Below are examples of real case studies & examples of what self-efficacy & self-mastery look like in the “real world”
Case Studies & Examples
Client 1 – Client (adult, age 51) was having difficulty succeeding at with a particular breathing exercise. This is a computer program that aides one in reducing stress by utilizing a particular breathing technique. The client had tried many things and was on a level 1 and could only achieve a very “high” score in the low range (which is not ideal). I sat with the client and asked him to close his eyes and we began with a very simple visualization technique wherein one imagines each part of his body (beginning with the toes) to be very tight and contracted and then consciously relaxing each part. Then, I had the client breathe in for four counts, hold for four and out. I had him imagine that he was breathing in healing energy while exhaling out all negative thoughts, feelings and beliefs. I began the software program again and asked him to keep his eyes closed and continue breathing. At the end of the session, the client had achieved 100% coherency in the “High” category, which is incredible! He asked me, “What did YOU do?” – to which I replied, “Nothing – YOU did it! Congratulations…looks like you know how to breathe, now!) He has continued on to higher levels with great success. He just needed help in getting out of his own way. Children are the same way. Our thoughts can get in the way of our success. Creating positive learning experiences or turning not-so-positive experiences as opportunities to learn is the greatest way we help our children (and ourselves!) succeed!!
Client 2 – Client, age 8 has had many difficulties in lab. He began his first week back in lab (he had been in prior) with all-out tears and melt-downs. He had a very hard time doing simple brain task and had no adaptability skills. I began very slowly by teaching the child some calming techniques (breathing and squeezing of the hands together). Slowly over weeks, the client became more and more confident in his ability to manage more things. He took a vacation over the summer and was going on an airplane and commented, “I’m not very good on airplanes.” I said, “Hmm – that was the old you (used his name) – this is the new you. What if you opened up to the idea that maybe, just maybe you could have a different experience?” He said, “Maybe.” (Big progress right there!) Long and short, he did have a new experience and reported it proudly back to me. So, when I tried to reintroduce a new breathing exercise (he was adamant about NOT doing it because he could not succeed and not succeeding was making him so frustrated and of course, back-firing on the whole concept of the relaxation technique!) He said, “I’m not good at this.” I said to him, “That was the old you (used name)…remember the airplane experience?” (Remember…we are the memory keepers!) He smiled…and said, “Well, maybe.” I told him he could think about it. He did, and agreed to do it. While doing another exercise on the computer, I connected him to the breathing/relaxation software, but put the output on a different computer so that I could monitor it. As soon as I saw he was succeeding, I showed him. As soon as he saw he was succeeding, he jumped with glee! He had successfully changed his perception of “I can’t do it” to “I can do it.” Needless to say, this young man has gone on to be even more successful in other areas of his life. Woohoo!
“When one changes the way one looks at things, the way things look…change.”
Giggles, Lisa