The root causes of suffering (kleshas) are ignorance, egoism, attachment, aversion, and clinging to bodily life. (Yoga Sutras 2.3) Ignorance is the root cause of the other kleshas. (2.4) Through pranayama, the veil that obscures the inner light dissipates. (2.52)
REf.:Rev. Jaganath Carrera, Swami Satchidananda, Nischala J. Devi.

To help my client cope with stress and attain a state of inner calmness, she will practice dirgha swasam pranayama and meditation. Two meetings (30 min each). At the end of the second meeting she'll do an evaluation to check levels of stress. She'll receive a home practice based on the results.

My client is a female, 50 years old, single parent, unemployed, living with her mother and daughter. She takes medication for depression and anxiety (citalopram). She has food allergy (dairy, nuts and wheat), menopause, rhinitis and (not diagnosed) IBS. Recently had COVID and has still some symptoms like shortness of breath and tiredness. She generally has a shallow breath due to allergies and feel some discomfort practicing pranayama. She wants to calm her body and mind and be able to meditate.

In the Yoga Sutras (2.3/2.4) Patanjali states that human suffering is caused by 5 afflictions, and that ignorance of our true Self (avidya) is the main cause of human suffering.
Patanjali also proclaims (2: 52), "Thence the covering of the light is destroyed", with reference to the effects of pranayama. Niranjanananda S says that this covering is the residue of tamas and rajas, and through pranayama the sattwic nature of the chitta shines forth. Tamas and rajas are formed as blocks in the nadis “caused by disease, tension, accumulation of impurities, negative thoughts or samskaras, mental patterns lodged in the subconscious and unconscious.”
I used 3 part breath because it is a beginner's pranayama, very efficient and easier to perform. The meditation reinforces the effects of the pranayama. At the end of the second meeting, the client did an evaluation to check levels of stress.

Raja Yoga: The teachings of Patanjali are "the golden key to unlock all health, happiness, peace and joy." (Raja Yoga workbook). They helped my client through pranayama to move into a stress-free state of being, and to notice that this is even possible.
Hatha yoga: using asana, pranayama and meditation. First the client was asked to tense and relax the whole body and then to sit on one of the comfortable and steady (sukham/sthira) sitting asanas of her preference. After establish herself in the posture, she was asked to perform a 3 part breath pranayama and then meditation.
Jnana Yoga: Meditation conducts the client to "self-analysis and systematic discrimination between Unity Consciousness and the ever-changing forms of creation" (IY website). Contemplating the unchanging nature of the Seer, the changing world has less influence over our minds and emotions.

In the beginning of the first session, the client's breath was more constricted than in the end of the session. In the second session her breath was even better. She reported very tired at the beginning of the second session, maybe still with COVID recovery symptoms, but after the pranayama practice she was feeling restored. After the meditation of the second session, she reported that she could observe herself better and noticed how she was attached to suffering. She also said that she had the belief that she could not breath deeply, but after practicing the 3 part breath, she found more space to breath.
She filled a stress scale before and after the practice (2nd day), when she could see the effects of pranayama in her mental health. This was very educative in her healing process. The evaluation showed that pranayama helped her deal with stress and restore inner peace.

I advised a home practice for my client, which includes what we practiced together:
- Warm up: 5 min
- Pranayama dirgha swasam (3 part breath) 5 min
- Meditation: 10 min (5 min Hong So and 5 min listening the Guru)
I suggested her to practice morning and evening, even if is just for one minute. Patanjali said that a well grounded practice has 3 qualities: must be attended for a long time (do not expect big things at the beginning), without break (even if it's just a short practice) and in all earnestness (involves commitment, intention to be well and in peace).

Yes, I applied the intended plan and the goal was achieved.
The client was feeling better after the practice and noticed that she had a mental pattern or belief that she could not breath deeply because of her allergies. Practicing the 3 part breath, she could realize that she was attached to this idea, but it was not true, because the technique showed her that she had enough space to breath. Meditation helped her verify that she was attached to suffering.
To acknowledge the attachment (raga) can be a great step to remove it. Raga is one of the five afflictions that prevents her to abide in her true nature, and removing it can lessen stress and allow her to live a full life.

Yes, I have to adapt the asana.
I first asked her what would be a comfortable posture to stay for about 15 min. She tried first sitting on a chair, then laying on the mat and at last sitting on the floor.
Sitting on the chair didn't work, she was feeling some tension in her back. She did some stretching and then I asked her to lay down in prone position, to allow more air to circulate in her lungs, which is recommended in some studies for people with COVID symptoms (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34182261/). She was asked to practice the 3 part breath in this position for some minutes, to release her back. After that, she was asked to sat on the floor, and perform the technique again. She felt comfortable this time. She could have gone back to the prone position if the sitting didn't work. I tried the sitting position to allow both back and stomach to be free of constriction.

Every situation is unique. Maybe next time I would begin with the asana on the floor, in prone position, as I noticed it was better in her case, because of COVID and stress. This position can be very relaxing, but at the same time, can be challenging to someone with trauma or problems with trust. I would notice during the intake if that would be a good possibility and also ask her.