PSYCHOLOGY
Gillian lives in the country in a 150 year old farmhouse. Recently, she noticed her cat pawing at something in a corner of her living room. Upon turning the light on, she saw that it was a three-foot long milk snake (they are aggressive, and look like rattle snakes, but are not poisonous). It likely had been living in the stone walls of the basement, but recent masonry work probably sealed it inside.
Gillian is terrified of snakes. A number of years ago, she had been bitten by a rattle snake and almost died. Now, the sight of even a garter snake at a distance sends her screaming in terror-as does this one in her house-her anxiety is overwhelming. Unfortunately, in this instance, she finds her self in a real dilemma. The snake plays dead as to avoid further injury from the cat; and the cat loses interest. Gillian is home by herself, and therefore must find a way to get the snake out of her house before losing sight of it.
As she stands frozen across the room, she feels the symptoms of a panic attack coming on, and begins to hyperventilate. Her chest tightens, and her breathing becomes difficult. She experiences chest pain, and collapses to the floor. Thankfully, she manages to send a text message to a kind neighbor who rushes over to her aid, and skillfully removes the snake from her home. The neighbor is so worried that she calls ‘911' to have an ambulance come and make sure Gillian is not having a heart attack.
a. Using a cognitive/behavioral model (i.e. incorporate both perspectives), how might you explain Gillian's behavior/response to her encounter with the milk snake in her livingroom? Be sure to integrate an explanation of the anxiety she experiences, as well as the panic attacks and the symptoms she might experience (using evidence based models discussed in the course).
Make sure to apply the principles to the scenario in a way that demonstrates understanding of the material.
b. Describe the strategies that might be most effective in her treatment
(note: treatment should be consistent with the theoretical perspective that you choose-please apply the strategies to Gillian's case). Be specific.