Summary
Highlights
The client discusses their basic needs assessment results. Love and belonging were high, power was mid-range, and freedom and fun were low. Survival needs were met.
The client exemplifies their lack of freedom with a grocery store incident: forgetting their debit card and realizing they had no time in their schedule to rectify such a small mistake. This created concern about their overly structured life with no room for error or 'breathing room'.
The client suggests time management as a solution, specifically moving grocery shopping to Sunday morning to avoid being behind at the start of the week. They admit to running until hitting a wall and turning their back on their tasks.
The client proposes breaking down their work into smaller, more manageable chunks rather than working intensely for a few days and then stopping. This approach aims to prevent burnout and foster more consistent progress, leading to a feeling of more freedom.
The therapist and client discuss using a calendar to plot out tasks, working backward from deadlines to determine daily goals. The client notes that schoolwork is the most flexible area for this type of scheduling, unlike fixed commitments like childcare and work.
The client suggests doing a couple of hours of homework on Saturday and Sunday mornings to avoid the stress of catching up on Sunday and Monday nights. This proactive approach would eliminate the feeling of constantly putting out fires and bring a sense of planning and control.
The client identifies freedom and fun as the most concerning areas, attributing this to being a graduate student with limited time for either. The therapist acknowledges time constraints due to work and kids.