Psychoanalytic Case Formulation (Trusted)

Instead of just "fixing" the panic, the therapist and Sarah use this formulation as a .

The story of a psychoanalytic case formulation is less about a final "diagnosis" and more like a . It is the process of mapping a person's inner world to understand why they are suffering today based on who they were yesterday. The Opening: The "Surface" Presentation Psychoanalytic Case Formulation

She reveals a childhood with a mother who was highly competitive and critical. Sarah learned that "shining" too brightly was dangerous. Instead of just "fixing" the panic, the therapist

The story begins with a person entering the room—for example, "Sarah," a high-achieving professional crippled by sudden panic attacks. While a standard medical model might simply label this "Generalized Anxiety Disorder," a psychoanalytic formulation looks for the . The Investigation: Searching for Patterns The Opening: The "Surface" Presentation She reveals a

To cope, she uses intellectualization (over-explaining her problems to avoid feeling them) or projection (thinking her boss is angry with her when she is actually angry with herself). The Turning Point: The Formulation (The Map)

Sarah's panic often happens right after she receives praise at work.