Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy

Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy
Your name
Subject and Section
Professor’s Name
Date
In your own words, summarize the case:
1 What was the case about?
This is a case of a young adult woman named Martha, who fears absolutely every form of decision-making, secondary to how her parents brought her up. The patient’s parents were strict about everything she had to do. Notably, the mother had instilled that the patient needs to continuously find something or someone that is even beyond perfect for the patient’s and her family’s sake. Because of such beliefs forced into her young mind, the patient grew up lacking self-confidence, resulting in the scarcity of autonomy. The lack of self-confidence was evident as the patient could not trust her decisions regarding her personal life and wanted to seek her family’s approval. Anything that the patient did was never guided by autonomy. Instead, her parents’ autonomy ruled over her wants and necessities. Hence, this resulted in excessive fear of failure and the lack of a genuine ambition, always seeking other people’s approval beyond her gain (Ellis, 1974).
2 Whom did it involve?
The main stakeholders in the case are Martha, the patient, her biological father and mother, and her two younger siblings. The others are minor stakeholders who were temporarily involved in her life, including her previous suitors, love affairs, sexual partners, and workmates (Ellis, 1974).
3 What happened in the case?
The main reason for the consultation was the patient’s inability to control her irrational fear of rejection and failure. First, the patient dared to move out of their house but was afraid of being considered an incapable and unloving child by her parents and eldest sister to her siblings.
Second, the patient was incapable of enjoying exploring love and its affairs and consequences due to the continuous search for her mother’s approval, and the patient had to date two boys at the same time.
Third, the patient believes that she is a good-for-nothing employee and that she could not fully contribute to their family’s needs, especially financially, even though her skills and experiences proved that she was more than qualified to be in the best position in her job.
Fourth, she thinks that choosing to have autonomy over her life is illogical and that she must always look out for the reactions of everybody else, especially those she loves the most.
Lastly, the patient forced herself to go to their church because she was raised in a hardcore Baptist shell, despite not believing in the practices of the religion, to please her parents. Also, she was afraid to tell them that her belief was the opposite of theirs.
4 What caused the distress?
Perfectionism is the primary cause of distress in Martha’s case. It is a risk factor in developing several psychiatric disorders and one of the primary causes of poor quality of life. Smith et al. (2018) conducted a longitudinal study and meta-analysis of the connection of anxiety symptoms with perfectionism. The study revealed that reservations or misgivings about one’s actions, personal principles, and ir...