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CASE PRESENTATION OF GEORGE
Case Presentation: Case Conceptualization (CP-CC) of George
Identifying Data
Date of initial assessment: July 1, 2024
Client’s name: George Bauer
Age: 35
Gender: Male
Sexual Orientation: Heterosexual
Race: Caucasian
Ethnicity: European-American
Marital Status: Married
Employment Status: Full-time employed as
a software engineer
Part IV– Case Conceptualization
Theoretical Orientation
This case is conceptualized according to the cognitive behavioral therapy treatment
model known as CBT. CBT is an evidence-based therapy encompassing the relationships
between cognitive activities, emotions, and behaviors. According to Schweitzer & Rubin (2015),
CBT holds the belief that psychological distress results from negative cognitions and behaviors.
They can, therefore, show much improvement in their emotional and behavioral functioning by
pinpointing and correcting these distortions. CBT is helpful where there is a diagnosis of anxiety
and depression, and therefore, CBT is a suitable model of therapy for George.
Narrative of the Case Conceptualization
George Bauer is a 35-year-old caucasian male who is currently married and has full-time
employment as a software engineer. At the time of therapy, he had adjustment disorder with
mixed anxiety and depressed mood, which is coded as F43. 23, acculturation difficulties as Z60.
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CASE PRESENTATION OF GEORGE
3, and other employment-related issues as Z56. 9. George's presenting concerns are general
anxiety disorder, low mood, and high levels of workplace stress. Also, he struggles with cultural
adjustments concerning the culture and practices at his workplace, thus worsening his emotional
state.
According to the CBT model, the core maladaptive belief in George's case is a sense of
helplessness that applies to different spheres of his life, including the workplace. This core belief
generates automatic thoughts that are predominantly negative and self-critical, such as 'I am not
good enough,' 'I will never fit in here,' and 'Everyone is judging me.' These are not just isolated
thoughts but are well-established and form a cycle of emotional and behavioral reactions that
perpetuate his symptoms.
George has several types of cognitive distortions. These are catastrophizing, where he
focuses on the worst-case scenarios in his interactions at work; overgeneralization, where he
judges a situation based on one negative occurrence; and personalization, where he assumes that
something happening outside of him is due to him, and it is always a negative occurrence. These
distortions make him experience a considerable level of emotional distress, majorly in the form
of anxiety and depressive symptoms, in his personal and working life (American Psychiatric
Association. 2022).
Regarding behavior, George manifests avoidance, mainly in social or professional
situations where he feels he might be judged or fail. Such a combination of factors keeps him
isolated and makes him more convinced that he cannot be successful or be accepted in the
current environment. Moreover, George continuously overthinks his inadequacies and past
failures, solidifying his negative cognitive and affective processes. Such a contemplation causes
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CASE PRESENTATION OF GEORGE
the development of physical manifestations of anxiety, including restlessness, inability to focus
on things, and sleeplessness.
The acculturation difficulties that George encounters further complicate the case. He
finds it challenging to align himself with the culture he comes from and that of the workplace,
which has a different culture. This cultural disconnection adds to his perception of not fitting into
culture and enhances his belief in hopelessness. Therefore, the culture at his workplace may
entail different ways of communication, social relations, and business practices, which may pose
a problem for George. This aggravates his feelings of insecurity and loneliness, which in turn
deepen his anxiety and depression.
When considering George's case with reference to CBT, the main treatment objectives
will focus on elaborating cognitive errors and beliefs. This will be accomplished using cognitive
restructuring skills, in which George will be taken through identifying and changing his negative
automatic thoughts. For example, he will be urged to challenge his thoughts, weigh the pros and
cons of his beliefs, look for other, less skewed viewpoints, and gain a more accurate assessment
of his skills and value.
Cognitive behavioral interventions will also help manage George's avoidance and
rumination. Exposure techniques, in which George is gradually exposed to situations he fears,
will help him overcome his avoidance behaviors and gain more self-confidence. He will be
administered behavioral tests that will attempt to confront him with his negative beliefs and
provide him with evidence that his thinking is illogical. For example, instead of avoiding social
functions at the workplace, George may be required to attend social functions and analyze the
functions to determine situations where the perception is irrational. Further, the measures for
managing acculturation issues that will be useful to George will involve increasing the
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CASE PRESENTATION OF GEORGE
understanding of cultural self-organizational culture and identity (Schwitzer & Rubin, 2020). It
may include developing skills in learning interpersonal communication and relations in his
organizational culture and identifying people who can recognize his cultural background.
Cognitive behavioral therapy will also entail providing the patient with information about
cultural adaptation and acculturation stress, a shared experience.
The therapeutic process will also facilitate George’s coping and recovery.
Psychoeducation, relaxation training, mindfulness, and solution-focused problem-solving
approaches will be utilized to address man’s anxiety and depressive signs (Schwitzer & Rubin,
2020). George would be motivated to exercise, engage in activities that enhance his health,
practice his hobbies, and engage others outside the workplace. During the therapy, the therapist
will have to evaluate George and adjust the plan when needed. Observation of his symptoms,
thoughts, and behavior at least once a day will provide information on the applicability of the
therapeutic techniques. The shared aims and objectives and constant assessment will help
maintain the therapy's relevance for George.
Therefore, conceptualizing the case within the context of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
entails an extensive method of identifying and approaching George's problems. In this case, the
therapy is designed to focus on his cognitive distortions, maladaptive behaviors as well as
acculturation issues, and the goal of the therapy is to equip George with the tools and knowledge
he needs to resolve his problems and enhance his psychological health. This systematic and
scientifically supported plan will allow George to interrupt this thinking and acting pattern to
gain control over his life.
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CASE PRESENTATION OF GEORGE
References
American Psychiatric Association. (2022). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders
(5th ed., text rev.).
Rubin, A. M., & Switzer, L. C. (2015). Diagnosis & treatment planning skills: A popular culture
casebook approach (2nd ed.). Sage.
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