Clinical Case Lab

From Theory to Therapeutic Intervention

Case Study: "Alex"

Background

Alex (24, they/them) presents with high emotional dysregulation and a history of job instability. They frequently experience intense anger when receiving constructive feedback.

Primary Symptom:

"The world is unfair. People shouldn't be allowed to talk to me that way. If I accept their feedback, I'm admitting I'm a failure."

The Problematic Loop

1

Feedback received → Immediate non-acceptance ("This is wrong!")

2

Physical tension → Verbal lashing out or quitting the job.

3

Result: Unemployment & deeper cycle of shame (Suffering).

Intervention Planning Task

In your clinical teams, design a 3-Step Radical Acceptance Plan for Alex.

Required Elements:

A "Pain vs. Suffering" reframe for Alex.
Two somatic "anchors" for the moment of feedback.
A "Turning the Mind" script Alex can use.

The Challenge:

"How will you convince Alex that accepting the feedback doesn't mean they are 'approving' of the boss's tone or 'giving up' their dignity?"

Focus on Dialectical Logic: Two seemingly opposite things can be true at once.

Fishbowl Challenge

"I'm the boss. I just told Alex their report was 'sloppy and needs a full rewrite.' Alex is starting to fume."

What is the very first thing the clinician says?

Criteria for Mastery

Precision

Correctly identifies the "Should" vs the "Is".

Integration

Combines somatic, cognitive, and verbal strategies.

Empathy

Validates the client's pain while challenging the suffering.

Clinical Case Lab

Clinical Case Slides

Intervention Plan Template