Reference no: EM134016418

Question

How to create a plan using cognitive behavioural therapy for this client: At the age of two, Janelle, a 32-year-old heterosexual woman, moved with her parents to Canada from Egypt. During her childhood, Janelle received a lot of love and high expectations from her academic parents, who have been happily married for over 50 years and are also heterosexual. However, her parents had a demanding lifestyle, often disappearing for weeks to focus on their academic pursuits. They enforced strict rules regarding Janelle's interactions with men, imposing early curfews and emphasizing high standards. Additionally, her parents required her to engage in weekend community service, which made her stand out from her peers at school. Consequently, Janelle became a frequent target of bullying, leading to significant emotional distress and challenging circumstances.

Despite these difficulties, Janelle was fortunate to establish enduring friendships throughout her school years, finding support from her two older sisters and elder brothers, who always defended her. Although she disappointed her parents by attending a less prestigious university than they had hoped, Janelle excelled academically and successfully graduated.

At present, Janelle leads an active social life, having two close friends and being a member of a painting club. She possesses diverse interests. However, despite her career success, Janelle's parents have continued to hold high expectations that do not align with her own aspirations. Lately, they have begun pressuring her to marry an Egyptian man. Within the past month, Janelle started experiencing symptoms resembling panic attacks, prompting her to seek counselling. Prior to family dinners, she would encounter physical manifestations such as sweating, trembling, and a feeling of constriction in her throat. Although Janelle visited the emergency room twice and received a clean bill of health, the medical professionals advised her to pursue counselling. Just before the most recent family dinner, Janelle's symptoms worsened, including numbness in her limbs, nausea, hot flashes, and a fear of losing control. Janelle worries that these symptoms may impact her social life with her friends. Her primary goal in counselling is to understand the cause of these symptoms and learn how to alleviate them.