Humanistic Flashcards
humanistic
self-actualization
the process of achieving one’s full potential, becoming the best version of oneself, understanding oneself, one’s abilities, and one’s purpose in life.
Positive regard
term used in humanistic psychology to describe the unconditional warmth/love/acceptance/support that people give to u. introduced by carl rogers
important aspect of healthy relationships in both personal and professional settings (with family members, love interests, friends, therapist, etc.)
as children we seek it from parents, we need it to grow
Prizing
the process of valuing and respecting yourself and others.
In therapy, Rogers says it’s important for the therapist to demonstrate “prizing” towards clients by accepting them as unique individuals with their own experiences/feelings/perspectives to create non-judgemental zone -> promote personal growth, more likely to engage positive behaviors, relationship, cope w problems, + self esteem/worth
what is primary goal of humanistic psychotherapy?
to foster self-actualization. Humanists believe that psychological problems (depression, anxiety, personality disorders, eating disorders,) are byproducts of held back growth process.
People who seek professional help have within them the capacity/the will to grow toward health (but, somehow, their growth has been interrupted or distorted)
The task of the humanistic therapist (through the therapeutic relationship) create a climate where clients can resume their natural growth toward psychological wellness
Humanists use the term incongruence to…
describe the disagreement bewteen out real self and the self we could be we fulfilled our own potential—the ideal self
humanists view it as the root of psychopathology (abnormal behavior, thoughts, and emotions)
In contrast, congruence..
a match between the real self and the ideal self is achieved.
self-actualization is allowed to guide a person’s life without interference by any conditions of worth ( result-mental health can be better
congruence happens when people experience unconditional positive regard from others.
No “only if” conditions are placed on them for acceptance, so they are free to develop and grow according to their own self-actualization tendency
the acceptance and support of a person regardless of their behavior or f
Unconditional positive self-regard
accepting oneself fully, regardless of any perceived flaws or shortcomings…not contingent on achieving certain goals, meeting certain standards, receiving external validation
Conditional positive self-regard
based on meeting certain conditions or criteria. It involves valuing oneself only when certain conditions are met, such as achieving a certain level of success, receiving approval from others, or meeting certain standards of behavior.
meeting certain conditions or criteria to feel good about oneself.
Three essential therapeutic conditions
empathy, Unconditional positive regard, &
genuineness
empathy
involves a deep, nonjudgmental understanding of the client’s experiences in which the therapist’s own values and point of view are temporarily suspended. The therapist sees life through the client’s eyes and adopts the client’s frame of reference
Empathy can enable clients to clarify their own feelings for themselves and have more confidence in the emotions they experience. It can also make a client feel valued and supported as an individual
Unconditional positive regard (UPR)
full acceptance of a person ‘no matter what’
UPR allows clients to grow in a purely self-directed way, with no need for concern about losing the respect/acceptance of the other person in the relationship
When therapists unconditionally prize clients, over time, the clients may come to prize themselves unconditionally, which facilitates higher levels of congruence & self-actualization.
provides an opportunity for clients to grow naturally into their own potential rather than being pressured by others to grow in various directions
genuineness
the opposite of playing a role or putting up a front. When we sense others (friends, family, therapists) doing that, we tend not to reveal much of ourselves.
When we sense that others authentically care about us and accept us, we tend to open up and engage more fully in the relationship Being genuine with clients helps humanistic therapists establish therapeutic relationships that feel “real.”
unlike psychdynam. who do blank screen role
UPR, Empathy & Genuineness are
empathy, UPR, and genuineness appear to be common factors, which contribute heavily to the success of all kinds of psychotherapy
reflection
The goal of reflection in humanistic psychotherapy is to help the client gain a deeper understanding of themselves, their experiences, and their emotions. By reflecting back what the client has expressed, the therapist can help the client feel heard, understood, and validated
Gestalt therapy
(Fritz Perls) emphasizes a holistic approach to enhancing the client’s experience. Gestalt therapists attend both mental and physical perceptions, encourage clients to reach their full potential, often through the use of role-play techniques.
Focus almost exclusively on the present moment, deemphasize clients’ past experiences
motivational interviewing (MI)
strengthen the client’s own motivation/commitment to change by exploring and resolving any resistance. The approach acknowledges that change is often difficult, and that people may have conflicting feelings/doubts about whether they are ready to make changes. “rolling with resistance”
been found to improve substance-related disorders (smoking, gambling, domestic violence, anxiety, depression
central principles [of MI]
-Expressing empathy (taking clients POV)
-Developing the discrepancy. (highlight how a client’s behavior is inconsistent with thier goals or values
-Avoiding argumentation (dont directly confront client)
-Rolling with resistance (When clients express hesitancy to change, MI therapists accept/reflect rather than battle against it)
-Identifying “sustain talk” and “change talk.” (Sustain talk- client statements in favor of continuing the problem behavior vs change talk they are in favor of changing)
-Supporting self-efficacy (therapist communitcates that client has the power to improve themselves
Positive psychology
looks past diagnosis based symptom reduction to the enhancement of a client’s overall well-being, particularly such aspects as the client’s positive emotion, engagement with life, relationships, meaning, and achievement (Seligman) These approaches build on the findings that happiness is a protective factor against mental disorders
how are positive psych. and humanistic similar?
positive psychology and humanism share a basic view of people as possessing inborn strengths and capabilities that can guide them throughout their lifetimes and buffer them from unhappiness
four-front approach
ensures that a therapist will not only appreciate the positive/negative elements in a client’s life, but also delineate which of those elements stem from the client and which stem from the environment in which the client lives
seven basic categories of positive psychology techniques
Savoring
in which clients intentionally focus on and extend, without distraction, moments of joy and happiness
seven basic categories of positive psychology techniques
Gratitude
in which clients purposefully focus on reasons to be thankful by writing letters, journaling, visiting important people in their lives, or simply thinking about things that make them feel appreciative
seven basic categories of positive psychology techniques
Kindness
in which clients deliberately do nice things for others, including the donation of money or time for charity, volunteering, tutoring
seven basic categories of positive psychology techniques
empathy
in which clients intentionally build a sense of understanding, forgiveness, and perspective-taking with others in their lives
seven basic categories of positive psychology techniques
Optimism
in which clients purposefully cultivate positive expectations about the future and anticipate good things that may happen in their lives
seven basic categories of positive psychology techniques
Strength-based activities
in which clients deliberately use (or write about) their personal strengths in meaningful or novel ways
interventions designed to increase happiness levels in clients)
(positive interventions)
seven basic categories of positive psychology techniques
Meaning
in which clients intentionally remind themselves of their own values and set goals to live a life that falls in line with them
Emotionally focused therapy (EFT)
emphasizes the expression, acknowledgment, and healing power of emotions in the present moment, and emotions that may have been “bottled up” for a long time. Therapists encourage clients to experience their feelings wholly/completely, show them unconditional acceptance
used alot in couples therapy (each person experiencing their own feelings more authentically and accepting the authentic feelings of the partner more fully, repalace patterns of blaming)
