Jasmine's changes through schema focused therapy

Jasmine's changes through schema focused therapy

Maclin, V. L. (2012, 2012). Jasmine's changes through schema focused therapy. Journal of Psychology and Christianity, 31(1), 78-83.

Presents a case report of a 31-year-old Caucasian female. When she entered therapy she had been in a four year relationship. She was living with her male significant other and adolescent son. She describes the relationship as being the most stable and secure relationship she has had in her life. Jasmine came in for therapy as a result of experiencing anxiety at school. Additionally, she had not been able to "relax" when she was at home or at work. Jasmine always felt '"keyed up" and did not think it was possible to relax. Jasmine has struggled with anxiety since she was a child. The anxiety stemmed from witnessing domestic violence in her home as a child. When Jasmine agreed to start individual therapy she let the therapist know that she did not trust women. Jasmine did not get along with women, and especially older women. Even though she did not think she would be able to trust the therapist, she still began therapy. Her experience with the therapist was different for her. Given the level of Jasmine's anxiety, stress, and distrust, the goal early in therapy was to help her to learn to relax. It was also important to begin to challenge some of her beliefs, based on her past experiences. Improvement was noticed after 7 sessions of practicing progressive muscle relaxation. Jasmine was able to transfer what she was doing in the therapy office, on a weekly basis, to her home environment. The cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) intervention of the Thought-Change Record was used to challenge Jasmine's self-deprecating comments. By using this intervention Jasmine was able to recognize that there was not a basis for her faulty belief system. It was at this point during therapy that the focus shifted to Schema Focused Therapy (SFT) to address the core-beliefs that had become second nature to Jasmine. After nine months of therapy Jasmine was able to effectively address and challenge negative beliefs. The thoughts that had been at the core of how she viewed herself, how she lived in her world, and how she related to others had changed. Jasmine was able to experience safety in the therapeutic relationship. In feeling safe she was able to challenge the beliefs and proved them to be faulty. During therapy she was able to engage in exercises that helped her to change her negative defective views. She adopted more positive and accepting views by the time of termination.

USA

Clinical

Case study