This is an example of what you are being asked to do in Weeks 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8 and 9. DO NOT apply psychoanalytic to any of the case studies. Case of Deidre: Conceptualization of Problem through Psychoanalytic Theory A case conceptualization is a report that is written to explain a client’s presenting problems, establish goals as they relate to a theory, plan interventions, and explain the rationale for the interventions and expected outcomes for the client. The interventions chosen will reflect the theory being focused on this week and will include citations from a minimum of two of the week’s resources. Presenting Problem From a psychoanalytic perspective, Deidre appears to be experiencing anxiety because of unconscious conflicts originating from her early childhood experiences (e.g., parents’ divorce and mom’s moods), her complicated family relationships, the untimely death of her father, and her abortion. Additionally, Deidre is experiencing a high level of guilt indicating that her ego is struggling to balance between the instinctual drives of her id and the drives of her superego (i.e., the aspect of self that looks at the morality of choices) (Johnson, 2016). It could be that Deidre is experiencing unconscious psychological conflicts surrounding the secret of her abortion, her desire to feel safe with her boyfriend, Tom, and her need to remain loyal to the values she learned from her childhood (i.e., to kill is wrong). Deidre is using some defense mechanisms—including repression, which blocks these conflicts from her awareness, avoidance, and rationalization—that help her cope with her fears of abandonment. According to Johnson (2016), these defense mechanisms, unconsciously employed to bolster Deidre’s fragile ego, could be linked to Freud’s concept of death instincts that might be related to her father’s early death and her fear of losing Tom. Goals According to Johnson (2016), the primary goal of a psychoanalytic approach is to bring Deidre’s unconscious processes into her conscious awareness to illustrate how she is blocking past experiences to help herself cope with her present experiences. The overarching goal of psychoanalysis is to help the client gain self-awareness, so she will be able to understand how past experiences and relationships are causing emotional and cognitive distortions (Johnson, 2016). In addition to the overarching theory goals, one clinical goal the counselor will work on with Deidre is reducing the overall frequency, intensity and duration of her anxiety so that her daily functioning is maximized; this will be accomplished with the use of psychoanalytic interventions. Interventions Free Association During the counseling session, clients are encouraged to state any thoughts or feelings that come to mind without censoring them. Then, in a nonjudgmental way, the counselor assists clients to analyze the underlying unconscious feelings associated with these disclosures (Johnson, 2016). The goal is not to u ...

1. This is an example of what you are being asked to do in Weeks
2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8 and 9.
DO NOT apply psychoanalytic to any of the case studies.
Case of Deidre: Conceptualization of Problem through
Psychoanalytic Theory
A case conceptualization is a report that is written to explain a
client’s presenting problems, establish goals as they relate to a
theory, plan interventions, and explain the rationale for the
interventions and expected outcomes for the client. The
interventions chosen will reflect the theory being focused on
this week and will include citations from a minimum of two of
the week’s resources.
Presenting Problem
From a psychoanalytic perspective, Deidre appears to be
experiencing anxiety because of unconscious conflicts
originating from her early childhood experiences (e.g., parents’
divorce and mom’s moods), her complicated family
relationships, the untimely death of her father, and her abortion.
Additionally, Deidre is experiencing a high level of guilt
indicating that her ego is struggling to balance between the
instinctual drives of her id and the drives of her superego (i.e.,
the aspect of self that looks at the morality of choices)
(Johnson, 2016). It could be that Deidre is experiencing
unconscious psychological conflicts surrounding the secret of
her abortion, her desire to feel safe with her boyfriend, Tom,
and her need to remain loyal to the values she learned from her
childhood (i.e., to kill is wrong).
Deidre is using some defense mechanisms—including
repression, which blocks these conflicts from her awareness,
avoidance, and rationalization—that help her cope with her
fears of abandonment. According to Johnson (2016), these
defense mechanisms, unconsciously employed to bolster
Deidre’s fragile ego, could be linked to Freud’s concept of

2. death instincts that might be related to her father’s early death
and her fear of losing Tom.
Goals
According to Johnson (2016), the primary goal of a
psychoanalytic approach is to bring Deidre’s unconscious
processes into her conscious awareness to illustrate how she is
blocking past experiences to help herself cope with her present
experiences. The overarching goal of psychoanalysis is to help
the client gain self-awareness, so she will be able to understand
how past experiences and relationships are causing emotional
and cognitive distortions (Johnson, 2016).
In addition to the overarching theory goals, one clinical goal the
counselor will work on with Deidre is reducing the overall
frequency, intensity and duration of her anxiety so that her daily
functioning is maximized; this will be accomplished with the
use of psychoanalytic interventions.
Interventions
Free Association
During the counseling session, clients are encouraged to state
any thoughts or feelings that come to mind without censoring
them. Then, in a nonjudgmental way, the counselor assists
clients to analyze the underlying unconscious feelings
associated with these disclosures (Johnson, 2016). The goal is
not to uncover specific memories, but rather to encourage self-
exploration with the counselor to achieve balance between the
clients’ id, ego, and superego.
Analysis of Resistance
Resistance in psychoanalysis is considered to be an unconscious
reaction by the client to keep unpleasant or perceived negative
experiences hidden (Johnson, 2016). These acts interfere with
the ability to accept changes that could lead to a more satisfying
life. Common types of resistance are changing the topic,
refusing to talk, or giving up on counseling. These types of
behaviors imply that a client is unconsciously trying to avoid
thoughts and feelings that are perceived as threatening. Using
analysis of resistance, the psychoanalytic counselor encourages

3. the client to consider what these thoughts and feelings might be
as well as how they are an important influence on the client’s
mental health (Psychoanalytic theory and approaches, n.d.).
One example of Deidre’s resistance is keeping secrets from her
boyfriend, Tom, and using drugs as a way of coping with her
anxiety.
Rationale and Expected Outcomes
The goal of psychoanalysis is to bring unconscious thoughts
into the conscious to deal with them (Johnson, 2016). Repressed
feelings, experiences, and/or ideas can surface in the shape of
neurotic symptoms and disorders such as the anxiety that Deidre
is experiencing
Therefore, a Freudian/psychoanalytic approach asks clientsto
integrate consciously what they are rejecting from their
conscious mind. According to Johnson (2016), anxiety is a
feeling of dread resulting from repressed feelings, memories,
and desires that develop out of conflict between one’s id, ego,
and superego.
It appears that Deidre’s keeping her abortion a secret from Tom
(and possibly from herself) is her unconscious effort to defend
her fragile ego (Johnson, 2016). By exploring Deidre’s thoughts
and feelings that emerge through free association, she can begin
to connect how this repression is manifesting in her life today.
Then, by helping Deidre look at her resistance to changing her
behaviors, she will see that her anxiety and drug use are ways of
defending herself (her fragile ego) and holding her back from
making changes that could enhance her overall well-being.
A very positive outcome would be that at the end of therapy
Deidre would be empowered to make decisions based on a full
awareness of her unconscious drives and her anxiety will
diminish. Her id, ego and superego will be balanced and
healthy.
References

4. Johnson, A. L. (2016). Psychodynamic theory. In D. Capuzzi &
M. D. Stauffer (Eds.), Counseling and psychotherapy: Theories
and interventions (6th ed., pp. 73-96). Alexandria, VA:
American Counseling Association.
Psychoanalytic terms and concepts defined. (n.d.). Retrieved
November 23, 2018 from
http://www.apsa.org/content/psychoanalytic-terms-concepts-
defined.
Psychoanalytic theory and approaches. (n.d.). Retrieved
November 18, 2018 from
http://www.apsa.org/content/psychoanalytic-theory-approaches.
Deidre is the case I want you to use
Case of [Deidre]
Presenting Problem:
Deidre is a 22- year- old African American and Latina female.
From the story, it is clear that Deidre suffers from an anxiety
disorder. This is especially due to continuous cases of marital
conflicts between her father and mother, and the resulting
divorce. Her mother was moody most of the time, she
emotionally was unpredictable; therefore, she could throw
unnecessary quarrels and bad conversation. Deidre is also
likely depressed following her father’s death. Deidre loved her
father because she explains that he was always quiet and calm,
hence she was close to him. Deidre is also anxious because, she
dreams how it could have been if she had the child, and she
thinks that maybe life could have been different. Therefore she
feels that she is having a bad life. (Nelson,
Beutler,&Castonguay,2012).
Primary goal
Deidre[s treatment goals are to develop a more personal, happy,
and healthier relationships. This will help her to build

5. awareness, understanding and most importantly respect which is
toward herself and others. Deidre will then view life from a
different perspective; hence live a better life free from anxiety
and depression.
Interventions
Using approaches such as behavioral and cognitive therapy is
effective in the Deidre case. Behavioral therapy focuses on
developing behavior, through repeated positive and productive
habits, while cognitive therapy focuses on improving Deidre’s
thinking, towards a positive perspective. In these therapies,
Deidre will share her experiences and emotions, and then I will
offer some empathetic, including a nonjudgmental environment,
where the client feels free to show her feeling and actions,
which has led to difficulties and stresses in her life (Helweg,
&Gaines, 1977). The process of sharing her burdens will
enhance a therapeutic relationship, which will have a positive
influence on her emotional growth, hence eliminating her
anxiety and depression disorders
Outcome
The outcomes of the therapies are that Deidre will present with
improvements long after the treatment therapy has been
completed. Shel will have a healthy relationship with her
boyfriend, who may marry her soon. Deidre will also have a
higher self-esteem and free from anxiety and depression.
References
Helweg, G.C., & Gaines, L.S. (1977). Subject characteristics
and preferences for different approaches to psychotherapy: A
multivariate study. Journal of consulting and Clinical
Psychology, 45(5), 963.
Nelson, D. L., Beutler, L.E., & Castonguay. : .G. (2012).
Psychotherapy in the integration treatment of personality
disorders: a commentary. Journal of personality disorders,26(1),
7-16.

6. Psychotherapy.net. (Producer). (1997c). Feminist
therapy [Video file]. Mill Valley, CA: Author.
Case Conceptualization
For this Discussion, you will write a case conceptualization as
though you were a feminist or transpersonal counselor.
As you review this week's Learning Resources and media files,
note techniques and interventions, and consider the role of a
feminist counselor in planning treatment. Further, reflect on
feminist therapy with respect to developing your own
theoretical orientation. In what ways do you find that feminist
therapy may resonate with your own point of view?
Note: These are not the full assignment directions! Be sure to
read the entire Discussion assignment directions for how to
prepare your initial post, what you are posting, and how to
respond to your colleagues.
To Prepare:
· Review this week's Learning Resources.
· Review the feminist therapy video from this week's Learning
Resources. Take note of language and techniques used by the
counselor that is specific to this theory.
· Review the Psychoanalytic Case Conceptualization Example
found in this week’s Learning Resources and use this document
to prepare your initial Discussion post.
· Select one of the four case studies presented in this week's
Learning Resources, and answer the following points as if you
were a feminist or transpersonal counselor. Use your Learning
Resources and the notes you took on language and technique
from the feminist therapy video to support your
conceptualization and integrate examples from the case to
support your post. Include the following:
· Presenting Problem
· Treatment Goals
· Identification and explanation of at least two techniques and
interventions

7. · Expected Outcome
By Day 3
Post your feminist or transpersonal conceptualization.
Be sure to support your main post with specific references to
the Learning Resources using proper APA format and citations.
Your response posts may be more conversational and less
formal.