Counselling Psychology Final

Locked in

In clinical work, what does the Gestalt principle of "figure-ground" suggest?

Unresolved background conflicts make it difficult for clients to focus on the present moment (figure).

What is Gestalt Psychology

The whole is greater than the sum of its parts. A system of thought, derived from experiments that created experiments to study perception and attention. 
Essence or shape of an entity's complete form, a “unified whole” 

What is the primary Goal of Gestalt

Gain awareness of what clients are experiencing and doing now. Direct genuine experiencing.

Where does gestalt see our power

In the present “Now”, the past is gone and future hasnt arrived.
Our power is in the present

What does it mean to be fragmented

Ruminating on past or worrying about future you cant access resources in the here and now.

What does the term intergration mean in reference to Gestalt

bringing issues to present/experience issues now to complete unfinished business

What are some Gestalt therapy techniques

• Internal dialogue exercise - Top dog and underdog converstionconversation

• Empty chair technique - The client switches between chairs as personalities of top dog or under dogunderdog. Using 2 chairs for dialogue

• Exaggeration exercise - Intensify a physical movement to tighten awareness of emotional significance

What does Gestalt say about authenticity

We are like onions we have many layers and we need to peel away the layers to reveal that.

What are the 5 layers of Gestalt

• Phony layer - Living authentically conforming to social norms

• Phobic layers - Avoiding pain, fears and emotions prevent anxiety

• Impasse layer - stuck and powerless

• Implosive layer - Aware of suppressed emotions and fears

• Explosive layer - Releasing pent-up energy/emotions can lead to authentic self growth and expression.
  

What are the 5 main principles of Gestalt

1. Closure - Without this we cannot be present

2. Unfinished business/figure ground - Feelings about past stop us from growing

3. Awareness/present-ness - Being present

4. Contact - Interact in real/authentic way

5. Authenticity - Removing layers

What are boundary disturbances

They are things that get in the way of authentic contact such as
- Projection
- Confluence (Lack of awareness)
- Deflection (Distancing from feelings)

What leads to change in Gestalt clients

• Active experiencing

• Increased contact

• Rely on self not environment

• Experiments like the Empty chair.

What is the therapists Goal in therapy

Create experiments to assist self-awareness of what they are doing and how they are doing it. Through methods like

• Try on new behaviour

• Focus on non verbals

• Experiments that bring struggles to life and invite clients in present to interact.

What is the Top Dog/underdog technique

Its where the client faces their top dog which is the critical, Demanding, controlling part
and
Underdog which is whipped, pushed around and weak. The helpless part of them

Its key to know both parts as we are responsible for them.

What was the key idea about time orientation in Gestalt theory?

● Most of our worries are about the past and future.

● Focusing on the present and bringing past/future anxieties into the now benefits mental health.

● Simply talking about the past and future isn't as helpful as making these issues present-centered.

● All of the above

All of the above

What culturally relevant controversy exists in existential therapy?

● Anxiety is openly discussed only in Western cultures.

● Not everyone realistically has freedom or choice.

● Meaning-making is primarily emphasized in industrialized cultures.

● All of the above

Anxiety is openly discussed only in Western cultures.

During COVID, what existential themes became especially relevant according to the lecture?

● Death from COVID highlighted assumptions of cognitive therapy.

● The shift to Zoom caused many mental health issues.

● Fake news and political controversies made people question life’s purpose.

● People faced isolation, uncertainty about health, and an increased awareness of mortalit

●People faced isolation, uncertainty about health, and an increased awareness of mortality.

Name a famous Existential philosopher mentioned in class

• Jean paul sartre

• Fredrick nietzsche

• Soren Kierkergarrd 

• Martin heidegger

Who was Viktor Frankl

Writer of a mans search for meaning he survived the concentration camps. He wrote on how spiritual freedom and interdependence of mind can be hard but meaning is found in the search for purpose and meaning.

Who was Rollo may

American psychiatrist; many books on existential therapy, intergrated psychoanalysis and existential therapy

Who was Irvin Yalom

Therapy through meaning therapeutic love themes of existential work.

What are existential assumptions

• Anxiety stems from a key paradox - Life will end in death yet death brings meaning to our existence 

• When we acknowledege things that makes us anxious instead of avoiding it makes us live more authentically. Don be consumed by anxiety but instead confront it.

Explain covid-19 link to existentialism

Existentialism is an area of philosophy and psychology linked to human experience. Covid was an existential time as it made many aware of death.

What are the 4 realities that anxiety can emerge from

• Acknowledgement of death

• Freedom

• Our ultimate aloneness

• Meaninglessness

How does wizard of oz link with Existentialism

The album dark side of the moon links with the movie. The lyrics confront the themes of existentialism like death, time and finding purpose.

Explain existentialists view on meaning

Life doesnt inherently have meaning its our job to find meaning and create it. Meaning is our primary drive we must create and discover it.

What is non deterministic?

• Oversimplification to view people as

  controlled by fixed physical laws

• Focus on active, positive aspects of human

  growth and achievement

• Focus on self-responsibility, choice, decision

  making – anxiety often at root

In REBT, at what point in the ABC model does disputing occur?

● At the Activating Event.

● At the Belief about the event.

● At the Emotional and Behavioral Consequence.

● At the Feeling response.

At the Belief about the event

What is the academic term for learning gender behaviors, attitudes, and expectations?

● Sex & Gender Role Typing.

● Gender Role Construction & Analysis.

● Cultural & Gender Role Analysis.

● Gender Role Socialization.

Gender Role Socialization

What does "homeostasis" refer to in family systems theory?

● A family's ability to adjust after life changes.

● The family’s tendency to resist change and maintain stability.

● Personal growth among family members.

● Therapy improves communication between parents and children

The family’s tendency to resist change and maintain stability.

9. What was the main takeaway from Dr. Rochlen’s multicultural case example (African-American gay

client with disability)?

● You must always address the intersections of client identities.

● A client may or may not see their identities as central to their presenting concerns.

● You must be an expert on all identities before working with diverse clients.

● Always refer clients to therapists who share their racial/ethnic identity.

A client may or may not see their identities as central to their presenting concerns.

How was the difference between race and ethnicity defined?

● Race is about physical features, ethnicity is labeled by others.

● Ethnicity is personal cultural identity; race is often assigned by others.

● Race is based on place of origin, ethnicity on cultural expression.

● Ethnicity is based on physical features; race is about cultural background.

Ethnicity is personal cultural identity; race is often assigned by others

Which is NOT a core assumption of the Hill model of dream interpretation?

● Dreams can have multiple meanings.

● Universal meanings of dream images apply to everyone.

● Dreams reflect waking life struggles.

● Dream meanings are highly personal.

Universal meanings of dream images apply to everyone.

In the Action Stage of the Hill model, what is emphasized?

● Discussing client actions the day after the dream.

● Helping the client modify the dream’s events and relate changes to waking life goals.

● Focusing on action-oriented parts of the dream for insight.

● None of the above

Helping the client modify the dream’s events and relate changes to waking life goals.