Counseling Theories Exam 1

The person and professional are…

intertwined facets that cannot be separated in reality

The therapist & therapeutic relationship vs therapy methods

The quality of the therapeutic relationship (the working alliance) is a stronger predictor of positive psychotherapy outcomes than the specific therapy method or technique used.

The therapist being a client themselves can help 3 ways

1. therapist learns whats helpful and what is not helpful

2. personal therapy can further enhances ones interpersonal skills

3. help therapist deal with stressors associated with work

Transference

happens when a client unconsciously redirects feelings, expectations, or fears from a significant person in their past (projection in a sense)

Countertransference

the therapist emotional, mental, and behavioral reaction to client (reaction based)

value imposition

refers to counselors directly attempting to define a clients values, attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors

ethical obligation (effective multicultural counselor)

it is an ethical obligation fir counselors to develop sensitivity to cultural differences if they hope to make interventions that are consistent with the values of the client

Culture

the values and beliefs shared by a group of individuals. It refers more than ethnic or racial heritage; age, gender, religion, sexual orientation, physical and mental ability and socioeconomic status

Conceptual framework for competency involve 3 areas

1. Belief’s & Attitudes (Affective): The mindset, values, and emotional intelligence that govern how an individual approaches their work. This drives motivation, behavior, and adaptability.

2. Knowledge (Cognitive): The theoretical understanding, factual information, and concepts required to comprehend a subject.

3. Skills Skills (Behavioral): The practical capability to execute physical or mental tasks successfully

framework defines competency as the demonstrated ability to perform a task effectively by integrating three core domains

mandatory ethics

the view of ethical practice that deals with the minimum level of professional practice

aspirational ethics

a higher level of ethical practice that addresses doing what is in the best interest of clients

positive ethics

an approach taken by practitioners who want to do the best for their clients rather then simply meeting the minimum standards to stay out of trouble

informed consent

the right of clients to be informed about their therapy and to make autonomous decisions pertaining to it

confidentiality (an ethical concept)

The legal duty of therapy not to disclose information about a client. It can be broken in certain cases; abuses to children, elders, dependent adult, danger to self or others (in most states the legal duty of therapy)

privileged communication

a legal conceptthat generally bars the disclosure of confidential communications in a legal proceeding

assesment

evaluating the relevant factors in a clients life to identify themes for further exploration in the counseling process

diagnosis (sometimes part of the assessment process)

consists of identiying a specific mental disorder based on a pattern of symptoms.

beginning with intake interview then duration of therapay

considering ethnic & cultural factors in assessment & diagnosis

counselors need to be aware of ethnic and cultural factors in certain patterns of behavior. Being aware of unintentional bias and keeping an open mind to the pressure of distinctive ethnic & cultural patterns that could influence the diagnostic process.

evidence based practices

the integration of the best available research with clinical expertise in the context of patient characteristics, culture and preferences.

practice based evidence

involves using data generated during treatment to inform the process and outcome of treatment

ethical issue- multiple relationship/ dual relationship (non professional relationship)

when clinicians blend their professional relationship with another kind of relationship with a client

• emotionally/sexually involved, borrowing money from a client, giving therapy to a friend

boundary crossing

a departure from a community accepted practice that could potentially benefit a client

ex- going to a clients wedding extending a boundary but could be beneficial

boundary violation

a serious breach that harms the client and therfor unethical (practioner is out of the professional role)

Psychoanalytic therapy

created by Sigmund Frued, human behavior, personality, and emotional health are deeply driven by unconscious motives, hidden conflicts and early childhood experiences. Talk therapy based that aims to bring unconscious thoughts and repressed childhood emotions into the conscious mind.

two goals;

make unconscious conscious and to strengthen ego so that behavior is based more on the reality and less on the instinctual cravings and irrational guilt.

The structure of personality

ID, EGO, SUPEREGO

ID

the completely unconscious, main source of biological drives & pleasure seeking instincts (operating on pleasure principle)

EGO

The rational, reality-bound part of the mind that balances the demands of the ID with the constraints of the real world (operating on the reality principle)

SUPEREGO

the moral conscience and internalized societal standard/rules acquired from parents & culture

concious

what a person is actively aware at any given moment

unconcious

a deep reservoir of repressed feelings, hidden memories, traumatic incidents, and primitive urges that strongly influence behavior without a person realizing it

Psychosexual stages of development

human personality in shaped during childhood through five distinct stages driven by libido (sexual energy, energy of all life instincts)

stages include: oral, anal, phallic, latent and genital

psychosexual development stages

oral- (birth-1), interacts primarily through mouth

anal- (1-3), bladder & bowel movements

phallic- (3-6), genital

latent- (6-puberty), sexual feelings etc are repressed into the mind

genital- (puberty-death), genital again

ego defense mechanisms

mechanisms in place when the ego has a difficult time making both the id and the superego happy it will employ one of these defenses. these are unconcious defense mechanisms.

denial

refusing to accept external reality or tramuatic facts

repression

pushing painful/disturbing thoughts deep into unconcious

projection

attributting ones own unaccpetable thoughts or impulses onto someone else

rationaliztion

creating logical or socially approved excuses for unexceptable behavior

sublimation

channeling unacceptable impulses into productive or creative outlets

displacement

taking out impulses on a less threatening target

intellectualization

placing unacceptable impulses in yourself onto someone else

reaction formation

taking the opposite belief because the true belief causes anxiety

suppresion

pushing into the subconscious

death instincts

aggressive drive, people manifest through their behavior an unconscious wish to die or to hurt themselves or others

Erikson developmental model

psychosexual growth and the psychosocial growth takes places together, each stage in life we face the task of establishing equilibrium between ourselves and our social world

Infancy (trust vs mistrust) first year of life

humans need both physical and emotional needs met, infants develop. sense of trust. If the needs are not met, an attitude of mistrust towards the world.

Early childhood (autonomy versus shame & doubt) 1-3 yrs

autonomy can be developed. theres a basic struggle between self-reliance and self-doubt, A child needs to explore and experiment to be able to make mistakes to test limits. Parents promote dependency, a child cannot develop autonomy and therfor cannot deal with the world.

preschool age (initiative versus guilt) 3-6 yrs

need to achieve a sense of competence and initiative. If children are given freedom to select personally meaningful activities they tend to develop a positive self view and follow through with their projects. If children are not allowed to make their own decisions they develop guilt over initiative. They refrain from making an active stance and allow others to choose for them.

school age (industry versus inferiority) 6-12 yrs

child need sot expand understanding of world, continue to develop appropriate gender role identity and basic skills for school success to achieve industry (setting and attaining personal goals). Failure to do so results in a sense of inadequacy.

adolescence (identity versus role confusion) 12-18 yrs

transition from childhood to adulthood. A time for testing limits, breaking dependent ties, and establishing a new identity. Conflicts on self-identity, life goals, and life’s meaning. Failure to achieve a sense of identity results in role confusion.

young adulthood (intimacy versus isolation) 18-35 urs

time to form intimate relationships. Failure to achieve intimacy can lead to alienation and isolation.

Middle age (generatively versus stagnation) 35-60 yrs

there is a need to go beyond self and family, and to be involved in helping the next generation. Adjusting discrepancy between ones dream and ones actual accomplishments

Later life (integrity versus despair) 60+ yrs

if one looks back on life with few regrets and feels personally worthwhile, ego integrity results. Failure to achieve ego integrity leads to feelings of despair, hopelessness, guilt, resentment and self-rejection.

free association

clients are encouraged to speak freely, whatever may come to their mind despite how painful, silly trivial it seems to be

what do therapist need to identify with free association?

repressed material, that is locked in the unconscious

interpretation

the analysts pointing out, explaining, and even teaching the client the meanings of behavior that is manifested in dreams, free association, resistances and the therapeutic relationship itself

what do therapist need to identify with interpretation?

identify, clraify, and translating the clients material

dream analysis

an important procedure for uncovering unconscious material & giving the client insight int some areas of unresolved problems

dreams have two levels of content

latent and manifest

latent dreams

hidden, symbolic and unconscious motives, wishes and fears

manifest dreams

the dream as it appears to the dreamed

what do therapist need to identify with dream analysis?

Study signs/symbols in the dreams. Dreams are a pathway to repressed material

analysis and intepretation of resistance

resistance: anything that works against the progress of therapy & prevents client from producing previously unconscious material that has been repressed

Alderian therapy

Is the therapy process that focuses on understanding an individuals lifestyle and social interested, examining past experiences and family dynamic. Therapist encourage goal-setting and positive behavior to overcome perceived barriers and foster a sense of belonging and purpose.

Adler individual psychology

views the world the way the individual views their world as an indivisible, goal-directed whole rather than a collection of conflicting drives.

Adler focuses on birth order and sibling relationships

birth order and sibling relationships can increase an individuals probability of having a certain set of experiences

• oldest: often spoiled, center of attention (superiority almost)

• second:behave as though they their in a race with the firstborn

• middle: feels left out, life is unfair they feel cheated

• youngest: baby of the family, pampered

• only child: similar characteristics of oldest being pampered, could be dependent on parents

Alderian therapy function and role

assume a non-pathological perspective, therapy views human emotions, behaviors, and struggles on meaningful adaptations and responses to life experiences rather than as mental illnesses.

the goal is to free them from life stories they have attached themselves to a favorable story

comprehensive assesment of clients functioning

figuring out family tree, life tasks, and early recollections to picture individuals early social world

early recollections

stories defined as “stories” of events that a person says occured before her or she was 10 years of age

lifestyle assesment

gathering early memories involves learning to understand the gaols & motives of the client

alders view of dreams

he viewed dreams are rehearsal for possible future actins, posisble answers to a clients present problems

Adlers therapeutic technique

1. establish the proper therapeutic relationship

2. explore the psychological dynamics operating in the client (assesment)

3. encourage the development of self-understanding (insight into purpose)

4. help the client make new choices (reorientation & reeducation)

Rogers person centered therapy

centered on the client as a true primary agent for constructive change. He believes people have potential for understanding themselves, resolving their own problems without direct intervention on the therapist part.

The therapeutic process for person centered therapy

aims for client a greater degree of independence and integration focus is on the person

Therapist goal for person centered therapy

• assist clients in their growth process so clients can better cope with their problems as they identify the

• relationship is more collaborative then one sided. therapist must be willing to be in a “real relationship” with the client

• therapist mustb use themsleves as an instrument of change