others with her own experiences in
mind. Emily is open to going back to therapy in case she requires it in the future, but at
present, she believes that she has what it takes to handle her emotions using the new
strategies she acquired.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Emily moved through the therapy and achieved considerable changes in the
spheres of anxiety, grief, and emotional distress. The therapeutic combination of Cognitive
Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Short-Term
Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP) has provided her with a variety of coping abilities so
that she can accommodate the cognitive and emotional parts of her woes. Emily has been
able to change her negative thought pattern through CBT, which has made her less anxious.
Act has also enabled her to embrace her feelings without any bias, something which has
reduced the power they have over her. Moreover, STPP made Emily able to interpret the
unexplainable grief associated with the death of her mother which gave her the emotional
elucidation needed to continue moving on. Although she still feels slightly anxious, Emily has
become stronger in regulating her emotions and has a more resilient attitude to life. Now
that she is still practicing social work, the lessons in therapy follow her because she knows
that therapy is not a single-strike cure but rather a way to move on with life and get to know
a better version of herself.
Emily Parker is a 27-year-old woman and a graduate student of Social Work who has been
experiencing heightened anxiety and a depressed mood accompanied by some panic attacks
after her mother passed away due to pancreatic cancer. Even though she had mildly
suffered anxiety during her teenage life, the awe-desolating effect of the loss of her mother
has greatly spurred up her suffering. Being in a common apartment with two roommates
and coping with all the stresses caused by her study load, Emily ends up being swept by her
emotions, resulting in concentration and academic problems. She wants to have a better
understanding of her anxiety, grief, and emotional well-being and through psychological
support learn how to deal with such emotions. This evaluation is going to examine the
extent of her emotional disorder and what kind of therapeutic procedures can be applied to
give her the means to put her life and mental state back under her control.
Gearing Up!
Emily Parker was sent to a psychological examination because of growing mood inferiority,
anxiety, concentrating disorder, and panic attacks revealed in recent times. These
symptoms increased when her mother who died of pancreatic cancer acted as an important
emotional catalyst. Anxiety is not a new problem that Emily has discovered, as she has felt
this way since her teenage years; however, the recent grief has become an additional
problem to her emotional stability. She rents an apartment together with 2 roommates, yet
her school needs and bereavement have caused alienation in her, despite the social
environment. Being a graduate student who lives in a combination setup, Emily has to deal
with various stressors, and the loss of her mom has largely increased her emotional burden.
The stress that she experiences in her studies mixed with the personal loss seems to have
exacerbated her anxiety, which manifested in panic attacks and concentration issues.
Previous psychological assistance: Emily has not made any attempts at seeking psychological
help before, but now, she understands how much her mental health has cost, and she is
willing to consider psychotherapy as the way to find her emotional equilibrium again.
During therapy preparation, Emily would ask herself how psychotherapy would assist her.
She found out that psychotherapy although having varied forms has several factors in
common that make it effective. The therapeutic relationship, client involvement, and
emotional support play a crucial role in providing change. These supporting factors create a
feeling of assurance and hope that the therapy may give her the means of coping with her
sorrow and anxiety (Holohan & Fiske, 2021). The main objective in the case of Emily should
be how to enable her to cope with both her grief and anxiety and apply therapy to give tools
to her that would enable her once again to have control over her emotional reactions and
focus on her academic achievements.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Participation Journal: CBT Session with Dr. Harris
Dr. Harris seemed to break through in the session we had today. We narrowed down on
establishing my negative thinking patterns which contribute to my anxiety. As a case in
point, I tend to say, that I am not good enough or I cannot cope with it, especially in case of
academic bombardment. Dr. According to Harris, the mechanism behind CBT is tasking such
cognitive distortions and substituting them with healthier and more rational thoughts. The
concept is that when the thoughts change, then the emotion and actions will be different
and I can be different by the way I can change my thoughts.
We also did some work in which I needed to write down the thoughts that happen when I
am feeling anxious and then check whether it is accurate. Dr. To monitor the thoughts
during the week, Harris provided me with a worksheet. She has highlighted the value of
becoming aware of automatic thoughts and disrupting the pattern of negative thoughts. I
am optimistic and doubtful at the same time that this thinking process will help: and how
significant will these changes be?
Another study shared by Dr. Harris is the one by Eells (2022), who states that CBT is a useful
approach when treating anxiety disorders because it makes the person self-aware of how
they think and trains them to recreate the patterns they have. This gave me hope that this
would be beneficial to me because the study was quite successful in suppressing symptoms
of people fighting with anxiety. I would be glad to test the worksheets, but I am not sure
that they will be such effective tools as Dr. Harris claims.
Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT)
How it happened: Journal Entry: ACT Session with Dr. Lee
This was not like the session with Dr. Lee today. She has acquainted me with Acceptance
and Commitment Therapy (ACT) which is aimed at accepting an unpleasant thought or
emotion rather than attempting to deal with them in any way. Dr. Lee informed me that the
more I strive to battle or avoid my anxiety, the more I make it worse. ACT, instead, teaches
me to be mindful and not judge my feelings, so I will forget the struggle.
At first, I was a bit confused because I had been taught never to fight the negative. But as
Dr. Lee assured me, acceptance is not resignation, but it is to accept that the feelings are
there but they are not to rule me and my actions. She prescribed me what she calls the
mindfulness practice where I am supposed to take note of the anxious thoughts and move
on without necessarily attaching myself to them
Dr. Lee talked about a study by Hayes et al. (2006), which discovered that ACT effectively
helps to decrease anxiety levels by enhancing the element of psychological flexibility. This
would be a matter of knowing how to go through discomfort without being unable to
continue achieving my targets. I was relieved by the thought that I do not have to get rid of
my anxiety and all I have to do is to alter my relationship with it. This process is uncommon,
and I am interested in the way it can work in my case. Nevertheless, I still do not know how
well I can apply it.
Short-Term Pzychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP)
STPP Journal Page: Dr. Collins
In my case, Dr. Collins today introduced me to Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy
(STPP) which deals with acquiring insights into my past experiences that led to me
presenting an emotional dilemma. Dr. Collins feels that my grief and pending matters with
my relationship with my mother are some of the reasons leading to my present anxiety. We
had to spend some time on my early relationship with my mother and how it could have
impacted my reactions nowadays.
Dr. Collins enlightened me about transference, which could be the possibility of my previous
relationships being projected onto my current emotions. She proposed that learning about
these unconscious processes would allow me to be able to cope with anxiety and grief more
efficiently. Dr. Collins also provided a study by Vigan (2025) that shows that STPP can be a
very effective intervention to overcome such emotional struggles as grief or anxiety. The
research demonstrated that much can be achieved in the area of emotional well-being
through the unmasking of unconscious conflicts.
I would say I learned a lot during the session, as it was somehow intense. The thought that
my current responses are being affected by my past emotional experiences seems relieving
and overwhelming. I do not know whether, by going back to these dynamics of the past, I
will feel better, yet I am willing to dig deeper. The prospect of teasing out the inner layers of
my bereavement seems to have potential, yet I am also afraid to face these feelings in full
force.
A Year After
A year later, Emily has already made considerable progress in their emotional development.
Despite high anxiety not being eliminated, it feels more manageable. The devices she was
taught during Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) have permeated the latter because
attacking the negative ideas is part of the techniques she has adopted and has allowed her
to deal with academic stress more adequately. Although she has reduced her panic attacks,
she still has a few instances of anxiety but she is no longer being overwhelmed by them.
In Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) practices mentioned, she has become more
accepting of her emotions and that has lowered her emotional struggle. She has become
less victimized by her anxiety and therefore she does not attempt to repress it anymore so
she lets it run its course.
Through Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP) Emily has come to appreciate
how her childhood grief and attachment problems affected her and have contributed to her
current sufferings. Through these unresolved problems, Emily has succeeded in reconciling
the death of her mother and she has managed to proceed more healthily.
Emily is now a stronger girl. She is still using the methods of her therapy, and though she
still has some cases of anxiety, it does not restrain her anymore. She has acquired her
Master's degree and is serving as a social worker to others with her own experiences in
mind. Emily is open to going back to therapy in case she requires it in the future, but at
present, she believes that she has what it takes to handle her emotions using the new
strategies she acquired.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Emily moved through the therapy and achieved considerable changes in the
spheres of anxiety, grief, and emotional distress. The therapeutic combination of Cognitive
Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Short-Term
Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP) has provided her with a variety of coping abilities so
that she can accommodate the cognitive and emotional parts of her woes. Emily has been
able to change her negative thought pattern through CBT, which has made her less anxious.
Act has also enabled her to embrace her feelings without any bias, something which has
reduced the power they have over her. Moreover, STPP made Emily able to interpret the
unexplainable grief associated with the death of her mother which gave her the emotional
elucidation needed to continue moving on. Although she still feels slightly anxious, Emily has
become stronger in regulating her emotions and has a more resilient attitude to life. Now
that she is still practicing social work, the lessons in therapy follow her because she knows
that therapy is not a single-strike cure but rather a way to move on with life and get to know
a better version of herself.
Emily Parker is a 27-year-old woman and a graduate student of Social Work who has been
experiencing heightened anxiety and a depressed mood accompanied by some panic attacks
after her mother passed away due to pancreatic cancer. Even though she had mildly
suffered anxiety during her teenage life, the awe-desolating effect of the loss of her mother
has greatly spurred up her suffering. Being in a common apartment with two roommates
and coping with all the stresses caused by her study load, Emily ends up being swept by her
emotions, resulting in concentration and academic problems. She wants to have a better
understanding of her anxiety, grief, and emotional well-being and through psychological
support learn how to deal with such emotions. This evaluation is going to examine the
extent of her emotional disorder and what kind of therapeutic procedures can be applied to
give her the means to put her life and mental state back under her control.
Gearing Up!
Emily Parker was sent to a psychological examination because of growing mood inferiority,
anxiety, concentrating disorder, and panic attacks revealed in recent times. These
symptoms increased when her mother who died of pancreatic cancer acted as an important
emotional catalyst. Anxiety is not a new problem that Emily has discovered, as she has felt
this way since her teenage years; however, the recent grief has become an additional
problem to her emotional stability. She rents an apartment together with 2 roommates, yet
her school needs and bereavement have caused alienation in her, despite the social
environment. Being a graduate student who lives in a combination setup, Emily has to deal
with various stressors, and the loss of her mom has largely increased her emotional burden.
The stress that she experiences in her studies mixed with the personal loss seems to have
exacerbated her anxiety, which manifested in panic attacks and concentration issues.
Previous psychological assistance: Emily has not made any attempts at seeking psychological
help before, but now, she understands how much her mental health has cost, and she is
willing to consider psychotherapy as the way to find her emotional equilibrium again.
During therapy preparation, Emily would ask herself how psychotherapy would assist her.
She found out that psychotherapy although having varied forms has several factors in
common that make it effective. The therapeutic relationship, client involvement, and
emotional support play a crucial role in providing change. These supporting factors create a
feeling of assurance and hope that the therapy may give her the means of coping with her
sorrow and anxiety (Holohan & Fiske, 2021). The main objective in the case of Emily should
be how to enable her to cope with both her grief and anxiety and apply therapy to give tools
to her that would enable her once again to have control over her emotional reactions and
focus on her academic achievements.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Participation Journal: CBT Session with Dr. Harris
Dr. Harris seemed to break through in the session we had today. We narrowed down on
establishing my negative thinking patterns which contribute to my anxiety. As a case in
point, I tend to say, that I am not good enough or I cannot cope with it, especially in case of
academic bombardment. Dr. According to Harris, the mechanism behind CBT is tasking such
cognitive distortions and substituting them with healthier and more rational thoughts. The
concept is that when the thoughts change, then the emotion and actions will be different
and I can be different by the way I can change my thoughts.
We also did some work in which I needed to write down the thoughts that happen when I
am feeling anxious and then check whether it is accurate. Dr. To monitor the thoughts
during the week, Harris provided me with a worksheet. She has highlighted the value of
becoming aware of automatic thoughts and disrupting the pattern of negative thoughts. I
am optimistic and doubtful at the same time that this thinking process will help: and how
significant will these changes be?
Another study shared by Dr. Harris is the one by Eells (2022), who states that CBT is a useful
approach when treating anxiety disorders because it makes the person self-aware of how
they think and trains them to recreate the patterns they have. This gave me hope that this
would be beneficial to me because the study was quite successful in suppressing symptoms
of people fighting with anxiety. I would be glad to test the worksheets, but I am not sure
that they will be such effective tools as Dr. Harris claims.
Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT)
How it happened: Journal Entry: ACT Session with Dr. Lee
This was not like the session with Dr. Lee today. She has acquainted me with Acceptance
and Commitment Therapy (ACT) which is aimed at accepting an unpleasant thought or
emotion rather than attempting to deal with them in any way. Dr. Lee informed me that the
more I strive to battle or avoid my anxiety, the more I make it worse. ACT, instead, teaches
me to be mindful and not judge my feelings, so I will forget the struggle.
At first, I was a bit confused because I had been taught never to fight the negative. But as
Dr. Lee assured me, acceptance is not resignation, but it is to accept that the feelings are
there but they are not to rule me and my actions. She prescribed me what she calls the
mindfulness practice where I am supposed to take note of the anxious thoughts and move
on without necessarily attaching myself to them
Dr. Lee talked about a study by Hayes et al. (2006), which discovered that ACT effectively
helps to decrease anxiety levels by enhancing the element of psychological flexibility. This
would be a matter of knowing how to go through discomfort without being unable to
continue achieving my targets. I was relieved by the thought that I do not have to get rid of
my anxiety and all I have to do is to alter my relationship with it. This process is uncommon,
and I am interested in the way it can work in my case. Nevertheless, I still do not know how
well I can apply it.
Short-Term Pzychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP)
STPP Journal Page: Dr. Collins
In my case, Dr. Collins today introduced me to Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy
(STPP) which deals with acquiring insights into my past experiences that led to me
presenting an emotional dilemma. Dr. Collins feels that my grief and pending matters with
my relationship with my mother are some of the reasons leading to my present anxiety. We
had to spend some time on my early relationship with my mother and how it could have
impacted my reactions nowadays.
Dr. Collins enlightened me about transference, which could be the possibility of my previous
relationships being projected onto my current emotions. She proposed that learning about
these unconscious processes would allow me to be able to cope with anxiety and grief more
efficiently. Dr. Collins also provided a study by Vigan (2025) that shows that STPP can be a
very effective intervention to overcome such emotional struggles as grief or anxiety. The
research demonstrated that much can be achieved in the area of emotional well-being
through the unmasking of unconscious conflicts.
I would say I learned a lot during the session, as it was somehow intense. The thought that
my current responses are being affected by my past emotional experiences seems relieving
and overwhelming. I do not know whether, by going back to these dynamics of the past, I
will feel better, yet I am willing to dig deeper. The prospect of teasing out the inner layers of
my bereavement seems to have potential, yet I am also afraid to face these feelings in full
force.
A Year After
A year later, Emily has already made considerable progress in their emotional development.
Despite high anxiety not being eliminated, it feels more manageable. The devices she was
taught during Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) have permeated the latter because
attacking the negative ideas is part of the techniques she has adopted and has allowed her
to deal with academic stress more adequately. Although she has reduced her panic attacks,
she still has a few instances of anxiety but she is no longer being overwhelmed by them.
In Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) practices mentioned, she has become more
accepting of her emotions and that has lowered her emotional struggle. She has become
less victimized by her anxiety and therefore she does not attempt to repress it anymore so
she lets it run its course.
Through Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP) Emily has come to appreciate
how her childhood grief and attachment problems affected her and have contributed to her
current sufferings. Through these unresolved problems, Emily has succeeded in reconciling
the death of her mother and she has managed to proceed more healthily.
Emily is now a stronger girl. She is still using the methods of her therapy, and though she
still has some cases of anxiety, it does not restrain her anymore. She has acquired her
Master's degree and is serving as a social worker to others with her own experiences in
mind. Emily is open to going back to therapy in case she requires it in the future, but at
present, she believes that she has what it takes to handle her emotions using the new
strategies she acquired.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Emily moved through the therapy and achieved considerable changes in the
spheres of anxiety, grief, and emotional distress. The therapeutic combination of Cognitive
Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Short-Term
Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP) has provided her with a variety of coping abilities so
that she can accommodate the cognitive and emotional parts of her woes. Emily has been
able to change her negative thought pattern through CBT, which has made her less anxious.
Act has also enabled her to embrace her feelings without any bias, something which has
reduced the power they have over her. Moreover, STPP made Emily able to interpret the
unexplainable grief associated with the death of her mother which gave her the emotional
elucidation needed to continue moving on. Although she still feels slightly anxious, Emily has
become stronger in regulating her emotions and has a more resilient attitude to life. Now
that she is still practicing social work, the lessons in therapy follow her because she knows
that therapy is not a single-strike cure but rather a way to move on with life and get to know
a better version of herself.
Emily Parker is a 27-year-old woman and a graduate student of Social Work who has been
experiencing heightened anxiety and a depressed mood accompanied by some panic attacks
after her mother passed away due to pancreatic cancer. Even though she had mildly
suffered anxiety during her teenage life, the awe-desolating effect of the loss of her mother
has greatly spurred up her suffering. Being in a common apartment with two roommates
and coping with all the stresses caused by her study load, Emily ends up being swept by her
emotions, resulting in concentration and academic problems. She wants to have a better
understanding of her anxiety, grief, and emotional well-being and through psychological
support learn how to deal with such emotions. This evaluation is going to examine the
extent of her emotional disorder and what kind of therapeutic procedures can be applied to
give her the means to put her life and mental state back under her control.
Gearing Up!
Emily Parker was sent to a psychological examination because of growing mood inferiority,
anxiety, concentrating disorder, and panic attacks revealed in recent times. These
symptoms increased when her mother who died of pancreatic cancer acted as an important
emotional catalyst. Anxiety is not a new problem that Emily has discovered, as she has felt
this way since her teenage years; however, the recent grief has become an additional
problem to her emotional stability. She rents an apartment together with 2 roommates, yet
her school needs and bereavement have caused alienation in her, despite the social
environment. Being a graduate student who lives in a combination setup, Emily has to deal
with various stressors, and the loss of her mom has largely increased her emotional burden.
The stress that she experiences in her studies mixed with the personal loss seems to have
exacerbated her anxiety, which manifested in panic attacks and concentration issues.
Previous psychological assistance: Emily has not made any attempts at seeking psychological
help before, but now, she understands how much her mental health has cost, and she is
willing to consider psychotherapy as the way to find her emotional equilibrium again.
During therapy preparation, Emily would ask herself how psychotherapy would assist her.
She found out that psychotherapy although having varied forms has several factors in
common that make it effective. The therapeutic relationship, client involvement, and
emotional support play a crucial role in providing change. These supporting factors create a
feeling of assurance and hope that the therapy may give her the means of coping with her
sorrow and anxiety (Holohan & Fiske, 2021). The main objective in the case of Emily should
be how to enable her to cope with both her grief and anxiety and apply therapy to give tools
to her that would enable her once again to have control over her emotional reactions and
focus on her academic achievements.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Participation Journal: CBT Session with Dr. Harris
Dr. Harris seemed to break through in the session we had today. We narrowed down on
establishing my negative thinking patterns which contribute to my anxiety. As a case in
point, I tend to say, that I am not good enough or I cannot cope with it, especially in case of
academic bombardment. Dr. According to Harris, the mechanism behind CBT is tasking such
cognitive distortions and substituting them with healthier and more rational thoughts. The
concept is that when the thoughts change, then the emotion and actions will be different
and I can be different by the way I can change my thoughts.
We also did some work in which I needed to write down the thoughts that happen when I
am feeling anxious and then check whether it is accurate. Dr. To monitor the thoughts
during the week, Harris provided me with a worksheet. She has highlighted the value of
becoming aware of automatic thoughts and disrupting the pattern of negative thoughts. I
am optimistic and doubtful at the same time that this thinking process will help: and how
significant will these changes be?
Another study shared by Dr. Harris is the one by Eells (2022), who states that CBT is a useful
approach when treating anxiety disorders because it makes the person self-aware of how
they think and trains them to recreate the patterns they have. This gave me hope that this
would be beneficial to me because the study was quite successful in suppressing symptoms
of people fighting with anxiety. I would be glad to test the worksheets, but I am not sure
that they will be such effective tools as Dr. Harris claims.
Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT)
How it happened: Journal Entry: ACT Session with Dr. Lee
This was not like the session with Dr. Lee today. She has acquainted me with Acceptance
and Commitment Therapy (ACT) which is aimed at accepting an unpleasant thought or
emotion rather than attempting to deal with them in any way. Dr. Lee informed me that the
more I strive to battle or avoid my anxiety, the more I make it worse. ACT, instead, teaches
me to be mindful and not judge my feelings, so I will forget the struggle.
At first, I was a bit confused because I had been taught never to fight the negative. But as
Dr. Lee assured me, acceptance is not resignation, but it is to accept that the feelings are
there but they are not to rule me and my actions. She prescribed me what she calls the
mindfulness practice where I am supposed to take note of the anxious thoughts and move
on without necessarily attaching myself to them
Dr. Lee talked about a study by Hayes et al. (2006), which discovered that ACT effectively
helps to decrease anxiety levels by enhancing the element of psychological flexibility. This
would be a matter of knowing how to go through discomfort without being unable to
continue achieving my targets. I was relieved by the thought that I do not have to get rid of
my anxiety and all I have to do is to alter my relationship with it. This process is uncommon,
and I am interested in the way it can work in my case. Nevertheless, I still do not know how
well I can apply it.
Short-Term Pzychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP)
STPP Journal Page: Dr. Collins
In my case, Dr. Collins today introduced me to Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy
(STPP) which deals with acquiring insights into my past experiences that led to me
presenting an emotional dilemma. Dr. Collins feels that my grief and pending matters with
my relationship with my mother are some of the reasons leading to my present anxiety. We
had to spend some time on my early relationship with my mother and how it could have
impacted my reactions nowadays.
Dr. Collins enlightened me about transference, which could be the possibility of my previous
relationships being projected onto my current emotions. She proposed that learning about
these unconscious processes would allow me to be able to cope with anxiety and grief more
efficiently. Dr. Collins also provided a study by Vigan (2025) that shows that STPP can be a
very effective intervention to overcome such emotional struggles as grief or anxiety. The
research demonstrated that much can be achieved in the area of emotional well-being
through the unmasking of unconscious conflicts.
I would say I learned a lot during the session, as it was somehow intense. The thought that
my current responses are being affected by my past emotional experiences seems relieving
and overwhelming. I do not know whether, by going back to these dynamics of the past, I
will feel better, yet I am willing to dig deeper. The prospect of teasing out the inner layers of
my bereavement seems to have potential, yet I am also afraid to face these feelings in full
force.
A Year After
A year later, Emily has already made considerable progress in their emotional development.
Despite high anxiety not being eliminated, it feels more manageable. The devices she was
taught during Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) have permeated the latter because
attacking the negative ideas is part of the techniques she has adopted and has allowed her
to deal with academic stress more adequately. Although she has reduced her panic attacks,
she still has a few instances of anxiety but she is no longer being overwhelmed by them.
In Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) practices mentioned, she has become more
accepting of her emotions and that has lowered her emotional struggle. She has become
less victimized by her anxiety and therefore she does not attempt to repress it anymore so
she lets it run its course.
Through Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP) Emily has come to appreciate
how her childhood grief and attachment problems affected her and have contributed to her
current sufferings. Through these unresolved problems, Emily has succeeded in reconciling
the death of her mother and she has managed to proceed more healthily.
Emily is now a stronger girl. She is still using the methods of her therapy, and though she
still has some cases of anxiety, it does not restrain her anymore. She has acquired her
Master's degree and is serving as a social worker to others with her own experiences in
mind. Emily is open to going back to therapy in case she requires it in the future, but at
present, she believes that she has what it takes to handle her emotions using the new
strategies she acquired.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Emily moved through the therapy and achieved considerable changes in the
spheres of anxiety, grief, and emotional distress. The therapeutic combination of Cognitive
Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Short-Term
Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP) has provided her with a variety of coping abilities so
that she can accommodate the cognitive and emotional parts of her woes. Emily has been
able to change her negative thought pattern through CBT, which has made her less anxious.
Act has also enabled her to embrace her feelings without any bias, something which has
reduced the power they have over her. Moreover, STPP made Emily able to interpret the
unexplainable grief associated with the death of her mother which gave her the emotional
elucidation needed to continue moving on. Although she still feels slightly anxious, Emily has
become stronger in regulating her emotions and has a more resilient attitude to life. Now
that she is still practicing social work, the lessons in therapy follow her because she knows
that therapy is not a single-strike cure but rather a way to move on with life and get to know
a better version of herself.
Emily Parker is a 27-year-old woman and a graduate student of Social Work who has been
experiencing heightened anxiety and a depressed mood accompanied by some panic attacks
after her mother passed away due to pancreatic cancer. Even though she had mildly
suffered anxiety during her teenage life, the awe-desolating effect of the loss of her mother
has greatly spurred up her suffering. Being in a common apartment with two roommates
and coping with all the stresses caused by her study load, Emily ends up being swept by her
emotions, resulting in concentration and academic problems. She wants to have a better
understanding of her anxiety, grief, and emotional well-being and through psychological
support learn how to deal with such emotions. This evaluation is going to examine the
extent of her emotional disorder and what kind of therapeutic procedures can be applied to
give her the means to put her life and mental state back under her control.
Gearing Up!
Emily Parker was sent to a psychological examination because of growing mood inferiority,
anxiety, concentrating disorder, and panic attacks revealed in recent times. These
symptoms increased when her mother who died of pancreatic cancer acted as an important
emotional catalyst. Anxiety is not a new problem that Emily has discovered, as she has felt
this way since her teenage years; however, the recent grief has become an additional
problem to her emotional stability. She rents an apartment together with 2 roommates, yet
her school needs and bereavement have caused alienation in her, despite the social
environment. Being a graduate student who lives in a combination setup, Emily has to deal
with various stressors, and the loss of her mom has largely increased her emotional burden.
The stress that she experiences in her studies mixed with the personal loss seems to have
exacerbated her anxiety, which manifested in panic attacks and concentration issues.
Previous psychological assistance: Emily has not made any attempts at seeking psychological
help before, but now, she understands how much her mental health has cost, and she is
willing to consider psychotherapy as the way to find her emotional equilibrium again.
During therapy preparation, Emily would ask herself how psychotherapy would assist her.
She found out that psychotherapy although having varied forms has several factors in
common that make it effective. The therapeutic relationship, client involvement, and
emotional support play a crucial role in providing change. These supporting factors create a
feeling of assurance and hope that the therapy may give her the means of coping with her
sorrow and anxiety (Holohan & Fiske, 2021). The main objective in the case of Emily should
be how to enable her to cope with both her grief and anxiety and apply therapy to give tools
to her that would enable her once again to have control over her emotional reactions and
focus on her academic achievements.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Participation Journal: CBT Session with Dr. Harris
Dr. Harris seemed to break through in the session we had today. We narrowed down on
establishing my negative thinking patterns which contribute to my anxiety. As a case in
point, I tend to say, that I am not good enough or I cannot cope with it, especially in case of
academic bombardment. Dr. According to Harris, the mechanism behind CBT is tasking such
cognitive distortions and substituting them with healthier and more rational thoughts. The
concept is that when the thoughts change, then the emotion and actions will be different
and I can be different by the way I can change my thoughts.
We also did some work in which I needed to write down the thoughts that happen when I
am feeling anxious and then check whether it is accurate. Dr. To monitor the thoughts
during the week, Harris provided me with a worksheet. She has highlighted the value of
becoming aware of automatic thoughts and disrupting the pattern of negative thoughts. I
am optimistic and doubtful at the same time that this thinking process will help: and how
significant will these changes be?
Another study shared by Dr. Harris is the one by Eells (2022), who states that CBT is a useful
approach when treating anxiety disorders because it makes the person self-aware of how
they think and trains them to recreate the patterns they have. This gave me hope that this
would be beneficial to me because the study was quite successful in suppressing symptoms
of people fighting with anxiety. I would be glad to test the worksheets, but I am not sure
that they will be such effective tools as Dr. Harris claims.
Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT)
How it happened: Journal Entry: ACT Session with Dr. Lee
This was not like the session with Dr. Lee today. She has acquainted me with Acceptance
and Commitment Therapy (ACT) which is aimed at accepting an unpleasant thought or
emotion rather than attempting to deal with them in any way. Dr. Lee informed me that the
more I strive to battle or avoid my anxiety, the more I make it worse. ACT, instead, teaches
me to be mindful and not judge my feelings, so I will forget the struggle.
At first, I was a bit confused because I had been taught never to fight the negative. But as
Dr. Lee assured me, acceptance is not resignation, but it is to accept that the feelings are
there but they are not to rule me and my actions. She prescribed me what she calls the
mindfulness practice where I am supposed to take note of the anxious thoughts and move
on without necessarily attaching myself to them
Dr. Lee talked about a study by Hayes et al. (2006), which discovered that ACT effectively
helps to decrease anxiety levels by enhancing the element of psychological flexibility. This
would be a matter of knowing how to go through discomfort without being unable to
continue achieving my targets. I was relieved by the thought that I do not have to get rid of
my anxiety and all I have to do is to alter my relationship with it. This process is uncommon,
and I am interested in the way it can work in my case. Nevertheless, I still do not know how
well I can apply it.
Short-Term Pzychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP)
STPP Journal Page: Dr. Collins
In my case, Dr. Collins today introduced me to Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy
(STPP) which deals with acquiring insights into my past experiences that led to me
presenting an emotional dilemma. Dr. Collins feels that my grief and pending matters with
my relationship with my mother are some of the reasons leading to my present anxiety. We
had to spend some time on my early relationship with my mother and how it could have
impacted my reactions nowadays.
Dr. Collins enlightened me about transference, which could be the possibility of my previous
relationships being projected onto my current emotions. She proposed that learning about
these unconscious processes would allow me to be able to cope with anxiety and grief more
efficiently. Dr. Collins also provided a study by Vigan (2025) that shows that STPP can be a
very effective intervention to overcome such emotional struggles as grief or anxiety. The
research demonstrated that much can be achieved in the area of emotional well-being
through the unmasking of unconscious conflicts.
I would say I learned a lot during the session, as it was somehow intense. The thought that
my current responses are being affected by my past emotional experiences seems relieving
and overwhelming. I do not know whether, by going back to these dynamics of the past, I
will feel better, yet I am willing to dig deeper. The prospect of teasing out the inner layers of
my bereavement seems to have potential, yet I am also afraid to face these feelings in full
force.
A Year After
A year later, Emily has already made considerable progress in their emotional development.
Despite high anxiety not being eliminated, it feels more manageable. The devices she was
taught during Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) have permeated the latter because
attacking the negative ideas is part of the techniques she has adopted and has allowed her
to deal with academic stress more adequately. Although she has reduced her panic attacks,
she still has a few instances of anxiety but she is no longer being overwhelmed by them.
In Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) practices mentioned, she has become more
accepting of her emotions and that has lowered her emotional struggle. She has become
less victimized by her anxiety and therefore she does not attempt to repress it anymore so
she lets it run its course.
Through Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP) Emily has come to appreciate
how her childhood grief and attachment problems affected her and have contributed to her
current sufferings. Through these unresolved problems, Emily has succeeded in reconciling
the death of her mother and she has managed to proceed more healthily.
Emily is now a stronger girl. She is still using the methods of her therapy, and though she
still has some cases of anxiety, it does not restrain her anymore. She has acquired her
Master's degree and is serving as a social worker to others with her own experiences in
mind. Emily is open to going back to therapy in case she requires it in the future, but at
present, she believes that she has what it takes to handle her emotions using the new
strategies she acquired.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Emily moved through the therapy and achieved considerable changes in the
spheres of anxiety, grief, and emotional distress. The therapeutic combination of Cognitive
Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Short-Term
Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP) has provided her with a variety of coping abilities so
that she can accommodate the cognitive and emotional parts of her woes. Emily has been
able to change her negative thought pattern through CBT, which has made her less anxious.
Act has also enabled her to embrace her feelings without any bias, something which has
reduced the power they have over her. Moreover, STPP made Emily able to interpret the
unexplainable grief associated with the death of her mother which gave her the emotional
elucidation needed to continue moving on. Although she still feels slightly anxious, Emily has
become stronger in regulating her emotions and has a more resilient attitude to life. Now
that she is still practicing social work, the lessons in therapy follow her because she knows
that therapy is not a single-strike cure but rather a way to move on with life and get to know
a better version of herself.
Emily Parker is a 27-year-old woman and a graduate student of Social Work who has been
experiencing heightened anxiety and a depressed mood accompanied by some panic attacks
after her mother passed away due to pancreatic cancer. Even though she had mildly
suffered anxiety during her teenage life, the awe-desolating effect of the loss of her mother
has greatly spurred up her suffering. Being in a common apartment with two roommates
and coping with all the stresses caused by her study load, Emily ends up being swept by her
emotions, resulting in concentration and academic problems. She wants to have a better
understanding of her anxiety, grief, and emotional well-being and through psychological
support learn how to deal with such emotions. This evaluation is going to examine the
extent of her emotional disorder and what kind of therapeutic procedures can be applied to
give her the means to put her life and mental state back under her control.
Gearing Up!
Emily Parker was sent to a psychological examination because of growing mood inferiority,
anxiety, concentrating disorder, and panic attacks revealed in recent times. These
symptoms increased when her mother who died of pancreatic cancer acted as an important
emotional catalyst. Anxiety is not a new problem that Emily has discovered, as she has felt
this way since her teenage years; however, the recent grief has become an additional
problem to her emotional stability. She rents an apartment together with 2 roommates, yet
her school needs and bereavement have caused alienation in her, despite the social
environment. Being a graduate student who lives in a combination setup, Emily has to deal
with various stressors, and the loss of her mom has largely increased her emotional burden.
The stress that she experiences in her studies mixed with the personal loss seems to have
exacerbated her anxiety, which manifested in panic attacks and concentration issues.
Previous psychological assistance: Emily has not made any attempts at seeking psychological
help before, but now, she understands how much her mental health has cost, and she is
willing to consider psychotherapy as the way to find her emotional equilibrium again.
During therapy preparation, Emily would ask herself how psychotherapy would assist her.
She found out that psychotherapy although having varied forms has several factors in
common that make it effective. The therapeutic relationship, client involvement, and
emotional support play a crucial role in providing change. These supporting factors create a
feeling of assurance and hope that the therapy may give her the means of coping with her
sorrow and anxiety (Holohan & Fiske, 2021). The main objective in the case of Emily should
be how to enable her to cope with both her grief and anxiety and apply therapy to give tools
to her that would enable her once again to have control over her emotional reactions and
focus on her academic achievements.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Participation Journal: CBT Session with Dr. Harris
Dr. Harris seemed to break through in the session we had today. We narrowed down on
establishing my negative thinking patterns which contribute to my anxiety. As a case in
point, I tend to say, that I am not good enough or I cannot cope with it, especially in case of
academic bombardment. Dr. According to Harris, the mechanism behind CBT is tasking such
cognitive distortions and substituting them with healthier and more rational thoughts. The
concept is that when the thoughts change, then the emotion and actions will be different
and I can be different by the way I can change my thoughts.
We also did some work in which I needed to write down the thoughts that happen when I
am feeling anxious and then check whether it is accurate. Dr. To monitor the thoughts
during the week, Harris provided me with a worksheet. She has highlighted the value of
becoming aware of automatic thoughts and disrupting the pattern of negative thoughts. I
am optimistic and doubtful at the same time that this thinking process will help: and how
significant will these changes be?
Another study shared by Dr. Harris is the one by Eells (2022), who states that CBT is a useful
approach when treating anxiety disorders because it makes the person self-aware of how
they think and trains them to recreate the patterns they have. This gave me hope that this
would be beneficial to me because the study was quite successful in suppressing symptoms
of people fighting with anxiety. I would be glad to test the worksheets, but I am not sure
that they will be such effective tools as Dr. Harris claims.
Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT)
How it happened: Journal Entry: ACT Session with Dr. Lee
This was not like the session with Dr. Lee today. She has acquainted me with Acceptance
and Commitment Therapy (ACT) which is aimed at accepting an unpleasant thought or
emotion rather than attempting to deal with them in any way. Dr. Lee informed me that the
more I strive to battle or avoid my anxiety, the more I make it worse. ACT, instead, teaches
me to be mindful and not judge my feelings, so I will forget the struggle.
At first, I was a bit confused because I had been taught never to fight the negative. But as
Dr. Lee assured me, acceptance is not resignation, but it is to accept that the feelings are
there but they are not to rule me and my actions. She prescribed me what she calls the
mindfulness practice where I am supposed to take note of the anxious thoughts and move
on without necessarily attaching myself to them
Dr. Lee talked about a study by Hayes et al. (2006), which discovered that ACT effectively
helps to decrease anxiety levels by enhancing the element of psychological flexibility. This
would be a matter of knowing how to go through discomfort without being unable to
continue achieving my targets. I was relieved by the thought that I do not have to get rid of
my anxiety and all I have to do is to alter my relationship with it. This process is uncommon,
and I am interested in the way it can work in my case. Nevertheless, I still do not know how
well I can apply it.
Short-Term Pzychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP)
STPP Journal Page: Dr. Collins
In my case, Dr. Collins today introduced me to Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy
(STPP) which deals with acquiring insights into my past experiences that led to me
presenting an emotional dilemma. Dr. Collins feels that my grief and pending matters with
my relationship with my mother are some of the reasons leading to my present anxiety. We
had to spend some time on my early relationship with my mother and how it could have
impacted my reactions nowadays.
Dr. Collins enlightened me about transference, which could be the possibility of my previous
relationships being projected onto my current emotions. She proposed that learning about
these unconscious processes would allow me to be able to cope with anxiety and grief more
efficiently. Dr. Collins also provided a study by Vigan (2025) that shows that STPP can be a
very effective intervention to overcome such emotional struggles as grief or anxiety. The
research demonstrated that much can be achieved in the area of emotional well-being
through the unmasking of unconscious conflicts.
I would say I learned a lot during the session, as it was somehow intense. The thought that
my current responses are being affected by my past emotional experiences seems relieving
and overwhelming. I do not know whether, by going back to these dynamics of the past, I
will feel better, yet I am willing to dig deeper. The prospect of teasing out the inner layers of
my bereavement seems to have potential, yet I am also afraid to face these feelings in full
force.
A Year After
A year later, Emily has already made considerable progress in their emotional development.
Despite high anxiety not being eliminated, it feels more manageable. The devices she was
taught during Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) have permeated the latter because
attacking the negative ideas is part of the techniques she has adopted and has allowed her
to deal with academic stress more adequately. Although she has reduced her panic attacks,
she still has a few instances of anxiety but she is no longer being overwhelmed by them.
In Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) practices mentioned, she has become more
accepting of her emotions and that has lowered her emotional struggle. She has become
less victimized by her anxiety and therefore she does not attempt to repress it anymore so
she lets it run its course.
Through Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP) Emily has come to appreciate
how her childhood grief and attachment problems affected her and have contributed to her
current sufferings. Through these unresolved problems, Emily has succeeded in reconciling
the death of her mother and she has managed to proceed more healthily.
Emily is now a stronger girl. She is still using the methods of her therapy, and though she
still has some cases of anxiety, it does not restrain her anymore. She has acquired her
Master's degree and is serving as a social worker to others with her own experiences in
mind. Emily is open to going back to therapy in case she requires it in the future, but at
present, she believes that she has what it takes to handle her emotions using the new
strategies she acquired.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Emily moved through the therapy and achieved considerable changes in the
spheres of anxiety, grief, and emotional distress. The therapeutic combination of Cognitive
Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Short-Term
Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP) has provided her with a variety of coping abilities so
that she can accommodate the cognitive and emotional parts of her woes. Emily has been
able to change her negative thought pattern through CBT, which has made her less anxious.
Act has also enabled her to embrace her feelings without any bias, something which has
reduced the power they have over her. Moreover, STPP made Emily able to interpret the
unexplainable grief associated with the death of her mother which gave her the emotional
elucidation needed to continue moving on. Although she still feels slightly anxious, Emily has
become stronger in regulating her emotions and has a more resilient attitude to life. Now
that she is still practicing social work, the lessons in therapy follow her because she knows
that therapy is not a single-strike cure but rather a way to move on with life and get to know
a better version of herself.
Emily Parker is a 27-year-old woman and a graduate student of Social Work who has been
experiencing heightened anxiety and a depressed mood accompanied by some panic attacks
after her mother passed away due to pancreatic cancer. Even though she had mildly
suffered anxiety during her teenage life, the awe-desolating effect of the loss of her mother
has greatly spurred up her suffering. Being in a common apartment with two roommates
and coping with all the stresses caused by her study load, Emily ends up being swept by her
emotions, resulting in concentration and academic problems. She wants to have a better
understanding of her anxiety, grief, and emotional well-being and through psychological
support learn how to deal with such emotions. This evaluation is going to examine the
extent of her emotional disorder and what kind of therapeutic procedures can be applied to
give her the means to put her life and mental state back under her control.
Gearing Up!
Emily Parker was sent to a psychological examination because of growing mood inferiority,
anxiety, concentrating disorder, and panic attacks revealed in recent times. These
symptoms increased when her mother who died of pancreatic cancer acted as an important
emotional catalyst. Anxiety is not a new problem that Emily has discovered, as she has felt
this way since her teenage years; however, the recent grief has become an additional
problem to her emotional stability. She rents an apartment together with 2 roommates, yet
her school needs and bereavement have caused alienation in her, despite the social
environment. Being a graduate student who lives in a combination setup, Emily has to deal
with various stressors, and the loss of her mom has largely increased her emotional burden.
The stress that she experiences in her studies mixed with the personal loss seems to have
exacerbated her anxiety, which manifested in panic attacks and concentration issues.
Previous psychological assistance: Emily has not made any attempts at seeking psychological
help before, but now, she understands how much her mental health has cost, and she is
willing to consider psychotherapy as the way to find her emotional equilibrium again.
During therapy preparation, Emily would ask herself how psychotherapy would assist her.
She found out that psychotherapy although having varied forms has several factors in
common that make it effective. The therapeutic relationship, client involvement, and
emotional support play a crucial role in providing change. These supporting factors create a
feeling of assurance and hope that the therapy may give her the means of coping with her
sorrow and anxiety (Holohan & Fiske, 2021). The main objective in the case of Emily should
be how to enable her to cope with both her grief and anxiety and apply therapy to give tools
to her that would enable her once again to have control over her emotional reactions and
focus on her academic achievements.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Participation Journal: CBT Session with Dr. Harris
Dr. Harris seemed to break through in the session we had today. We narrowed down on
establishing my negative thinking patterns which contribute to my anxiety. As a case in
point, I tend to say, that I am not good enough or I cannot cope with it, especially in case of
academic bombardment. Dr. According to Harris, the mechanism behind CBT is tasking such
cognitive distortions and substituting them with healthier and more rational thoughts. The
concept is that when the thoughts change, then the emotion and actions will be different
and I can be different by the way I can change my thoughts.
We also did some work in which I needed to write down the thoughts that happen when I
am feeling anxious and then check whether it is accurate. Dr. To monitor the thoughts
during the week, Harris provided me with a worksheet. She has highlighted the value of
becoming aware of automatic thoughts and disrupting the pattern of negative thoughts. I
am optimistic and doubtful at the same time that this thinking process will help: and how
significant will these changes be?
Another study shared by Dr. Harris is the one by Eells (2022), who states that CBT is a useful
approach when treating anxiety disorders because it makes the person self-aware of how
they think and trains them to recreate the patterns they have. This gave me hope that this
would be beneficial to me because the study was quite successful in suppressing symptoms
of people fighting with anxiety. I would be glad to test the worksheets, but I am not sure
that they will be such effective tools as Dr. Harris claims.
Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT)
How it happened: Journal Entry: ACT Session with Dr. Lee
This was not like the session with Dr. Lee today. She has acquainted me with Acceptance
and Commitment Therapy (ACT) which is aimed at accepting an unpleasant thought or
emotion rather than attempting to deal with them in any way. Dr. Lee informed me that the
more I strive to battle or avoid my anxiety, the more I make it worse. ACT, instead, teaches
me to be mindful and not judge my feelings, so I will forget the struggle.
At first, I was a bit confused because I had been taught never to fight the negative. But as
Dr. Lee assured me, acceptance is not resignation, but it is to accept that the feelings are
there but they are not to rule me and my actions. She prescribed me what she calls the
mindfulness practice where I am supposed to take note of the anxious thoughts and move
on without necessarily attaching myself to them
Dr. Lee talked about a study by Hayes et al. (2006), which discovered that ACT effectively
helps to decrease anxiety levels by enhancing the element of psychological flexibility. This
would be a matter of knowing how to go through discomfort without being unable to
continue achieving my targets. I was relieved by the thought that I do not have to get rid of
my anxiety and all I have to do is to alter my relationship with it. This process is uncommon,
and I am interested in the way it can work in my case. Nevertheless, I still do not know how
well I can apply it.
Short-Term Pzychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP)
STPP Journal Page: Dr. Collins
In my case, Dr. Collins today introduced me to Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy
(STPP) which deals with acquiring insights into my past experiences that led to me
presenting an emotional dilemma. Dr. Collins feels that my grief and pending matters with
my relationship with my mother are some of the reasons leading to my present anxiety. We
had to spend some time on my early relationship with my mother and how it could have
impacted my reactions nowadays.
Dr. Collins enlightened me about transference, which could be the possibility of my previous
relationships being projected onto my current emotions. She proposed that learning about
these unconscious processes would allow me to be able to cope with anxiety and grief more
efficiently. Dr. Collins also provided a study by Vigan (2025) that shows that STPP can be a
very effective intervention to overcome such emotional struggles as grief or anxiety. The
research demonstrated that much can be achieved in the area of emotional well-being
through the unmasking of unconscious conflicts.
I would say I learned a lot during the session, as it was somehow intense. The thought that
my current responses are being affected by my past emotional experiences seems relieving
and overwhelming. I do not know whether, by going back to these dynamics of the past, I
will feel better, yet I am willing to dig deeper. The prospect of teasing out the inner layers of
my bereavement seems to have potential, yet I am also afraid to face these feelings in full
force.
A Year After
A year later, Emily has already made considerable progress in their emotional development.
Despite high anxiety not being eliminated, it feels more manageable. The devices she was
taught during Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) have permeated the latter because
attacking the negative ideas is part of the techniques she has adopted and has allowed her
to deal with academic stress more adequately. Although she has reduced her panic attacks,
she still has a few instances of anxiety but she is no longer being overwhelmed by them.
In Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) practices mentioned, she has become more
accepting of her emotions and that has lowered her emotional struggle. She has become
less victimized by her anxiety and therefore she does not attempt to repress it anymore so
she lets it run its course.
Through Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP) Emily has come to appreciate
how her childhood grief and attachment problems affected her and have contributed to her
current sufferings. Through these unresolved problems, Emily has succeeded in reconciling
the death of her mother and she has managed to proceed more healthily.
Emily is now a stronger girl. She is still using the methods of her therapy, and though she
still has some cases of anxiety, it does not restrain her anymore. She has acquired her
Master's degree and is serving as a social worker to others with her own experiences in
mind. Emily is open to going back to therapy in case she requires it in the future, but at
present, she believes that she has what it takes to handle her emotions using the new
strategies she acquired.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Emily moved through the therapy and achieved considerable changes in the
spheres of anxiety, grief, and emotional distress. The therapeutic combination of Cognitive
Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Short-Term
Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP) has provided her with a variety of coping abilities so
that she can accommodate the cognitive and emotional parts of her woes. Emily has been
able to change her negative thought pattern through CBT, which has made her less anxious.
Act has also enabled her to embrace her feelings without any bias, something which has
reduced the power they have over her. Moreover, STPP made Emily able to interpret the
unexplainable grief associated with the death of her mother which gave her the emotional
elucidation needed to continue moving on. Although she still feels slightly anxious, Emily has
become stronger in regulating her emotions and has a more resilient attitude to life. Now
that she is still practicing social work, the lessons in therapy follow her because she knows
that therapy is not a single-strike cure but rather a way to move on with life and get to know
a better version of herself.
Emily Parker is a 27-year-old woman and a graduate student of Social Work who has been
experiencing heightened anxiety and a depressed mood accompanied by some panic attacks
after her mother passed away due to pancreatic cancer. Even though she had mildly
suffered anxiety during her teenage life, the awe-desolating effect of the loss of her mother
has greatly spurred up her suffering. Being in a common apartment with two roommates
and coping with all the stresses caused by her study load, Emily ends up being swept by her
emotions, resulting in concentration and academic problems. She wants to have a better
understanding of her anxiety, grief, and emotional well-being and through psychological
support learn how to deal with such emotions. This evaluation is going to examine the
extent of her emotional disorder and what kind of therapeutic procedures can be applied to
give her the means to put her life and mental state back under her control.
Gearing Up!
Emily Parker was sent to a psychological examination because of growing mood inferiority,
anxiety, concentrating disorder, and panic attacks revealed in recent times. These
symptoms increased when her mother who died of pancreatic cancer acted as an important
emotional catalyst. Anxiety is not a new problem that Emily has discovered, as she has felt
this way since her teenage years; however, the recent grief has become an additional
problem to her emotional stability. She rents an apartment together with 2 roommates, yet
her school needs and bereavement have caused alienation in her, despite the social
environment. Being a graduate student who lives in a combination setup, Emily has to deal
with various stressors, and the loss of her mom has largely increased her emotional burden.
The stress that she experiences in her studies mixed with the personal loss seems to have
exacerbated her anxiety, which manifested in panic attacks and concentration issues.
Previous psychological assistance: Emily has not made any attempts at seeking psychological
help before, but now, she understands how much her mental health has cost, and she is
willing to consider psychotherapy as the way to find her emotional equilibrium again.
During therapy preparation, Emily would ask herself how psychotherapy would assist her.
She found out that psychotherapy although having varied forms has several factors in
common that make it effective. The therapeutic relationship, client involvement, and
emotional support play a crucial role in providing change. These supporting factors create a
feeling of assurance and hope that the therapy may give her the means of coping with her
sorrow and anxiety (Holohan & Fiske, 2021). The main objective in the case of Emily should
be how to enable her to cope with both her grief and anxiety and apply therapy to give tools
to her that would enable her once again to have control over her emotional reactions and
focus on her academic achievements.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Participation Journal: CBT Session with Dr. Harris
Dr. Harris seemed to break through in the session we had today. We narrowed down on
establishing my negative thinking patterns which contribute to my anxiety. As a case in
point, I tend to say, that I am not good enough or I cannot cope with it, especially in case of
academic bombardment. Dr. According to Harris, the mechanism behind CBT is tasking such
cognitive distortions and substituting them with healthier and more rational thoughts. The
concept is that when the thoughts change, then the emotion and actions will be different
and I can be different by the way I can change my thoughts.
We also did some work in which I needed to write down the thoughts that happen when I
am feeling anxious and then check whether it is accurate. Dr. To monitor the thoughts
during the week, Harris provided me with a worksheet. She has highlighted the value of
becoming aware of automatic thoughts and disrupting the pattern of negative thoughts. I
am optimistic and doubtful at the same time that this thinking process will help: and how
significant will these changes be?
Another study shared by Dr. Harris is the one by Eells (2022), who states that CBT is a useful
approach when treating anxiety disorders because it makes the person self-aware of how
they think and trains them to recreate the patterns they have. This gave me hope that this
would be beneficial to me because the study was quite successful in suppressing symptoms
of people fighting with anxiety. I would be glad to test the worksheets, but I am not sure
that they will be such effective tools as Dr. Harris claims.
Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT)
How it happened: Journal Entry: ACT Session with Dr. Lee
This was not like the session with Dr. Lee today. She has acquainted me with Acceptance
and Commitment Therapy (ACT) which is aimed at accepting an unpleasant thought or
emotion rather than attempting to deal with them in any way. Dr. Lee informed me that the
more I strive to battle or avoid my anxiety, the more I make it worse. ACT, instead, teaches
me to be mindful and not judge my feelings, so I will forget the struggle.
At first, I was a bit confused because I had been taught never to fight the negative. But as
Dr. Lee assured me, acceptance is not resignation, but it is to accept that the feelings are
there but they are not to rule me and my actions. She prescribed me what she calls the
mindfulness practice where I am supposed to take note of the anxious thoughts and move
on without necessarily attaching myself to them
Dr. Lee talked about a study by Hayes et al. (2006), which discovered that ACT effectively
helps to decrease anxiety levels by enhancing the element of psychological flexibility. This
would be a matter of knowing how to go through discomfort without being unable to
continue achieving my targets. I was relieved by the thought that I do not have to get rid of
my anxiety and all I have to do is to alter my relationship with it. This process is uncommon,
and I am interested in the way it can work in my case. Nevertheless, I still do not know how
well I can apply it.
Short-Term Pzychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP)
STPP Journal Page: Dr. Collins
In my case, Dr. Collins today introduced me to Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy
(STPP) which deals with acquiring insights into my past experiences that led to me
presenting an emotional dilemma. Dr. Collins feels that my grief and pending matters with
my relationship with my mother are some of the reasons leading to my present anxiety. We
had to spend some time on my early relationship with my mother and how it could have
impacted my reactions nowadays.
Dr. Collins enlightened me about transference, which could be the possibility of my previous
relationships being projected onto my current emotions. She proposed that learning about
these unconscious processes would allow me to be able to cope with anxiety and grief more
efficiently. Dr. Collins also provided a study by Vigan (2025) that shows that STPP can be a
very effective intervention to overcome such emotional struggles as grief or anxiety. The
research demonstrated that much can be achieved in the area of emotional well-being
through the unmasking of unconscious conflicts.
I would say I learned a lot during the session, as it was somehow intense. The thought that
my current responses are being affected by my past emotional experiences seems relieving
and overwhelming. I do not know whether, by going back to these dynamics of the past, I
will feel better, yet I am willing to dig deeper. The prospect of teasing out the inner layers of
my bereavement seems to have potential, yet I am also afraid to face these feelings in full
force.
A Year After
A year later, Emily has already made considerable progress in their emotional development.
Despite high anxiety not being eliminated, it feels more manageable. The devices she was
taught during Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) have permeated the latter because
attacking the negative ideas is part of the techniques she has adopted and has allowed her
to deal with academic stress more adequately. Although she has reduced her panic attacks,
she still has a few instances of anxiety but she is no longer being overwhelmed by them.
In Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) practices mentioned, she has become more
accepting of her emotions and that has lowered her emotional struggle. She has become
less victimized by her anxiety and therefore she does not attempt to repress it anymore so
she lets it run its course.
Through Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP) Emily has come to appreciate
how her childhood grief and attachment problems affected her and have contributed to her
current sufferings. Through these unresolved problems, Emily has succeeded in reconciling
the death of her mother and she has managed to proceed more healthily.
Emily is now a stronger girl. She is still using the methods of her therapy, and though she
still has some cases of anxiety, it does not restrain her anymore. She has acquired her
Master's degree and is serving as a social worker to others with her own experiences in
mind. Emily is open to going back to therapy in case she requires it in the future, but at
present, she believes that she has what it takes to handle her emotions using the new
strategies she acquired.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Emily moved through the therapy and achieved considerable changes in the
spheres of anxiety, grief, and emotional distress. The therapeutic combination of Cognitive
Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Short-Term
Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP) has provided her with a variety of coping abilities so
that she can accommodate the cognitive and emotional parts of her woes. Emily has been
able to change her negative thought pattern through CBT, which has made her less anxious.
Act has also enabled her to embrace her feelings without any bias, something which has
reduced the power they have over her. Moreover, STPP made Emily able to interpret the
unexplainable grief associated with the death of her mother which gave her the emotional
elucidation needed to continue moving on. Although she still feels slightly anxious, Emily has
become stronger in regulating her emotions and has a more resilient attitude to life. Now
that she is still practicing social work, the lessons in therapy follow her because she knows
that therapy is not a single-strike cure but rather a way to move on with life and get to know
a better version of herself.
Emily Parker is a 27-year-old woman and a graduate student of Social Work who has been
experiencing heightened anxiety and a depressed mood accompanied by some panic attacks
after her mother passed away due to pancreatic cancer. Even though she had mildly
suffered anxiety during her teenage life, the awe-desolating effect of the loss of her mother
has greatly spurred up her suffering. Being in a common apartment with two roommates
and coping with all the stresses caused by her study load, Emily ends up being swept by her
emotions, resulting in concentration and academic problems. She wants to have a better
understanding of her anxiety, grief, and emotional well-being and through psychological
support learn how to deal with such emotions. This evaluation is going to examine the
extent of her emotional disorder and what kind of therapeutic procedures can be applied to
give her the means to put her life and mental state back under her control.
Gearing Up!
Emily Parker was sent to a psychological examination because of growing mood inferiority,
anxiety, concentrating disorder, and panic attacks revealed in recent times. These
symptoms increased when her mother who died of pancreatic cancer acted as an important
emotional catalyst. Anxiety is not a new problem that Emily has discovered, as she has felt
this way since her teenage years; however, the recent grief has become an additional
problem to her emotional stability. She rents an apartment together with 2 roommates, yet
her school needs and bereavement have caused alienation in her, despite the social
environment. Being a graduate student who lives in a combination setup, Emily has to deal
with various stressors, and the loss of her mom has largely increased her emotional burden.
The stress that she experiences in her studies mixed with the personal loss seems to have
exacerbated her anxiety, which manifested in panic attacks and concentration issues.
Previous psychological assistance: Emily has not made any attempts at seeking psychological
help before, but now, she understands how much her mental health has cost, and she is
willing to consider psychotherapy as the way to find her emotional equilibrium again.
During therapy preparation, Emily would ask herself how psychotherapy would assist her.
She found out that psychotherapy although having varied forms has several factors in
common that make it effective. The therapeutic relationship, client involvement, and
emotional support play a crucial role in providing change. These supporting factors create a
feeling of assurance and hope that the therapy may give her the means of coping with her
sorrow and anxiety (Holohan & Fiske, 2021). The main objective in the case of Emily should
be how to enable her to cope with both her grief and anxiety and apply therapy to give tools
to her that would enable her once again to have control over her emotional reactions and
focus on her academic achievements.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Participation Journal: CBT Session with Dr. Harris
Dr. Harris seemed to break through in the session we had today. We narrowed down on
establishing my negative thinking patterns which contribute to my anxiety. As a case in
point, I tend to say, that I am not good enough or I cannot cope with it, especially in case of
academic bombardment. Dr. According to Harris, the mechanism behind CBT is tasking such
cognitive distortions and substituting them with healthier and more rational thoughts. The
concept is that when the thoughts change, then the emotion and actions will be different
and I can be different by the way I can change my thoughts.
We also did some work in which I needed to write down the thoughts that happen when I
am feeling anxious and then check whether it is accurate. Dr. To monitor the thoughts
during the week, Harris provided me with a worksheet. She has highlighted the value of
becoming aware of automatic thoughts and disrupting the pattern of negative thoughts. I
am optimistic and doubtful at the same time that this thinking process will help: and how
significant will these changes be?
Another study shared by Dr. Harris is the one by Eells (2022), who states that CBT is a useful
approach when treating anxiety disorders because it makes the person self-aware of how
they think and trains them to recreate the patterns they have. This gave me hope that this
would be beneficial to me because the study was quite successful in suppressing symptoms
of people fighting with anxiety. I would be glad to test the worksheets, but I am not sure
that they will be such effective tools as Dr. Harris claims.
Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT)
How it happened: Journal Entry: ACT Session with Dr. Lee
This was not like the session with Dr. Lee today. She has acquainted me with Acceptance
and Commitment Therapy (ACT) which is aimed at accepting an unpleasant thought or
emotion rather than attempting to deal with them in any way. Dr. Lee informed me that the
more I strive to battle or avoid my anxiety, the more I make it worse. ACT, instead, teaches
me to be mindful and not judge my feelings, so I will forget the struggle.
At first, I was a bit confused because I had been taught never to fight the negative. But as
Dr. Lee assured me, acceptance is not resignation, but it is to accept that the feelings are
there but they are not to rule me and my actions. She prescribed me what she calls the
mindfulness practice where I am supposed to take note of the anxious thoughts and move
on without necessarily attaching myself to them
Dr. Lee talked about a study by Hayes et al. (2006), which discovered that ACT effectively
helps to decrease anxiety levels by enhancing the element of psychological flexibility. This
would be a matter of knowing how to go through discomfort without being unable to
continue achieving my targets. I was relieved by the thought that I do not have to get rid of
my anxiety and all I have to do is to alter my relationship with it. This process is uncommon,
and I am interested in the way it can work in my case. Nevertheless, I still do not know how
well I can apply it.
Short-Term Pzychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP)
STPP Journal Page: Dr. Collins
In my case, Dr. Collins today introduced me to Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy
(STPP) which deals with acquiring insights into my past experiences that led to me
presenting an emotional dilemma. Dr. Collins feels that my grief and pending matters with
my relationship with my mother are some of the reasons leading to my present anxiety. We
had to spend some time on my early relationship with my mother and how it could have
impacted my reactions nowadays.
Dr. Collins enlightened me about transference, which could be the possibility of my previous
relationships being projected onto my current emotions. She proposed that learning about
these unconscious processes would allow me to be able to cope with anxiety and grief more
efficiently. Dr. Collins also provided a study by Vigan (2025) that shows that STPP can be a
very effective intervention to overcome such emotional struggles as grief or anxiety. The
research demonstrated that much can be achieved in the area of emotional well-being
through the unmasking of unconscious conflicts.
I would say I learned a lot during the session, as it was somehow intense. The thought that
my current responses are being affected by my past emotional experiences seems relieving
and overwhelming. I do not know whether, by going back to these dynamics of the past, I
will feel better, yet I am willing to dig deeper. The prospect of teasing out the inner layers of
my bereavement seems to have potential, yet I am also afraid to face these feelings in full
force.
A Year After
A year later, Emily has already made considerable progress in their emotional development.
Despite high anxiety not being eliminated, it feels more manageable. The devices she was
taught during Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) have permeated the latter because
attacking the negative ideas is part of the techniques she has adopted and has allowed her
to deal with academic stress more adequately. Although she has reduced her panic attacks,
she still has a few instances of anxiety but she is no longer being overwhelmed by them.
In Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) practices mentioned, she has become more
accepting of her emotions and that has lowered her emotional struggle. She has become
less victimized by her anxiety and therefore she does not attempt to repress it anymore so
she lets it run its course.
Through Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP) Emily has come to appreciate
how her childhood grief and attachment problems affected her and have contributed to her
current sufferings. Through these unresolved problems, Emily has succeeded in reconciling
the death of her mother and she has managed to proceed more healthily.
Emily is now a stronger girl. She is still using the methods of her therapy, and though she
still has some cases of anxiety, it does not restrain her anymore. She has acquired her
Master's degree and is serving as a social worker to others with her own experiences in
mind. Emily is open to going back to therapy in case she requires it in the future, but at
present, she believes that she has what it takes to handle her emotions using the new
strategies she acquired.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Emily moved through the therapy and achieved considerable changes in the
spheres of anxiety, grief, and emotional distress. The therapeutic combination of Cognitive
Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Short-Term
Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP) has provided her with a variety of coping abilities so
that she can accommodate the cognitive and emotional parts of her woes. Emily has been
able to change her negative thought pattern through CBT, which has made her less anxious.
Act has also enabled her to embrace her feelings without any bias, something which has
reduced the power they have over her. Moreover, STPP made Emily able to interpret the
unexplainable grief associated with the death of her mother which gave her the emotional
elucidation needed to continue moving on. Although she still feels slightly anxious, Emily has
become stronger in regulating her emotions and has a more resilient attitude to life. Now
that she is still practicing social work, the lessons in therapy follow her because she knows
that therapy is not a single-strike cure but rather a way to move on with life and get to know
a better version of herself.
Emily Parker is a 27-year-old woman and a graduate student of Social Work who has been
experiencing heightened anxiety and a depressed mood accompanied by some panic attacks
after her mother passed away due to pancreatic cancer. Even though she had mildly
suffered anxiety during her teenage life, the awe-desolating effect of the loss of her mother
has greatly spurred up her suffering. Being in a common apartment with two roommates
and coping with all the stresses caused by her study load, Emily ends up being swept by her
emotions, resulting in concentration and academic problems. She wants to have a better
understanding of her anxiety, grief, and emotional well-being and through psychological
support learn how to deal with such emotions. This evaluation is going to examine the
extent of her emotional disorder and what kind of therapeutic procedures can be applied to
give her the means to put her life and mental state back under her control.
Gearing Up!
Emily Parker was sent to a psychological examination because of growing mood inferiority,
anxiety, concentrating disorder, and panic attacks revealed in recent times. These
symptoms increased when her mother who died of pancreatic cancer acted as an important
emotional catalyst. Anxiety is not a new problem that Emily has discovered, as she has felt
this way since her teenage years; however, the recent grief has become an additional
problem to her emotional stability. She rents an apartment together with 2 roommates, yet
her school needs and bereavement have caused alienation in her, despite the social
environment. Being a graduate student who lives in a combination setup, Emily has to deal
with various stressors, and the loss of her mom has largely increased her emotional burden.
The stress that she experiences in her studies mixed with the personal loss seems to have
exacerbated her anxiety, which manifested in panic attacks and concentration issues.
Previous psychological assistance: Emily has not made any attempts at seeking psychological
help before, but now, she understands how much her mental health has cost, and she is
willing to consider psychotherapy as the way to find her emotional equilibrium again.
During therapy preparation, Emily would ask herself how psychotherapy would assist her.
She found out that psychotherapy although having varied forms has several factors in
common that make it effective. The therapeutic relationship, client involvement, and
emotional support play a crucial role in providing change. These supporting factors create a
feeling of assurance and hope that the therapy may give her the means of coping with her
sorrow and anxiety (Holohan & Fiske, 2021). The main objective in the case of Emily should
be how to enable her to cope with both her grief and anxiety and apply therapy to give tools
to her that would enable her once again to have control over her emotional reactions and
focus on her academic achievements.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Participation Journal: CBT Session with Dr. Harris
Dr. Harris seemed to break through in the session we had today. We narrowed down on
establishing my negative thinking patterns which contribute to my anxiety. As a case in
point, I tend to say, that I am not good enough or I cannot cope with it, especially in case of
academic bombardment. Dr. According to Harris, the mechanism behind CBT is tasking such
cognitive distortions and substituting them with healthier and more rational thoughts. The
concept is that when the thoughts change, then the emotion and actions will be different
and I can be different by the way I can change my thoughts.
We also did some work in which I needed to write down the thoughts that happen when I
am feeling anxious and then check whether it is accurate. Dr. To monitor the thoughts
during the week, Harris provided me with a worksheet. She has highlighted the value of
becoming aware of automatic thoughts and disrupting the pattern of negative thoughts. I
am optimistic and doubtful at the same time that this thinking process will help: and how
significant will these changes be?
Another study shared by Dr. Harris is the one by Eells (2022), who states that CBT is a useful
approach when treating anxiety disorders because it makes the person self-aware of how
they think and trains them to recreate the patterns they have. This gave me hope that this
would be beneficial to me because the study was quite successful in suppressing symptoms
of people fighting with anxiety. I would be glad to test the worksheets, but I am not sure
that they will be such effective tools as Dr. Harris claims.
Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT)
How it happened: Journal Entry: ACT Session with Dr. Lee
This was not like the session with Dr. Lee today. She has acquainted me with Acceptance
and Commitment Therapy (ACT) which is aimed at accepting an unpleasant thought or
emotion rather than attempting to deal with them in any way. Dr. Lee informed me that the
more I strive to battle or avoid my anxiety, the more I make it worse. ACT, instead, teaches
me to be mindful and not judge my feelings, so I will forget the struggle.
At first, I was a bit confused because I had been taught never to fight the negative. But as
Dr. Lee assured me, acceptance is not resignation, but it is to accept that the feelings are
there but they are not to rule me and my actions. She prescribed me what she calls the
mindfulness practice where I am supposed to take note of the anxious thoughts and move
on without necessarily attaching myself to them
Dr. Lee talked about a study by Hayes et al. (2006), which discovered that ACT effectively
helps to decrease anxiety levels by enhancing the element of psychological flexibility. This
would be a matter of knowing how to go through discomfort without being unable to
continue achieving my targets. I was relieved by the thought that I do not have to get rid of
my anxiety and all I have to do is to alter my relationship with it. This process is uncommon,
and I am interested in the way it can work in my case. Nevertheless, I still do not know how
well I can apply it.
Short-Term Pzychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP)
STPP Journal Page: Dr. Collins
In my case, Dr. Collins today introduced me to Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy
(STPP) which deals with acquiring insights into my past experiences that led to me
presenting an emotional dilemma. Dr. Collins feels that my grief and pending matters with
my relationship with my mother are some of the reasons leading to my present anxiety. We
had to spend some time on my early relationship with my mother and how it could have
impacted my reactions nowadays.
Dr. Collins enlightened me about transference, which could be the possibility of my previous
relationships being projected onto my current emotions. She proposed that learning about
these unconscious processes would allow me to be able to cope with anxiety and grief more
efficiently. Dr. Collins also provided a study by Vigan (2025) that shows that STPP can be a
very effective intervention to overcome such emotional struggles as grief or anxiety. The
research demonstrated that much can be achieved in the area of emotional well-being
through the unmasking of unconscious conflicts.
I would say I learned a lot during the session, as it was somehow intense. The thought that
my current responses are being affected by my past emotional experiences seems relieving
and overwhelming. I do not know whether, by going back to these dynamics of the past, I
will feel better, yet I am willing to dig deeper. The prospect of teasing out the inner layers of
my bereavement seems to have potential, yet I am also afraid to face these feelings in full
force.
A Year After
A year later, Emily has already made considerable progress in their emotional development.
Despite high anxiety not being eliminated, it feels more manageable. The devices she was
taught during Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) have permeated the latter because
attacking the negative ideas is part of the techniques she has adopted and has allowed her
to deal with academic stress more adequately. Although she has reduced her panic attacks,
she still has a few instances of anxiety but she is no longer being overwhelmed by them.
In Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) practices mentioned, she has become more
accepting of her emotions and that has lowered her emotional struggle. She has become
less victimized by her anxiety and therefore she does not attempt to repress it anymore so
she lets it run its course.
Through Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP) Emily has come to appreciate
how her childhood grief and attachment problems affected her and have contributed to her
current sufferings. Through these unresolved problems, Emily has succeeded in reconciling
the death of her mother and she has managed to proceed more healthily.
Emily is now a stronger girl. She is still using the methods of her therapy, and though she
still has some cases of anxiety, it does not restrain her anymore. She has acquired her
Master's degree and is serving as a social worker to others with her own experiences in
mind. Emily is open to going back to therapy in case she requires it in the future, but at
present, she believes that she has what it takes to handle her emotions using the new
strategies she acquired.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Emily moved through the therapy and achieved considerable changes in the
spheres of anxiety, grief, and emotional distress. The therapeutic combination of Cognitive
Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Short-Term
Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP) has provided her with a variety of coping abilities so
that she can accommodate the cognitive and emotional parts of her woes. Emily has been
able to change her negative thought pattern through CBT, which has made her less anxious.
Act has also enabled her to embrace her feelings without any bias, something which has
reduced the power they have over her. Moreover, STPP made Emily able to interpret the
unexplainable grief associated with the death of her mother which gave her the emotional
elucidation needed to continue moving on. Although she still feels slightly anxious, Emily has
become stronger in regulating her emotions and has a more resilient attitude to life. Now
that she is still practicing social work, the lessons in therapy follow her because she knows
that therapy is not a single-strike cure but rather a way to move on with life and get to know
a better version of herself.
Emily Parker is a 27-year-old woman and a graduate student of Social Work who has been
experiencing heightened anxiety and a depressed mood accompanied by some panic attacks
after her mother passed away due to pancreatic cancer. Even though she had mildly
suffered anxiety during her teenage life, the awe-desolating effect of the loss of her mother
has greatly spurred up her suffering. Being in a common apartment with two roommates
and coping with all the stresses caused by her study load, Emily ends up being swept by her
emotions, resulting in concentration and academic problems. She wants to have a better
understanding of her anxiety, grief, and emotional well-being and through psychological
support learn how to deal with such emotions. This evaluation is going to examine the
extent of her emotional disorder and what kind of therapeutic procedures can be applied to
give her the means to put her life and mental state back under her control.
Gearing Up!
Emily Parker was sent to a psychological examination because of growing mood inferiority,
anxiety, concentrating disorder, and panic attacks revealed in recent times. These
symptoms increased when her mother who died of pancreatic cancer acted as an important
emotional catalyst. Anxiety is not a new problem that Emily has discovered, as she has felt
this way since her teenage years; however, the recent grief has become an additional
problem to her emotional stability. She rents an apartment together with 2 roommates, yet
her school needs and bereavement have caused alienation in her, despite the social
environment. Being a graduate student who lives in a combination setup, Emily has to deal
with various stressors, and the loss of her mom has largely increased her emotional burden.
The stress that she experiences in her studies mixed with the personal loss seems to have
exacerbated her anxiety, which manifested in panic attacks and concentration issues.
Previous psychological assistance: Emily has not made any attempts at seeking psychological
help before, but now, she understands how much her mental health has cost, and she is
willing to consider psychotherapy as the way to find her emotional equilibrium again.
During therapy preparation, Emily would ask herself how psychotherapy would assist her.
She found out that psychotherapy although having varied forms has several factors in
common that make it effective. The therapeutic relationship, client involvement, and
emotional support play a crucial role in providing change. These supporting factors create a
feeling of assurance and hope that the therapy may give her the means of coping with her
sorrow and anxiety (Holohan & Fiske, 2021). The main objective in the case of Emily should
be how to enable her to cope with both her grief and anxiety and apply therapy to give tools
to her that would enable her once again to have control over her emotional reactions and
focus on her academic achievements.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Participation Journal: CBT Session with Dr. Harris
Dr. Harris seemed to break through in the session we had today. We narrowed down on
establishing my negative thinking patterns which contribute to my anxiety. As a case in
point, I tend to say, that I am not good enough or I cannot cope with it, especially in case of
academic bombardment. Dr. According to Harris, the mechanism behind CBT is tasking such
cognitive distortions and substituting them with healthier and more rational thoughts. The
concept is that when the thoughts change, then the emotion and actions will be different
and I can be different by the way I can change my thoughts.
We also did some work in which I needed to write down the thoughts that happen when I
am feeling anxious and then check whether it is accurate. Dr. To monitor the thoughts
during the week, Harris provided me with a worksheet. She has highlighted the value of
becoming aware of automatic thoughts and disrupting the pattern of negative thoughts. I
am optimistic and doubtful at the same time that this thinking process will help: and how
significant will these changes be?
Another study shared by Dr. Harris is the one by Eells (2022), who states that CBT is a useful
approach when treating anxiety disorders because it makes the person self-aware of how
they think and trains them to recreate the patterns they have. This gave me hope that this
would be beneficial to me because the study was quite successful in suppressing symptoms
of people fighting with anxiety. I would be glad to test the worksheets, but I am not sure
that they will be such effective tools as Dr. Harris claims.
Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT)
How it happened: Journal Entry: ACT Session with Dr. Lee
This was not like the session with Dr. Lee today. She has acquainted me with Acceptance
and Commitment Therapy (ACT) which is aimed at accepting an unpleasant thought or
emotion rather than attempting to deal with them in any way. Dr. Lee informed me that the
more I strive to battle or avoid my anxiety, the more I make it worse. ACT, instead, teaches
me to be mindful and not judge my feelings, so I will forget the struggle.
At first, I was a bit confused because I had been taught never to fight the negative. But as
Dr. Lee assured me, acceptance is not resignation, but it is to accept that the feelings are
there but they are not to rule me and my actions. She prescribed me what she calls the
mindfulness practice where I am supposed to take note of the anxious thoughts and move
on without necessarily attaching myself to them
Dr. Lee talked about a study by Hayes et al. (2006), which discovered that ACT effectively
helps to decrease anxiety levels by enhancing the element of psychological flexibility. This
would be a matter of knowing how to go through discomfort without being unable to
continue achieving my targets. I was relieved by the thought that I do not have to get rid of
my anxiety and all I have to do is to alter my relationship with it. This process is uncommon,
and I am interested in the way it can work in my case. Nevertheless, I still do not know how
well I can apply it.
Short-Term Pzychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP)
STPP Journal Page: Dr. Collins
In my case, Dr. Collins today introduced me to Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy
(STPP) which deals with acquiring insights into my past experiences that led to me
presenting an emotional dilemma. Dr. Collins feels that my grief and pending matters with
my relationship with my mother are some of the reasons leading to my present anxiety. We
had to spend some time on my early relationship with my mother and how it could have
impacted my reactions nowadays.
Dr. Collins enlightened me about transference, which could be the possibility of my previous
relationships being projected onto my current emotions. She proposed that learning about
these unconscious processes would allow me to be able to cope with anxiety and grief more
efficiently. Dr. Collins also provided a study by Vigan (2025) that shows that STPP can be a
very effective intervention to overcome such emotional struggles as grief or anxiety. The
research demonstrated that much can be achieved in the area of emotional well-being
through the unmasking of unconscious conflicts.
I would say I learned a lot during the session, as it was somehow intense. The thought that
my current responses are being affected by my past emotional experiences seems relieving
and overwhelming. I do not know whether, by going back to these dynamics of the past, I
will feel better, yet I am willing to dig deeper. The prospect of teasing out the inner layers of
my bereavement seems to have potential, yet I am also afraid to face these feelings in full
force.
A Year After
A year later, Emily has already made considerable progress in their emotional development.
Despite high anxiety not being eliminated, it feels more manageable. The devices she was
taught during Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) have permeated the latter because
attacking the negative ideas is part of the techniques she has adopted and has allowed her
to deal with academic stress more adequately. Although she has reduced her panic attacks,
she still has a few instances of anxiety but she is no longer being overwhelmed by them.
In Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) practices mentioned, she has become more
accepting of her emotions and that has lowered her emotional struggle. She has become
less victimized by her anxiety and therefore she does not attempt to repress it anymore so
she lets it run its course.
Through Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP) Emily has come to appreciate
how her childhood grief and attachment problems affected her and have contributed to her
current sufferings. Through these unresolved problems, Emily has succeeded in reconciling
the death of her mother and she has managed to proceed more healthily.
Emily is now a stronger girl. She is still using the methods of her therapy, and though she
still has some cases of anxiety, it does not restrain her anymore. She has acquired her
Master's degree and is serving as a social worker to others with her own experiences in
mind. Emily is open to going back to therapy in case she requires it in the future, but at
present, she believes that she has what it takes to handle her emotions using the new
strategies she acquired.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Emily moved through the therapy and achieved considerable changes in the
spheres of anxiety, grief, and emotional distress. The therapeutic combination of Cognitive
Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Short-Term
Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP) has provided her with a variety of coping abilities so
that she can accommodate the cognitive and emotional parts of her woes. Emily has been
able to change her negative thought pattern through CBT, which has made her less anxious.
Act has also enabled her to embrace her feelings without any bias, something which has
reduced the power they have over her. Moreover, STPP made Emily able to interpret the
unexplainable grief associated with the death of her mother which gave her the emotional
elucidation needed to continue moving on. Although she still feels slightly anxious, Emily has
become stronger in regulating her emotions and has a more resilient attitude to life. Now
that she is still practicing social work, the lessons in therapy follow her because she knows
that therapy is not a single-strike cure but rather a way to move on with life and get to know
a better version of herself.
Emily Parker is a 27-year-old woman and a graduate student of Social Work who has been
experiencing heightened anxiety and a depressed mood accompanied by some panic attacks
after her mother passed away due to pancreatic cancer. Even though she had mildly
suffered anxiety during her teenage life, the awe-desolating effect of the loss of her mother
has greatly spurred up her suffering. Being in a common apartment with two roommates
and coping with all the stresses caused by her study load, Emily ends up being swept by her
emotions, resulting in concentration and academic problems. She wants to have a better
understanding of her anxiety, grief, and emotional well-being and through psychological
support learn how to deal with such emotions. This evaluation is going to examine the
extent of her emotional disorder and what kind of therapeutic procedures can be applied to
give her the means to put her life and mental state back under her control.
Gearing Up!
Emily Parker was sent to a psychological examination because of growing mood inferiority,
anxiety, concentrating disorder, and panic attacks revealed in recent times. These
symptoms increased when her mother who died of pancreatic cancer acted as an important
emotional catalyst. Anxiety is not a new problem that Emily has discovered, as she has felt
this way since her teenage years; however, the recent grief has become an additional
problem to her emotional stability. She rents an apartment together with 2 roommates, yet
her school needs and bereavement have caused alienation in her, despite the social
environment. Being a graduate student who lives in a combination setup, Emily has to deal
with various stressors, and the loss of her mom has largely increased her emotional burden.
The stress that she experiences in her studies mixed with the personal loss seems to have
exacerbated her anxiety, which manifested in panic attacks and concentration issues.
Previous psychological assistance: Emily has not made any attempts at seeking psychological
help before, but now, she understands how much her mental health has cost, and she is
willing to consider psychotherapy as the way to find her emotional equilibrium again.
During therapy preparation, Emily would ask herself how psychotherapy would assist her.
She found out that psychotherapy although having varied forms has several factors in
common that make it effective. The therapeutic relationship, client involvement, and
emotional support play a crucial role in providing change. These supporting factors create a
feeling of assurance and hope that the therapy may give her the means of coping with her
sorrow and anxiety (Holohan & Fiske, 2021). The main objective in the case of Emily should
be how to enable her to cope with both her grief and anxiety and apply therapy to give tools
to her that would enable her once again to have control over her emotional reactions and
focus on her academic achievements.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Participation Journal: CBT Session with Dr. Harris
Dr. Harris seemed to break through in the session we had today. We narrowed down on
establishing my negative thinking patterns which contribute to my anxiety. As a case in
point, I tend to say, that I am not good enough or I cannot cope with it, especially in case of
academic bombardment. Dr. According to Harris, the mechanism behind CBT is tasking such
cognitive distortions and substituting them with healthier and more rational thoughts. The
concept is that when the thoughts change, then the emotion and actions will be different
and I can be different by the way I can change my thoughts.
We also did some work in which I needed to write down the thoughts that happen when I
am feeling anxious and then check whether it is accurate. Dr. To monitor the thoughts
during the week, Harris provided me with a worksheet. She has highlighted the value of
becoming aware of automatic thoughts and disrupting the pattern of negative thoughts. I
am optimistic and doubtful at the same time that this thinking process will help: and how
significant will these changes be?
Another study shared by Dr. Harris is the one by Eells (2022), who states that CBT is a useful
approach when treating anxiety disorders because it makes the person self-aware of how
they think and trains them to recreate the patterns they have. This gave me hope that this
would be beneficial to me because the study was quite successful in suppressing symptoms
of people fighting with anxiety. I would be glad to test the worksheets, but I am not sure
that they will be such effective tools as Dr. Harris claims.
Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT)
How it happened: Journal Entry: ACT Session with Dr. Lee
This was not like the session with Dr. Lee today. She has acquainted me with Acceptance
and Commitment Therapy (ACT) which is aimed at accepting an unpleasant thought or
emotion rather than attempting to deal with them in any way. Dr. Lee informed me that the
more I strive to battle or avoid my anxiety, the more I make it worse. ACT, instead, teaches
me to be mindful and not judge my feelings, so I will forget the struggle.
At first, I was a bit confused because I had been taught never to fight the negative. But as
Dr. Lee assured me, acceptance is not resignation, but it is to accept that the feelings are
there but they are not to rule me and my actions. She prescribed me what she calls the
mindfulness practice where I am supposed to take note of the anxious thoughts and move
on without necessarily attaching myself to them
Dr. Lee talked about a study by Hayes et al. (2006), which discovered that ACT effectively
helps to decrease anxiety levels by enhancing the element of psychological flexibility. This
would be a matter of knowing how to go through discomfort without being unable to
continue achieving my targets. I was relieved by the thought that I do not have to get rid of
my anxiety and all I have to do is to alter my relationship with it. This process is uncommon,
and I am interested in the way it can work in my case. Nevertheless, I still do not know how
well I can apply it.
Short-Term Pzychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP)
STPP Journal Page: Dr. Collins
In my case, Dr. Collins today introduced me to Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy
(STPP) which deals with acquiring insights into my past experiences that led to me
presenting an emotional dilemma. Dr. Collins feels that my grief and pending matters with
my relationship with my mother are some of the reasons leading to my present anxiety. We
had to spend some time on my early relationship with my mother and how it could have
impacted my reactions nowadays.
Dr. Collins enlightened me about transference, which could be the possibility of my previous
relationships being projected onto my current emotions. She proposed that learning about
these unconscious processes would allow me to be able to cope with anxiety and grief more
efficiently. Dr. Collins also provided a study by Vigan (2025) that shows that STPP can be a
very effective intervention to overcome such emotional struggles as grief or anxiety. The
research demonstrated that much can be achieved in the area of emotional well-being
through the unmasking of unconscious conflicts.
I would say I learned a lot during the session, as it was somehow intense. The thought that
my current responses are being affected by my past emotional experiences seems relieving
and overwhelming. I do not know whether, by going back to these dynamics of the past, I
will feel better, yet I am willing to dig deeper. The prospect of teasing out the inner layers of
my bereavement seems to have potential, yet I am also afraid to face these feelings in full
force.
A Year After
A year later, Emily has already made considerable progress in their emotional development.
Despite high anxiety not being eliminated, it feels more manageable. The devices she was
taught during Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) have permeated the latter because
attacking the negative ideas is part of the techniques she has adopted and has allowed her
to deal with academic stress more adequately. Although she has reduced her panic attacks,
she still has a few instances of anxiety but she is no longer being overwhelmed by them.
In Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) practices mentioned, she has become more
accepting of her emotions and that has lowered her emotional struggle. She has become
less victimized by her anxiety and therefore she does not attempt to repress it anymore so
she lets it run its course.
Through Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP) Emily has come to appreciate
how her childhood grief and attachment problems affected her and have contributed to her
current sufferings. Through these unresolved problems, Emily has succeeded in reconciling
the death of her mother and she has managed to proceed more healthily.
Emily is now a stronger girl. She is still using the methods of her therapy, and though she
still has some cases of anxiety, it does not restrain her anymore. She has acquired her
Master's degree and is serving as a social worker to others with her own experiences in
mind. Emily is open to going back to therapy in case she requires it in the future, but at
present, she believes that she has what it takes to handle her emotions using the new
strategies she acquired.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Emily moved through the therapy and achieved considerable changes in the
spheres of anxiety, grief, and emotional distress. The therapeutic combination of Cognitive
Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Short-Term
Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP) has provided her with a variety of coping abilities so
that she can accommodate the cognitive and emotional parts of her woes. Emily has been
able to change her negative thought pattern through CBT, which has made her less anxious.
Act has also enabled her to embrace her feelings without any bias, something which has
reduced the power they have over her. Moreover, STPP made Emily able to interpret the
unexplainable grief associated with the death of her mother which gave her the emotional
elucidation needed to continue moving on. Although she still feels slightly anxious, Emily has
become stronger in regulating her emotions and has a more resilient attitude to life. Now
that she is still practicing social work, the lessons in therapy follow her because she knows
that therapy is not a single-strike cure but rather a way to move on with life and get to know
a better version of herself.
Emily Parker is a 27-year-old woman and a graduate student of Social Work who has been
experiencing heightened anxiety and a depressed mood accompanied by some panic attacks
after her mother passed away due to pancreatic cancer. Even though she had mildly
suffered anxiety during her teenage life, the awe-desolating effect of the loss of her mother
has greatly spurred up her suffering. Being in a common apartment with two roommates
and coping with all the stresses caused by her study load, Emily ends up being swept by her
emotions, resulting in concentration and academic problems. She wants to have a better
understanding of her anxiety, grief, and emotional well-being and through psychological
support learn how to deal with such emotions. This evaluation is going to examine the
extent of her emotional disorder and what kind of therapeutic procedures can be applied to
give her the means to put her life and mental state back under her control.
Gearing Up!
Emily Parker was sent to a psychological examination because of growing mood inferiority,
anxiety, concentrating disorder, and panic attacks revealed in recent times. These
symptoms increased when her mother who died of pancreatic cancer acted as an important
emotional catalyst. Anxiety is not a new problem that Emily has discovered, as she has felt
this way since her teenage years; however, the recent grief has become an additional
problem to her emotional stability. She rents an apartment together with 2 roommates, yet
her school needs and bereavement have caused alienation in her, despite the social
environment. Being a graduate student who lives in a combination setup, Emily has to deal
with various stressors, and the loss of her mom has largely increased her emotional burden.
The stress that she experiences in her studies mixed with the personal loss seems to have
exacerbated her anxiety, which manifested in panic attacks and concentration issues.
Previous psychological assistance: Emily has not made any attempts at seeking psychological
help before, but now, she understands how much her mental health has cost, and she is
willing to consider psychotherapy as the way to find her emotional equilibrium again.
During therapy preparation, Emily would ask herself how psychotherapy would assist her.
She found out that psychotherapy although having varied forms has several factors in
common that make it effective. The therapeutic relationship, client involvement, and
emotional support play a crucial role in providing change. These supporting factors create a
feeling of assurance and hope that the therapy may give her the means of coping with her
sorrow and anxiety (Holohan & Fiske, 2021). The main objective in the case of Emily should
be how to enable her to cope with both her grief and anxiety and apply therapy to give tools
to her that would enable her once again to have control over her emotional reactions and
focus on her academic achievements.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Participation Journal: CBT Session with Dr. Harris
Dr. Harris seemed to break through in the session we had today. We narrowed down on
establishing my negative thinking patterns which contribute to my anxiety. As a case in
point, I tend to say, that I am not good enough or I cannot cope with it, especially in case of
academic bombardment. Dr. According to Harris, the mechanism behind CBT is tasking such
cognitive distortions and substituting them with healthier and more rational thoughts. The
concept is that when the thoughts change, then the emotion and actions will be different
and I can be different by the way I can change my thoughts.
We also did some work in which I needed to write down the thoughts that happen when I
am feeling anxious and then check whether it is accurate. Dr. To monitor the thoughts
during the week, Harris provided me with a worksheet. She has highlighted the value of
becoming aware of automatic thoughts and disrupting the pattern of negative thoughts. I
am optimistic and doubtful at the same time that this thinking process will help: and how
significant will these changes be?
Another study shared by Dr. Harris is the one by Eells (2022), who states that CBT is a useful
approach when treating anxiety disorders because it makes the person self-aware of how
they think and trains them to recreate the patterns they have. This gave me hope that this
would be beneficial to me because the study was quite successful in suppressing symptoms
of people fighting with anxiety. I would be glad to test the worksheets, but I am not sure
that they will be such effective tools as Dr. Harris claims.
Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT)
How it happened: Journal Entry: ACT Session with Dr. Lee
This was not like the session with Dr. Lee today. She has acquainted me with Acceptance
and Commitment Therapy (ACT) which is aimed at accepting an unpleasant thought or
emotion rather than attempting to deal with them in any way. Dr. Lee informed me that the
more I strive to battle or avoid my anxiety, the more I make it worse. ACT, instead, teaches
me to be mindful and not judge my feelings, so I will forget the struggle.
At first, I was a bit confused because I had been taught never to fight the negative. But as
Dr. Lee assured me, acceptance is not resignation, but it is to accept that the feelings are
there but they are not to rule me and my actions. She prescribed me what she calls the
mindfulness practice where I am supposed to take note of the anxious thoughts and move
on without necessarily attaching myself to them
Dr. Lee talked about a study by Hayes et al. (2006), which discovered that ACT effectively
helps to decrease anxiety levels by enhancing the element of psychological flexibility. This
would be a matter of knowing how to go through discomfort without being unable to
continue achieving my targets. I was relieved by the thought that I do not have to get rid of
my anxiety and all I have to do is to alter my relationship with it. This process is uncommon,
and I am interested in the way it can work in my case. Nevertheless, I still do not know how
well I can apply it.
Short-Term Pzychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP)
STPP Journal Page: Dr. Collins
In my case, Dr. Collins today introduced me to Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy
(STPP) which deals with acquiring insights into my past experiences that led to me
presenting an emotional dilemma. Dr. Collins feels that my grief and pending matters with
my relationship with my mother are some of the reasons leading to my present anxiety. We
had to spend some time on my early relationship with my mother and how it could have
impacted my reactions nowadays.
Dr. Collins enlightened me about transference, which could be the possibility of my previous
relationships being projected onto my current emotions. She proposed that learning about
these unconscious processes would allow me to be able to cope with anxiety and grief more
efficiently. Dr. Collins also provided a study by Vigan (2025) that shows that STPP can be a
very effective intervention to overcome such emotional struggles as grief or anxiety. The
research demonstrated that much can be achieved in the area of emotional well-being
through the unmasking of unconscious conflicts.
I would say I learned a lot during the session, as it was somehow intense. The thought that
my current responses are being affected by my past emotional experiences seems relieving
and overwhelming. I do not know whether, by going back to these dynamics of the past, I
will feel better, yet I am willing to dig deeper. The prospect of teasing out the inner layers of
my bereavement seems to have potential, yet I am also afraid to face these feelings in full
force.
A Year After
A year later, Emily has already made considerable progress in their emotional development.
Despite high anxiety not being eliminated, it feels more manageable. The devices she was
taught during Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) have permeated the latter because
attacking the negative ideas is part of the techniques she has adopted and has allowed her
to deal with academic stress more adequately. Although she has reduced her panic attacks,
she still has a few instances of anxiety but she is no longer being overwhelmed by them.
In Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) practices mentioned, she has become more
accepting of her emotions and that has lowered her emotional struggle. She has become
less victimized by her anxiety and therefore she does not attempt to repress it anymore so
she lets it run its course.
Through Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP) Emily has come to appreciate
how her childhood grief and attachment problems affected her and have contributed to her
current sufferings. Through these unresolved problems, Emily has succeeded in reconciling
the death of her mother and she has managed to proceed more healthily.
Emily is now a stronger girl. She is still using the methods of her therapy, and though she
still has some cases of anxiety, it does not restrain her anymore. She has acquired her
Master's degree and is serving as a social worker to others with her own experiences in
mind. Emily is open to going back to therapy in case she requires it in the future, but at
present, she believes that she has what it takes to handle her emotions using the new
strategies she acquired.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Emily moved through the therapy and achieved considerable changes in the
spheres of anxiety, grief, and emotional distress. The therapeutic combination of Cognitive
Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Short-Term
Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP) has provided her with a variety of coping abilities so
that she can accommodate the cognitive and emotional parts of her woes. Emily has been
able to change her negative thought pattern through CBT, which has made her less anxious.
Act has also enabled her to embrace her feelings without any bias, something which has
reduced the power they have over her. Moreover, STPP made Emily able to interpret the
unexplainable grief associated with the death of her mother which gave her the emotional
elucidation needed to continue moving on. Although she still feels slightly anxious, Emily has
become stronger in regulating her emotions and has a more resilient attitude to life. Now
that she is still practicing social work, the lessons in therapy follow her because she knows
that therapy is not a single-strike cure but rather a way to move on with life and get to know
a better version of herself.
Emily Parker is a 27-year-old woman and a graduate student of Social Work who has been
experiencing heightened anxiety and a depressed mood accompanied by some panic attacks
after her mother passed away due to pancreatic cancer. Even though she had mildly
suffered anxiety during her teenage life, the awe-desolating effect of the loss of her mother
has greatly spurred up her suffering. Being in a common apartment with two roommates
and coping with all the stresses caused by her study load, Emily ends up being swept by her
emotions, resulting in concentration and academic problems. She wants to have a better
understanding of her anxiety, grief, and emotional well-being and through psychological
support learn how to deal with such emotions. This evaluation is going to examine the
extent of her emotional disorder and what kind of therapeutic procedures can be applied to
give her the means to put her life and mental state back under her control.
Gearing Up!
Emily Parker was sent to a psychological examination because of growing mood inferiority,
anxiety, concentrating disorder, and panic attacks revealed in recent times. These
symptoms increased when her mother who died of pancreatic cancer acted as an important
emotional catalyst. Anxiety is not a new problem that Emily has discovered, as she has felt
this way since her teenage years; however, the recent grief has become an additional
problem to her emotional stability. She rents an apartment together with 2 roommates, yet
her school needs and bereavement have caused alienation in her, despite the social
environment. Being a graduate student who lives in a combination setup, Emily has to deal
with various stressors, and the loss of her mom has largely increased her emotional burden.
The stress that she experiences in her studies mixed with the personal loss seems to have
exacerbated her anxiety, which manifested in panic attacks and concentration issues.
Previous psychological assistance: Emily has not made any attempts at seeking psychological
help before, but now, she understands how much her mental health has cost, and she is
willing to consider psychotherapy as the way to find her emotional equilibrium again.
During therapy preparation, Emily would ask herself how psychotherapy would assist her.
She found out that psychotherapy although having varied forms has several factors in
common that make it effective. The therapeutic relationship, client involvement, and
emotional support play a crucial role in providing change. These supporting factors create a
feeling of assurance and hope that the therapy may give her the means of coping with her
sorrow and anxiety (Holohan & Fiske, 2021). The main objective in the case of Emily should
be how to enable her to cope with both her grief and anxiety and apply therapy to give tools
to her that would enable her once again to have control over her emotional reactions and
focus on her academic achievements.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Participation Journal: CBT Session with Dr. Harris
Dr. Harris seemed to break through in the session we had today. We narrowed down on
establishing my negative thinking patterns which contribute to my anxiety. As a case in
point, I tend to say, that I am not good enough or I cannot cope with it, especially in case of
academic bombardment. Dr. According to Harris, the mechanism behind CBT is tasking such
cognitive distortions and substituting them with healthier and more rational thoughts. The
concept is that when the thoughts change, then the emotion and actions will be different
and I can be different by the way I can change my thoughts.
We also did some work in which I needed to write down the thoughts that happen when I
am feeling anxious and then check whether it is accurate. Dr. To monitor the thoughts
during the week, Harris provided me with a worksheet. She has highlighted the value of
becoming aware of automatic thoughts and disrupting the pattern of negative thoughts. I
am optimistic and doubtful at the same time that this thinking process will help: and how
significant will these changes be?
Another study shared by Dr. Harris is the one by Eells (2022), who states that CBT is a useful
approach when treating anxiety disorders because it makes the person self-aware of how
they think and trains them to recreate the patterns they have. This gave me hope that this
would be beneficial to me because the study was quite successful in suppressing symptoms
of people fighting with anxiety. I would be glad to test the worksheets, but I am not sure
that they will be such effective tools as Dr. Harris claims.
Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT)
How it happened: Journal Entry: ACT Session with Dr. Lee
This was not like the session with Dr. Lee today. She has acquainted me with Acceptance
and Commitment Therapy (ACT) which is aimed at accepting an unpleasant thought or
emotion rather than attempting to deal with them in any way. Dr. Lee informed me that the
more I strive to battle or avoid my anxiety, the more I make it worse. ACT, instead, teaches
me to be mindful and not judge my feelings, so I will forget the struggle.
At first, I was a bit confused because I had been taught never to fight the negative. But as
Dr. Lee assured me, acceptance is not resignation, but it is to accept that the feelings are
there but they are not to rule me and my actions. She prescribed me what she calls the
mindfulness practice where I am supposed to take note of the anxious thoughts and move
on without necessarily attaching myself to them
Dr. Lee talked about a study by Hayes et al. (2006), which discovered that ACT effectively
helps to decrease anxiety levels by enhancing the element of psychological flexibility. This
would be a matter of knowing how to go through discomfort without being unable to
continue achieving my targets. I was relieved by the thought that I do not have to get rid of
my anxiety and all I have to do is to alter my relationship with it. This process is uncommon,
and I am interested in the way it can work in my case. Nevertheless, I still do not know how
well I can apply it.
Short-Term Pzychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP)
STPP Journal Page: Dr. Collins
In my case, Dr. Collins today introduced me to Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy
(STPP) which deals with acquiring insights into my past experiences that led to me
presenting an emotional dilemma. Dr. Collins feels that my grief and pending matters with
my relationship with my mother are some of the reasons leading to my present anxiety. We
had to spend some time on my early relationship with my mother and how it could have
impacted my reactions nowadays.
Dr. Collins enlightened me about transference, which could be the possibility of my previous
relationships being projected onto my current emotions. She proposed that learning about
these unconscious processes would allow me to be able to cope with anxiety and grief more
efficiently. Dr. Collins also provided a study by Vigan (2025) that shows that STPP can be a
very effective intervention to overcome such emotional struggles as grief or anxiety. The
research demonstrated that much can be achieved in the area of emotional well-being
through the unmasking of unconscious conflicts.
I would say I learned a lot during the session, as it was somehow intense. The thought that
my current responses are being affected by my past emotional experiences seems relieving
and overwhelming. I do not know whether, by going back to these dynamics of the past, I
will feel better, yet I am willing to dig deeper. The prospect of teasing out the inner layers of
my bereavement seems to have potential, yet I am also afraid to face these feelings in full
force.
A Year After
A year later, Emily has already made considerable progress in their emotional development.
Despite high anxiety not being eliminated, it feels more manageable. The devices she was
taught during Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) have permeated the latter because
attacking the negative ideas is part of the techniques she has adopted and has allowed her
to deal with academic stress more adequately. Although she has reduced her panic attacks,
she still has a few instances of anxiety but she is no longer being overwhelmed by them.
In Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) practices mentioned, she has become more
accepting of her emotions and that has lowered her emotional struggle. She has become
less victimized by her anxiety and therefore she does not attempt to repress it anymore so
she lets it run its course.
Through Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP) Emily has come to appreciate
how her childhood grief and attachment problems affected her and have contributed to her
current sufferings. Through these unresolved problems, Emily has succeeded in reconciling
the death of her mother and she has managed to proceed more healthily.
Emily is now a stronger girl. She is still using the methods of her therapy, and though she
still has some cases of anxiety, it does not restrain her anymore. She has acquired her
Master's degree and is serving as a social worker to others with her own experiences in
mind. Emily is open to going back to therapy in case she requires it in the future, but at
present, she believes that she has what it takes to handle her emotions using the new
strategies she acquired.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Emily moved through the therapy and achieved considerable changes in the
spheres of anxiety, grief, and emotional distress. The therapeutic combination of Cognitive
Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Short-Term
Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP) has provided her with a variety of coping abilities so
that she can accommodate the cognitive and emotional parts of her woes. Emily has been
able to change her negative thought pattern through CBT, which has made her less anxious.
Act has also enabled her to embrace her feelings without any bias, something which has
reduced the power they have over her. Moreover, STPP made Emily able to interpret the
unexplainable grief associated with the death of her mother which gave her the emotional
elucidation needed to continue moving on. Although she still feels slightly anxious, Emily has
become stronger in regulating her emotions and has a more resilient attitude to life. Now
that she is still practicing social work, the lessons in therapy follow her because she knows
that therapy is not a single-strike cure but rather a way to move on with life and get to know
a better version of herself.
Emily Parker is a 27-year-old woman and a graduate student of Social Work who has been
experiencing heightened anxiety and a depressed mood accompanied by some panic attacks
after her mother passed away due to pancreatic cancer. Even though she had mildly
suffered anxiety during her teenage life, the awe-desolating effect of the loss of her mother
has greatly spurred up her suffering. Being in a common apartment with two roommates
and coping with all the stresses caused by her study load, Emily ends up being swept by her
emotions, resulting in concentration and academic problems. She wants to have a better
understanding of her anxiety, grief, and emotional well-being and through psychological
support learn how to deal with such emotions. This evaluation is going to examine the
extent of her emotional disorder and what kind of therapeutic procedures can be applied to
give her the means to put her life and mental state back under her control.
Gearing Up!
Emily Parker was sent to a psychological examination because of growing mood inferiority,
anxiety, concentrating disorder, and panic attacks revealed in recent times. These
symptoms increased when her mother who died of pancreatic cancer acted as an important
emotional catalyst. Anxiety is not a new problem that Emily has discovered, as she has felt
this way since her teenage years; however, the recent grief has become an additional
problem to her emotional stability. She rents an apartment together with 2 roommates, yet
her school needs and bereavement have caused alienation in her, despite the social
environment. Being a graduate student who lives in a combination setup, Emily has to deal
with various stressors, and the loss of her mom has largely increased her emotional burden.
The stress that she experiences in her studies mixed with the personal loss seems to have
exacerbated her anxiety, which manifested in panic attacks and concentration issues.
Previous psychological assistance: Emily has not made any attempts at seeking psychological
help before, but now, she understands how much her mental health has cost, and she is
willing to consider psychotherapy as the way to find her emotional equilibrium again.
During therapy preparation, Emily would ask herself how psychotherapy would assist her.
She found out that psychotherapy although having varied forms has several factors in
common that make it effective. The therapeutic relationship, client involvement, and
emotional support play a crucial role in providing change. These supporting factors create a
feeling of assurance and hope that the therapy may give her the means of coping with her
sorrow and anxiety (Holohan & Fiske, 2021). The main objective in the case of Emily should
be how to enable her to cope with both her grief and anxiety and apply therapy to give tools
to her that would enable her once again to have control over her emotional reactions and
focus on her academic achievements.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Participation Journal: CBT Session with Dr. Harris
Dr. Harris seemed to break through in the session we had today. We narrowed down on
establishing my negative thinking patterns which contribute to my anxiety. As a case in
point, I tend to say, that I am not good enough or I cannot cope with it, especially in case of
academic bombardment. Dr. According to Harris, the mechanism behind CBT is tasking such
cognitive distortions and substituting them with healthier and more rational thoughts. The
concept is that when the thoughts change, then the emotion and actions will be different
and I can be different by the way I can change my thoughts.
We also did some work in which I needed to write down the thoughts that happen when I
am feeling anxious and then check whether it is accurate. Dr. To monitor the thoughts
during the week, Harris provided me with a worksheet. She has highlighted the value of
becoming aware of automatic thoughts and disrupting the pattern of negative thoughts. I
am optimistic and doubtful at the same time that this thinking process will help: and how
significant will these changes be?
Another study shared by Dr. Harris is the one by Eells (2022), who states that CBT is a useful
approach when treating anxiety disorders because it makes the person self-aware of how
they think and trains them to recreate the patterns they have. This gave me hope that this
would be beneficial to me because the study was quite successful in suppressing symptoms
of people fighting with anxiety. I would be glad to test the worksheets, but I am not sure
that they will be such effective tools as Dr. Harris claims.
Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT)
How it happened: Journal Entry: ACT Session with Dr. Lee
This was not like the session with Dr. Lee today. She has acquainted me with Acceptance
and Commitment Therapy (ACT) which is aimed at accepting an unpleasant thought or
emotion rather than attempting to deal with them in any way. Dr. Lee informed me that the
more I strive to battle or avoid my anxiety, the more I make it worse. ACT, instead, teaches
me to be mindful and not judge my feelings, so I will forget the struggle.
At first, I was a bit confused because I had been taught never to fight the negative. But as
Dr. Lee assured me, acceptance is not resignation, but it is to accept that the feelings are
there but they are not to rule me and my actions. She prescribed me what she calls the
mindfulness practice where I am supposed to take note of the anxious thoughts and move
on without necessarily attaching myself to them
Dr. Lee talked about a study by Hayes et al. (2006), which discovered that ACT effectively
helps to decrease anxiety levels by enhancing the element of psychological flexibility. This
would be a matter of knowing how to go through discomfort without being unable to
continue achieving my targets. I was relieved by the thought that I do not have to get rid of
my anxiety and all I have to do is to alter my relationship with it. This process is uncommon,
and I am interested in the way it can work in my case. Nevertheless, I still do not know how
well I can apply it.
Short-Term Pzychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP)
STPP Journal Page: Dr. Collins
In my case, Dr. Collins today introduced me to Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy
(STPP) which deals with acquiring insights into my past experiences that led to me
presenting an emotional dilemma. Dr. Collins feels that my grief and pending matters with
my relationship with my mother are some of the reasons leading to my present anxiety. We
had to spend some time on my early relationship with my mother and how it could have
impacted my reactions nowadays.
Dr. Collins enlightened me about transference, which could be the possibility of my previous
relationships being projected onto my current emotions. She proposed that learning about
these unconscious processes would allow me to be able to cope with anxiety and grief more
efficiently. Dr. Collins also provided a study by Vigan (2025) that shows that STPP can be a
very effective intervention to overcome such emotional struggles as grief or anxiety. The
research demonstrated that much can be achieved in the area of emotional well-being
through the unmasking of unconscious conflicts.
I would say I learned a lot during the session, as it was somehow intense. The thought that
my current responses are being affected by my past emotional experiences seems relieving
and overwhelming. I do not know whether, by going back to these dynamics of the past, I
will feel better, yet I am willing to dig deeper. The prospect of teasing out the inner layers of
my bereavement seems to have potential, yet I am also afraid to face these feelings in full
force.
A Year After
A year later, Emily has already made considerable progress in their emotional development.
Despite high anxiety not being eliminated, it feels more manageable. The devices she was
taught during Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) have permeated the latter because
attacking the negative ideas is part of the techniques she has adopted and has allowed her
to deal with academic stress more adequately. Although she has reduced her panic attacks,
she still has a few instances of anxiety but she is no longer being overwhelmed by them.
In Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) practices mentioned, she has become more
accepting of her emotions and that has lowered her emotional struggle. She has become
less victimized by her anxiety and therefore she does not attempt to repress it anymore so
she lets it run its course.
Through Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP) Emily has come to appreciate
how her childhood grief and attachment problems affected her and have contributed to her
current sufferings. Through these unresolved problems, Emily has succeeded in reconciling
the death of her mother and she has managed to proceed more healthily.
Emily is now a stronger girl. She is still using the methods of her therapy, and though she
still has some cases of anxiety, it does not restrain her anymore. She has acquired her
Master's degree and is serving as a social worker to others with her own experiences in
mind. Emily is open to going back to therapy in case she requires it in the future, but at
present, she believes that she has what it takes to handle her emotions using the new
strategies she acquired.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Emily moved through the therapy and achieved considerable changes in the
spheres of anxiety, grief, and emotional distress. The therapeutic combination of Cognitive
Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Short-Term
Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP) has provided her with a variety of coping abilities so
that she can accommodate the cognitive and emotional parts of her woes. Emily has been
able to change her negative thought pattern through CBT, which has made her less anxious.
Act has also enabled her to embrace her feelings without any bias, something which has
reduced the power they have over her. Moreover, STPP made Emily able to interpret the
unexplainable grief associated with the death of her mother which gave her the emotional
elucidation needed to continue moving on. Although she still feels slightly anxious, Emily has
become stronger in regulating her emotions and has a more resilient attitude to life. Now
that she is still practicing social work, the lessons in therapy follow her because she knows
that therapy is not a single-strike cure but rather a way to move on with life and get to know
a better version of herself.
Emily Parker is a 27-year-old woman and a graduate student of Social Work who has been
experiencing heightened anxiety and a depressed mood accompanied by some panic attacks
after her mother passed away due to pancreatic cancer. Even though she had mildly
suffered anxiety during her teenage life, the awe-desolating effect of the loss of her mother
has greatly spurred up her suffering. Being in a common apartment with two roommates
and coping with all the stresses caused by her study load, Emily ends up being swept by her
emotions, resulting in concentration and academic problems. She wants to have a better
understanding of her anxiety, grief, and emotional well-being and through psychological
support learn how to deal with such emotions. This evaluation is going to examine the
extent of her emotional disorder and what kind of therapeutic procedures can be applied to
give her the means to put her life and mental state back under her control.
Gearing Up!
Emily Parker was sent to a psychological examination because of growing mood inferiority,
anxiety, concentrating disorder, and panic attacks revealed in recent times. These
symptoms increased when her mother who died of pancreatic cancer acted as an important
emotional catalyst. Anxiety is not a new problem that Emily has discovered, as she has felt
this way since her teenage years; however, the recent grief has become an additional
problem to her emotional stability. She rents an apartment together with 2 roommates, yet
her school needs and bereavement have caused alienation in her, despite the social
environment. Being a graduate student who lives in a combination setup, Emily has to deal
with various stressors, and the loss of her mom has largely increased her emotional burden.
The stress that she experiences in her studies mixed with the personal loss seems to have
exacerbated her anxiety, which manifested in panic attacks and concentration issues.
Previous psychological assistance: Emily has not made any attempts at seeking psychological
help before, but now, she understands how much her mental health has cost, and she is
willing to consider psychotherapy as the way to find her emotional equilibrium again.
During therapy preparation, Emily would ask herself how psychotherapy would assist her.
She found out that psychotherapy although having varied forms has several factors in
common that make it effective. The therapeutic relationship, client involvement, and
emotional support play a crucial role in providing change. These supporting factors create a
feeling of assurance and hope that the therapy may give her the means of coping with her
sorrow and anxiety (Holohan & Fiske, 2021). The main objective in the case of Emily should
be how to enable her to cope with both her grief and anxiety and apply therapy to give tools
to her that would enable her once again to have control over her emotional reactions and
focus on her academic achievements.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Participation Journal: CBT Session with Dr. Harris
Dr. Harris seemed to break through in the session we had today. We narrowed down on
establishing my negative thinking patterns which contribute to my anxiety. As a case in
point, I tend to say, that I am not good enough or I cannot cope with it, especially in case of
academic bombardment. Dr. According to Harris, the mechanism behind CBT is tasking such
cognitive distortions and substituting them with healthier and more rational thoughts. The
concept is that when the thoughts change, then the emotion and actions will be different
and I can be different by the way I can change my thoughts.
We also did some work in which I needed to write down the thoughts that happen when I
am feeling anxious and then check whether it is accurate. Dr. To monitor the thoughts
during the week, Harris provided me with a worksheet. She has highlighted the value of
becoming aware of automatic thoughts and disrupting the pattern of negative thoughts. I
am optimistic and doubtful at the same time that this thinking process will help: and how
significant will these changes be?
Another study shared by Dr. Harris is the one by Eells (2022), who states that CBT is a useful
approach when treating anxiety disorders because it makes the person self-aware of how
they think and trains them to recreate the patterns they have. This gave me hope that this
would be beneficial to me because the study was quite successful in suppressing symptoms
of people fighting with anxiety. I would be glad to test the worksheets, but I am not sure
that they will be such effective tools as Dr. Harris claims.
Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT)
How it happened: Journal Entry: ACT Session with Dr. Lee
This was not like the session with Dr. Lee today. She has acquainted me with Acceptance
and Commitment Therapy (ACT) which is aimed at accepting an unpleasant thought or
emotion rather than attempting to deal with them in any way. Dr. Lee informed me that the
more I strive to battle or avoid my anxiety, the more I make it worse. ACT, instead, teaches
me to be mindful and not judge my feelings, so I will forget the struggle.
At first, I was a bit confused because I had been taught never to fight the negative. But as
Dr. Lee assured me, acceptance is not resignation, but it is to accept that the feelings are
there but they are not to rule me and my actions. She prescribed me what she calls the
mindfulness practice where I am supposed to take note of the anxious thoughts and move
on without necessarily attaching myself to them
Dr. Lee talked about a study by Hayes et al. (2006), which discovered that ACT effectively
helps to decrease anxiety levels by enhancing the element of psychological flexibility. This
would be a matter of knowing how to go through discomfort without being unable to
continue achieving my targets. I was relieved by the thought that I do not have to get rid of
my anxiety and all I have to do is to alter my relationship with it. This process is uncommon,
and I am interested in the way it can work in my case. Nevertheless, I still do not know how
well I can apply it.
Short-Term Pzychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP)
STPP Journal Page: Dr. Collins
In my case, Dr. Collins today introduced me to Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy
(STPP) which deals with acquiring insights into my past experiences that led to me
presenting an emotional dilemma. Dr. Collins feels that my grief and pending matters with
my relationship with my mother are some of the reasons leading to my present anxiety. We
had to spend some time on my early relationship with my mother and how it could have
impacted my reactions nowadays.
Dr. Collins enlightened me about transference, which could be the possibility of my previous
relationships being projected onto my current emotions. She proposed that learning about
these unconscious processes would allow me to be able to cope with anxiety and grief more
efficiently. Dr. Collins also provided a study by Vigan (2025) that shows that STPP can be a
very effective intervention to overcome such emotional struggles as grief or anxiety. The
research demonstrated that much can be achieved in the area of emotional well-being
through the unmasking of unconscious conflicts.
I would say I learned a lot during the session, as it was somehow intense. The thought that
my current responses are being affected by my past emotional experiences seems relieving
and overwhelming. I do not know whether, by going back to these dynamics of the past, I
will feel better, yet I am willing to dig deeper. The prospect of teasing out the inner layers of
my bereavement seems to have potential, yet I am also afraid to face these feelings in full
force.
A Year After
A year later, Emily has already made considerable progress in their emotional development.
Despite high anxiety not being eliminated, it feels more manageable. The devices she was
taught during Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) have permeated the latter because
attacking the negative ideas is part of the techniques she has adopted and has allowed her
to deal with academic stress more adequately. Although she has reduced her panic attacks,
she still has a few instances of anxiety but she is no longer being overwhelmed by them.
In Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) practices mentioned, she has become more
accepting of her emotions and that has lowered her emotional struggle. She has become
less victimized by her anxiety and therefore she does not attempt to repress it anymore so
she lets it run its course.
Through Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP) Emily has come to appreciate
how her childhood grief and attachment problems affected her and have contributed to her
current sufferings. Through these unresolved problems, Emily has succeeded in reconciling
the death of her mother and she has managed to proceed more healthily.
Emily is now a stronger girl. She is still using the methods of her therapy, and though she
still has some cases of anxiety, it does not restrain her anymore. She has acquired her
Master's degree and is serving as a social worker to others with her own experiences in
mind. Emily is open to going back to therapy in case she requires it in the future, but at
present, she believes that she has what it takes to handle her emotions using the new
strategies she acquired.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Emily moved through the therapy and achieved considerable changes in the
spheres of anxiety, grief, and emotional distress. The therapeutic combination of Cognitive
Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Short-Term
Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP) has provided her with a variety of coping abilities so
that she can accommodate the cognitive and emotional parts of her woes. Emily has been
able to change her negative thought pattern through CBT, which has made her less anxious.
Act has also enabled her to embrace her feelings without any bias, something which has
reduced the power they have over her. Moreover, STPP made Emily able to interpret the
unexplainable grief associated with the death of her mother which gave her the emotional
elucidation needed to continue moving on. Although she still feels slightly anxious, Emily has
become stronger in regulating her emotions and has a more resilient attitude to life. Now
that she is still practicing social work, the lessons in therapy follow her because she knows
that therapy is not a single-strike cure but rather a way to move on with life and get to know
a better version of herself.
Emily Parker is a 27-year-old woman and a graduate student of Social Work who has been
experiencing heightened anxiety and a depressed mood accompanied by some panic attacks
after her mother passed away due to pancreatic cancer. Even though she had mildly
suffered anxiety during her teenage life, the awe-desolating effect of the loss of her mother
has greatly spurred up her suffering. Being in a common apartment with two roommates
and coping with all the stresses caused by her study load, Emily ends up being swept by her
emotions, resulting in concentration and academic problems. She wants to have a better
understanding of her anxiety, grief, and emotional well-being and through psychological
support learn how to deal with such emotions. This evaluation is going to examine the
extent of her emotional disorder and what kind of therapeutic procedures can be applied to
give her the means to put her life and mental state back under her control.
Gearing Up!
Emily Parker was sent to a psychological examination because of growing mood inferiority,
anxiety, concentrating disorder, and panic attacks revealed in recent times. These
symptoms increased when her mother who died of pancreatic cancer acted as an important
emotional catalyst. Anxiety is not a new problem that Emily has discovered, as she has felt
this way since her teenage years; however, the recent grief has become an additional
problem to her emotional stability. She rents an apartment together with 2 roommates, yet
her school needs and bereavement have caused alienation in her, despite the social
environment. Being a graduate student who lives in a combination setup, Emily has to deal
with various stressors, and the loss of her mom has largely increased her emotional burden.
The stress that she experiences in her studies mixed with the personal loss seems to have
exacerbated her anxiety, which manifested in panic attacks and concentration issues.
Previous psychological assistance: Emily has not made any attempts at seeking psychological
help before, but now, she understands how much her mental health has cost, and she is
willing to consider psychotherapy as the way to find her emotional equilibrium again.
During therapy preparation, Emily would ask herself how psychotherapy would assist her.
She found out that psychotherapy although having varied forms has several factors in
common that make it effective. The therapeutic relationship, client involvement, and
emotional support play a crucial role in providing change. These supporting factors create a
feeling of assurance and hope that the therapy may give her the means of coping with her
sorrow and anxiety (Holohan & Fiske, 2021). The main objective in the case of Emily should
be how to enable her to cope with both her grief and anxiety and apply therapy to give tools
to her that would enable her once again to have control over her emotional reactions and
focus on her academic achievements.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Participation Journal: CBT Session with Dr. Harris
Dr. Harris seemed to break through in the session we had today. We narrowed down on
establishing my negative thinking patterns which contribute to my anxiety. As a case in
point, I tend to say, that I am not good enough or I cannot cope with it, especially in case of
academic bombardment. Dr. According to Harris, the mechanism behind CBT is tasking such
cognitive distortions and substituting them with healthier and more rational thoughts. The
concept is that when the thoughts change, then the emotion and actions will be different
and I can be different by the way I can change my thoughts.
We also did some work in which I needed to write down the thoughts that happen when I
am feeling anxious and then check whether it is accurate. Dr. To monitor the thoughts
during the week, Harris provided me with a worksheet. She has highlighted the value of
becoming aware of automatic thoughts and disrupting the pattern of negative thoughts. I
am optimistic and doubtful at the same time that this thinking process will help: and how
significant will these changes be?
Another study shared by Dr. Harris is the one by Eells (2022), who states that CBT is a useful
approach when treating anxiety disorders because it makes the person self-aware of how
they think and trains them to recreate the patterns they have. This gave me hope that this
would be beneficial to me because the study was quite successful in suppressing symptoms
of people fighting with anxiety. I would be glad to test the worksheets, but I am not sure
that they will be such effective tools as Dr. Harris claims.
Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT)
How it happened: Journal Entry: ACT Session with Dr. Lee
This was not like the session with Dr. Lee today. She has acquainted me with Acceptance
and Commitment Therapy (ACT) which is aimed at accepting an unpleasant thought or
emotion rather than attempting to deal with them in any way. Dr. Lee informed me that the
more I strive to battle or avoid my anxiety, the more I make it worse. ACT, instead, teaches
me to be mindful and not judge my feelings, so I will forget the struggle.
At first, I was a bit confused because I had been taught never to fight the negative. But as
Dr. Lee assured me, acceptance is not resignation, but it is to accept that the feelings are
there but they are not to rule me and my actions. She prescribed me what she calls the
mindfulness practice where I am supposed to take note of the anxious thoughts and move
on without necessarily attaching myself to them
Dr. Lee talked about a study by Hayes et al. (2006), which discovered that ACT effectively
helps to decrease anxiety levels by enhancing the element of psychological flexibility. This
would be a matter of knowing how to go through discomfort without being unable to
continue achieving my targets. I was relieved by the thought that I do not have to get rid of
my anxiety and all I have to do is to alter my relationship with it. This process is uncommon,
and I am interested in the way it can work in my case. Nevertheless, I still do not know how
well I can apply it.
Short-Term Pzychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP)
STPP Journal Page: Dr. Collins
In my case, Dr. Collins today introduced me to Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy
(STPP) which deals with acquiring insights into my past experiences that led to me
presenting an emotional dilemma. Dr. Collins feels that my grief and pending matters with
my relationship with my mother are some of the reasons leading to my present anxiety. We
had to spend some time on my early relationship with my mother and how it could have
impacted my reactions nowadays.
Dr. Collins enlightened me about transference, which could be the possibility of my previous
relationships being projected onto my current emotions. She proposed that learning about
these unconscious processes would allow me to be able to cope with anxiety and grief more
efficiently. Dr. Collins also provided a study by Vigan (2025) that shows that STPP can be a
very effective intervention to overcome such emotional struggles as grief or anxiety. The
research demonstrated that much can be achieved in the area of emotional well-being
through the unmasking of unconscious conflicts.
I would say I learned a lot during the session, as it was somehow intense. The thought that
my current responses are being affected by my past emotional experiences seems relieving
and overwhelming. I do not know whether, by going back to these dynamics of the past, I
will feel better, yet I am willing to dig deeper. The prospect of teasing out the inner layers of
my bereavement seems to have potential, yet I am also afraid to face these feelings in full
force.
A Year After
A year later, Emily has already made considerable progress in their emotional development.
Despite high anxiety not being eliminated, it feels more manageable. The devices she was
taught during Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) have permeated the latter because
attacking the negative ideas is part of the techniques she has adopted and has allowed her
to deal with academic stress more adequately. Although she has reduced her panic attacks,
she still has a few instances of anxiety but she is no longer being overwhelmed by them.
In Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) practices mentioned, she has become more
accepting of her emotions and that has lowered her emotional struggle. She has become
less victimized by her anxiety and therefore she does not attempt to repress it anymore so
she lets it run its course.
Through Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP) Emily has come to appreciate
how her childhood grief and attachment problems affected her and have contributed to her
current sufferings. Through these unresolved problems, Emily has succeeded in reconciling
the death of her mother and she has managed to proceed more healthily.
Emily is now a stronger girl. She is still using the methods of her therapy, and though she
still has some cases of anxiety, it does not restrain her anymore. She has acquired her
Master's degree and is serving as a social worker to others with her own experiences in
mind. Emily is open to going back to therapy in case she requires it in the future, but at
present, she believes that she has what it takes to handle her emotions using the new
strategies she acquired.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Emily moved through the therapy and achieved considerable changes in the
spheres of anxiety, grief, and emotional distress. The therapeutic combination of Cognitive
Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Short-Term
Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP) has provided her with a variety of coping abilities so
that she can accommodate the cognitive and emotional parts of her woes. Emily has been
able to change her negative thought pattern through CBT, which has made her less anxious.
Act has also enabled her to embrace her feelings without any bias, something which has
reduced the power they have over her. Moreover, STPP made Emily able to interpret the
unexplainable grief associated with the death of her mother which gave her the emotional
elucidation needed to continue moving on. Although she still feels slightly anxious, Emily has
become stronger in regulating her emotions and has a more resilient attitude to life. Now
that she is still practicing social work, the lessons in therapy follow her because she knows
that therapy is not a single-strike cure but rather a way to move on with life and get to know
a better version of herself.
Emily Parker is a 27-year-old woman and a graduate student of Social Work who has been
experiencing heightened anxiety and a depressed mood accompanied by some panic attacks
after her mother passed away due to pancreatic cancer. Even though she had mildly
suffered anxiety during her teenage life, the awe-desolating effect of the loss of her mother
has greatly spurred up her suffering. Being in a common apartment with two roommates
and coping with all the stresses caused by her study load, Emily ends up being swept by her
emotions, resulting in concentration and academic problems. She wants to have a better
understanding of her anxiety, grief, and emotional well-being and through psychological
support learn how to deal with such emotions. This evaluation is going to examine the
extent of her emotional disorder and what kind of therapeutic procedures can be applied to
give her the means to put her life and mental state back under her control.
Gearing Up!
Emily Parker was sent to a psychological examination because of growing mood inferiority,
anxiety, concentrating disorder, and panic attacks revealed in recent times. These
symptoms increased when her mother who died of pancreatic cancer acted as an important
emotional catalyst. Anxiety is not a new problem that Emily has discovered, as she has felt
this way since her teenage years; however, the recent grief has become an additional
problem to her emotional stability. She rents an apartment together with 2 roommates, yet
her school needs and bereavement have caused alienation in her, despite the social
environment. Being a graduate student who lives in a combination setup, Emily has to deal
with various stressors, and the loss of her mom has largely increased her emotional burden.
The stress that she experiences in her studies mixed with the personal loss seems to have
exacerbated her anxiety, which manifested in panic attacks and concentration issues.
Previous psychological assistance: Emily has not made any attempts at seeking psychological
help before, but now, she understands how much her mental health has cost, and she is
willing to consider psychotherapy as the way to find her emotional equilibrium again.
During therapy preparation, Emily would ask herself how psychotherapy would assist her.
She found out that psychotherapy although having varied forms has several factors in
common that make it effective. The therapeutic relationship, client involvement, and
emotional support play a crucial role in providing change. These supporting factors create a
feeling of assurance and hope that the therapy may give her the means of coping with her
sorrow and anxiety (Holohan & Fiske, 2021). The main objective in the case of Emily should
be how to enable her to cope with both her grief and anxiety and apply therapy to give tools
to her that would enable her once again to have control over her emotional reactions and
focus on her academic achievements.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Participation Journal: CBT Session with Dr. Harris
Dr. Harris seemed to break through in the session we had today. We narrowed down on
establishing my negative thinking patterns which contribute to my anxiety. As a case in
point, I tend to say, that I am not good enough or I cannot cope with it, especially in case of
academic bombardment. Dr. According to Harris, the mechanism behind CBT is tasking such
cognitive distortions and substituting them with healthier and more rational thoughts. The
concept is that when the thoughts change, then the emotion and actions will be different
and I can be different by the way I can change my thoughts.
We also did some work in which I needed to write down the thoughts that happen when I
am feeling anxious and then check whether it is accurate. Dr. To monitor the thoughts
during the week, Harris provided me with a worksheet. She has highlighted the value of
becoming aware of automatic thoughts and disrupting the pattern of negative thoughts. I
am optimistic and doubtful at the same time that this thinking process will help: and how
significant will these changes be?
Another study shared by Dr. Harris is the one by Eells (2022), who states that CBT is a useful
approach when treating anxiety disorders because it makes the person self-aware of how
they think and trains them to recreate the patterns they have. This gave me hope that this
would be beneficial to me because the study was quite successful in suppressing symptoms
of people fighting with anxiety. I would be glad to test the worksheets, but I am not sure
that they will be such effective tools as Dr. Harris claims.
Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT)
How it happened: Journal Entry: ACT Session with Dr. Lee
This was not like the session with Dr. Lee today. She has acquainted me with Acceptance
and Commitment Therapy (ACT) which is aimed at accepting an unpleasant thought or
emotion rather than attempting to deal with them in any way. Dr. Lee informed me that the
more I strive to battle or avoid my anxiety, the more I make it worse. ACT, instead, teaches
me to be mindful and not judge my feelings, so I will forget the struggle.
At first, I was a bit confused because I had been taught never to fight the negative. But as
Dr. Lee assured me, acceptance is not resignation, but it is to accept that the feelings are
there but they are not to rule me and my actions. She prescribed me what she calls the
mindfulness practice where I am supposed to take note of the anxious thoughts and move
on without necessarily attaching myself to them
Dr. Lee talked about a study by Hayes et al. (2006), which discovered that ACT effectively
helps to decrease anxiety levels by enhancing the element of psychological flexibility. This
would be a matter of knowing how to go through discomfort without being unable to
continue achieving my targets. I was relieved by the thought that I do not have to get rid of
my anxiety and all I have to do is to alter my relationship with it. This process is uncommon,
and I am interested in the way it can work in my case. Nevertheless, I still do not know how
well I can apply it.
Short-Term Pzychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP)
STPP Journal Page: Dr. Collins
In my case, Dr. Collins today introduced me to Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy
(STPP) which deals with acquiring insights into my past experiences that led to me
presenting an emotional dilemma. Dr. Collins feels that my grief and pending matters with
my relationship with my mother are some of the reasons leading to my present anxiety. We
had to spend some time on my early relationship with my mother and how it could have
impacted my reactions nowadays.
Dr. Collins enlightened me about transference, which could be the possibility of my previous
relationships being projected onto my current emotions. She proposed that learning about
these unconscious processes would allow me to be able to cope with anxiety and grief more
efficiently. Dr. Collins also provided a study by Vigan (2025) that shows that STPP can be a
very effective intervention to overcome such emotional struggles as grief or anxiety. The
research demonstrated that much can be achieved in the area of emotional well-being
through the unmasking of unconscious conflicts.
I would say I learned a lot during the session, as it was somehow intense. The thought that
my current responses are being affected by my past emotional experiences seems relieving
and overwhelming. I do not know whether, by going back to these dynamics of the past, I
will feel better, yet I am willing to dig deeper. The prospect of teasing out the inner layers of
my bereavement seems to have potential, yet I am also afraid to face these feelings in full
force.
A Year After
A year later, Emily has already made considerable progress in their emotional development.
Despite high anxiety not being eliminated, it feels more manageable. The devices she was
taught during Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) have permeated the latter because
attacking the negative ideas is part of the techniques she has adopted and has allowed her
to deal with academic stress more adequately. Although she has reduced her panic attacks,
she still has a few instances of anxiety but she is no longer being overwhelmed by them.
In Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) practices mentioned, she has become more
accepting of her emotions and that has lowered her emotional struggle. She has become
less victimized by her anxiety and therefore she does not attempt to repress it anymore so
she lets it run its course.
Through Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP) Emily has come to appreciate
how her childhood grief and attachment problems affected her and have contributed to her
current sufferings. Through these unresolved problems, Emily has succeeded in reconciling
the death of her mother and she has managed to proceed more healthily.
Emily is now a stronger girl. She is still using the methods of her therapy, and though she
still has some cases of anxiety, it does not restrain her anymore. She has acquired her
Master's degree and is serving as a social worker to others with her own experiences in
mind. Emily is open to going back to therapy in case she requires it in the future, but at
present, she believes that she has what it takes to handle her emotions using the new
strategies she acquired.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Emily moved through the therapy and achieved considerable changes in the
spheres of anxiety, grief, and emotional distress. The therapeutic combination of Cognitive
Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Short-Term
Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP) has provided her with a variety of coping abilities so
that she can accommodate the cognitive and emotional parts of her woes. Emily has been
able to change her negative thought pattern through CBT, which has made her less anxious.
Act has also enabled her to embrace her feelings without any bias, something which has
reduced the power they have over her. Moreover, STPP made Emily able to interpret the
unexplainable grief associated with the death of her mother which gave her the emotional
elucidation needed to continue moving on. Although she still feels slightly anxious, Emily has
become stronger in regulating her emotions and has a more resilient attitude to life. Now
that she is still practicing social work, the lessons in therapy follow her because she knows
that therapy is not a single-strike cure but rather a way to move on with life and get to know
a better version of herself.
Emily Parker is a 27-year-old woman and a graduate student of Social Work who has been
experiencing heightened anxiety and a depressed mood accompanied by some panic attacks
after her mother passed away due to pancreatic cancer. Even though she had mildly
suffered anxiety during her teenage life, the awe-desolating effect of the loss of her mother
has greatly spurred up her suffering. Being in a common apartment with two roommates
and coping with all the stresses caused by her study load, Emily ends up being swept by her
emotions, resulting in concentration and academic problems. She wants to have a better
understanding of her anxiety, grief, and emotional well-being and through psychological
support learn how to deal with such emotions. This evaluation is going to examine the
extent of her emotional disorder and what kind of therapeutic procedures can be applied to
give her the means to put her life and mental state back under her control.
Gearing Up!
Emily Parker was sent to a psychological examination because of growing mood inferiority,
anxiety, concentrating disorder, and panic attacks revealed in recent times. These
symptoms increased when her mother who died of pancreatic cancer acted as an important
emotional catalyst. Anxiety is not a new problem that Emily has discovered, as she has felt
this way since her teenage years; however, the recent grief has become an additional
problem to her emotional stability. She rents an apartment together with 2 roommates, yet
her school needs and bereavement have caused alienation in her, despite the social
environment. Being a graduate student who lives in a combination setup, Emily has to deal
with various stressors, and the loss of her mom has largely increased her emotional burden.
The stress that she experiences in her studies mixed with the personal loss seems to have
exacerbated her anxiety, which manifested in panic attacks and concentration issues.
Previous psychological assistance: Emily has not made any attempts at seeking psychological
help before, but now, she understands how much her mental health has cost, and she is
willing to consider psychotherapy as the way to find her emotional equilibrium again.
During therapy preparation, Emily would ask herself how psychotherapy would assist her.
She found out that psychotherapy although having varied forms has several factors in
common that make it effective. The therapeutic relationship, client involvement, and
emotional support play a crucial role in providing change. These supporting factors create a
feeling of assurance and hope that the therapy may give her the means of coping with her
sorrow and anxiety (Holohan & Fiske, 2021). The main objective in the case of Emily should
be how to enable her to cope with both her grief and anxiety and apply therapy to give tools
to her that would enable her once again to have control over her emotional reactions and
focus on her academic achievements.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Participation Journal: CBT Session with Dr. Harris
Dr. Harris seemed to break through in the session we had today. We narrowed down on
establishing my negative thinking patterns which contribute to my anxiety. As a case in
point, I tend to say, that I am not good enough or I cannot cope with it, especially in case of
academic bombardment. Dr. According to Harris, the mechanism behind CBT is tasking such
cognitive distortions and substituting them with healthier and more rational thoughts. The
concept is that when the thoughts change, then the emotion and actions will be different
and I can be different by the way I can change my thoughts.
We also did some work in which I needed to write down the thoughts that happen when I
am feeling anxious and then check whether it is accurate. Dr. To monitor the thoughts
during the week, Harris provided me with a worksheet. She has highlighted the value of
becoming aware of automatic thoughts and disrupting the pattern of negative thoughts. I
am optimistic and doubtful at the same time that this thinking process will help: and how
significant will these changes be?
Another study shared by Dr. Harris is the one by Eells (2022), who states that CBT is a useful
approach when treating anxiety disorders because it makes the person self-aware of how
they think and trains them to recreate the patterns they have. This gave me hope that this
would be beneficial to me because the study was quite successful in suppressing symptoms
of people fighting with anxiety. I would be glad to test the worksheets, but I am not sure
that they will be such effective tools as Dr. Harris claims.
Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT)
How it happened: Journal Entry: ACT Session with Dr. Lee
This was not like the session with Dr. Lee today. She has acquainted me with Acceptance
and Commitment Therapy (ACT) which is aimed at accepting an unpleasant thought or
emotion rather than attempting to deal with them in any way. Dr. Lee informed me that the
more I strive to battle or avoid my anxiety, the more I make it worse. ACT, instead, teaches
me to be mindful and not judge my feelings, so I will forget the struggle.
At first, I was a bit confused because I had been taught never to fight the negative. But as
Dr. Lee assured me, acceptance is not resignation, but it is to accept that the feelings are
there but they are not to rule me and my actions. She prescribed me what she calls the
mindfulness practice where I am supposed to take note of the anxious thoughts and move
on without necessarily attaching myself to them
Dr. Lee talked about a study by Hayes et al. (2006), which discovered that ACT effectively
helps to decrease anxiety levels by enhancing the element of psychological flexibility. This
would be a matter of knowing how to go through discomfort without being unable to
continue achieving my targets. I was relieved by the thought that I do not have to get rid of
my anxiety and all I have to do is to alter my relationship with it. This process is uncommon,
and I am interested in the way it can work in my case. Nevertheless, I still do not know how
well I can apply it.
Short-Term Pzychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP)
STPP Journal Page: Dr. Collins
In my case, Dr. Collins today introduced me to Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy
(STPP) which deals with acquiring insights into my past experiences that led to me
presenting an emotional dilemma. Dr. Collins feels that my grief and pending matters with
my relationship with my mother are some of the reasons leading to my present anxiety. We
had to spend some time on my early relationship with my mother and how it could have
impacted my reactions nowadays.
Dr. Collins enlightened me about transference, which could be the possibility of my previous
relationships being projected onto my current emotions. She proposed that learning about
these unconscious processes would allow me to be able to cope with anxiety and grief more
efficiently. Dr. Collins also provided a study by Vigan (2025) that shows that STPP can be a
very effective intervention to overcome such emotional struggles as grief or anxiety. The
research demonstrated that much can be achieved in the area of emotional well-being
through the unmasking of unconscious conflicts.
I would say I learned a lot during the session, as it was somehow intense. The thought that
my current responses are being affected by my past emotional experiences seems relieving
and overwhelming. I do not know whether, by going back to these dynamics of the past, I
will feel better, yet I am willing to dig deeper. The prospect of teasing out the inner layers of
my bereavement seems to have potential, yet I am also afraid to face these feelings in full
force.
A Year After
A year later, Emily has already made considerable progress in their emotional development.
Despite high anxiety not being eliminated, it feels more manageable. The devices she was
taught during Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) have permeated the latter because
attacking the negative ideas is part of the techniques she has adopted and has allowed her
to deal with academic stress more adequately. Although she has reduced her panic attacks,
she still has a few instances of anxiety but she is no longer being overwhelmed by them.
In Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) practices mentioned, she has become more
accepting of her emotions and that has lowered her emotional struggle. She has become
less victimized by her anxiety and therefore she does not attempt to repress it anymore so
she lets it run its course.
Through Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP) Emily has come to appreciate
how her childhood grief and attachment problems affected her and have contributed to her
current sufferings. Through these unresolved problems, Emily has succeeded in reconciling
the death of her mother and she has managed to proceed more healthily.
Emily is now a stronger girl. She is still using the methods of her therapy, and though she
still has some cases of anxiety, it does not restrain her anymore. She has acquired her
Master's degree and is serving as a social worker to others with her own experiences in
mind. Emily is open to going back to therapy in case she requires it in the future, but at
present, she believes that she has what it takes to handle her emotions using the new
strategies she acquired.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Emily moved through the therapy and achieved considerable changes in the
spheres of anxiety, grief, and emotional distress. The therapeutic combination of Cognitive
Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Short-Term
Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP) has provided her with a variety of coping abilities so
that she can accommodate the cognitive and emotional parts of her woes. Emily has been
able to change her negative thought pattern through CBT, which has made her less anxious.
Act has also enabled her to embrace her feelings without any bias, something which has
reduced the power they have over her. Moreover, STPP made Emily able to interpret the
unexplainable grief associated with the death of her mother which gave her the emotional
elucidation needed to continue moving on. Although she still feels slightly anxious, Emily has
become stronger in regulating her emotions and has a more resilient attitude to life. Now
that she is still practicing social work, the lessons in therapy follow her because she knows
that therapy is not a single-strike cure but rather a way to move on with life and get to know
a better version of herself.
Emily Parker is a 27-year-old woman and a graduate student of Social Work who has been
experiencing heightened anxiety and a depressed mood accompanied by some panic attacks
after her mother passed away due to pancreatic cancer. Even though she had mildly
suffered anxiety during her teenage life, the awe-desolating effect of the loss of her mother
has greatly spurred up her suffering. Being in a common apartment with two roommates
and coping with all the stresses caused by her study load, Emily ends up being swept by her
emotions, resulting in concentration and academic problems. She wants to have a better
understanding of her anxiety, grief, and emotional well-being and through psychological
support learn how to deal with such emotions. This evaluation is going to examine the
extent of her emotional disorder and what kind of therapeutic procedures can be applied to
give her the means to put her life and mental state back under her control.
Gearing Up!
Emily Parker was sent to a psychological examination because of growing mood inferiority,
anxiety, concentrating disorder, and panic attacks revealed in recent times. These
symptoms increased when her mother who died of pancreatic cancer acted as an important
emotional catalyst. Anxiety is not a new problem that Emily has discovered, as she has felt
this way since her teenage years; however, the recent grief has become an additional
problem to her emotional stability. She rents an apartment together with 2 roommates, yet
her school needs and bereavement have caused alienation in her, despite the social
environment. Being a graduate student who lives in a combination setup, Emily has to deal
with various stressors, and the loss of her mom has largely increased her emotional burden.
The stress that she experiences in her studies mixed with the personal loss seems to have
exacerbated her anxiety, which manifested in panic attacks and concentration issues.
Previous psychological assistance: Emily has not made any attempts at seeking psychological
help before, but now, she understands how much her mental health has cost, and she is
willing to consider psychotherapy as the way to find her emotional equilibrium again.
During therapy preparation, Emily would ask herself how psychotherapy would assist her.
She found out that psychotherapy although having varied forms has several factors in
common that make it effective. The therapeutic relationship, client involvement, and
emotional support play a crucial role in providing change. These supporting factors create a
feeling of assurance and hope that the therapy may give her the means of coping with her
sorrow and anxiety (Holohan & Fiske, 2021). The main objective in the case of Emily should
be how to enable her to cope with both her grief and anxiety and apply therapy to give tools
to her that would enable her once again to have control over her emotional reactions and
focus on her academic achievements.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Participation Journal: CBT Session with Dr. Harris
Dr. Harris seemed to break through in the session we had today. We narrowed down on
establishing my negative thinking patterns which contribute to my anxiety. As a case in
point, I tend to say, that I am not good enough or I cannot cope with it, especially in case of
academic bombardment. Dr. According to Harris, the mechanism behind CBT is tasking such
cognitive distortions and substituting them with healthier and more rational thoughts. The
concept is that when the thoughts change, then the emotion and actions will be different
and I can be different by the way I can change my thoughts.
We also did some work in which I needed to write down the thoughts that happen when I
am feeling anxious and then check whether it is accurate. Dr. To monitor the thoughts
during the week, Harris provided me with a worksheet. She has highlighted the value of
becoming aware of automatic thoughts and disrupting the pattern of negative thoughts. I
am optimistic and doubtful at the same time that this thinking process will help: and how
significant will these changes be?
Another study shared by Dr. Harris is the one by Eells (2022), who states that CBT is a useful
approach when treating anxiety disorders because it makes the person self-aware of how
they think and trains them to recreate the patterns they have. This gave me hope that this
would be beneficial to me because the study was quite successful in suppressing symptoms
of people fighting with anxiety. I would be glad to test the worksheets, but I am not sure
that they will be such effective tools as Dr. Harris claims.
Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT)
How it happened: Journal Entry: ACT Session with Dr. Lee
This was not like the session with Dr. Lee today. She has acquainted me with Acceptance
and Commitment Therapy (ACT) which is aimed at accepting an unpleasant thought or
emotion rather than attempting to deal with them in any way. Dr. Lee informed me that the
more I strive to battle or avoid my anxiety, the more I make it worse. ACT, instead, teaches
me to be mindful and not judge my feelings, so I will forget the struggle.
At first, I was a bit confused because I had been taught never to fight the negative. But as
Dr. Lee assured me, acceptance is not resignation, but it is to accept that the feelings are
there but they are not to rule me and my actions. She prescribed me what she calls the
mindfulness practice where I am supposed to take note of the anxious thoughts and move
on without necessarily attaching myself to them
Dr. Lee talked about a study by Hayes et al. (2006), which discovered that ACT effectively
helps to decrease anxiety levels by enhancing the element of psychological flexibility. This
would be a matter of knowing how to go through discomfort without being unable to
continue achieving my targets. I was relieved by the thought that I do not have to get rid of
my anxiety and all I have to do is to alter my relationship with it. This process is uncommon,
and I am interested in the way it can work in my case. Nevertheless, I still do not know how
well I can apply it.
Short-Term Pzychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP)
STPP Journal Page: Dr. Collins
In my case, Dr. Collins today introduced me to Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy
(STPP) which deals with acquiring insights into my past experiences that led to me
presenting an emotional dilemma. Dr. Collins feels that my grief and pending matters with
my relationship with my mother are some of the reasons leading to my present anxiety. We
had to spend some time on my early relationship with my mother and how it could have
impacted my reactions nowadays.
Dr. Collins enlightened me about transference, which could be the possibility of my previous
relationships being projected onto my current emotions. She proposed that learning about
these unconscious processes would allow me to be able to cope with anxiety and grief more
efficiently. Dr. Collins also provided a study by Vigan (2025) that shows that STPP can be a
very effective intervention to overcome such emotional struggles as grief or anxiety. The
research demonstrated that much can be achieved in the area of emotional well-being
through the unmasking of unconscious conflicts.
I would say I learned a lot during the session, as it was somehow intense. The thought that
my current responses are being affected by my past emotional experiences seems relieving
and overwhelming. I do not know whether, by going back to these dynamics of the past, I
will feel better, yet I am willing to dig deeper. The prospect of teasing out the inner layers of
my bereavement seems to have potential, yet I am also afraid to face these feelings in full
force.
A Year After
A year later, Emily has already made considerable progress in their emotional development.
Despite high anxiety not being eliminated, it feels more manageable. The devices she was
taught during Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) have permeated the latter because
attacking the negative ideas is part of the techniques she has adopted and has allowed her
to deal with academic stress more adequately. Although she has reduced her panic attacks,
she still has a few instances of anxiety but she is no longer being overwhelmed by them.
In Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) practices mentioned, she has become more
accepting of her emotions and that has lowered her emotional struggle. She has become
less victimized by her anxiety and therefore she does not attempt to repress it anymore so
she lets it run its course.
Through Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP) Emily has come to appreciate
how her childhood grief and attachment problems affected her and have contributed to her
current sufferings. Through these unresolved problems, Emily has succeeded in reconciling
the death of her mother and she has managed to proceed more healthily.
Emily is now a stronger girl. She is still using the methods of her therapy, and though she
still has some cases of anxiety, it does not restrain her anymore. She has acquired her
Master's degree and is serving as a social worker to others with her own experiences in
mind. Emily is open to going back to therapy in case she requires it in the future, but at
present, she believes that she has what it takes to handle her emotions using the new
strategies she acquired.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Emily moved through the therapy and achieved considerable changes in the
spheres of anxiety, grief, and emotional distress. The therapeutic combination of Cognitive
Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Short-Term
Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP) has provided her with a variety of coping abilities so
that she can accommodate the cognitive and emotional parts of her woes. Emily has been
able to change her negative thought pattern through CBT, which has made her less anxious.
Act has also enabled her to embrace her feelings without any bias, something which has
reduced the power they have over her. Moreover, STPP made Emily able to interpret the
unexplainable grief associated with the death of her mother which gave her the emotional
elucidation needed to continue moving on. Although she still feels slightly anxious, Emily has
become stronger in regulating her emotions and has a more resilient attitude to life. Now
that she is still practicing social work, the lessons in therapy follow her because she knows
that therapy is not a single-strike cure but rather a way to move on with life and get to know
a better version of herself.
Emily Parker is a 27-year-old woman and a graduate student of Social Work who has been
experiencing heightened anxiety and a depressed mood accompanied by some panic attacks
after her mother passed away due to pancreatic cancer. Even though she had mildly
suffered anxiety during her teenage life, the awe-desolating effect of the loss of her mother
has greatly spurred up her suffering. Being in a common apartment with two roommates
and coping with all the stresses caused by her study load, Emily ends up being swept by her
emotions, resulting in concentration and academic problems. She wants to have a better
understanding of her anxiety, grief, and emotional well-being and through psychological
support learn how to deal with such emotions. This evaluation is going to examine the
extent of her emotional disorder and what kind of therapeutic procedures can be applied to
give her the means to put her life and mental state back under her control.
Gearing Up!
Emily Parker was sent to a psychological examination because of growing mood inferiority,
anxiety, concentrating disorder, and panic attacks revealed in recent times. These
symptoms increased when her mother who died of pancreatic cancer acted as an important
emotional catalyst. Anxiety is not a new problem that Emily has discovered, as she has felt
this way since her teenage years; however, the recent grief has become an additional
problem to her emotional stability. She rents an apartment together with 2 roommates, yet
her school needs and bereavement have caused alienation in her, despite the social
environment. Being a graduate student who lives in a combination setup, Emily has to deal
with various stressors, and the loss of her mom has largely increased her emotional burden.
The stress that she experiences in her studies mixed with the personal loss seems to have
exacerbated her anxiety, which manifested in panic attacks and concentration issues.
Previous psychological assistance: Emily has not made any attempts at seeking psychological
help before, but now, she understands how much her mental health has cost, and she is
willing to consider psychotherapy as the way to find her emotional equilibrium again.
During therapy preparation, Emily would ask herself how psychotherapy would assist her.
She found out that psychotherapy although having varied forms has several factors in
common that make it effective. The therapeutic relationship, client involvement, and
emotional support play a crucial role in providing change. These supporting factors create a
feeling of assurance and hope that the therapy may give her the means of coping with her
sorrow and anxiety (Holohan & Fiske, 2021). The main objective in the case of Emily should
be how to enable her to cope with both her grief and anxiety and apply therapy to give tools
to her that would enable her once again to have control over her emotional reactions and
focus on her academic achievements.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Participation Journal: CBT Session with Dr. Harris
Dr. Harris seemed to break through in the session we had today. We narrowed down on
establishing my negative thinking patterns which contribute to my anxiety. As a case in
point, I tend to say, that I am not good enough or I cannot cope with it, especially in case of
academic bombardment. Dr. According to Harris, the mechanism behind CBT is tasking such
cognitive distortions and substituting them with healthier and more rational thoughts. The
concept is that when the thoughts change, then the emotion and actions will be different
and I can be different by the way I can change my thoughts.
We also did some work in which I needed to write down the thoughts that happen when I
am feeling anxious and then check whether it is accurate. Dr. To monitor the thoughts
during the week, Harris provided me with a worksheet. She has highlighted the value of
becoming aware of automatic thoughts and disrupting the pattern of negative thoughts. I
am optimistic and doubtful at the same time that this thinking process will help: and how
significant will these changes be?
Another study shared by Dr. Harris is the one by Eells (2022), who states that CBT is a useful
approach when treating anxiety disorders because it makes the person self-aware of how
they think and trains them to recreate the patterns they have. This gave me hope that this
would be beneficial to me because the study was quite successful in suppressing symptoms
of people fighting with anxiety. I would be glad to test the worksheets, but I am not sure
that they will be such effective tools as Dr. Harris claims.
Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT)
How it happened: Journal Entry: ACT Session with Dr. Lee
This was not like the session with Dr. Lee today. She has acquainted me with Acceptance
and Commitment Therapy (ACT) which is aimed at accepting an unpleasant thought or
emotion rather than attempting to deal with them in any way. Dr. Lee informed me that the
more I strive to battle or avoid my anxiety, the more I make it worse. ACT, instead, teaches
me to be mindful and not judge my feelings, so I will forget the struggle.
At first, I was a bit confused because I had been taught never to fight the negative. But as
Dr. Lee assured me, acceptance is not resignation, but it is to accept that the feelings are
there but they are not to rule me and my actions. She prescribed me what she calls the
mindfulness practice where I am supposed to take note of the anxious thoughts and move
on without necessarily attaching myself to them
Dr. Lee talked about a study by Hayes et al. (2006), which discovered that ACT effectively
helps to decrease anxiety levels by enhancing the element of psychological flexibility. This
would be a matter of knowing how to go through discomfort without being unable to
continue achieving my targets. I was relieved by the thought that I do not have to get rid of
my anxiety and all I have to do is to alter my relationship with it. This process is uncommon,
and I am interested in the way it can work in my case. Nevertheless, I still do not know how
well I can apply it.
Short-Term Pzychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP)
STPP Journal Page: Dr. Collins
In my case, Dr. Collins today introduced me to Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy
(STPP) which deals with acquiring insights into my past experiences that led to me
presenting an emotional dilemma. Dr. Collins feels that my grief and pending matters with
my relationship with my mother are some of the reasons leading to my present anxiety. We
had to spend some time on my early relationship with my mother and how it could have
impacted my reactions nowadays.
Dr. Collins enlightened me about transference, which could be the possibility of my previous
relationships being projected onto my current emotions. She proposed that learning about
these unconscious processes would allow me to be able to cope with anxiety and grief more
efficiently. Dr. Collins also provided a study by Vigan (2025) that shows that STPP can be a
very effective intervention to overcome such emotional struggles as grief or anxiety. The
research demonstrated that much can be achieved in the area of emotional well-being
through the unmasking of unconscious conflicts.
I would say I learned a lot during the session, as it was somehow intense. The thought that
my current responses are being affected by my past emotional experiences seems relieving
and overwhelming. I do not know whether, by going back to these dynamics of the past, I
will feel better, yet I am willing to dig deeper. The prospect of teasing out the inner layers of
my bereavement seems to have potential, yet I am also afraid to face these feelings in full
force.
A Year After
A year later, Emily has already made considerable progress in their emotional development.
Despite high anxiety not being eliminated, it feels more manageable. The devices she was
taught during Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) have permeated the latter because
attacking the negative ideas is part of the techniques she has adopted and has allowed her
to deal with academic stress more adequately. Although she has reduced her panic attacks,
she still has a few instances of anxiety but she is no longer being overwhelmed by them.
In Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) practices mentioned, she has become more
accepting of her emotions and that has lowered her emotional struggle. She has become
less victimized by her anxiety and therefore she does not attempt to repress it anymore so
she lets it run its course.
Through Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP) Emily has come to appreciate
how her childhood grief and attachment problems affected her and have contributed to her
current sufferings. Through these unresolved problems, Emily has succeeded in reconciling
the death of her mother and she has managed to proceed more healthily.
Emily is now a stronger girl. She is still using the methods of her therapy, and though she
still has some cases of anxiety, it does not restrain her anymore. She has acquired her
Master's degree and is serving as a social worker to others with her own experiences in
mind. Emily is open to going back to therapy in case she requires it in the future, but at
present, she believes that she has what it takes to handle her emotions using the new
strategies she acquired.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Emily moved through the therapy and achieved considerable changes in the
spheres of anxiety, grief, and emotional distress. The therapeutic combination of Cognitive
Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Short-Term
Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP) has provided her with a variety of coping abilities so
that she can accommodate the cognitive and emotional parts of her woes. Emily has been
able to change her negative thought pattern through CBT, which has made her less anxious.
Act has also enabled her to embrace her feelings without any bias, something which has
reduced the power they have over her. Moreover, STPP made Emily able to interpret the
unexplainable grief associated with the death of her mother which gave her the emotional
elucidation needed to continue moving on. Although she still feels slightly anxious, Emily has
become stronger in regulating her emotions and has a more resilient attitude to life. Now
that she is still practicing social work, the lessons in therapy follow her because she knows
that therapy is not a single-strike cure but rather a way to move on with life and get to know
a better version of herself.
Emily Parker is a 27-year-old woman and a graduate student of Social Work who has been
experiencing heightened anxiety and a depressed mood accompanied by some panic attacks
after her mother passed away due to pancreatic cancer. Even though she had mildly
suffered anxiety during her teenage life, the awe-desolating effect of the loss of her mother
has greatly spurred up her suffering. Being in a common apartment with two roommates
and coping with all the stresses caused by her study load, Emily ends up being swept by her
emotions, resulting in concentration and academic problems. She wants to have a better
understanding of her anxiety, grief, and emotional well-being and through psychological
support learn how to deal with such emotions. This evaluation is going to examine the
extent of her emotional disorder and what kind of therapeutic procedures can be applied to
give her the means to put her life and mental state back under her control.
Gearing Up!
Emily Parker was sent to a psychological examination because of growing mood inferiority,
anxiety, concentrating disorder, and panic attacks revealed in recent times. These
symptoms increased when her mother who died of pancreatic cancer acted as an important
emotional catalyst. Anxiety is not a new problem that Emily has discovered, as she has felt
this way since her teenage years; however, the recent grief has become an additional
problem to her emotional stability. She rents an apartment together with 2 roommates, yet
her school needs and bereavement have caused alienation in her, despite the social
environment. Being a graduate student who lives in a combination setup, Emily has to deal
with various stressors, and the loss of her mom has largely increased her emotional burden.
The stress that she experiences in her studies mixed with the personal loss seems to have
exacerbated her anxiety, which manifested in panic attacks and concentration issues.
Previous psychological assistance: Emily has not made any attempts at seeking psychological
help before, but now, she understands how much her mental health has cost, and she is
willing to consider psychotherapy as the way to find her emotional equilibrium again.
During therapy preparation, Emily would ask herself how psychotherapy would assist her.
She found out that psychotherapy although having varied forms has several factors in
common that make it effective. The therapeutic relationship, client involvement, and
emotional support play a crucial role in providing change. These supporting factors create a
feeling of assurance and hope that the therapy may give her the means of coping with her
sorrow and anxiety (Holohan & Fiske, 2021). The main objective in the case of Emily should
be how to enable her to cope with both her grief and anxiety and apply therapy to give tools
to her that would enable her once again to have control over her emotional reactions and
focus on her academic achievements.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Participation Journal: CBT Session with Dr. Harris
Dr. Harris seemed to break through in the session we had today. We narrowed down on
establishing my negative thinking patterns which contribute to my anxiety. As a case in
point, I tend to say, that I am not good enough or I cannot cope with it, especially in case of
academic bombardment. Dr. According to Harris, the mechanism behind CBT is tasking such
cognitive distortions and substituting them with healthier and more rational thoughts. The
concept is that when the thoughts change, then the emotion and actions will be different
and I can be different by the way I can change my thoughts.
We also did some work in which I needed to write down the thoughts that happen when I
am feeling anxious and then check whether it is accurate. Dr. To monitor the thoughts
during the week, Harris provided me with a worksheet. She has highlighted the value of
becoming aware of automatic thoughts and disrupting the pattern of negative thoughts. I
am optimistic and doubtful at the same time that this thinking process will help: and how
significant will these changes be?
Another study shared by Dr. Harris is the one by Eells (2022), who states that CBT is a useful
approach when treating anxiety disorders because it makes the person self-aware of how
they think and trains them to recreate the patterns they have. This gave me hope that this
would be beneficial to me because the study was quite successful in suppressing symptoms
of people fighting with anxiety. I would be glad to test the worksheets, but I am not sure
that they will be such effective tools as Dr. Harris claims.
Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT)
How it happened: Journal Entry: ACT Session with Dr. Lee
This was not like the session with Dr. Lee today. She has acquainted me with Acceptance
and Commitment Therapy (ACT) which is aimed at accepting an unpleasant thought or
emotion rather than attempting to deal with them in any way. Dr. Lee informed me that the
more I strive to battle or avoid my anxiety, the more I make it worse. ACT, instead, teaches
me to be mindful and not judge my feelings, so I will forget the struggle.
At first, I was a bit confused because I had been taught never to fight the negative. But as
Dr. Lee assured me, acceptance is not resignation, but it is to accept that the feelings are
there but they are not to rule me and my actions. She prescribed me what she calls the
mindfulness practice where I am supposed to take note of the anxious thoughts and move
on without necessarily attaching myself to them
Dr. Lee talked about a study by Hayes et al. (2006), which discovered that ACT effectively
helps to decrease anxiety levels by enhancing the element of psychological flexibility. This
would be a matter of knowing how to go through discomfort without being unable to
continue achieving my targets. I was relieved by the thought that I do not have to get rid of
my anxiety and all I have to do is to alter my relationship with it. This process is uncommon,
and I am interested in the way it can work in my case. Nevertheless, I still do not know how
well I can apply it.
Short-Term Pzychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP)
STPP Journal Page: Dr. Collins
In my case, Dr. Collins today introduced me to Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy
(STPP) which deals with acquiring insights into my past experiences that led to me
presenting an emotional dilemma. Dr. Collins feels that my grief and pending matters with
my relationship with my mother are some of the reasons leading to my present anxiety. We
had to spend some time on my early relationship with my mother and how it could have
impacted my reactions nowadays.
Dr. Collins enlightened me about transference, which could be the possibility of my previous
relationships being projected onto my current emotions. She proposed that learning about
these unconscious processes would allow me to be able to cope with anxiety and grief more
efficiently. Dr. Collins also provided a study by Vigan (2025) that shows that STPP can be a
very effective intervention to overcome such emotional struggles as grief or anxiety. The
research demonstrated that much can be achieved in the area of emotional well-being
through the unmasking of unconscious conflicts.
I would say I learned a lot during the session, as it was somehow intense. The thought that
my current responses are being affected by my past emotional experiences seems relieving
and overwhelming. I do not know whether, by going back to these dynamics of the past, I
will feel better, yet I am willing to dig deeper. The prospect of teasing out the inner layers of
my bereavement seems to have potential, yet I am also afraid to face these feelings in full
force.
A Year After
A year later, Emily has already made considerable progress in their emotional development.
Despite high anxiety not being eliminated, it feels more manageable. The devices she was
taught during Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) have permeated the latter because
attacking the negative ideas is part of the techniques she has adopted and has allowed her
to deal with academic stress more adequately. Although she has reduced her panic attacks,
she still has a few instances of anxiety but she is no longer being overwhelmed by them.
In Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) practices mentioned, she has become more
accepting of her emotions and that has lowered her emotional struggle. She has become
less victimized by her anxiety and therefore she does not attempt to repress it anymore so
she lets it run its course.
Through Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP) Emily has come to appreciate
how her childhood grief and attachment problems affected her and have contributed to her
current sufferings. Through these unresolved problems, Emily has succeeded in reconciling
the death of her mother and she has managed to proceed more healthily.
Emily is now a stronger girl. She is still using the methods of her therapy, and though she
still has some cases of anxiety, it does not restrain her anymore. She has acquired her
Master's degree and is serving as a social worker to others with her own experiences in
mind. Emily is open to going back to therapy in case she requires it in the future, but at
present, she believes that she has what it takes to handle her emotions using the new
strategies she acquired.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Emily moved through the therapy and achieved considerable changes in the
spheres of anxiety, grief, and emotional distress. The therapeutic combination of Cognitive
Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Short-Term
Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP) has provided her with a variety of coping abilities so
that she can accommodate the cognitive and emotional parts of her woes. Emily has been
able to change her negative thought pattern through CBT, which has made her less anxious.
Act has also enabled her to embrace her feelings without any bias, something which has
reduced the power they have over her. Moreover, STPP made Emily able to interpret the
unexplainable grief associated with the death of her mother which gave her the emotional
elucidation needed to continue moving on. Although she still feels slightly anxious, Emily has
become stronger in regulating her emotions and has a more resilient attitude to life. Now
that she is still practicing social work, the lessons in therapy follow her because she knows
that therapy is not a single-strike cure but rather a way to move on with life and get to know
a better version of herself.
Emily Parker is a 27-year-old woman and a graduate student of Social Work who has been
experiencing heightened anxiety and a depressed mood accompanied by some panic attacks
after her mother passed away due to pancreatic cancer. Even though she had mildly
suffered anxiety during her teenage life, the awe-desolating effect of the loss of her mother
has greatly spurred up her suffering. Being in a common apartment with two roommates
and coping with all the stresses caused by her study load, Emily ends up being swept by her
emotions, resulting in concentration and academic problems. She wants to have a better
understanding of her anxiety, grief, and emotional well-being and through psychological
support learn how to deal with such emotions. This evaluation is going to examine the
extent of her emotional disorder and what kind of therapeutic procedures can be applied to
give her the means to put her life and mental state back under her control.
Gearing Up!
Emily Parker was sent to a psychological examination because of growing mood inferiority,
anxiety, concentrating disorder, and panic attacks revealed in recent times. These
symptoms increased when her mother who died of pancreatic cancer acted as an important
emotional catalyst. Anxiety is not a new problem that Emily has discovered, as she has felt
this way since her teenage years; however, the recent grief has become an additional
problem to her emotional stability. She rents an apartment together with 2 roommates, yet
her school needs and bereavement have caused alienation in her, despite the social
environment. Being a graduate student who lives in a combination setup, Emily has to deal
with various stressors, and the loss of her mom has largely increased her emotional burden.
The stress that she experiences in her studies mixed with the personal loss seems to have
exacerbated her anxiety, which manifested in panic attacks and concentration issues.
Previous psychological assistance: Emily has not made any attempts at seeking psychological
help before, but now, she understands how much her mental health has cost, and she is
willing to consider psychotherapy as the way to find her emotional equilibrium again.
During therapy preparation, Emily would ask herself how psychotherapy would assist her.
She found out that psychotherapy although having varied forms has several factors in
common that make it effective. The therapeutic relationship, client involvement, and
emotional support play a crucial role in providing change. These supporting factors create a
feeling of assurance and hope that the therapy may give her the means of coping with her
sorrow and anxiety (Holohan & Fiske, 2021). The main objective in the case of Emily should
be how to enable her to cope with both her grief and anxiety and apply therapy to give tools
to her that would enable her once again to have control over her emotional reactions and
focus on her academic achievements.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Participation Journal: CBT Session with Dr. Harris
Dr. Harris seemed to break through in the session we had today. We narrowed down on
establishing my negative thinking patterns which contribute to my anxiety. As a case in
point, I tend to say, that I am not good enough or I cannot cope with it, especially in case of
academic bombardment. Dr. According to Harris, the mechanism behind CBT is tasking such
cognitive distortions and substituting them with healthier and more rational thoughts. The
concept is that when the thoughts change, then the emotion and actions will be different
and I can be different by the way I can change my thoughts.
We also did some work in which I needed to write down the thoughts that happen when I
am feeling anxious and then check whether it is accurate. Dr. To monitor the thoughts
during the week, Harris provided me with a worksheet. She has highlighted the value of
becoming aware of automatic thoughts and disrupting the pattern of negative thoughts. I
am optimistic and doubtful at the same time that this thinking process will help: and how
significant will these changes be?
Another study shared by Dr. Harris is the one by Eells (2022), who states that CBT is a useful
approach when treating anxiety disorders because it makes the person self-aware of how
they think and trains them to recreate the patterns they have. This gave me hope that this
would be beneficial to me because the study was quite successful in suppressing symptoms
of people fighting with anxiety. I would be glad to test the worksheets, but I am not sure
that they will be such effective tools as Dr. Harris claims.
Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT)
How it happened: Journal Entry: ACT Session with Dr. Lee
This was not like the session with Dr. Lee today. She has acquainted me with Acceptance
and Commitment Therapy (ACT) which is aimed at accepting an unpleasant thought or
emotion rather than attempting to deal with them in any way. Dr. Lee informed me that the
more I strive to battle or avoid my anxiety, the more I make it worse. ACT, instead, teaches
me to be mindful and not judge my feelings, so I will forget the struggle.
At first, I was a bit confused because I had been taught never to fight the negative. But as
Dr. Lee assured me, acceptance is not resignation, but it is to accept that the feelings are
there but they are not to rule me and my actions. She prescribed me what she calls the
mindfulness practice where I am supposed to take note of the anxious thoughts and move
on without necessarily attaching myself to them
Dr. Lee talked about a study by Hayes et al. (2006), which discovered that ACT effectively
helps to decrease anxiety levels by enhancing the element of psychological flexibility. This
would be a matter of knowing how to go through discomfort without being unable to
continue achieving my targets. I was relieved by the thought that I do not have to get rid of
my anxiety and all I have to do is to alter my relationship with it. This process is uncommon,
and I am interested in the way it can work in my case. Nevertheless, I still do not know how
well I can apply it.
Short-Term Pzychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP)
STPP Journal Page: Dr. Collins
In my case, Dr. Collins today introduced me to Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy
(STPP) which deals with acquiring insights into my past experiences that led to me
presenting an emotional dilemma. Dr. Collins feels that my grief and pending matters with
my relationship with my mother are some of the reasons leading to my present anxiety. We
had to spend some time on my early relationship with my mother and how it could have
impacted my reactions nowadays.
Dr. Collins enlightened me about transference, which could be the possibility of my previous
relationships being projected onto my current emotions. She proposed that learning about
these unconscious processes would allow me to be able to cope with anxiety and grief more
efficiently. Dr. Collins also provided a study by Vigan (2025) that shows that STPP can be a
very effective intervention to overcome such emotional struggles as grief or anxiety. The
research demonstrated that much can be achieved in the area of emotional well-being
through the unmasking of unconscious conflicts.
I would say I learned a lot during the session, as it was somehow intense. The thought that
my current responses are being affected by my past emotional experiences seems relieving
and overwhelming. I do not know whether, by going back to these dynamics of the past, I
will feel better, yet I am willing to dig deeper. The prospect of teasing out the inner layers of
my bereavement seems to have potential, yet I am also afraid to face these feelings in full
force.
A Year After
A year later, Emily has already made considerable progress in their emotional development.
Despite high anxiety not being eliminated, it feels more manageable. The devices she was
taught during Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) have permeated the latter because
attacking the negative ideas is part of the techniques she has adopted and has allowed her
to deal with academic stress more adequately. Although she has reduced her panic attacks,
she still has a few instances of anxiety but she is no longer being overwhelmed by them.
In Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) practices mentioned, she has become more
accepting of her emotions and that has lowered her emotional struggle. She has become
less victimized by her anxiety and therefore she does not attempt to repress it anymore so
she lets it run its course.
Through Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP) Emily has come to appreciate
how her childhood grief and attachment problems affected her and have contributed to her
current sufferings. Through these unresolved problems, Emily has succeeded in reconciling
the death of her mother and she has managed to proceed more healthily.
Emily is now a stronger girl. She is still using the methods of her therapy, and though she
still has some cases of anxiety, it does not restrain her anymore. She has acquired her
Master's degree and is serving as a social worker to others with her own experiences in
mind. Emily is open to going back to therapy in case she requires it in the future, but at
present, she believes that she has what it takes to handle her emotions using the new
strategies she acquired.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Emily moved through the therapy and achieved considerable changes in the
spheres of anxiety, grief, and emotional distress. The therapeutic combination of Cognitive
Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Short-Term
Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP) has provided her with a variety of coping abilities so
that she can accommodate the cognitive and emotional parts of her woes. Emily has been
able to change her negative thought pattern through CBT, which has made her less anxious.
Act has also enabled her to embrace her feelings without any bias, something which has
reduced the power they have over her. Moreover, STPP made Emily able to interpret the
unexplainable grief associated with the death of her mother which gave her the emotional
elucidation needed to continue moving on. Although she still feels slightly anxious, Emily has
become stronger in regulating her emotions and has a more resilient attitude to life. Now
that she is still practicing social work, the lessons in therapy follow her because she knows
that therapy is not a single-strike cure but rather a way to move on with life and get to know
a better version of herself.
Emily Parker is a 27-year-old woman and a graduate student of Social Work who has been
experiencing heightened anxiety and a depressed mood accompanied by some panic attacks
after her mother passed away due to pancreatic cancer. Even though she had mildly
suffered anxiety during her teenage life, the awe-desolating effect of the loss of her mother
has greatly spurred up her suffering. Being in a common apartment with two roommates
and coping with all the stresses caused by her study load, Emily ends up being swept by her
emotions, resulting in concentration and academic problems. She wants to have a better
understanding of her anxiety, grief, and emotional well-being and through psychological
support learn how to deal with such emotions. This evaluation is going to examine the
extent of her emotional disorder and what kind of therapeutic procedures can be applied to
give her the means to put her life and mental state back under her control.
Gearing Up!
Emily Parker was sent to a psychological examination because of growing mood inferiority,
anxiety, concentrating disorder, and panic attacks revealed in recent times. These
symptoms increased when her mother who died of pancreatic cancer acted as an important
emotional catalyst. Anxiety is not a new problem that Emily has discovered, as she has felt
this way since her teenage years; however, the recent grief has become an additional
problem to her emotional stability. She rents an apartment together with 2 roommates, yet
her school needs and bereavement have caused alienation in her, despite the social
environment. Being a graduate student who lives in a combination setup, Emily has to deal
with various stressors, and the loss of her mom has largely increased her emotional burden.
The stress that she experiences in her studies mixed with the personal loss seems to have
exacerbated her anxiety, which manifested in panic attacks and concentration issues.
Previous psychological assistance: Emily has not made any attempts at seeking psychological
help before, but now, she understands how much her mental health has cost, and she is
willing to consider psychotherapy as the way to find her emotional equilibrium again.
During therapy preparation, Emily would ask herself how psychotherapy would assist her.
She found out that psychotherapy although having varied forms has several factors in
common that make it effective. The therapeutic relationship, client involvement, and
emotional support play a crucial role in providing change. These supporting factors create a
feeling of assurance and hope that the therapy may give her the means of coping with her
sorrow and anxiety (Holohan & Fiske, 2021). The main objective in the case of Emily should
be how to enable her to cope with both her grief and anxiety and apply therapy to give tools
to her that would enable her once again to have control over her emotional reactions and
focus on her academic achievements.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Participation Journal: CBT Session with Dr. Harris
Dr. Harris seemed to break through in the session we had today. We narrowed down on
establishing my negative thinking patterns which contribute to my anxiety. As a case in
point, I tend to say, that I am not good enough or I cannot cope with it, especially in case of
academic bombardment. Dr. According to Harris, the mechanism behind CBT is tasking such
cognitive distortions and substituting them with healthier and more rational thoughts. The
concept is that when the thoughts change, then the emotion and actions will be different
and I can be different by the way I can change my thoughts.
We also did some work in which I needed to write down the thoughts that happen when I
am feeling anxious and then check whether it is accurate. Dr. To monitor the thoughts
during the week, Harris provided me with a worksheet. She has highlighted the value of
becoming aware of automatic thoughts and disrupting the pattern of negative thoughts. I
am optimistic and doubtful at the same time that this thinking process will help: and how
significant will these changes be?
Another study shared by Dr. Harris is the one by Eells (2022), who states that CBT is a useful
approach when treating anxiety disorders because it makes the person self-aware of how
they think and trains them to recreate the patterns they have. This gave me hope that this
would be beneficial to me because the study was quite successful in suppressing symptoms
of people fighting with anxiety. I would be glad to test the worksheets, but I am not sure
that they will be such effective tools as Dr. Harris claims.
Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT)
How it happened: Journal Entry: ACT Session with Dr. Lee
This was not like the session with Dr. Lee today. She has acquainted me with Acceptance
and Commitment Therapy (ACT) which is aimed at accepting an unpleasant thought or
emotion rather than attempting to deal with them in any way. Dr. Lee informed me that the
more I strive to battle or avoid my anxiety, the more I make it worse. ACT, instead, teaches
me to be mindful and not judge my feelings, so I will forget the struggle.
At first, I was a bit confused because I had been taught never to fight the negative. But as
Dr. Lee assured me, acceptance is not resignation, but it is to accept that the feelings are
there but they are not to rule me and my actions. She prescribed me what she calls the
mindfulness practice where I am supposed to take note of the anxious thoughts and move
on without necessarily attaching myself to them
Dr. Lee talked about a study by Hayes et al. (2006), which discovered that ACT effectively
helps to decrease anxiety levels by enhancing the element of psychological flexibility. This
would be a matter of knowing how to go through discomfort without being unable to
continue achieving my targets. I was relieved by the thought that I do not have to get rid of
my anxiety and all I have to do is to alter my relationship with it. This process is uncommon,
and I am interested in the way it can work in my case. Nevertheless, I still do not know how
well I can apply it.
Short-Term Pzychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP)
STPP Journal Page: Dr. Collins
In my case, Dr. Collins today introduced me to Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy
(STPP) which deals with acquiring insights into my past experiences that led to me
presenting an emotional dilemma. Dr. Collins feels that my grief and pending matters with
my relationship with my mother are some of the reasons leading to my present anxiety. We
had to spend some time on my early relationship with my mother and how it could have
impacted my reactions nowadays.
Dr. Collins enlightened me about transference, which could be the possibility of my previous
relationships being projected onto my current emotions. She proposed that learning about
these unconscious processes would allow me to be able to cope with anxiety and grief more
efficiently. Dr. Collins also provided a study by Vigan (2025) that shows that STPP can be a
very effective intervention to overcome such emotional struggles as grief or anxiety. The
research demonstrated that much can be achieved in the area of emotional well-being
through the unmasking of unconscious conflicts.
I would say I learned a lot during the session, as it was somehow intense. The thought that
my current responses are being affected by my past emotional experiences seems relieving
and overwhelming. I do not know whether, by going back to these dynamics of the past, I
will feel better, yet I am willing to dig deeper. The prospect of teasing out the inner layers of
my bereavement seems to have potential, yet I am also afraid to face these feelings in full
force.
A Year After
A year later, Emily has already made considerable progress in their emotional development.
Despite high anxiety not being eliminated, it feels more manageable. The devices she was
taught during Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) have permeated the latter because
attacking the negative ideas is part of the techniques she has adopted and has allowed her
to deal with academic stress more adequately. Although she has reduced her panic attacks,
she still has a few instances of anxiety but she is no longer being overwhelmed by them.
In Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) practices mentioned, she has become more
accepting of her emotions and that has lowered her emotional struggle. She has become
less victimized by her anxiety and therefore she does not attempt to repress it anymore so
she lets it run its course.
Through Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP) Emily has come to appreciate
how her childhood grief and attachment problems affected her and have contributed to her
current sufferings. Through these unresolved problems, Emily has succeeded in reconciling
the death of her mother and she has managed to proceed more healthily.
Emily is now a stronger girl. She is still using the methods of her therapy, and though she
still has some cases of anxiety, it does not restrain her anymore. She has acquired her
Master's degree and is serving as a social worker to others with her own experiences in
mind. Emily is open to going back to therapy in case she requires it in the future, but at
present, she believes that she has what it takes to handle her emotions using the new
strategies she acquired.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Emily moved through the therapy and achieved considerable changes in the
spheres of anxiety, grief, and emotional distress. The therapeutic combination of Cognitive
Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Short-Term
Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP) has provided her with a variety of coping abilities so
that she can accommodate the cognitive and emotional parts of her woes. Emily has been
able to change her negative thought pattern through CBT, which has made her less anxious.
Act has also enabled her to embrace her feelings without any bias, something which has
reduced the power they have over her. Moreover, STPP made Emily able to interpret the
unexplainable grief associated with the death of her mother which gave her the emotional
elucidation needed to continue moving on. Although she still feels slightly anxious, Emily has
become stronger in regulating her emotions and has a more resilient attitude to life. Now
that she is still practicing social work, the lessons in therapy follow her because she knows
that therapy is not a single-strike cure but rather a way to move on with life and get to know
a better version of herself.
Emily Parker is a 27-year-old woman and a graduate student of Social Work who has been
experiencing heightened anxiety and a depressed mood accompanied by some panic attacks
after her mother passed away due to pancreatic cancer. Even though she had mildly
suffered anxiety during her teenage life, the awe-desolating effect of the loss of her mother
has greatly spurred up her suffering. Being in a common apartment with two roommates
and coping with all the stresses caused by her study load, Emily ends up being swept by her
emotions, resulting in concentration and academic problems. She wants to have a better
understanding of her anxiety, grief, and emotional well-being and through psychological
support learn how to deal with such emotions. This evaluation is going to examine the
extent of her emotional disorder and what kind of therapeutic procedures can be applied to
give her the means to put her life and mental state back under her control.
Gearing Up!
Emily Parker was sent to a psychological examination because of growing mood inferiority,
anxiety, concentrating disorder, and panic attacks revealed in recent times. These
symptoms increased when her mother who died of pancreatic cancer acted as an important
emotional catalyst. Anxiety is not a new problem that Emily has discovered, as she has felt
this way since her teenage years; however, the recent grief has become an additional
problem to her emotional stability. She rents an apartment together with 2 roommates, yet
her school needs and bereavement have caused alienation in her, despite the social
environment. Being a graduate student who lives in a combination setup, Emily has to deal
with various stressors, and the loss of her mom has largely increased her emotional burden.
The stress that she experiences in her studies mixed with the personal loss seems to have
exacerbated her anxiety, which manifested in panic attacks and concentration issues.
Previous psychological assistance: Emily has not made any attempts at seeking psychological
help before, but now, she understands how much her mental health has cost, and she is
willing to consider psychotherapy as the way to find her emotional equilibrium again.
During therapy preparation, Emily would ask herself how psychotherapy would assist her.
She found out that psychotherapy although having varied forms has several factors in
common that make it effective. The therapeutic relationship, client involvement, and
emotional support play a crucial role in providing change. These supporting factors create a
feeling of assurance and hope that the therapy may give her the means of coping with her
sorrow and anxiety (Holohan & Fiske, 2021). The main objective in the case of Emily should
be how to enable her to cope with both her grief and anxiety and apply therapy to give tools
to her that would enable her once again to have control over her emotional reactions and
focus on her academic achievements.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Participation Journal: CBT Session with Dr. Harris
Dr. Harris seemed to break through in the session we had today. We narrowed down on
establishing my negative thinking patterns which contribute to my anxiety. As a case in
point, I tend to say, that I am not good enough or I cannot cope with it, especially in case of
academic bombardment. Dr. According to Harris, the mechanism behind CBT is tasking such
cognitive distortions and substituting them with healthier and more rational thoughts. The
concept is that when the thoughts change, then the emotion and actions will be different
and I can be different by the way I can change my thoughts.
We also did some work in which I needed to write down the thoughts that happen when I
am feeling anxious and then check whether it is accurate. Dr. To monitor the thoughts
during the week, Harris provided me with a worksheet. She has highlighted the value of
becoming aware of automatic thoughts and disrupting the pattern of negative thoughts. I
am optimistic and doubtful at the same time that this thinking process will help: and how
significant will these changes be?
Another study shared by Dr. Harris is the one by Eells (2022), who states that CBT is a useful
approach when treating anxiety disorders because it makes the person self-aware of how
they think and trains them to recreate the patterns they have. This gave me hope that this
would be beneficial to me because the study was quite successful in suppressing symptoms
of people fighting with anxiety. I would be glad to test the worksheets, but I am not sure
that they will be such effective tools as Dr. Harris claims.
Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT)
How it happened: Journal Entry: ACT Session with Dr. Lee
This was not like the session with Dr. Lee today. She has acquainted me with Acceptance
and Commitment Therapy (ACT) which is aimed at accepting an unpleasant thought or
emotion rather than attempting to deal with them in any way. Dr. Lee informed me that the
more I strive to battle or avoid my anxiety, the more I make it worse. ACT, instead, teaches
me to be mindful and not judge my feelings, so I will forget the struggle.
At first, I was a bit confused because I had been taught never to fight the negative. But as
Dr. Lee assured me, acceptance is not resignation, but it is to accept that the feelings are
there but they are not to rule me and my actions. She prescribed me what she calls the
mindfulness practice where I am supposed to take note of the anxious thoughts and move
on without necessarily attaching myself to them
Dr. Lee talked about a study by Hayes et al. (2006), which discovered that ACT effectively
helps to decrease anxiety levels by enhancing the element of psychological flexibility. This
would be a matter of knowing how to go through discomfort without being unable to
continue achieving my targets. I was relieved by the thought that I do not have to get rid of
my anxiety and all I have to do is to alter my relationship with it. This process is uncommon,
and I am interested in the way it can work in my case. Nevertheless, I still do not know how
well I can apply it.
Short-Term Pzychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP)
STPP Journal Page: Dr. Collins
In my case, Dr. Collins today introduced me to Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy
(STPP) which deals with acquiring insights into my past experiences that led to me
presenting an emotional dilemma. Dr. Collins feels that my grief and pending matters with
my relationship with my mother are some of the reasons leading to my present anxiety. We
had to spend some time on my early relationship with my mother and how it could have
impacted my reactions nowadays.
Dr. Collins enlightened me about transference, which could be the possibility of my previous
relationships being projected onto my current emotions. She proposed that learning about
these unconscious processes would allow me to be able to cope with anxiety and grief more
efficiently. Dr. Collins also provided a study by Vigan (2025) that shows that STPP can be a
very effective intervention to overcome such emotional struggles as grief or anxiety. The
research demonstrated that much can be achieved in the area of emotional well-being
through the unmasking of unconscious conflicts.
I would say I learned a lot during the session, as it was somehow intense. The thought that
my current responses are being affected by my past emotional experiences seems relieving
and overwhelming. I do not know whether, by going back to these dynamics of the past, I
will feel better, yet I am willing to dig deeper. The prospect of teasing out the inner layers of
my bereavement seems to have potential, yet I am also afraid to face these feelings in full
force.
A Year After
A year later, Emily has already made considerable progress in their emotional development.
Despite high anxiety not being eliminated, it feels more manageable. The devices she was
taught during Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) have permeated the latter because
attacking the negative ideas is part of the techniques she has adopted and has allowed her
to deal with academic stress more adequately. Although she has reduced her panic attacks,
she still has a few instances of anxiety but she is no longer being overwhelmed by them.
In Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) practices mentioned, she has become more
accepting of her emotions and that has lowered her emotional struggle. She has become
less victimized by her anxiety and therefore she does not attempt to repress it anymore so
she lets it run its course.
Through Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP) Emily has come to appreciate
how her childhood grief and attachment problems affected her and have contributed to her
current sufferings. Through these unresolved problems, Emily has succeeded in reconciling
the death of her mother and she has managed to proceed more healthily.
Emily is now a stronger girl. She is still using the methods of her therapy, and though she
still has some cases of anxiety, it does not restrain her anymore. She has acquired her
Master's degree and is serving as a social worker to others with her own experiences in
mind. Emily is open to going back to therapy in case she requires it in the future, but at
present, she believes that she has what it takes to handle her emotions using the new
strategies she acquired.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Emily moved through the therapy and achieved considerable changes in the
spheres of anxiety, grief, and emotional distress. The therapeutic combination of Cognitive
Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Short-Term
Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP) has provided her with a variety of coping abilities so
that she can accommodate the cognitive and emotional parts of her woes. Emily has been
able to change her negative thought pattern through CBT, which has made her less anxious.
Act has also enabled her to embrace her feelings without any bias, something which has
reduced the power they have over her. Moreover, STPP made Emily able to interpret the
unexplainable grief associated with the death of her mother which gave her the emotional
elucidation needed to continue moving on. Although she still feels slightly anxious, Emily has
become stronger in regulating her emotions and has a more resilient attitude to life. Now
that she is still practicing social work, the lessons in therapy follow her because she knows
that therapy is not a single-strike cure but rather a way to move on with life and get to know
a better version of herself.
Emily Parker is a 27-year-old woman and a graduate student of Social Work who has been
experiencing heightened anxiety and a depressed mood accompanied by some panic attacks
after her mother passed away due to pancreatic cancer. Even though she had mildly
suffered anxiety during her teenage life, the awe-desolating effect of the loss of her mother
has greatly spurred up her suffering. Being in a common apartment with two roommates
and coping with all the stresses caused by her study load, Emily ends up being swept by her
emotions, resulting in concentration and academic problems. She wants to have a better
understanding of her anxiety, grief, and emotional well-being and through psychological
support learn how to deal with such emotions. This evaluation is going to examine the
extent of her emotional disorder and what kind of therapeutic procedures can be applied to
give her the means to put her life and mental state back under her control.
Gearing Up!
Emily Parker was sent to a psychological examination because of growing mood inferiority,
anxiety, concentrating disorder, and panic attacks revealed in recent times. These
symptoms increased when her mother who died of pancreatic cancer acted as an important
emotional catalyst. Anxiety is not a new problem that Emily has discovered, as she has felt
this way since her teenage years; however, the recent grief has become an additional
problem to her emotional stability. She rents an apartment together with 2 roommates, yet
her school needs and bereavement have caused alienation in her, despite the social
environment. Being a graduate student who lives in a combination setup, Emily has to deal
with various stressors, and the loss of her mom has largely increased her emotional burden.
The stress that she experiences in her studies mixed with the personal loss seems to have
exacerbated her anxiety, which manifested in panic attacks and concentration issues.
Previous psychological assistance: Emily has not made any attempts at seeking psychological
help before, but now, she understands how much her mental health has cost, and she is
willing to consider psychotherapy as the way to find her emotional equilibrium again.
During therapy preparation, Emily would ask herself how psychotherapy would assist her.
She found out that psychotherapy although having varied forms has several factors in
common that make it effective. The therapeutic relationship, client involvement, and
emotional support play a crucial role in providing change. These supporting factors create a
feeling of assurance and hope that the therapy may give her the means of coping with her
sorrow and anxiety (Holohan & Fiske, 2021). The main objective in the case of Emily should
be how to enable her to cope with both her grief and anxiety and apply therapy to give tools
to her that would enable her once again to have control over her emotional reactions and
focus on her academic achievements.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Participation Journal: CBT Session with Dr. Harris
Dr. Harris seemed to break through in the session we had today. We narrowed down on
establishing my negative thinking patterns which contribute to my anxiety. As a case in
point, I tend to say, that I am not good enough or I cannot cope with it, especially in case of
academic bombardment. Dr. According to Harris, the mechanism behind CBT is tasking such
cognitive distortions and substituting them with healthier and more rational thoughts. The
concept is that when the thoughts change, then the emotion and actions will be different
and I can be different by the way I can change my thoughts.
We also did some work in which I needed to write down the thoughts that happen when I
am feeling anxious and then check whether it is accurate. Dr. To monitor the thoughts
during the week, Harris provided me with a worksheet. She has highlighted the value of
becoming aware of automatic thoughts and disrupting the pattern of negative thoughts. I
am optimistic and doubtful at the same time that this thinking process will help: and how
significant will these changes be?
Another study shared by Dr. Harris is the one by Eells (2022), who states that CBT is a useful
approach when treating anxiety disorders because it makes the person self-aware of how
they think and trains them to recreate the patterns they have. This gave me hope that this
would be beneficial to me because the study was quite successful in suppressing symptoms
of people fighting with anxiety. I would be glad to test the worksheets, but I am not sure
that they will be such effective tools as Dr. Harris claims.
Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT)
How it happened: Journal Entry: ACT Session with Dr. Lee
This was not like the session with Dr. Lee today. She has acquainted me with Acceptance
and Commitment Therapy (ACT) which is aimed at accepting an unpleasant thought or
emotion rather than attempting to deal with them in any way. Dr. Lee informed me that the
more I strive to battle or avoid my anxiety, the more I make it worse. ACT, instead, teaches
me to be mindful and not judge my feelings, so I will forget the struggle.
At first, I was a bit confused because I had been taught never to fight the negative. But as
Dr. Lee assured me, acceptance is not resignation, but it is to accept that the feelings are
there but they are not to rule me and my actions. She prescribed me what she calls the
mindfulness practice where I am supposed to take note of the anxious thoughts and move
on without necessarily attaching myself to them
Dr. Lee talked about a study by Hayes et al. (2006), which discovered that ACT effectively
helps to decrease anxiety levels by enhancing the element of psychological flexibility. This
would be a matter of knowing how to go through discomfort without being unable to
continue achieving my targets. I was relieved by the thought that I do not have to get rid of
my anxiety and all I have to do is to alter my relationship with it. This process is uncommon,
and I am interested in the way it can work in my case. Nevertheless, I still do not know how
well I can apply it.
Short-Term Pzychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP)
STPP Journal Page: Dr. Collins
In my case, Dr. Collins today introduced me to Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy
(STPP) which deals with acquiring insights into my past experiences that led to me
presenting an emotional dilemma. Dr. Collins feels that my grief and pending matters with
my relationship with my mother are some of the reasons leading to my present anxiety. We
had to spend some time on my early relationship with my mother and how it could have
impacted my reactions nowadays.
Dr. Collins enlightened me about transference, which could be the possibility of my previous
relationships being projected onto my current emotions. She proposed that learning about
these unconscious processes would allow me to be able to cope with anxiety and grief more
efficiently. Dr. Collins also provided a study by Vigan (2025) that shows that STPP can be a
very effective intervention to overcome such emotional struggles as grief or anxiety. The
research demonstrated that much can be achieved in the area of emotional well-being
through the unmasking of unconscious conflicts.
I would say I learned a lot during the session, as it was somehow intense. The thought that
my current responses are being affected by my past emotional experiences seems relieving
and overwhelming. I do not know whether, by going back to these dynamics of the past, I
will feel better, yet I am willing to dig deeper. The prospect of teasing out the inner layers of
my bereavement seems to have potential, yet I am also afraid to face these feelings in full
force.
A Year After
A year later, Emily has already made considerable progress in their emotional development.
Despite high anxiety not being eliminated, it feels more manageable. The devices she was
taught during Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) have permeated the latter because
attacking the negative ideas is part of the techniques she has adopted and has allowed her
to deal with academic stress more adequately. Although she has reduced her panic attacks,
she still has a few instances of anxiety but she is no longer being overwhelmed by them.
In Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) practices mentioned, she has become more
accepting of her emotions and that has lowered her emotional struggle. She has become
less victimized by her anxiety and therefore she does not attempt to repress it anymore so
she lets it run its course.
Through Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP) Emily has come to appreciate
how her childhood grief and attachment problems affected her and have contributed to her
current sufferings. Through these unresolved problems, Emily has succeeded in reconciling
the death of her mother and she has managed to proceed more healthily.
Emily is now a stronger girl. She is still using the methods of her therapy, and though she
still has some cases of anxiety, it does not restrain her anymore. She has acquired her
Master's degree and is serving as a social worker to others with her own experiences in
mind. Emily is open to going back to therapy in case she requires it in the future, but at
present, she believes that she has what it takes to handle her emotions using the new
strategies she acquired.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Emily moved through the therapy and achieved considerable changes in the
spheres of anxiety, grief, and emotional distress. The therapeutic combination of Cognitive
Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Short-Term
Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP) has provided her with a variety of coping abilities so
that she can accommodate the cognitive and emotional parts of her woes. Emily has been
able to change her negative thought pattern through CBT, which has made her less anxious.
Act has also enabled her to embrace her feelings without any bias, something which has
reduced the power they have over her. Moreover, STPP made Emily able to interpret the
unexplainable grief associated with the death of her mother which gave her the emotional
elucidation needed to continue moving on. Although she still feels slightly anxious, Emily has
become stronger in regulating her emotions and has a more resilient attitude to life. Now
that she is still practicing social work, the lessons in therapy follow her because she knows
that therapy is not a single-strike cure but rather a way to move on with life and get to know
a better version of herself.
Emily Parker is a 27-year-old woman and a graduate student of Social Work who has been
experiencing heightened anxiety and a depressed mood accompanied by some panic attacks
after her mother passed away due to pancreatic cancer. Even though she had mildly
suffered anxiety during her teenage life, the awe-desolating effect of the loss of her mother
has greatly spurred up her suffering. Being in a common apartment with two roommates
and coping with all the stresses caused by her study load, Emily ends up being swept by her
emotions, resulting in concentration and academic problems. She wants to have a better
understanding of her anxiety, grief, and emotional well-being and through psychological
support learn how to deal with such emotions. This evaluation is going to examine the
extent of her emotional disorder and what kind of therapeutic procedures can be applied to
give her the means to put her life and mental state back under her control.
Gearing Up!
Emily Parker was sent to a psychological examination because of growing mood inferiority,
anxiety, concentrating disorder, and panic attacks revealed in recent times. These
symptoms increased when her mother who died of pancreatic cancer acted as an important
emotional catalyst. Anxiety is not a new problem that Emily has discovered, as she has felt
this way since her teenage years; however, the recent grief has become an additional
problem to her emotional stability. She rents an apartment together with 2 roommates, yet
her school needs and bereavement have caused alienation in her, despite the social
environment. Being a graduate student who lives in a combination setup, Emily has to deal
with various stressors, and the loss of her mom has largely increased her emotional burden.
The stress that she experiences in her studies mixed with the personal loss seems to have
exacerbated her anxiety, which manifested in panic attacks and concentration issues.
Previous psychological assistance: Emily has not made any attempts at seeking psychological
help before, but now, she understands how much her mental health has cost, and she is
willing to consider psychotherapy as the way to find her emotional equilibrium again.
During therapy preparation, Emily would ask herself how psychotherapy would assist her.
She found out that psychotherapy although having varied forms has several factors in
common that make it effective. The therapeutic relationship, client involvement, and
emotional support play a crucial role in providing change. These supporting factors create a
feeling of assurance and hope that the therapy may give her the means of coping with her
sorrow and anxiety (Holohan & Fiske, 2021). The main objective in the case of Emily should
be how to enable her to cope with both her grief and anxiety and apply therapy to give tools
to her that would enable her once again to have control over her emotional reactions and
focus on her academic achievements.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Participation Journal: CBT Session with Dr. Harris
Dr. Harris seemed to break through in the session we had today. We narrowed down on
establishing my negative thinking patterns which contribute to my anxiety. As a case in
point, I tend to say, that I am not good enough or I cannot cope with it, especially in case of
academic bombardment. Dr. According to Harris, the mechanism behind CBT is tasking such
cognitive distortions and substituting them with healthier and more rational thoughts. The
concept is that when the thoughts change, then the emotion and actions will be different
and I can be different by the way I can change my thoughts.
We also did some work in which I needed to write down the thoughts that happen when I
am feeling anxious and then check whether it is accurate. Dr. To monitor the thoughts
during the week, Harris provided me with a worksheet. She has highlighted the value of
becoming aware of automatic thoughts and disrupting the pattern of negative thoughts. I
am optimistic and doubtful at the same time that this thinking process will help: and how
significant will these changes be?
Another study shared by Dr. Harris is the one by Eells (2022), who states that CBT is a useful
approach when treating anxiety disorders because it makes the person self-aware of how
they think and trains them to recreate the patterns they have. This gave me hope that this
would be beneficial to me because the study was quite successful in suppressing symptoms
of people fighting with anxiety. I would be glad to test the worksheets, but I am not sure
that they will be such effective tools as Dr. Harris claims.
Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT)
How it happened: Journal Entry: ACT Session with Dr. Lee
This was not like the session with Dr. Lee today. She has acquainted me with Acceptance
and Commitment Therapy (ACT) which is aimed at accepting an unpleasant thought or
emotion rather than attempting to deal with them in any way. Dr. Lee informed me that the
more I strive to battle or avoid my anxiety, the more I make it worse. ACT, instead, teaches
me to be mindful and not judge my feelings, so I will forget the struggle.
At first, I was a bit confused because I had been taught never to fight the negative. But as
Dr. Lee assured me, acceptance is not resignation, but it is to accept that the feelings are
there but they are not to rule me and my actions. She prescribed me what she calls the
mindfulness practice where I am supposed to take note of the anxious thoughts and move
on without necessarily attaching myself to them
Dr. Lee talked about a study by Hayes et al. (2006), which discovered that ACT effectively
helps to decrease anxiety levels by enhancing the element of psychological flexibility. This
would be a matter of knowing how to go through discomfort without being unable to
continue achieving my targets. I was relieved by the thought that I do not have to get rid of
my anxiety and all I have to do is to alter my relationship with it. This process is uncommon,
and I am interested in the way it can work in my case. Nevertheless, I still do not know how
well I can apply it.
Short-Term Pzychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP)
STPP Journal Page: Dr. Collins
In my case, Dr. Collins today introduced me to Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy
(STPP) which deals with acquiring insights into my past experiences that led to me
presenting an emotional dilemma. Dr. Collins feels that my grief and pending matters with
my relationship with my mother are some of the reasons leading to my present anxiety. We
had to spend some time on my early relationship with my mother and how it could have
impacted my reactions nowadays.
Dr. Collins enlightened me about transference, which could be the possibility of my previous
relationships being projected onto my current emotions. She proposed that learning about
these unconscious processes would allow me to be able to cope with anxiety and grief more
efficiently. Dr. Collins also provided a study by Vigan (2025) that shows that STPP can be a
very effective intervention to overcome such emotional struggles as grief or anxiety. The
research demonstrated that much can be achieved in the area of emotional well-being
through the unmasking of unconscious conflicts.
I would say I learned a lot during the session, as it was somehow intense. The thought that
my current responses are being affected by my past emotional experiences seems relieving
and overwhelming. I do not know whether, by going back to these dynamics of the past, I
will feel better, yet I am willing to dig deeper. The prospect of teasing out the inner layers of
my bereavement seems to have potential, yet I am also afraid to face these feelings in full
force.
A Year After
A year later, Emily has already made considerable progress in their emotional development.
Despite high anxiety not being eliminated, it feels more manageable. The devices she was
taught during Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) have permeated the latter because
attacking the negative ideas is part of the techniques she has adopted and has allowed her
to deal with academic stress more adequately. Although she has reduced her panic attacks,
she still has a few instances of anxiety but she is no longer being overwhelmed by them.
In Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) practices mentioned, she has become more
accepting of her emotions and that has lowered her emotional struggle. She has become
less victimized by her anxiety and therefore she does not attempt to repress it anymore so
she lets it run its course.
Through Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP) Emily has come to appreciate
how her childhood grief and attachment problems affected her and have contributed to her
current sufferings. Through these unresolved problems, Emily has succeeded in reconciling
the death of her mother and she has managed to proceed more healthily.
Emily is now a stronger girl. She is still using the methods of her therapy, and though she
still has some cases of anxiety, it does not restrain her anymore. She has acquired her
Master's degree and is serving as a social worker to others with her own experiences in
mind. Emily is open to going back to therapy in case she requires it in the future, but at
present, she believes that she has what it takes to handle her emotions using the new
strategies she acquired.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Emily moved through the therapy and achieved considerable changes in the
spheres of anxiety, grief, and emotional distress. The therapeutic combination of Cognitive
Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Short-Term
Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP) has provided her with a variety of coping abilities so
that she can accommodate the cognitive and emotional parts of her woes. Emily has been
able to change her negative thought pattern through CBT, which has made her less anxious.
Act has also enabled her to embrace her feelings without any bias, something which has
reduced the power they have over her. Moreover, STPP made Emily able to interpret the
unexplainable grief associated with the death of her mother which gave her the emotional
elucidation needed to continue moving on. Although she still feels slightly anxious, Emily has
become stronger in regulating her emotions and has a more resilient attitude to life. Now
that she is still practicing social work, the lessons in therapy follow her because she knows
that therapy is not a single-strike cure but rather a way to move on with life and get to know
a better version of herself.
Emily Parker is a 27-year-old woman and a graduate student of Social Work who has been
experiencing heightened anxiety and a depressed mood accompanied by some panic attacks
after her mother passed away due to pancreatic cancer. Even though she had mildly
suffered anxiety during her teenage life, the awe-desolating effect of the loss of her mother
has greatly spurred up her suffering. Being in a common apartment with two roommates
and coping with all the stresses caused by her study load, Emily ends up being swept by her
emotions, resulting in concentration and academic problems. She wants to have a better
understanding of her anxiety, grief, and emotional well-being and through psychological
support learn how to deal with such emotions. This evaluation is going to examine the
extent of her emotional disorder and what kind of therapeutic procedures can be applied to
give her the means to put her life and mental state back under her control.
Gearing Up!
Emily Parker was sent to a psychological examination because of growing mood inferiority,
anxiety, concentrating disorder, and panic attacks revealed in recent times. These
symptoms increased when her mother who died of pancreatic cancer acted as an important
emotional catalyst. Anxiety is not a new problem that Emily has discovered, as she has felt
this way since her teenage years; however, the recent grief has become an additional
problem to her emotional stability. She rents an apartment together with 2 roommates, yet
her school needs and bereavement have caused alienation in her, despite the social
environment. Being a graduate student who lives in a combination setup, Emily has to deal
with various stressors, and the loss of her mom has largely increased her emotional burden.
The stress that she experiences in her studies mixed with the personal loss seems to have
exacerbated her anxiety, which manifested in panic attacks and concentration issues.
Previous psychological assistance: Emily has not made any attempts at seeking psychological
help before, but now, she understands how much her mental health has cost, and she is
willing to consider psychotherapy as the way to find her emotional equilibrium again.
During therapy preparation, Emily would ask herself how psychotherapy would assist her.
She found out that psychotherapy although having varied forms has several factors in
common that make it effective. The therapeutic relationship, client involvement, and
emotional support play a crucial role in providing change. These supporting factors create a
feeling of assurance and hope that the therapy may give her the means of coping with her
sorrow and anxiety (Holohan & Fiske, 2021). The main objective in the case of Emily should
be how to enable her to cope with both her grief and anxiety and apply therapy to give tools
to her that would enable her once again to have control over her emotional reactions and
focus on her academic achievements.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Participation Journal: CBT Session with Dr. Harris
Dr. Harris seemed to break through in the session we had today. We narrowed down on
establishing my negative thinking patterns which contribute to my anxiety. As a case in
point, I tend to say, that I am not good enough or I cannot cope with it, especially in case of
academic bombardment. Dr. According to Harris, the mechanism behind CBT is tasking such
cognitive distortions and substituting them with healthier and more rational thoughts. The
concept is that when the thoughts change, then the emotion and actions will be different
and I can be different by the way I can change my thoughts.
We also did some work in which I needed to write down the thoughts that happen when I
am feeling anxious and then check whether it is accurate. Dr. To monitor the thoughts
during the week, Harris provided me with a worksheet. She has highlighted the value of
becoming aware of automatic thoughts and disrupting the pattern of negative thoughts. I
am optimistic and doubtful at the same time that this thinking process will help: and how
significant will these changes be?
Another study shared by Dr. Harris is the one by Eells (2022), who states that CBT is a useful
approach when treating anxiety disorders because it makes the person self-aware of how
they think and trains them to recreate the patterns they have. This gave me hope that this
would be beneficial to me because the study was quite successful in suppressing symptoms
of people fighting with anxiety. I would be glad to test the worksheets, but I am not sure
that they will be such effective tools as Dr. Harris claims.
Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT)
How it happened: Journal Entry: ACT Session with Dr. Lee
This was not like the session with Dr. Lee today. She has acquainted me with Acceptance
and Commitment Therapy (ACT) which is aimed at accepting an unpleasant thought or
emotion rather than attempting to deal with them in any way. Dr. Lee informed me that the
more I strive to battle or avoid my anxiety, the more I make it worse. ACT, instead, teaches
me to be mindful and not judge my feelings, so I will forget the struggle.
At first, I was a bit confused because I had been taught never to fight the negative. But as
Dr. Lee assured me, acceptance is not resignation, but it is to accept that the feelings are
there but they are not to rule me and my actions. She prescribed me what she calls the
mindfulness practice where I am supposed to take note of the anxious thoughts and move
on without necessarily attaching myself to them
Dr. Lee talked about a study by Hayes et al. (2006), which discovered that ACT effectively
helps to decrease anxiety levels by enhancing the element of psychological flexibility. This
would be a matter of knowing how to go through discomfort without being unable to
continue achieving my targets. I was relieved by the thought that I do not have to get rid of
my anxiety and all I have to do is to alter my relationship with it. This process is uncommon,
and I am interested in the way it can work in my case. Nevertheless, I still do not know how
well I can apply it.
Short-Term Pzychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP)
STPP Journal Page: Dr. Collins
In my case, Dr. Collins today introduced me to Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy
(STPP) which deals with acquiring insights into my past experiences that led to me
presenting an emotional dilemma. Dr. Collins feels that my grief and pending matters with
my relationship with my mother are some of the reasons leading to my present anxiety. We
had to spend some time on my early relationship with my mother and how it could have
impacted my reactions nowadays.
Dr. Collins enlightened me about transference, which could be the possibility of my previous
relationships being projected onto my current emotions. She proposed that learning about
these unconscious processes would allow me to be able to cope with anxiety and grief more
efficiently. Dr. Collins also provided a study by Vigan (2025) that shows that STPP can be a
very effective intervention to overcome such emotional struggles as grief or anxiety. The
research demonstrated that much can be achieved in the area of emotional well-being
through the unmasking of unconscious conflicts.
I would say I learned a lot during the session, as it was somehow intense. The thought that
my current responses are being affected by my past emotional experiences seems relieving
and overwhelming. I do not know whether, by going back to these dynamics of the past, I
will feel better, yet I am willing to dig deeper. The prospect of teasing out the inner layers of
my bereavement seems to have potential, yet I am also afraid to face these feelings in full
force.
A Year After
A year later, Emily has already made considerable progress in their emotional development.
Despite high anxiety not being eliminated, it feels more manageable. The devices she was
taught during Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) have permeated the latter because
attacking the negative ideas is part of the techniques she has adopted and has allowed her
to deal with academic stress more adequately. Although she has reduced her panic attacks,
she still has a few instances of anxiety but she is no longer being overwhelmed by them.
In Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) practices mentioned, she has become more
accepting of her emotions and that has lowered her emotional struggle. She has become
less victimized by her anxiety and therefore she does not attempt to repress it anymore so
she lets it run its course.
Through Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP) Emily has come to appreciate
how her childhood grief and attachment problems affected her and have contributed to her
current sufferings. Through these unresolved problems, Emily has succeeded in reconciling
the death of her mother and she has managed to proceed more healthily.
Emily is now a stronger girl. She is still using the methods of her therapy, and though she
still has some cases of anxiety, it does not restrain her anymore. She has acquired her
Master's degree and is serving as a social worker to others with her own experiences in
mind. Emily is open to going back to therapy in case she requires it in the future, but at
present, she believes that she has what it takes to handle her emotions using the new
strategies she acquired.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Emily moved through the therapy and achieved considerable changes in the
spheres of anxiety, grief, and emotional distress. The therapeutic combination of Cognitive
Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Short-Term
Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP) has provided her with a variety of coping abilities so
that she can accommodate the cognitive and emotional parts of her woes. Emily has been
able to change her negative thought pattern through CBT, which has made her less anxious.
Act has also enabled her to embrace her feelings without any bias, something which has
reduced the power they have over her. Moreover, STPP made Emily able to interpret the
unexplainable grief associated with the death of her mother which gave her the emotional
elucidation needed to continue moving on. Although she still feels slightly anxious, Emily has
become stronger in regulating her emotions and has a more resilient attitude to life. Now
that she is still practicing social work, the lessons in therapy follow her because she knows
that therapy is not a single-strike cure but rather a way to move on with life and get to know
a better version of herself.
Emily Parker is a 27-year-old woman and a graduate student of Social Work who has been
experiencing heightened anxiety and a depressed mood accompanied by some panic attacks
after her mother passed away due to pancreatic cancer. Even though she had mildly
suffered anxiety during her teenage life, the awe-desolating effect of the loss of her mother
has greatly spurred up her suffering. Being in a common apartment with two roommates
and coping with all the stresses caused by her study load, Emily ends up being swept by her
emotions, resulting in concentration and academic problems. She wants to have a better
understanding of her anxiety, grief, and emotional well-being and through psychological
support learn how to deal with such emotions. This evaluation is going to examine the
extent of her emotional disorder and what kind of therapeutic procedures can be applied to
give her the means to put her life and mental state back under her control.
Gearing Up!
Emily Parker was sent to a psychological examination because of growing mood inferiority,
anxiety, concentrating disorder, and panic attacks revealed in recent times. These
symptoms increased when her mother who died of pancreatic cancer acted as an important
emotional catalyst. Anxiety is not a new problem that Emily has discovered, as she has felt
this way since her teenage years; however, the recent grief has become an additional
problem to her emotional stability. She rents an apartment together with 2 roommates, yet
her school needs and bereavement have caused alienation in her, despite the social
environment. Being a graduate student who lives in a combination setup, Emily has to deal
with various stressors, and the loss of her mom has largely increased her emotional burden.
The stress that she experiences in her studies mixed with the personal loss seems to have
exacerbated her anxiety, which manifested in panic attacks and concentration issues.
Previous psychological assistance: Emily has not made any attempts at seeking psychological
help before, but now, she understands how much her mental health has cost, and she is
willing to consider psychotherapy as the way to find her emotional equilibrium again.
During therapy preparation, Emily would ask herself how psychotherapy would assist her.
She found out that psychotherapy although having varied forms has several factors in
common that make it effective. The therapeutic relationship, client involvement, and
emotional support play a crucial role in providing change. These supporting factors create a
feeling of assurance and hope that the therapy may give her the means of coping with her
sorrow and anxiety (Holohan & Fiske, 2021). The main objective in the case of Emily should
be how to enable her to cope with both her grief and anxiety and apply therapy to give tools
to her that would enable her once again to have control over her emotional reactions and
focus on her academic achievements.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Participation Journal: CBT Session with Dr. Harris
Dr. Harris seemed to break through in the session we had today. We narrowed down on
establishing my negative thinking patterns which contribute to my anxiety. As a case in
point, I tend to say, that I am not good enough or I cannot cope with it, especially in case of
academic bombardment. Dr. According to Harris, the mechanism behind CBT is tasking such
cognitive distortions and substituting them with healthier and more rational thoughts. The
concept is that when the thoughts change, then the emotion and actions will be different
and I can be different by the way I can change my thoughts.
We also did some work in which I needed to write down the thoughts that happen when I
am feeling anxious and then check whether it is accurate. Dr. To monitor the thoughts
during the week, Harris provided me with a worksheet. She has highlighted the value of
becoming aware of automatic thoughts and disrupting the pattern of negative thoughts. I
am optimistic and doubtful at the same time that this thinking process will help: and how
significant will these changes be?
Another study shared by Dr. Harris is the one by Eells (2022), who states that CBT is a useful
approach when treating anxiety disorders because it makes the person self-aware of how
they think and trains them to recreate the patterns they have. This gave me hope that this
would be beneficial to me because the study was quite successful in suppressing symptoms
of people fighting with anxiety. I would be glad to test the worksheets, but I am not sure
that they will be such effective tools as Dr. Harris claims.
Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT)
How it happened: Journal Entry: ACT Session with Dr. Lee
This was not like the session with Dr. Lee today. She has acquainted me with Acceptance
and Commitment Therapy (ACT) which is aimed at accepting an unpleasant thought or
emotion rather than attempting to deal with them in any way. Dr. Lee informed me that the
more I strive to battle or avoid my anxiety, the more I make it worse. ACT, instead, teaches
me to be mindful and not judge my feelings, so I will forget the struggle.
At first, I was a bit confused because I had been taught never to fight the negative. But as
Dr. Lee assured me, acceptance is not resignation, but it is to accept that the feelings are
there but they are not to rule me and my actions. She prescribed me what she calls the
mindfulness practice where I am supposed to take note of the anxious thoughts and move
on without necessarily attaching myself to them
Dr. Lee talked about a study by Hayes et al. (2006), which discovered that ACT effectively
helps to decrease anxiety levels by enhancing the element of psychological flexibility. This
would be a matter of knowing how to go through discomfort without being unable to
continue achieving my targets. I was relieved by the thought that I do not have to get rid of
my anxiety and all I have to do is to alter my relationship with it. This process is uncommon,
and I am interested in the way it can work in my case. Nevertheless, I still do not know how
well I can apply it.
Short-Term Pzychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP)
STPP Journal Page: Dr. Collins
In my case, Dr. Collins today introduced me to Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy
(STPP) which deals with acquiring insights into my past experiences that led to me
presenting an emotional dilemma. Dr. Collins feels that my grief and pending matters with
my relationship with my mother are some of the reasons leading to my present anxiety. We
had to spend some time on my early relationship with my mother and how it could have
impacted my reactions nowadays.
Dr. Collins enlightened me about transference, which could be the possibility of my previous
relationships being projected onto my current emotions. She proposed that learning about
these unconscious processes would allow me to be able to cope with anxiety and grief more
efficiently. Dr. Collins also provided a study by Vigan (2025) that shows that STPP can be a
very effective intervention to overcome such emotional struggles as grief or anxiety. The
research demonstrated that much can be achieved in the area of emotional well-being
through the unmasking of unconscious conflicts.
I would say I learned a lot during the session, as it was somehow intense. The thought that
my current responses are being affected by my past emotional experiences seems relieving
and overwhelming. I do not know whether, by going back to these dynamics of the past, I
will feel better, yet I am willing to dig deeper. The prospect of teasing out the inner layers of
my bereavement seems to have potential, yet I am also afraid to face these feelings in full
force.
A Year After
A year later, Emily has already made considerable progress in their emotional development.
Despite high anxiety not being eliminated, it feels more manageable. The devices she was
taught during Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) have permeated the latter because
attacking the negative ideas is part of the techniques she has adopted and has allowed her
to deal with academic stress more adequately. Although she has reduced her panic attacks,
she still has a few instances of anxiety but she is no longer being overwhelmed by them.
In Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) practices mentioned, she has become more
accepting of her emotions and that has lowered her emotional struggle. She has become
less victimized by her anxiety and therefore she does not attempt to repress it anymore so
she lets it run its course.
Through Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP) Emily has come to appreciate
how her childhood grief and attachment problems affected her and have contributed to her
current sufferings. Through these unresolved problems, Emily has succeeded in reconciling
the death of her mother and she has managed to proceed more healthily.
Emily is now a stronger girl. She is still using the methods of her therapy, and though she
still has some cases of anxiety, it does not restrain her anymore. She has acquired her
Master's degree and is serving as a social worker to others with her own experiences in
mind. Emily is open to going back to therapy in case she requires it in the future, but at
present, she believes that she has what it takes to handle her emotions using the new
strategies she acquired.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Emily moved through the therapy and achieved considerable changes in the
spheres of anxiety, grief, and emotional distress. The therapeutic combination of Cognitive
Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Short-Term
Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP) has provided her with a variety of coping abilities so
that she can accommodate the cognitive and emotional parts of her woes. Emily has been
able to change her negative thought pattern through CBT, which has made her less anxious.
Act has also enabled her to embrace her feelings without any bias, something which has
reduced the power they have over her. Moreover, STPP made Emily able to interpret the
unexplainable grief associated with the death of her mother which gave her the emotional
elucidation needed to continue moving on. Although she still feels slightly anxious, Emily has
become stronger in regulating her emotions and has a more resilient attitude to life. Now
that she is still practicing social work, the lessons in therapy follow her because she knows
that therapy is not a single-strike cure but rather a way to move on with life and get to know
a better version of herself.
Emily Parker is a 27-year-old woman and a graduate student of Social Work who has been
experiencing heightened anxiety and a depressed mood accompanied by some panic attacks
after her mother passed away due to pancreatic cancer. Even though she had mildly
suffered anxiety during her teenage life, the awe-desolating effect of the loss of her mother
has greatly spurred up her suffering. Being in a common apartment with two roommates
and coping with all the stresses caused by her study load, Emily ends up being swept by her
emotions, resulting in concentration and academic problems. She wants to have a better
understanding of her anxiety, grief, and emotional well-being and through psychological
support learn how to deal with such emotions. This evaluation is going to examine the
extent of her emotional disorder and what kind of therapeutic procedures can be applied to
give her the means to put her life and mental state back under her control.
Gearing Up!
Emily Parker was sent to a psychological examination because of growing mood inferiority,
anxiety, concentrating disorder, and panic attacks revealed in recent times. These
symptoms increased when her mother who died of pancreatic cancer acted as an important
emotional catalyst. Anxiety is not a new problem that Emily has discovered, as she has felt
this way since her teenage years; however, the recent grief has become an additional
problem to her emotional stability. She rents an apartment together with 2 roommates, yet
her school needs and bereavement have caused alienation in her, despite the social
environment. Being a graduate student who lives in a combination setup, Emily has to deal
with various stressors, and the loss of her mom has largely increased her emotional burden.
The stress that she experiences in her studies mixed with the personal loss seems to have
exacerbated her anxiety, which manifested in panic attacks and concentration issues.
Previous psychological assistance: Emily has not made any attempts at seeking psychological
help before, but now, she understands how much her mental health has cost, and she is
willing to consider psychotherapy as the way to find her emotional equilibrium again.
During therapy preparation, Emily would ask herself how psychotherapy would assist her.
She found out that psychotherapy although having varied forms has several factors in
common that make it effective. The therapeutic relationship, client involvement, and
emotional support play a crucial role in providing change. These supporting factors create a
feeling of assurance and hope that the therapy may give her the means of coping with her
sorrow and anxiety (Holohan & Fiske, 2021). The main objective in the case of Emily should
be how to enable her to cope with both her grief and anxiety and apply therapy to give tools
to her that would enable her once again to have control over her emotional reactions and
focus on her academic achievements.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Participation Journal: CBT Session with Dr. Harris
Dr. Harris seemed to break through in the session we had today. We narrowed down on
establishing my negative thinking patterns which contribute to my anxiety. As a case in
point, I tend to say, that I am not good enough or I cannot cope with it, especially in case of
academic bombardment. Dr. According to Harris, the mechanism behind CBT is tasking such
cognitive distortions and substituting them with healthier and more rational thoughts. The
concept is that when the thoughts change, then the emotion and actions will be different
and I can be different by the way I can change my thoughts.
We also did some work in which I needed to write down the thoughts that happen when I
am feeling anxious and then check whether it is accurate. Dr. To monitor the thoughts
during the week, Harris provided me with a worksheet. She has highlighted the value of
becoming aware of automatic thoughts and disrupting the pattern of negative thoughts. I
am optimistic and doubtful at the same time that this thinking process will help: and how
significant will these changes be?
Another study shared by Dr. Harris is the one by Eells (2022), who states that CBT is a useful
approach when treating anxiety disorders because it makes the person self-aware of how
they think and trains them to recreate the patterns they have. This gave me hope that this
would be beneficial to me because the study was quite successful in suppressing symptoms
of people fighting with anxiety. I would be glad to test the worksheets, but I am not sure
that they will be such effective tools as Dr. Harris claims.
Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT)
How it happened: Journal Entry: ACT Session with Dr. Lee
This was not like the session with Dr. Lee today. She has acquainted me with Acceptance
and Commitment Therapy (ACT) which is aimed at accepting an unpleasant thought or
emotion rather than attempting to deal with them in any way. Dr. Lee informed me that the
more I strive to battle or avoid my anxiety, the more I make it worse. ACT, instead, teaches
me to be mindful and not judge my feelings, so I will forget the struggle.
At first, I was a bit confused because I had been taught never to fight the negative. But as
Dr. Lee assured me, acceptance is not resignation, but it is to accept that the feelings are
there but they are not to rule me and my actions. She prescribed me what she calls the
mindfulness practice where I am supposed to take note of the anxious thoughts and move
on without necessarily attaching myself to them
Dr. Lee talked about a study by Hayes et al. (2006), which discovered that ACT effectively
helps to decrease anxiety levels by enhancing the element of psychological flexibility. This
would be a matter of knowing how to go through discomfort without being unable to
continue achieving my targets. I was relieved by the thought that I do not have to get rid of
my anxiety and all I have to do is to alter my relationship with it. This process is uncommon,
and I am interested in the way it can work in my case. Nevertheless, I still do not know how
well I can apply it.
Short-Term Pzychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP)
STPP Journal Page: Dr. Collins
In my case, Dr. Collins today introduced me to Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy
(STPP) which deals with acquiring insights into my past experiences that led to me
presenting an emotional dilemma. Dr. Collins feels that my grief and pending matters with
my relationship with my mother are some of the reasons leading to my present anxiety. We
had to spend some time on my early relationship with my mother and how it could have
impacted my reactions nowadays.
Dr. Collins enlightened me about transference, which could be the possibility of my previous
relationships being projected onto my current emotions. She proposed that learning about
these unconscious processes would allow me to be able to cope with anxiety and grief more
efficiently. Dr. Collins also provided a study by Vigan (2025) that shows that STPP can be a
very effective intervention to overcome such emotional struggles as grief or anxiety. The
research demonstrated that much can be achieved in the area of emotional well-being
through the unmasking of unconscious conflicts.
I would say I learned a lot during the session, as it was somehow intense. The thought that
my current responses are being affected by my past emotional experiences seems relieving
and overwhelming. I do not know whether, by going back to these dynamics of the past, I
will feel better, yet I am willing to dig deeper. The prospect of teasing out the inner layers of
my bereavement seems to have potential, yet I am also afraid to face these feelings in full
force.
A Year After
A year later, Emily has already made considerable progress in their emotional development.
Despite high anxiety not being eliminated, it feels more manageable. The devices she was
taught during Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) have permeated the latter because
attacking the negative ideas is part of the techniques she has adopted and has allowed her
to deal with academic stress more adequately. Although she has reduced her panic attacks,
she still has a few instances of anxiety but she is no longer being overwhelmed by them.
In Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) practices mentioned, she has become more
accepting of her emotions and that has lowered her emotional struggle. She has become
less victimized by her anxiety and therefore she does not attempt to repress it anymore so
she lets it run its course.
Through Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP) Emily has come to appreciate
how her childhood grief and attachment problems affected her and have contributed to her
current sufferings. Through these unresolved problems, Emily has succeeded in reconciling
the death of her mother and she has managed to proceed more healthily.
Emily is now a stronger girl. She is still using the methods of her therapy, and though she
still has some cases of anxiety, it does not restrain her anymore. She has acquired her
Master's degree and is serving as a social worker to others with her own experiences in
mind. Emily is open to going back to therapy in case she requires it in the future, but at
present, she believes that she has what it takes to handle her emotions using the new
strategies she acquired.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Emily moved through the therapy and achieved considerable changes in the
spheres of anxiety, grief, and emotional distress. The therapeutic combination of Cognitive
Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Short-Term
Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP) has provided her with a variety of coping abilities so
that she can accommodate the cognitive and emotional parts of her woes. Emily has been
able to change her negative thought pattern through CBT, which has made her less anxious.
Act has also enabled her to embrace her feelings without any bias, something which has
reduced the power they have over her. Moreover, STPP made Emily able to interpret the
unexplainable grief associated with the death of her mother which gave her the emotional
elucidation needed to continue moving on. Although she still feels slightly anxious, Emily has
become stronger in regulating her emotions and has a more resilient attitude to life. Now
that she is still practicing social work, the lessons in therapy follow her because she knows
that therapy is not a single-strike cure but rather a way to move on with life and get to know
a better version of herself.
Emily Parker is a 27-year-old woman and a graduate student of Social Work who has been
experiencing heightened anxiety and a depressed mood accompanied by some panic attacks
after her mother passed away due to pancreatic cancer. Even though she had mildly
suffered anxiety during her teenage life, the awe-desolating effect of the loss of her mother
has greatly spurred up her suffering. Being in a common apartment with two roommates
and coping with all the stresses caused by her study load, Emily ends up being swept by her
emotions, resulting in concentration and academic problems. She wants to have a better
understanding of her anxiety, grief, and emotional well-being and through psychological
support learn how to deal with such emotions. This evaluation is going to examine the
extent of her emotional disorder and what kind of therapeutic procedures can be applied to
give her the means to put her life and mental state back under her control.
Gearing Up!
Emily Parker was sent to a psychological examination because of growing mood inferiority,
anxiety, concentrating disorder, and panic attacks revealed in recent times. These
symptoms increased when her mother who died of pancreatic cancer acted as an important
emotional catalyst. Anxiety is not a new problem that Emily has discovered, as she has felt
this way since her teenage years; however, the recent grief has become an additional
problem to her emotional stability. She rents an apartment together with 2 roommates, yet
her school needs and bereavement have caused alienation in her, despite the social
environment. Being a graduate student who lives in a combination setup, Emily has to deal
with various stressors, and the loss of her mom has largely increased her emotional burden.
The stress that she experiences in her studies mixed with the personal loss seems to have
exacerbated her anxiety, which manifested in panic attacks and concentration issues.
Previous psychological assistance: Emily has not made any attempts at seeking psychological
help before, but now, she understands how much her mental health has cost, and she is
willing to consider psychotherapy as the way to find her emotional equilibrium again.
During therapy preparation, Emily would ask herself how psychotherapy would assist her.
She found out that psychotherapy although having varied forms has several factors in
common that make it effective. The therapeutic relationship, client involvement, and
emotional support play a crucial role in providing change. These supporting factors create a
feeling of assurance and hope that the therapy may give her the means of coping with her
sorrow and anxiety (Holohan & Fiske, 2021). The main objective in the case of Emily should
be how to enable her to cope with both her grief and anxiety and apply therapy to give tools
to her that would enable her once again to have control over her emotional reactions and
focus on her academic achievements.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Participation Journal: CBT Session with Dr. Harris
Dr. Harris seemed to break through in the session we had today. We narrowed down on
establishing my negative thinking patterns which contribute to my anxiety. As a case in
point, I tend to say, that I am not good enough or I cannot cope with it, especially in case of
academic bombardment. Dr. According to Harris, the mechanism behind CBT is tasking such
cognitive distortions and substituting them with healthier and more rational thoughts. The
concept is that when the thoughts change, then the emotion and actions will be different
and I can be different by the way I can change my thoughts.
We also did some work in which I needed to write down the thoughts that happen when I
am feeling anxious and then check whether it is accurate. Dr. To monitor the thoughts
during the week, Harris provided me with a worksheet. She has highlighted the value of
becoming aware of automatic thoughts and disrupting the pattern of negative thoughts. I
am optimistic and doubtful at the same time that this thinking process will help: and how
significant will these changes be?
Another study shared by Dr. Harris is the one by Eells (2022), who states that CBT is a useful
approach when treating anxiety disorders because it makes the person self-aware of how
they think and trains them to recreate the patterns they have. This gave me hope that this
would be beneficial to me because the study was quite successful in suppressing symptoms
of people fighting with anxiety. I would be glad to test the worksheets, but I am not sure
that they will be such effective tools as Dr. Harris claims.
Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT)
How it happened: Journal Entry: ACT Session with Dr. Lee
This was not like the session with Dr. Lee today. She has acquainted me with Acceptance
and Commitment Therapy (ACT) which is aimed at accepting an unpleasant thought or
emotion rather than attempting to deal with them in any way. Dr. Lee informed me that the
more I strive to battle or avoid my anxiety, the more I make it worse. ACT, instead, teaches
me to be mindful and not judge my feelings, so I will forget the struggle.
At first, I was a bit confused because I had been taught never to fight the negative. But as
Dr. Lee assured me, acceptance is not resignation, but it is to accept that the feelings are
there but they are not to rule me and my actions. She prescribed me what she calls the
mindfulness practice where I am supposed to take note of the anxious thoughts and move
on without necessarily attaching myself to them
Dr. Lee talked about a study by Hayes et al. (2006), which discovered that ACT effectively
helps to decrease anxiety levels by enhancing the element of psychological flexibility. This
would be a matter of knowing how to go through discomfort without being unable to
continue achieving my targets. I was relieved by the thought that I do not have to get rid of
my anxiety and all I have to do is to alter my relationship with it. This process is uncommon,
and I am interested in the way it can work in my case. Nevertheless, I still do not know how
well I can apply it.
Short-Term Pzychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP)
STPP Journal Page: Dr. Collins
In my case, Dr. Collins today introduced me to Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy
(STPP) which deals with acquiring insights into my past experiences that led to me
presenting an emotional dilemma. Dr. Collins feels that my grief and pending matters with
my relationship with my mother are some of the reasons leading to my present anxiety. We
had to spend some time on my early relationship with my mother and how it could have
impacted my reactions nowadays.
Dr. Collins enlightened me about transference, which could be the possibility of my previous
relationships being projected onto my current emotions. She proposed that learning about
these unconscious processes would allow me to be able to cope with anxiety and grief more
efficiently. Dr. Collins also provided a study by Vigan (2025) that shows that STPP can be a
very effective intervention to overcome such emotional struggles as grief or anxiety. The
research demonstrated that much can be achieved in the area of emotional well-being
through the unmasking of unconscious conflicts.
I would say I learned a lot during the session, as it was somehow intense. The thought that
my current responses are being affected by my past emotional experiences seems relieving
and overwhelming. I do not know whether, by going back to these dynamics of the past, I
will feel better, yet I am willing to dig deeper. The prospect of teasing out the inner layers of
my bereavement seems to have potential, yet I am also afraid to face these feelings in full
force.
A Year After
A year later, Emily has already made considerable progress in their emotional development.
Despite high anxiety not being eliminated, it feels more manageable. The devices she was
taught during Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) have permeated the latter because
attacking the negative ideas is part of the techniques she has adopted and has allowed her
to deal with academic stress more adequately. Although she has reduced her panic attacks,
she still has a few instances of anxiety but she is no longer being overwhelmed by them.
In Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) practices mentioned, she has become more
accepting of her emotions and that has lowered her emotional struggle. She has become
less victimized by her anxiety and therefore she does not attempt to repress it anymore so
she lets it run its course.
Through Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP) Emily has come to appreciate
how her childhood grief and attachment problems affected her and have contributed to her
current sufferings. Through these unresolved problems, Emily has succeeded in reconciling
the death of her mother and she has managed to proceed more healthily.
Emily is now a stronger girl. She is still using the methods of her therapy, and though she
still has some cases of anxiety, it does not restrain her anymore. She has acquired her
Master's degree and is serving as a social worker to others with her own experiences in
mind. Emily is open to going back to therapy in case she requires it in the future, but at
present, she believes that she has what it takes to handle her emotions using the new
strategies she acquired.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Emily moved through the therapy and achieved considerable changes in the
spheres of anxiety, grief, and emotional distress. The therapeutic combination of Cognitive
Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Short-Term
Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP) has provided her with a variety of coping abilities so
that she can accommodate the cognitive and emotional parts of her woes. Emily has been
able to change her negative thought pattern through CBT, which has made her less anxious.
Act has also enabled her to embrace her feelings without any bias, something which has
reduced the power they have over her. Moreover, STPP made Emily able to interpret the
unexplainable grief associated with the death of her mother which gave her the emotional
elucidation needed to continue moving on. Although she still feels slightly anxious, Emily has
become stronger in regulating her emotions and has a more resilient attitude to life. Now
that she is still practicing social work, the lessons in therapy follow her because she knows
that therapy is not a single-strike cure but rather a way to move on with life and get to know
a better version of herself.
Emily Parker is a 27-year-old woman and a graduate student of Social Work who has been
experiencing heightened anxiety and a depressed mood accompanied by some panic attacks
after her mother passed away due to pancreatic cancer. Even though she had mildly
suffered anxiety during her teenage life, the awe-desolating effect of the loss of her mother
has greatly spurred up her suffering. Being in a common apartment with two roommates
and coping with all the stresses caused by her study load, Emily ends up being swept by her
emotions, resulting in concentration and academic problems. She wants to have a better
understanding of her anxiety, grief, and emotional well-being and through psychological
support learn how to deal with such emotions. This evaluation is going to examine the
extent of her emotional disorder and what kind of therapeutic procedures can be applied to
give her the means to put her life and mental state back under her control.
Gearing Up!
Emily Parker was sent to a psychological examination because of growing mood inferiority,
anxiety, concentrating disorder, and panic attacks revealed in recent times. These
symptoms increased when her mother who died of pancreatic cancer acted as an important
emotional catalyst. Anxiety is not a new problem that Emily has discovered, as she has felt
this way since her teenage years; however, the recent grief has become an additional
problem to her emotional stability. She rents an apartment together with 2 roommates, yet
her school needs and bereavement have caused alienation in her, despite the social
environment. Being a graduate student who lives in a combination setup, Emily has to deal
with various stressors, and the loss of her mom has largely increased her emotional burden.
The stress that she experiences in her studies mixed with the personal loss seems to have
exacerbated her anxiety, which manifested in panic attacks and concentration issues.
Previous psychological assistance: Emily has not made any attempts at seeking psychological
help before, but now, she understands how much her mental health has cost, and she is
willing to consider psychotherapy as the way to find her emotional equilibrium again.
During therapy preparation, Emily would ask herself how psychotherapy would assist her.
She found out that psychotherapy although having varied forms has several factors in
common that make it effective. The therapeutic relationship, client involvement, and
emotional support play a crucial role in providing change. These supporting factors create a
feeling of assurance and hope that the therapy may give her the means of coping with her
sorrow and anxiety (Holohan & Fiske, 2021). The main objective in the case of Emily should
be how to enable her to cope with both her grief and anxiety and apply therapy to give tools
to her that would enable her once again to have control over her emotional reactions and
focus on her academic achievements.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Participation Journal: CBT Session with Dr. Harris
Dr. Harris seemed to break through in the session we had today. We narrowed down on
establishing my negative thinking patterns which contribute to my anxiety. As a case in
point, I tend to say, that I am not good enough or I cannot cope with it, especially in case of
academic bombardment. Dr. According to Harris, the mechanism behind CBT is tasking such
cognitive distortions and substituting them with healthier and more rational thoughts. The
concept is that when the thoughts change, then the emotion and actions will be different
and I can be different by the way I can change my thoughts.
We also did some work in which I needed to write down the thoughts that happen when I
am feeling anxious and then check whether it is accurate. Dr. To monitor the thoughts
during the week, Harris provided me with a worksheet. She has highlighted the value of
becoming aware of automatic thoughts and disrupting the pattern of negative thoughts. I
am optimistic and doubtful at the same time that this thinking process will help: and how
significant will these changes be?
Another study shared by Dr. Harris is the one by Eells (2022), who states that CBT is a useful
approach when treating anxiety disorders because it makes the person self-aware of how
they think and trains them to recreate the patterns they have. This gave me hope that this
would be beneficial to me because the study was quite successful in suppressing symptoms
of people fighting with anxiety. I would be glad to test the worksheets, but I am not sure
that they will be such effective tools as Dr. Harris claims.
Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT)
How it happened: Journal Entry: ACT Session with Dr. Lee
This was not like the session with Dr. Lee today. She has acquainted me with Acceptance
and Commitment Therapy (ACT) which is aimed at accepting an unpleasant thought or
emotion rather than attempting to deal with them in any way. Dr. Lee informed me that the
more I strive to battle or avoid my anxiety, the more I make it worse. ACT, instead, teaches
me to be mindful and not judge my feelings, so I will forget the struggle.
At first, I was a bit confused because I had been taught never to fight the negative. But as
Dr. Lee assured me, acceptance is not resignation, but it is to accept that the feelings are
there but they are not to rule me and my actions. She prescribed me what she calls the
mindfulness practice where I am supposed to take note of the anxious thoughts and move
on without necessarily attaching myself to them
Dr. Lee talked about a study by Hayes et al. (2006), which discovered that ACT effectively
helps to decrease anxiety levels by enhancing the element of psychological flexibility. This
would be a matter of knowing how to go through discomfort without being unable to
continue achieving my targets. I was relieved by the thought that I do not have to get rid of
my anxiety and all I have to do is to alter my relationship with it. This process is uncommon,
and I am interested in the way it can work in my case. Nevertheless, I still do not know how
well I can apply it.
Short-Term Pzychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP)
STPP Journal Page: Dr. Collins
In my case, Dr. Collins today introduced me to Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy
(STPP) which deals with acquiring insights into my past experiences that led to me
presenting an emotional dilemma. Dr. Collins feels that my grief and pending matters with
my relationship with my mother are some of the reasons leading to my present anxiety. We
had to spend some time on my early relationship with my mother and how it could have
impacted my reactions nowadays.
Dr. Collins enlightened me about transference, which could be the possibility of my previous
relationships being projected onto my current emotions. She proposed that learning about
these unconscious processes would allow me to be able to cope with anxiety and grief more
efficiently. Dr. Collins also provided a study by Vigan (2025) that shows that STPP can be a
very effective intervention to overcome such emotional struggles as grief or anxiety. The
research demonstrated that much can be achieved in the area of emotional well-being
through the unmasking of unconscious conflicts.
I would say I learned a lot during the session, as it was somehow intense. The thought that
my current responses are being affected by my past emotional experiences seems relieving
and overwhelming. I do not know whether, by going back to these dynamics of the past, I
will feel better, yet I am willing to dig deeper. The prospect of teasing out the inner layers of
my bereavement seems to have potential, yet I am also afraid to face these feelings in full
force.
A Year After
A year later, Emily has already made considerable progress in their emotional development.
Despite high anxiety not being eliminated, it feels more manageable. The devices she was
taught during Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) have permeated the latter because
attacking the negative ideas is part of the techniques she has adopted and has allowed her
to deal with academic stress more adequately. Although she has reduced her panic attacks,
she still has a few instances of anxiety but she is no longer being overwhelmed by them.
In Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) practices mentioned, she has become more
accepting of her emotions and that has lowered her emotional struggle. She has become
less victimized by her anxiety and therefore she does not attempt to repress it anymore so
she lets it run its course.
Through Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP) Emily has come to appreciate
how her childhood grief and attachment problems affected her and have contributed to her
current sufferings. Through these unresolved problems, Emily has succeeded in reconciling
the death of her mother and she has managed to proceed more healthily.
Emily is now a stronger girl. She is still using the methods of her therapy, and though she
still has some cases of anxiety, it does not restrain her anymore. She has acquired her
Master's degree and is serving as a social worker to others with her own experiences in
mind. Emily is open to going back to therapy in case she requires it in the future, but at
present, she believes that she has what it takes to handle her emotions using the new
strategies she acquired.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Emily moved through the therapy and achieved considerable changes in the
spheres of anxiety, grief, and emotional distress. The therapeutic combination of Cognitive
Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Short-Term
Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP) has provided her with a variety of coping abilities so
that she can accommodate the cognitive and emotional parts of her woes. Emily has been
able to change her negative thought pattern through CBT, which has made her less anxious.
Act has also enabled her to embrace her feelings without any bias, something which has
reduced the power they have over her. Moreover, STPP made Emily able to interpret the
unexplainable grief associated with the death of her mother which gave her the emotional
elucidation needed to continue moving on. Although she still feels slightly anxious, Emily has
become stronger in regulating her emotions and has a more resilient attitude to life. Now
that she is still practicing social work, the lessons in therapy follow her because she knows
that therapy is not a single-strike cure but rather a way to move on with life and get to know
a better version of herself.
Emily Parker is a 27-year-old woman and a graduate student of Social Work who has been
experiencing heightened anxiety and a depressed mood accompanied by some panic attacks
after her mother passed away due to pancreatic cancer. Even though she had mildly
suffered anxiety during her teenage life, the awe-desolating effect of the loss of her mother
has greatly spurred up her suffering. Being in a common apartment with two roommates
and coping with all the stresses caused by her study load, Emily ends up being swept by her
emotions, resulting in concentration and academic problems. She wants to have a better
understanding of her anxiety, grief, and emotional well-being and through psychological
support learn how to deal with such emotions. This evaluation is going to examine the
extent of her emotional disorder and what kind of therapeutic procedures can be applied to
give her the means to put her life and mental state back under her control.
Gearing Up!
Emily Parker was sent to a psychological examination because of growing mood inferiority,
anxiety, concentrating disorder, and panic attacks revealed in recent times. These
symptoms increased when her mother who died of pancreatic cancer acted as an important
emotional catalyst. Anxiety is not a new problem that Emily has discovered, as she has felt
this way since her teenage years; however, the recent grief has become an additional
problem to her emotional stability. She rents an apartment together with 2 roommates, yet
her school needs and bereavement have caused alienation in her, despite the social
environment. Being a graduate student who lives in a combination setup, Emily has to deal
with various stressors, and the loss of her mom has largely increased her emotional burden.
The stress that she experiences in her studies mixed with the personal loss seems to have
exacerbated her anxiety, which manifested in panic attacks and concentration issues.
Previous psychological assistance: Emily has not made any attempts at seeking psychological
help before, but now, she understands how much her mental health has cost, and she is
willing to consider psychotherapy as the way to find her emotional equilibrium again.
During therapy preparation, Emily would ask herself how psychotherapy would assist her.
She found out that psychotherapy although having varied forms has several factors in
common that make it effective. The therapeutic relationship, client involvement, and
emotional support play a crucial role in providing change. These supporting factors create a
feeling of assurance and hope that the therapy may give her the means of coping with her
sorrow and anxiety (Holohan & Fiske, 2021). The main objective in the case of Emily should
be how to enable her to cope with both her grief and anxiety and apply therapy to give tools
to her that would enable her once again to have control over her emotional reactions and
focus on her academic achievements.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Participation Journal: CBT Session with Dr. Harris
Dr. Harris seemed to break through in the session we had today. We narrowed down on
establishing my negative thinking patterns which contribute to my anxiety. As a case in
point, I tend to say, that I am not good enough or I cannot cope with it, especially in case of
academic bombardment. Dr. According to Harris, the mechanism behind CBT is tasking such
cognitive distortions and substituting them with healthier and more rational thoughts. The
concept is that when the thoughts change, then the emotion and actions will be different
and I can be different by the way I can change my thoughts.
We also did some work in which I needed to write down the thoughts that happen when I
am feeling anxious and then check whether it is accurate. Dr. To monitor the thoughts
during the week, Harris provided me with a worksheet. She has highlighted the value of
becoming aware of automatic thoughts and disrupting the pattern of negative thoughts. I
am optimistic and doubtful at the same time that this thinking process will help: and how
significant will these changes be?
Another study shared by Dr. Harris is the one by Eells (2022), who states that CBT is a useful
approach when treating anxiety disorders because it makes the person self-aware of how
they think and trains them to recreate the patterns they have. This gave me hope that this
would be beneficial to me because the study was quite successful in suppressing symptoms
of people fighting with anxiety. I would be glad to test the worksheets, but I am not sure
that they will be such effective tools as Dr. Harris claims.
Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT)
How it happened: Journal Entry: ACT Session with Dr. Lee
This was not like the session with Dr. Lee today. She has acquainted me with Acceptance
and Commitment Therapy (ACT) which is aimed at accepting an unpleasant thought or
emotion rather than attempting to deal with them in any way. Dr. Lee informed me that the
more I strive to battle or avoid my anxiety, the more I make it worse. ACT, instead, teaches
me to be mindful and not judge my feelings, so I will forget the struggle.
At first, I was a bit confused because I had been taught never to fight the negative. But as
Dr. Lee assured me, acceptance is not resignation, but it is to accept that the feelings are
there but they are not to rule me and my actions. She prescribed me what she calls the
mindfulness practice where I am supposed to take note of the anxious thoughts and move
on without necessarily attaching myself to them
Dr. Lee talked about a study by Hayes et al. (2006), which discovered that ACT effectively
helps to decrease anxiety levels by enhancing the element of psychological flexibility. This
would be a matter of knowing how to go through discomfort without being unable to
continue achieving my targets. I was relieved by the thought that I do not have to get rid of
my anxiety and all I have to do is to alter my relationship with it. This process is uncommon,
and I am interested in the way it can work in my case. Nevertheless, I still do not know how
well I can apply it.
Short-Term Pzychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP)
STPP Journal Page: Dr. Collins
In my case, Dr. Collins today introduced me to Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy
(STPP) which deals with acquiring insights into my past experiences that led to me
presenting an emotional dilemma. Dr. Collins feels that my grief and pending matters with
my relationship with my mother are some of the reasons leading to my present anxiety. We
had to spend some time on my early relationship with my mother and how it could have
impacted my reactions nowadays.
Dr. Collins enlightened me about transference, which could be the possibility of my previous
relationships being projected onto my current emotions. She proposed that learning about
these unconscious processes would allow me to be able to cope with anxiety and grief more
efficiently. Dr. Collins also provided a study by Vigan (2025) that shows that STPP can be a
very effective intervention to overcome such emotional struggles as grief or anxiety. The
research demonstrated that much can be achieved in the area of emotional well-being
through the unmasking of unconscious conflicts.
I would say I learned a lot during the session, as it was somehow intense. The thought that
my current responses are being affected by my past emotional experiences seems relieving
and overwhelming. I do not know whether, by going back to these dynamics of the past, I
will feel better, yet I am willing to dig deeper. The prospect of teasing out the inner layers of
my bereavement seems to have potential, yet I am also afraid to face these feelings in full
force.
A Year After
A year later, Emily has already made considerable progress in their emotional development.
Despite high anxiety not being eliminated, it feels more manageable. The devices she was
taught during Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) have permeated the latter because
attacking the negative ideas is part of the techniques she has adopted and has allowed her
to deal with academic stress more adequately. Although she has reduced her panic attacks,
she still has a few instances of anxiety but she is no longer being overwhelmed by them.
In Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) practices mentioned, she has become more
accepting of her emotions and that has lowered her emotional struggle. She has become
less victimized by her anxiety and therefore she does not attempt to repress it anymore so
she lets it run its course.
Through Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP) Emily has come to appreciate
how her childhood grief and attachment problems affected her and have contributed to her
current sufferings. Through these unresolved problems, Emily has succeeded in reconciling
the death of her mother and she has managed to proceed more healthily.
Emily is now a stronger girl. She is still using the methods of her therapy, and though she
still has some cases of anxiety, it does not restrain her anymore. She has acquired her
Master's degree and is serving as a social worker to others with her own experiences in
mind. Emily is open to going back to therapy in case she requires it in the future, but at
present, she believes that she has what it takes to handle her emotions using the new
strategies she acquired.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Emily moved through the therapy and achieved considerable changes in the
spheres of anxiety, grief, and emotional distress. The therapeutic combination of Cognitive
Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Short-Term
Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP) has provided her with a variety of coping abilities so
that she can accommodate the cognitive and emotional parts of her woes. Emily has been
able to change her negative thought pattern through CBT, which has made her less anxious.
Act has also enabled her to embrace her feelings without any bias, something which has
reduced the power they have over her. Moreover, STPP made Emily able to interpret the
unexplainable grief associated with the death of her mother which gave her the emotional
elucidation needed to continue moving on. Although she still feels slightly anxious, Emily has
become stronger in regulating her emotions and has a more resilient attitude to life. Now
that she is still practicing social work, the lessons in therapy follow her because she knows
that therapy is not a single-strike cure but rather a way to move on with life and get to know
a better version of herself.
Emily Parker is a 27-year-old woman and a graduate student of Social Work who has been
experiencing heightened anxiety and a depressed mood accompanied by some panic attacks
after her mother passed away due to pancreatic cancer. Even though she had mildly
suffered anxiety during her teenage life, the awe-desolating effect of the loss of her mother
has greatly spurred up her suffering. Being in a common apartment with two roommates
and coping with all the stresses caused by her study load, Emily ends up being swept by her
emotions, resulting in concentration and academic problems. She wants to have a better
understanding of her anxiety, grief, and emotional well-being and through psychological
support learn how to deal with such emotions. This evaluation is going to examine the
extent of her emotional disorder and what kind of therapeutic procedures can be applied to
give her the means to put her life and mental state back under her control.
Gearing Up!
Emily Parker was sent to a psychological examination because of growing mood inferiority,
anxiety, concentrating disorder, and panic attacks revealed in recent times. These
symptoms increased when her mother who died of pancreatic cancer acted as an important
emotional catalyst. Anxiety is not a new problem that Emily has discovered, as she has felt
this way since her teenage years; however, the recent grief has become an additional
problem to her emotional stability. She rents an apartment together with 2 roommates, yet
her school needs and bereavement have caused alienation in her, despite the social
environment. Being a graduate student who lives in a combination setup, Emily has to deal
with various stressors, and the loss of her mom has largely increased her emotional burden.
The stress that she experiences in her studies mixed with the personal loss seems to have
exacerbated her anxiety, which manifested in panic attacks and concentration issues.
Previous psychological assistance: Emily has not made any attempts at seeking psychological
help before, but now, she understands how much her mental health has cost, and she is
willing to consider psychotherapy as the way to find her emotional equilibrium again.
During therapy preparation, Emily would ask herself how psychotherapy would assist her.
She found out that psychotherapy although having varied forms has several factors in
common that make it effective. The therapeutic relationship, client involvement, and
emotional support play a crucial role in providing change. These supporting factors create a
feeling of assurance and hope that the therapy may give her the means of coping with her
sorrow and anxiety (Holohan & Fiske, 2021). The main objective in the case of Emily should
be how to enable her to cope with both her grief and anxiety and apply therapy to give tools
to her that would enable her once again to have control over her emotional reactions and
focus on her academic achievements.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Participation Journal: CBT Session with Dr. Harris
Dr. Harris seemed to break through in the session we had today. We narrowed down on
establishing my negative thinking patterns which contribute to my anxiety. As a case in
point, I tend to say, that I am not good enough or I cannot cope with it, especially in case of
academic bombardment. Dr. According to Harris, the mechanism behind CBT is tasking such
cognitive distortions and substituting them with healthier and more rational thoughts. The
concept is that when the thoughts change, then the emotion and actions will be different
and I can be different by the way I can change my thoughts.
We also did some work in which I needed to write down the thoughts that happen when I
am feeling anxious and then check whether it is accurate. Dr. To monitor the thoughts
during the week, Harris provided me with a worksheet. She has highlighted the value of
becoming aware of automatic thoughts and disrupting the pattern of negative thoughts. I
am optimistic and doubtful at the same time that this thinking process will help: and how
significant will these changes be?
Another study shared by Dr. Harris is the one by Eells (2022), who states that CBT is a useful
approach when treating anxiety disorders because it makes the person self-aware of how
they think and trains them to recreate the patterns they have. This gave me hope that this
would be beneficial to me because the study was quite successful in suppressing symptoms
of people fighting with anxiety. I would be glad to test the worksheets, but I am not sure
that they will be such effective tools as Dr. Harris claims.
Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT)
How it happened: Journal Entry: ACT Session with Dr. Lee
This was not like the session with Dr. Lee today. She has acquainted me with Acceptance
and Commitment Therapy (ACT) which is aimed at accepting an unpleasant thought or
emotion rather than attempting to deal with them in any way. Dr. Lee informed me that the
more I strive to battle or avoid my anxiety, the more I make it worse. ACT, instead, teaches
me to be mindful and not judge my feelings, so I will forget the struggle.
At first, I was a bit confused because I had been taught never to fight the negative. But as
Dr. Lee assured me, acceptance is not resignation, but it is to accept that the feelings are
there but they are not to rule me and my actions. She prescribed me what she calls the
mindfulness practice where I am supposed to take note of the anxious thoughts and move
on without necessarily attaching myself to them
Dr. Lee talked about a study by Hayes et al. (2006), which discovered that ACT effectively
helps to decrease anxiety levels by enhancing the element of psychological flexibility. This
would be a matter of knowing how to go through discomfort without being unable to
continue achieving my targets. I was relieved by the thought that I do not have to get rid of
my anxiety and all I have to do is to alter my relationship with it. This process is uncommon,
and I am interested in the way it can work in my case. Nevertheless, I still do not know how
well I can apply it.
Short-Term Pzychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP)
STPP Journal Page: Dr. Collins
In my case, Dr. Collins today introduced me to Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy
(STPP) which deals with acquiring insights into my past experiences that led to me
presenting an emotional dilemma. Dr. Collins feels that my grief and pending matters with
my relationship with my mother are some of the reasons leading to my present anxiety. We
had to spend some time on my early relationship with my mother and how it could have
impacted my reactions nowadays.
Dr. Collins enlightened me about transference, which could be the possibility of my previous
relationships being projected onto my current emotions. She proposed that learning about
these unconscious processes would allow me to be able to cope with anxiety and grief more
efficiently. Dr. Collins also provided a study by Vigan (2025) that shows that STPP can be a
very effective intervention to overcome such emotional struggles as grief or anxiety. The
research demonstrated that much can be achieved in the area of emotional well-being
through the unmasking of unconscious conflicts.
I would say I learned a lot during the session, as it was somehow intense. The thought that
my current responses are being affected by my past emotional experiences seems relieving
and overwhelming. I do not know whether, by going back to these dynamics of the past, I
will feel better, yet I am willing to dig deeper. The prospect of teasing out the inner layers of
my bereavement seems to have potential, yet I am also afraid to face these feelings in full
force.
A Year After
A year later, Emily has already made considerable progress in their emotional development.
Despite high anxiety not being eliminated, it feels more manageable. The devices she was
taught during Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) have permeated the latter because
attacking the negative ideas is part of the techniques she has adopted and has allowed her
to deal with academic stress more adequately. Although she has reduced her panic attacks,
she still has a few instances of anxiety but she is no longer being overwhelmed by them.
In Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) practices mentioned, she has become more
accepting of her emotions and that has lowered her emotional struggle. She has become
less victimized by her anxiety and therefore she does not attempt to repress it anymore so
she lets it run its course.
Through Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP) Emily has come to appreciate
how her childhood grief and attachment problems affected her and have contributed to her
current sufferings. Through these unresolved problems, Emily has succeeded in reconciling
the death of her mother and she has managed to proceed more healthily.
Emily is now a stronger girl. She is still using the methods of her therapy, and though she
still has some cases of anxiety, it does not restrain her anymore. She has acquired her
Master's degree and is serving as a social worker to others with her own experiences in
mind. Emily is open to going back to therapy in case she requires it in the future, but at
present, she believes that she has what it takes to handle her emotions using the new
strategies she acquired.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Emily moved through the therapy and achieved considerable changes in the
spheres of anxiety, grief, and emotional distress. The therapeutic combination of Cognitive
Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Short-Term
Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP) has provided her with a variety of coping abilities so
that she can accommodate the cognitive and emotional parts of her woes. Emily has been
able to change her negative thought pattern through CBT, which has made her less anxious.
Act has also enabled her to embrace her feelings without any bias, something which has
reduced the power they have over her. Moreover, STPP made Emily able to interpret the
unexplainable grief associated with the death of her mother which gave her the emotional
elucidation needed to continue moving on. Although she still feels slightly anxious, Emily has
become stronger in regulating her emotions and has a more resilient attitude to life. Now
that she is still practicing social work, the lessons in therapy follow her because she knows
that therapy is not a single-strike cure but rather a way to move on with life and get to know
a better version of herself.
Emily Parker is a 27-year-old woman and a graduate student of Social Work who has been
experiencing heightened anxiety and a depressed mood accompanied by some panic attacks
after her mother passed away due to pancreatic cancer. Even though she had mildly
suffered anxiety during her teenage life, the awe-desolating effect of the loss of her mother
has greatly spurred up her suffering. Being in a common apartment with two roommates
and coping with all the stresses caused by her study load, Emily ends up being swept by her
emotions, resulting in concentration and academic problems. She wants to have a better
understanding of her anxiety, grief, and emotional well-being and through psychological
support learn how to deal with such emotions. This evaluation is going to examine the
extent of her emotional disorder and what kind of therapeutic procedures can be applied to
give her the means to put her life and mental state back under her control.
Gearing Up!
Emily Parker was sent to a psychological examination because of growing mood inferiority,
anxiety, concentrating disorder, and panic attacks revealed in recent times. These
symptoms increased when her mother who died of pancreatic cancer acted as an important
emotional catalyst. Anxiety is not a new problem that Emily has discovered, as she has felt
this way since her teenage years; however, the recent grief has become an additional
problem to her emotional stability. She rents an apartment together with 2 roommates, yet
her school needs and bereavement have caused alienation in her, despite the social
environment. Being a graduate student who lives in a combination setup, Emily has to deal
with various stressors, and the loss of her mom has largely increased her emotional burden.
The stress that she experiences in her studies mixed with the personal loss seems to have
exacerbated her anxiety, which manifested in panic attacks and concentration issues.
Previous psychological assistance: Emily has not made any attempts at seeking psychological
help before, but now, she understands how much her mental health has cost, and she is
willing to consider psychotherapy as the way to find her emotional equilibrium again.
During therapy preparation, Emily would ask herself how psychotherapy would assist her.
She found out that psychotherapy although having varied forms has several factors in
common that make it effective. The therapeutic relationship, client involvement, and
emotional support play a crucial role in providing change. These supporting factors create a
feeling of assurance and hope that the therapy may give her the means of coping with her
sorrow and anxiety (Holohan & Fiske, 2021). The main objective in the case of Emily should
be how to enable her to cope with both her grief and anxiety and apply therapy to give tools
to her that would enable her once again to have control over her emotional reactions and
focus on her academic achievements.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Participation Journal: CBT Session with Dr. Harris
Dr. Harris seemed to break through in the session we had today. We narrowed down on
establishing my negative thinking patterns which contribute to my anxiety. As a case in
point, I tend to say, that I am not good enough or I cannot cope with it, especially in case of
academic bombardment. Dr. According to Harris, the mechanism behind CBT is tasking such
cognitive distortions and substituting them with healthier and more rational thoughts. The
concept is that when the thoughts change, then the emotion and actions will be different
and I can be different by the way I can change my thoughts.
We also did some work in which I needed to write down the thoughts that happen when I
am feeling anxious and then check whether it is accurate. Dr. To monitor the thoughts
during the week, Harris provided me with a worksheet. She has highlighted the value of
becoming aware of automatic thoughts and disrupting the pattern of negative thoughts. I
am optimistic and doubtful at the same time that this thinking process will help: and how
significant will these changes be?
Another study shared by Dr. Harris is the one by Eells (2022), who states that CBT is a useful
approach when treating anxiety disorders because it makes the person self-aware of how
they think and trains them to recreate the patterns they have. This gave me hope that this
would be beneficial to me because the study was quite successful in suppressing symptoms
of people fighting with anxiety. I would be glad to test the worksheets, but I am not sure
that they will be such effective tools as Dr. Harris claims.
Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT)
How it happened: Journal Entry: ACT Session with Dr. Lee
This was not like the session with Dr. Lee today. She has acquainted me with Acceptance
and Commitment Therapy (ACT) which is aimed at accepting an unpleasant thought or
emotion rather than attempting to deal with them in any way. Dr. Lee informed me that the
more I strive to battle or avoid my anxiety, the more I make it worse. ACT, instead, teaches
me to be mindful and not judge my feelings, so I will forget the struggle.
At first, I was a bit confused because I had been taught never to fight the negative. But as
Dr. Lee assured me, acceptance is not resignation, but it is to accept that the feelings are
there but they are not to rule me and my actions. She prescribed me what she calls the
mindfulness practice where I am supposed to take note of the anxious thoughts and move
on without necessarily attaching myself to them
Dr. Lee talked about a study by Hayes et al. (2006), which discovered that ACT effectively
helps to decrease anxiety levels by enhancing the element of psychological flexibility. This
would be a matter of knowing how to go through discomfort without being unable to
continue achieving my targets. I was relieved by the thought that I do not have to get rid of
my anxiety and all I have to do is to alter my relationship with it. This process is uncommon,
and I am interested in the way it can work in my case. Nevertheless, I still do not know how
well I can apply it.
Short-Term Pzychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP)
STPP Journal Page: Dr. Collins
In my case, Dr. Collins today introduced me to Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy
(STPP) which deals with acquiring insights into my past experiences that led to me
presenting an emotional dilemma. Dr. Collins feels that my grief and pending matters with
my relationship with my mother are some of the reasons leading to my present anxiety. We
had to spend some time on my early relationship with my mother and how it could have
impacted my reactions nowadays.
Dr. Collins enlightened me about transference, which could be the possibility of my previous
relationships being projected onto my current emotions. She proposed that learning about
these unconscious processes would allow me to be able to cope with anxiety and grief more
efficiently. Dr. Collins also provided a study by Vigan (2025) that shows that STPP can be a
very effective intervention to overcome such emotional struggles as grief or anxiety. The
research demonstrated that much can be achieved in the area of emotional well-being
through the unmasking of unconscious conflicts.
I would say I learned a lot during the session, as it was somehow intense. The thought that
my current responses are being affected by my past emotional experiences seems relieving
and overwhelming. I do not know whether, by going back to these dynamics of the past, I
will feel better, yet I am willing to dig deeper. The prospect of teasing out the inner layers of
my bereavement seems to have potential, yet I am also afraid to face these feelings in full
force.
A Year After
A year later, Emily has already made considerable progress in their emotional development.
Despite high anxiety not being eliminated, it feels more manageable. The devices she was
taught during Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) have permeated the latter because
attacking the negative ideas is part of the techniques she has adopted and has allowed her
to deal with academic stress more adequately. Although she has reduced her panic attacks,
she still has a few instances of anxiety but she is no longer being overwhelmed by them.
In Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) practices mentioned, she has become more
accepting of her emotions and that has lowered her emotional struggle. She has become
less victimized by her anxiety and therefore she does not attempt to repress it anymore so
she lets it run its course.
Through Short-Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP) Emily has come to appreciate
how her childhood grief and attachment problems affected her and have contributed to her
current sufferings. Through these unresolved problems, Emily has succeeded in reconciling
the death of her mother and she has managed to proceed more healthily.
Emily is now a stronger girl. She is still using the methods of her therapy, and though she
still has some cases of anxiety, it does not restrain her anymore. She has acquired her
Master's degree and is serving as a social worker to others with her own experiences in
mind. Emily is open to going back to therapy in case she requires it in the future, but at
present, she believes that she has what it takes to handle her emotions using the new
strategies she acquired.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Emily moved through the therapy and achieved considerable changes in the
spheres of anxiety, grief, and emotional distress. The therapeutic combination of Cognitive
Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Short-Term
Psychodynamic Psychotherapy (STPP) has provided her with a variety of coping abilities so
that she can accommodate the cognitive and emotional parts of her woes. Emily has been
able to change her negative thought pattern through CBT, which has made her less anxious.
Act has also enabled her to embrace her feelings without any bias, something which has
reduced the power they have over her. Moreover, STPP made Emily able to interpret the
unexplainable grief associated with the death of her mother which gave her the emotional
elucidation needed to continue moving on. Although she still feels slightly anxious, Emily has
become stronger in regulating her emotions and has a more resilient attitude to life. Now
that she is still practicing social work, the lessons in therapy follow her because she knows
that therapy is not a single-strike cure but rather a way to move on with life and get to know
a better version of herself.
