Case Study

A Case Report of Mental Health Improvement of a Marriageable-Age Lovelorn Female
by SAT Imagery Therapy

Wen-jie Yang１），Wen-Yan Hu2），Yang Fu3），Qing Quo4）
1）Mental Health Counseling Center, Yunnan University, Kunming, China 650091
2) Mental Health Counseling Center, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou, China
3) UCSI University4) Education and Training Section, Political Division of Yunnan Public Security Department,Kunming, China 650000
E-mail：ywj1322＠hotmail.com (W.Y)*University Students' Mental Resilience Promotion Intervention Study: NewExploration Based on the SAT Imagery Therapy, Sponsored by Zhejiang Education
Scientific Planning Research Project (Project Number: SCG038 )Abstract
In China, the public believe that the best stage for a female to get married is between ages 25and 28. During these ages, this group of females encounters pressures from family
expectations, and stressors from social responsibility. They often suffer more negative mental
health issues from lovelorn experience than females under 25 years. Their mental world areeasier disturbed by external influences.

The traumatic early childhood experiences of thisgroup often affect their cognition. The current research estimated the effectiveness of SAT
Imagery Therapy in the Chinese culture. The subject was a 25-year-old marriageable-age
lovelorn female. SAT Imagery Therapy strategy was utilized to help her overcome the social life
difficulties of lovelorn experience. The result indicated that she got better psychologically,

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indicating that SAT imagery therapy may be effective in the Chinese culture.

Key words: Marriageable Age，Lovelorn Female, Chinese, SAT Imagery Therapy
1.

Introduction
According to the Chinese law of marriage, females can get married after 20 years old.

But in real life, more than 90% of females consider the best marriage age to be between 23and 26 years. A lot of females think that the chance to get married after 25 decreases gradually.
On the other hand, about 65% of males regard females between ages 25-28 as their idealmarriage partner1). They insist that the chance to get married for females older than 28 years
drops sharply. As a result of many factors, females’ marriageable ages are shorter than thoseof males. Females often feel heavier marriage-expectancy related stress. Expectedly,

parents

who have older daughters bear higher marriage-related anxiety than parents who have oldersons.
Worry about future marriage exists among all single women client aged from 25 to 28years. Compared with 20-year-olds, 25-year-old lovelorn ladies feel much more stress as aresult of higher social responsibility and family expectation. Sad experiences when they wereyounger could affect their later life cognition of reality. Therefore, lovelorn ladies at this age tend
to be more sentimental and experience higher mental fluctuations. They usually have morenegative self-image and manifest higher suspicious of the world around2).
The subject of this case study was a 25-year-old lady who recently had a failed love. After
treatment with SAT image-therapy3), her mental condition improved greatly within a short period:
both her work and life went really well. It seemed apparent that SAT imagery therapy may haveInternational Journal of Structured Association Technique No.5

8impressive effect even in the Chinese culture.
2.

Case Introduction

2.1

Case background
Client: A, 25 years old, primary school teacher, and extroversive female (self evaluation).

Falling in love with her ex-boyfriend for 3 months, she was being criticized by him andeventually he broke up with her.
Mental situation： She felt extreme sadness, lonely and lost her sense of security.

She

had working stress, experienced noisy work environment, high expectations from school andstudents’ parents. She wished to change her job. While growing up with her grandmother, sheheard, “I don’t want you” and “I send you to someone else” in her early childhood; lived with herparents for not more 1 year before she became 18; parents were usually quarreling; In hermemory, her mother never helped her in her study, but always had high expectations from her;
her father always complained about her and had no sense of family responsibility towards her.
Genetic temperament factors4):

A showed cyclothymia - the desire of getting acceptancefrom others; the difficulty to deal with aloneness.

Adherence - easy to build up highexpectation and requirements towards the self or others.

Anxiety - easy to get into the feelingof woolgather, pessimism and hopelessness. Novelty - lack of the persistence of repeatedwork.
Behavioral traits factors3): A had self-suppression – high difficulties to disclose innerfeeling and desire. Interpersonal dependence – high low self-esteem to make decisions，highexpectation towards others，hard to get satisfaction.

Problem solving – low lack of theresource to deal with the problem，poor problem-solving skills.

International Journal of Structured Association Technique No.5

Difficulty to feel emotion –9high repression of own weakness, hard to feel others' understanding. Self-denial – highinferiority complex of lovelorn experience，loss of hope for the future. PTSS - high，stressful
fetal period.

A’s Genetic temperament scores showed that she had cyclothymia, adherence, anxiety,and novelty.

Table 1.

Her behavioral traits scores are shown in Table1.

A’s behavioral traits scores before SAT counseling
ScaleStandard Scores A’s ScoresSelf-restrain
Interpersonal dependence
Problem solving
Difficulty to feel emotion
Self-denialPTSS

Below 6
Below 4
Over 15
Below 50010
117
136
7It may be observed that A’s lifestyle is “other-reward”; she has the tendency to lose her“original self”. The coping strategy for A is changing her lifestyle from other-reward to“self-reward”5). The objective of such strategy is self-discovery by enhancing her resilience toother-reward tendencies, which may precipitate increased self-esteem.

2.2

Case Analysis
Present stress factors: the feeling of unacceptability and abandonment that A’s

boyfriend inflicted on her significantly increased her feeling of self-denial and anxiety.

International Journal of Structured Association Technique No.510Meanwhile, A also had feelings of exhaustion and mental burnout due to factors such as
homesickness, competition with others, noisy and crowded environment, high expectations
from elders and mal-relationship with her workplace colleagues.
Future and past stress factors: The uncertainty about her future career as well as theinsecurity from not being married were part of the sources of her stress. Moreover, A’s
childhood development caused her “love desire” to be unfulfilled and made her to be so afraidof abandonment; thus she formed negative self-image for almost everyone around. In themeantime, A’s parents were too quarrelsome to show interest in her studies. They still placedhigh expectations on her shoulders and complained about her behaviors. Her family had low
problem-solving and conflict avoidance tendencies. A feared about quarreling and bore others’
expectation tendencies since her childhood. In addition, A could not obtain unconditional lovefrom her parents, such that she lost her self-confidence and built up her whole life values onothers’ expectation. When she failed in her relationship with her ex-boyfriend, her feeling ofself-denial increased.

3.

Result3.1

Counseling Process:First Session
DateTechniqueA's status
Objective
Result

Early December, 2011
SAT listening skill 6)
break up with her boyfriend two weeks ago; unstable mood; low self-esteem; thefeeling of fear, aloneness and unhappiness
Understand her feeling and reduce some of her negative response
calm downInternational Journal of Structured Association Technique No.5

11Second Session
DateTechniqueA's status

Objective
ResultMid-December, 2011
SAT behavior change and support skill7)
Afraid of self development
Afraid of her ex-boy friend will date a better woman
The main feeling: insecurity & anger
The score of stress: 80%
Negative feeling: fear, unsatisfied, distrust, hate, self disgustInternal voice: Do not leave me alone, help me
Sad scenery imagination: one day of A’s primary school time, when she was in her
grandmother’s home, she had a dinner with her uncle. She really wanted to have apiece of beef. So she took up her chopsticks and was trying to get that piece of beeffrom the dish. Suddenly, her uncle beat her hand with his chopsticks and told her thatshe did not deserve to eat much meat. Eventually, she had to apologize to her uncle.
Comparison between past and current events: the client was not able to disclose herstandpoint, so that she could only catch her own feeling of frustration and deliver theunhappy behavior without reason, when her boyfriend could not be with her. One byone, her ex-boyfriend hardly bear her unreasonable response and to be sick of her
dependence. On the other hand, once she could not fulfill her need of security, she
only recognized the anger from inside herself and ascribed the feeling to destiny.
Action goal:
1. SMS to her ex-boy friend, wish him well. (90% of applied confidence)
2. Take care of herself, do not suspect others. (80% of applied confidence)
The score of stress (after the session): 30%
decrease the degree of stress

Third Session
DateTechniqueA's status
Objective
ResultApril 7th, 2012
SAT temperament coaching and Health Counseling4)
Still have the attachment bond with her ex-BF; feeling low confidence and lonely;
distracted her work by lovelorn experience; expected the counseling session
To understand A’s Genetic temperament by herself in order to comprehend the reasonof her stress and learn the relevant self-care action.
A found some answers to her problems; still feeling not so confidentInternational Journal of Structured Association Technique No.5

12Fourth Session
DateTechniqueA's status

April 21st, 2012
SAT Self Imagery Adjustment Method 8)
More calm down; more open-minded to talk and share; accept the truth and learn how
to be independent; more effectiveness of work; have confusion towards therelationship between her and her parents; feel unsure of an intimate relationship
Ideal Self: Have a strong heart and independent.
Confidence Level: 20%; Ideal Confidence Level: 80%
Spiritual keyperson Imagery Method: Hope to have an elder brother or sister,
The temperament of her brother was Cyclothemia & Viscosity as well as his/her sister
was Cyclothemia & Autisticism. Once a client had such kind of siblings, he or she
would be easier to show open-minded, confident, relax, peaceful and warm feelings.
Universe Self Imagery Method: Hope to be surrounded by golden sunlight andbeing protected. The favorite action of the client was helping others in order to getting
along with them on friendly terms. After achieved her purpose, she felt stable moods
such as peaceful, joyful and meaningful.

Objective
ResultAfter 5 years, the confidence level becomes 80%
By means of counseling sessions, A realized her weakness attributable to herparenting style. For example, she had high similarities of lifestyle compared with herparents such as hard to reach peaceful mind, to feel empty, self-fish andsubstance-based. Especially, complaint and finding excuse were apparently inheritedfrom her father. Thereby, she decided to be herself rather than looking forward toothers’.

Fifth Session
DateTechniqueA's status
Objective

ResultMay 5th, 2012
Ideal parents imagery method9)
Achieve the success by applying the counseling outcome towards her parents; more
active and effective work
Re-recognize her parents and increase relationshipReal father：impetuous, avoiding problem solving, complaint
Real mother：No sense of responsibility, don’t care of herself
Ideal father: Yan-hong Li, The CEO of Baidu internet company，skillful, well-educated,rich
Ideal mother：The wife of Li’s，well-educated, classic, unique.
Ideal self：Sunny, open-minded, complete personality
The strengths of parents with ideal self version：
Father：Working hard, be responsible for the family
Mother：Model house wife, sacrified everything for family
A realized that love come from heart; everyone can feel; every parent has their own
difficulty; no one is the worst.

International Journal of Structured Association Technique No.513Sixth Session
DateTechniqueA's status
ObjectiveResult

May 19th , 2012
Human relationship Adjustment Method4)
Less the complaint towards her parents, transfer the focus on her work.
understand self and others, know about how to build a good relationship
Target person: partner in work
The score of interpersonal relationship: -1 to 2
The score of stress: 70% to 50%
A realized her over-expectation to her working partner. Furthermore, A also realized
her ex-BF did the same thing to her that made her feel down and low self-esteem.
Therefore, she decided to let the previous intimate relationship go, respect herself andother, focus on the future as well as re-believe in good love.

Seventh Session
DateTechniqueA's status
Objective
ResultTable 2: A’s

June 2nd, 2012
SAT Communication Skill10)
Stable mood, focus on work and the willingness to know more about communication
with others
Learning communication principles and skills
A felt the touch with her real life and contact skills with her current job. A also build
confidence to her life as well as being more independent.

behavioral traits scores change after SAT counseling

ScalesSelf-repressionInterpersonal
dependence
Problem solving

3.2Standard Scores

Before 3rd

After 4th

After 5th

After 7th

Below 6
Below 41011233532Over 157101115

Counseling Evaluation
After the 7th session, A had obvious changes. She became effective in her work, re-built

her self-esteem and confidence.

After two months’ post-therapy sessions, A completely

walked out the shadow of her lovelorn experience. She maintained peaceful mood and focusedInternational Journal of Structured Association Technique No.5

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on her work. She could get value from her current job as well as benefits from a good socialrelationship.
Regarding future intimate relationship, A was still worry about some real issues such as
her age, the personality of her partner as well as her relationship with her parents.

However,

A understood how to deal with these issues with a peaceful mind. During the phone-callcounseling, the counselor emphasized what A already achieved and encouraged her to believein herself, and keep on in the right direction. A felt warm and happy.

4.

Discussion
Females who are between 25 to 28 years old face critical psychosocial

decision-making issues in China. Their careers and marriages are often endangered. Theinteraction between their future expectations and un-finished businesses in the past are serious
stressors that often make them confused. When they experience unexpected incidents such as
divorce, they could suffer complete down moods and may not objectively evaluate the realsituation.

They transfer their inside weaknesses to others and get weaker and insecure. In

addition, the social support system may have significant impact on them. A was an obviousexample.
Nowadays, in China, there is a big competition for stable job11). Most graduate students
would choose big cities in order to get more opportunities rather than choose what theygenuinely like and can do. For example, majority of the students believe that working ingovernment is the best choice. They decide to look for government job in the city and ignored
their own emotion towards their hometown and family. Unfortunately, they often experience aInternational Journal of Structured Association Technique No.515

lonely life in the city resulting in some unexpected psychic challenges, they feel frustrated,anxious and disappointed. They deeply ached for care and understanding from others insteadof confront their own wrong decision-making. Thus, lovelorn experiences cause a big crash intheir lives. A was an obvious case.
The education system in China is examination-oriented rather than focus on theself-development of children and their social ability12). However, parents usually make efforts indeveloping the social-self of their children. Some parents such as A’s reflect their unfinishedhope in their children. Therefore, some children could not get the correct coping strategy todeal with their own life problems. A few parents even distressed their children by parenting in
the improper way, such that the children may feel angry and disgusted with their parents.
Eventually, such children hardly trusted others in the adult world and could have low skills todeal with their self-emotions and moods.
In this study, A had other-reword lifestyle which had the tendency to lose her “original self”.
Her lovelorn experience caused a lot of knock-on effect to distress her. SAT Imagery Therapystrategy matched with her problem, especially in helping her recognize her true self andre-build her confidence. Her case was effectively processed. After all the sessions, A’s moodsignificantly leveled out and transferred to “self-reward”. Her subsequent actions such ascontinuous learning, communicating in the proper way as well as making efforts for self-care
was attributable to the SAT therapy outcome.
Currently, there is a big dilemma in terms of counseling mechanism in China13). The
clients focus on whether or not its cost matches its effectiveness. They wish the counselor
could solve all of their problems as quickly as possible. They have high expectation of each

International Journal of Structured Association Technique No.516

counseling session. If the particular session could not bring them the big change, they would
feel strong sense of helpless and powerless such that they lose in the counselor. SAT Imagery
Therapy seems to resolve this problem. It is a short and result-oriented approach. The client
could easily perceive the effect of each session. It quite matches with current Chinese demandsituation. Therefore, SAT has a bright prospect of development in China. The therapy has otherhigh-technique methods such as SKP Imagery Technique and the Three-Generations Imagery
Technique. These techniques circumspect the traditional counseling methods to sufficiently
empower the client for the in-depth self-awareness and resolution of his/her problems.

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