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Task 1 - Case Study
Read the following case study and answer the questions that follow:
Karen: Anxiety over choosing for herself
Assume the perspective of a Gestalt therapist, and show how you would proceed with Karen,
27-year-old women who is struggling with value conflicts relating to her religion, culture, and sex-role
expectations. Here is what she has related to you during the first session.
Throughout her life Karen has identified herself as a ‘good Catholic’ who has not questioned much of
her upbringing. She has never really seen herself as an independent woman; in many ways she feels
like a child, one who is strongly seeking approval and directions from those whom she considers
authorities. Karen tells you that in her culture she was taught to respect and honour her parents,
teachers, priests, and other elders. Whenever she tries to assert her own will, if it differs from the
expectations of any authority figure, she experiences guilt and self-doubt. She went to Catholic
schools, including college, and she has followed the morals and teachings of her church very closely.
She has not been married, nor has she even had a long-term relationship with a man. Karen has not had
sexual intercourse, not because she has not wanted to but because she is afraid that she could not live
with herself and her guilt. She feels very restricted by the codes she lives by, and in many ways, she
sees them as rigid and unrealistic. Yet she is frightened of breaking away from what she was taught,
even though she is seriously questioning much of its validity and is aware that her views on morality
are growing more and more divergent from those that she at one time accepted. Basically, Karen asks:
‘What if I am wrong? Who am I to decide what is moral and immoral? I’ve always been taught that
morals are clear-cut and do not allow for individual conveniences. I find it difficult to accept many of
the teachings of my church, but I’m not able to really leave behind those notions that I don’t accept.
What if there is a hell, and I’ll be damned forever if I follow my own path? What if I discover that I
“go wild” and thus lose any measure of self-respect. Will I be able to live with my guilt if I don’t
follow the morality I’ve been taught?’
Karen is also struggling with the impact of cultural restraints on her view of what it means to be a
woman. Generally, she sees herself as being dependent, unassertive, fearful of those in authority,
emotionally reserved, socially inhibited, and unable to make decisions about her life. Although she
thinks that she would like to be more assertive and would like to feel freer to be herself around people,
she is highly selfconscious and ‘hears voices in her head’ that tell her how she should and should not
be. She wishes she could be different in some important respects, but she wonders if she is strong
enough to swim against what she has learned from her culture, her parents, and her church.
Assume that Karen is coming for a series of counselling sessions in a community clinic. You know the
above information about her, and what she wants from you is help in sorting out what she really
believes about living a moral life versus what she has been told is the moral way to be. She says that
she would like to learn how to trust herself and, in essence, have the courage to know her convictions
and live by them. At the same time, she feels unable to act on her values, for fear that she will be
wrong.
, 1. What do you see as Karen’s basic conflict? How would you summarise the nature of her
struggle?
Karen's anxiety over choosing for herself can be addressed through an existential perspective, which
emphasizes the importance of personal responsibility and the challenges of exercising freedom.
Existential therapy focuses on helping clients confront the anxieties associated with making choices
and living authentically.
Key points about Karen's situation from an existential viewpoint include:
Anxiety as a Natural Part of Life: Existentialists believe that anxiety is an inherent part of the
human condition, especially when it comes to making significant choices. This type of anxiety,
often referred to as "existential anxiety," arises from the realization of one's freedom and the
responsibilities that come with it.
Freedom and Responsibility: According to existential philosophy, individuals are free to
make their own choices and are responsible for these choices. This freedom can be daunting,
leading people to avoid making decisions or to make excuses for their inaction.
Authenticity and Inauthenticity: Living authentically involves making choices that are true
to oneself rather than conforming to external expectations or avoiding responsibility.
Inauthentic living, on the other hand, involves denying one's freedom and avoiding personal
responsibility.
Existential Guilt: This concept refers to the guilt experienced when one fails to take
responsibility for their choices or avoids making choices altogether. This guilt is not seen as
neurotic but as a potential motivator for personal growth and transformation.
Self-Awareness: Increasing self-awareness is crucial in existential therapy. This includes
becoming aware of one's freedom, the alternatives available, and the factors influencing one's
choices. With greater awareness comes the potential for more turmoil but also for more
fulfillment.
For Karen, addressing her anxiety about making choices would involve exploring her fears and
helping her to understand that this anxiety is a natural part of exercising her freedom. By accepting
responsibility for her choices and embracing her freedom, she can begin to live more authentically
and move towards a more fulfilling life.
(Corey et al. Page: 156-157)
