CBT theory

Identifying Data Helen Petrakis is a 52-year-old, Caucasian female of Greek descent living in a four-bedroom house in Tarpon Springs, Florida. Her family consists of her husband, John(60), son, Alec (27), daughter, Dmitra (23), and daughter Althima (18). John and Helenhave been married for 30 years. They married in the Greek Orthodox Church and attendservices weekly. Presenting Problem Helen reports feeling overwhelmed and "blue." She was referred by a close friend whothought Helen would benefit from having a person who would listen. Although she isuncomfortable talking about her life with a stranger, Helen says that she decided tocome for therapy because she worries about burdening friends with her troubles. Johnhas been expressing his displeasure with meals at home, as Helen has been cookingless often and brings home takeout. Helen thinks she is inadequate as a wife. Shestates that she feels defeated; she describes an incident in which her son, Alec,expressed disappointment in her because she could not provide him with clean laundry.Helen reports feeling overwhelmed by her responsibilities and believes she can't handlebeing a wife, mother, and caretaker any longer.Family DynamicsHelen describes her marriage as typical of a traditional Greek family. John, thebreadwinner in the family, is successful in the souvenir shop in town. Helen voices agreat deal of pride in her children. Dmitra is described as smart, beautiful, andhardworking. Althima is described as adorable and reliable. Helen shops, cooks, andcleans for the family, and John sees to yard care and maintaining the family's cars.Helen believes the children are too busy to be expected to help around the house,knowing that is her role as wife and mother. John and Helen choose not to take moneyfrom their children for any room or board. The Petrakis family holds strong family bondswithin a large and supportive Greek community.Helen is the primary caretaker for Magda (John's 81-year-old widowed mother), wholives in an apartment 30 minutes away. Until recently, Magda was self-sufficient, comingfor weekly family dinners and driving herself shopping and to church. Six months ago,she fell and broke her hip and was also recently diagnosed with early signs of dementia.Helen and John hired a reliable and trusted woman temporarily to check in on Magda acouple of days each week. Helen would go and see Magda on the other days,sometimes twice in one day, depending on Magda's needs. Helen would go foodshopping for Magda, clean her home, pay her bills, and keep track of Magda'smedications. Since Helen thought she was unable to continue caretaking for bothMagda and her husband and kids, she wanted the helper to come in more often, butJohn said they could not afford it. The money they now pay to the helper is coming outof the couple's vacation savings. Caring for Magda makes Helen think she is failing as awife and mother because she no longer has time to spend with her husband andchildren.

Helen spoke to her husband, John (the family decision maker), and they agreed to haveAlec (their son) move in with Magda (his grandmother) to help relieve Helen's burdenand stress. John decided to pay Alec the money typically given to Magda's helper. Thishas not decreased the burden on Helen, since she had to be at the apartment at leastonce daily to intervene with emergencies that Alec is unable to manage independently.Helen's anxiety has increased, since she noted some of Magda's medications weremissing, the cash box was empty, Magda's checkbook had missing checks, and jewelryfrom Greece, which had been in the family for generations, was also gone.Helen comes from a close-knit Greek Orthodox family, where women are responsiblefor maintaining the family system and making life easier for their husbands and children.She was raised in the community where she currently resides. Both her parents wereborn in Greece and came to the United States after their marriage to start a family andgive them a better life. Helen has a younger brother and a younger sister. She wasresponsible for raising her siblings, since both her parents worked in a fishery theyowned. Helen feared her parents' disappointment if she did not help raise her siblings.Helen was very attached to her parents and still mourns their loss. She idolized her mother and empathized with the struggles her mother endured raising her own family.Helen reports having that same fear of disappointment with her husband and children. Employment History Helen has worked part time at a hospital in the billing department since graduating fromhigh school. John Petrakis owns a Greek souvenir shop in town and earns the largerportion of the family income. Alec is currently unemployed, which Helen attributes to thepoor economy. Dmitra works as a sales consultant for a major department store in themall. Althima is an honors student at a local college and earns spending money as ahostess in a family friend's restaurant. During town events, Dmitra and Althima help inthe souvenir shop when they can. Social History The Petrakis family live in a community centered on the activities of the Greek OrthodoxChurch. Helen has used her faith to help her through the more difficult challenges of notbelieving she is performing her "job" as a wife and mother. Helen reports that herchildren are religious but do not regularly go to church because they are very busy.Helen has stopped going shopping and out to eat with friends because she can nolonger find the time since she became a caretaker for Magda. Mental Health History Helen consistently appears well groomed. She speaks clearly and in moderate tonesand seems to have linear thought progressionher memory seems intact. She claimsno history of drug or alcohol abuse, and she does not identify a history of trauma. Morerecently, Helen is overwhelmed by thinking she is inadequate. She stopped socializingand finds no activity enjoyable. In some situations in her life, she is feeling powerless.

Educational History Helen and John both have high school diplomas. Helen is proud of her children knowingshe was the one responsible in helping them with their homework. Alec graduated highschool and chose not to attend college. Dmitra attempted college but decided that wasnot the direction she wanted. Althima is an honors student at a local college. Medical History Helen has chronic back pain from an old injury, which she manages withacetaminophen as needed. Helen reports having periods of tightness in her chest and afeeling that her heart was racing along with trouble breathing and thinking that shemight pass out. One time, John brought her to the emergency room. The hospital rantests but found no conclusive organic reason to explain Helen's symptoms. Shecontinues to experience shortness of breath, usually in the morning when she is gettingready to begin her day. She says she has trouble staying asleep, waking two to fourtimes each night, and she feels tired during the day. Working is hard because she ismore forgetful than she has ever been. Helen says that she feels like her body is onebig tired knot. Legal History The only member of the Petrakis family that has legal involvement is Alec. He wasarrested about 2 years ago for possession of marijuana. He was required to attend aninpatient rehabilitation program (which he completed) and was sentenced to 2 years' probation. Helen was devastated, believing John would be disappointed in her for notraising Alec properly. Alcohol and Drug Use History Helen has no history of drug use and only drinks at community celebrations. Alec hasstruggled with drugs and alcohol since he was a teen. Helen wants to believe Alec ismaintaining his sobriety and gives him the benefit of the doubt. Alec is currently on 2 years' probation for possession and has recently completed an inpatient rehabilitationprogram. Helen feels responsible for his addiction and wonders what she did wrong asa mother. Strengths Helen has a high school diploma and has been successful at raising her family. She hasdeveloped a social support system, not only in the community but also within her faith at the Greek Orthodox Church. Helen is committed to her family system and their success.Helen does have the ability to multitask, taking care of her immediate family, as well asfulfilling her obligation to her mother-in-law. Even under the current stressfulcircumstances, Helen is assuming and carrying out her responsibilities.

Use the above case study to answer questions below

Name of theory Cognitive Behavioral theory
Author or founder
Historical origin of theory
Basic assumptions
Underlying assumptions
Key concepts
Foci/unit of analysis
Philosophical or conceptual framework
Strengths of theory
Limitations of theory
Common criticisms
When and with whom it would be appropriate to use the theory/model
Consistency of theory/model with social work principles
Identification of goodness of fit with ethical principles
Ways in which theory/model informs research methods
Implications for social work practice