Chapter 7: Observing and Reflecting Feelings

Flashcards covering the key concepts, brain functions, and clinical skills involved in observing and reflecting client feelings.

What is considered the 'heart of empathic understanding' according to the lecture?

Observing and reflecting feelings.

What are the three levels at which emotions function?

Intrapersonal level, Dyadic level, and Group level.

How do emotions function at the intrapersonal level?

They influence attention, determine salience, guide appraisal of situations, and motivate thoughts, actions, and decisions.

What can happen to cognition when it is impaired by emotion?

It can lead us to distort reality or focus too narrowly.

Name the seven universal emotions identified by their facial expressions.

Happiness, sadness, anger, fear, surprise, disgust, and contempt.

What are 'display rules' in the context of emotional expression?

Culturally specific guidelines we learn about when and how to express our emotions.

How is the 'Reflection of Feelings' defined?

Identifying the key emotions of a client and feeding them back to clarify affective experience.

What is the primary difference between paraphrasing and reflection of feelings?

Paraphrasing focuses on the content and clarifies what has been communicated, while reflection of feelings focuses on the underlying emotion.

What are the six primary emotions listed in the 'Emotional Basis of Counseling' section?

Sadness, anger, happiness, fear, disgust, and surprise.

What is the role of the Amygdala in affective empathy?

It acts as an emotional (and cognitive) driver, taking information from the senses and passing it on.

What is the role of the Prefrontal cortex (PFC) in relation to feelings?

It labels emotions as feelings and, when possible, regulates action.

Which part of the brain is the memory center that holds and distributes information?

The Hippocampus.

Where is the primary location of positive emotional experience (such as glad/happy feelings) in the brain?

The left prefrontal cortex.

What does the acronym 'TLCs' stand for in the context of positive treatment approaches?

Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes.

What are the first three steps in the skill dimensions of reflection of feeling?

1. Choose a sentence stem; 2. Add an emotional word or feeling label; 3. Add a brief paraphrase.

What is the difference between macro and micro nonverbals?

Macro nonverbals are relatively easy to see, while micro nonverbals are fleeting expressions of concealed emotion that happen very quickly.

What should a counselor do when a client experiences intense emotions like tears or rage?

Help the client reorient to the present before reflecting and discussing feelings.

How do positive emotions affect a person's cognitive patterns?

They produce patterns of thought that are flexible, creative, integrative, and open to information.

What is the impact of a lack of positive feelings on executive functioning?

Executive functioning and emotional regulation break down in the absence of positive feelings and emotions.

What is 'emotion contagion' in a group setting?

The process where emotions can spread or occur among different group members.