Cognitive explanations appear more in the search for the causes of abnormality and new methods for intervention. Cognitive psychologists attempt to explain that the learner plays an active role in interpreting a situation, with the learners past knowledge imposing a perceptual funnel on the experience. In doing so, the learner accommodates new information into already existing schemas. In this client’s case, Sara’s reoccurring fears are accommodated into existing schemas that produce negative affects, which in turn provoke her anxiety. In specific, utilizing Becks Cognitive Therapy in practice attempts to persuade the client to change their opinions of themselves and the way in which they interpret their life events. As there does not seem to be a pre disposition for Sara’s disorders, a possible explanation for how they developed may simply be because of her upbringing as a child. In the interview, Sara described her mother as “distant” and somewhat cold. At as young as 5 years old, Sara explained that her mother hardly interacted with her because she slept most of the day, and worked most nights. At 12 years old, Sara’s mother arranged for her to live with relatives. She indicated that she was treated like a “second class citizen” and was not cared for by …show more content…
In doing so, there will be direct manipulation of overt behavior and occasionally of covert behaviors with thoughts and feelings being construed as internal behaviors (Davison et al., 2014). While formulating a clinical impression, Sara’s anxiety impacts her life in many ways, primarily through her work and her family life. Meeting with her on a weekly basis to address her cognitive distortions around her illness to collaboratively establish goals would be the main component to Sara’s therapy. One of the goals may be to explore ways that will help her better cope with her anxiety at home. Another goal may be to decide how she will be able to better function and not allow her anxiety to affect her at work. CBT will be used as a primary theoretical framework since it is evidence based which supports its effectiveness and