PCO Exam 2

Angst

Feeling between dread and anxiety

Friedrich Nietzsche- humans are

not rational

Martin Buber developed the

I/it and I/Thou relationships

Why is it important to be present

1) enables I/thou relationships 2) allows for meaning to exist 3) enables an individual to be responsible for here and now

Bad Faith

Excuse on why one is not free to choose

Viktor Frankl founded

Logotherapy- therapy through meaning

4 givens of existence

meaninglessness, isolation, death, freedom/responsibility

Resistance in ET is

being resistant to true presence in life/therapy (can be done through intellectualizing, arguing, people pleasing)

Existential therapy is not identified with

certain techniques, its based on understanding

Existential tradition

Seeks to balance the limits and possibilities of human life

Proposition one

Capacity for self awareness

what creates the foundation of self awareness

Freedom, choice, and responsibility

We can increase capacity to live fully if we are aware of

1) we dont have unlimited time

2) we choose to take action or not

3) we create our destiny

4) meaning is the product of living creativly

5) as we increase awareness of choice we become more aware of responsibilities and consequences

6) we are subject to emptiness, guilt, isolation, meaninglessness

7) we are mostly alone but have chances to relate to others

Proposition two

Freedom and Responsibility

Inauthenticity

Not accepting personal responsibility

Freedom

We are responsible for our lives and failures to take action

Authenticity

We are living based on our true values

Proposition 3

Identity and relationship to others

Creating an identity takes

Courage

intersubjectivity

our interelatedness with others and the need to struggle with it in a creative way

Doing mode

doing ritualistic behavior patterns that cement an identity we developed in childhood. Avoids being

Proposition 4

Search for meaning

After discarding old values clients may feel

like a boat with no rudders

Existential Vacuum

meaninglessness in life leading to emptiness and hollowness

We cannot search directly for

meaning

Meaning comes as a by-product of

engagment and presence

Proposition 5

Anxiety as a condition of living

Existential anxiety is the result of

being confronted with the givens of life (death, freedom and responsibility, isolation, and meaninglessness)

Neurotic anxiety

anxiety about concrete things that is out of proportion

Proposition 6

Awareness of death and nonbeing

Death gives

significance to living and motivates us

Therapist should talk about

death

Goals of existential therapy

1) help clients become more present

2) assist clients in indentifying ways the block themselves from presence

3) challenge clients to assume responsibility to design present life

4) encourage choosing more expanded ways of being

Restricted existence

client with limited awareness of themselves. Often vauge about problems and see few options for dealing with them

In existential therapy clients confront

ultimate concerns not immediate problems

Phases of existential counseling

1) identify and clarify assumptions about the world

2) examine source and authority of present value system

3) put whats learned into action

Limitation of existential therapy is

Ignores systemic issues

4 periods of development of PCT

1) non directive

2) focused on phenomenological world of client

3) addressed the needed + sufficient conditions of therapy

4) expansion to education, couples, families, etc

Three forces of psychology

1st psychoanalysis 2nd behaviorism 3rd humanistic

Humanistic vs Existentialism

H- optimistic we all have potential to actualize and find meaning inside us

E- we face anxiety to create identity in a world without intrensic meaning

PCT view of human nature

trustworthy positive center

Actualizing tendency

striving towards realization, fufillment, autonomy, and self determination

People who are becoming actualized have

1) openess to experience

2) trust in themselves

3) internal evaluation

4) willingness to continue growing

Therapist role in PCT

person not a professional, does not use techniques

Sufficent and necessary conditions for change (core conditions)

1- two people are in psychological contact

2- the client is incongruent

3- the therapist is congruent

4- therapist has UPR

5- therapist has accurate empathy and communicates that

6- the communication is achieved

Emapthy helps clients

Pay attention to their experience, process these experiences, view prior experiences in new ways, and increase confidence in actions

Subjective empathy

feel what it is like to be the client

Interpersonal empathy

understand the clients internal frame of reference and convey meaning

Objective empathy

uses knowledge sources ouotside of a clients frame of reference

Immediacy

adressing what is going on between a client and therapist

PCT expresive arts therapy

using creative mediums to express inner feelings

Beliefs of PCT art therapy

all people have ability to be creative

creative process is transformative and healing

our emotions can be channeled into art

Motivational interviewing

Elicits behavior change by helping clients explore and resolve ambivalence. Goal is to increase intrinsic motivation.

5 principles of MI

1- therapist strives to experience world from clients POV

2- MI is designed to evoke and explore discrepancies + ambivalence

3- relucatance to change is normal

4- therapist supports clients by encouraging them to use own resources for change

5- when client is ready to change therapist shifts towards strengthening their commitment and making a plan

Diversity shortcomings of PCT

people may want a direct or task oriented counselor

difficult to practice core therapeutic conditons in some cultures
collectivist cultures

Emotion focused therapy is

PCT but integrated with Gestalt and Existential therapy

Anomie

Qhen societies norms and values disappear. Causes a lack of belonging

Maslows Hierarchy of needs is the

source of motivation

Goals for PCT

1- create a growth promoting environment

2- increase self awareness

3- achieve independence, integration, and authentic living to experience self actualization

Being with in PCT can be done by

Reflecting and immediacy