Humanistic and constructivist psychotherapies Flashcards
Humanistic therapy characteristics
phenomenological; must understand subjective experience of client
focus on current behaviors
belief in inherent potential for self-determination and self-actualization
authentic, collaborative, egalitarian therapy relationship
rejection of traditional assessment techniques and diagnostic labels
Type of humanistic therapy
person-centered, gestalt, existential, reality
Constructivist therapy emphasis and focus
client’s perceived reality is viewed to be individually or socially construction
focus of therapy is on process of meaning creation rather than accuracy or rationality of meanings
Roger’s person-centered therapy theory
people have an innate self-actualizing tendency which is source of motivation and guides them towards positive growth
characteristics, perceptions of I/me and value attached to these perceptions
Person-centered maladaptive behaviors
self becomes disorganized as a result of incongruence between self and experience as a result of conditions of worth
anxiety alleviated through defensive maneuvers including perceptual distortion or denial
Person-centered therapy goal
help client achieve congruence between self and experience
Person-centered view of transference, directiveness, diagnosis
transference is not necessary but accept and acknowledge it
directive is avoided
diagnosis places therapist in superior role and impedes process
Gestalt therapy founder
Fritz Perls
Gestalt confluence
absence of a boundary between self and environment
intolerance between self and others
underlies guilt and resentment
Person-centered techniques
Provide right environment including:
unconditional positive regard (respect)
genuineness (congruence)
accurate empathic understanding
Gestalt therapy
Fritz Perls
Gestalt premise and focus
each person capable of assuming responsibility for thoughts, feelings, actions and living as integrated whole
focus on perception
Gestalt incorporates principles from
psychoanalysis, phenomenology, existentialism
Gestalt concepts
people seek closure
person’s gestalts (perceptions of parts as wholes) reflect current needs
behavior as whole is greater than sum of parts
behavior can be understood only in context
experience world as figure/ground
Perls personality consists of
self and self-image
Perls’ self
creative aspect of personality that promotes self-actualization
Perls’ self-image
darker side of personality, hinders growth and self-actualizataion by imposing external standards
Perls view of childhood development
early interactions with environment are important
must have opportunities to overcome frustration for self to develop
if only approval, then self curtailed and self-image dominates
Gestalt therapy re: maladaptive (neurotic) behavior
growth disorder, abandonment of self for self-image and resulting lack of integration
Gestalt boundary disturbances
introjection, projection, retroflection, confluence
Gestalt introjection
person psychologically swallows whole concepts without understanding or assimilating them; trouble distinguishing between me/not me
overly compliant
Gestalt Projection
disowning aspects of self by assigning them to other people
extreme=paranoia
Gestalt Retroflection
doing to oneself what one wants to do to others; e.g. anger turned inward
Gestalt confluence
absence of a boundary between self and environment
intolerance between self and others
underlies guilt and resentment
Gestalt goal
integrate aspects of self
Gestalt techniques
awareness: full understanding of one’s thoughts, feeling, actions in the here-and-now
empty chair technique, role-play, guided fantasy, dreamwork
Gestalt view of transference, diagnosis, historical events
transference counterproductive
diagnosis and historical events avoided, only important when directly impinging on current functioning
Existential therapy theory
emphasis on personal choice and responsibility for developing a meaningful life; people are constantly evolving
Existential maladaptive behavior
inability to cope with ultimate concerns of existence, including death, freedom, existential isolate, meaninglessness
Existential versus neurotic anxiety
existential is normal, neurotic is avoidance of existential
Existential goals and techniques
help live committed, self-aware, authentic, meaningful
recognize freedom to choose destiny
accept responsibility for change
therapist-client relationship is important tool
Paradoxical intention
reduce client fear, focus on exaggerated humorous way on feared situation
Reality therapy - who?
William Glasser
Reality therapy theory
based on choice theory (previously control theory), assumes people are responsible for the choices they make and focuses on how people make choices
Glasser reality therapy on innate needs
Motivated by survival, love and belonging, power, freedom, and fun
love and belonging most important
Success identity
fulfills needs in a responsible way that does not infringe on rights of others
Failure Identity
fulfilled needs in irresponsible ways
Reality theory maladaptive behavior
mental illness is result of choice
person chooses to depress self eg. to avoid unpleasant activities
About reality therapy
rejects medical model focuses on current behaviors and beliefs views transference as detrimental stresses conscious process emphasized value judgments, particularly ability to judge right/wrong
Reality therapy goal
help client identify responsible and effective way to satisfy needs
Reality therapy techniques
questioning, encouragement, explore needs/perceptions, evaluate behaviors, develop and commit to realistic plan of action
Reality therapy “total behavior”
actions, thoughts, emotions, and physiology but primarily thoughts and actions
Personal construct therapy - who
George Kelly
Personal construct theory of personality
person construes events using personal constructs which are bipolar dimensions of meaning eg. happy/sad, competent/incompetent
Personal construct on anxiety
recognition that events lie outside of one’s construct system eg. don’t know how to behave as disabled person
Personal construct on hostility
rely on constructs despite evidence and tries to force to fit
Personal construct goals/techniques
act as co-experimenters
repertory grid - identify people in life, how similar/different
self-characterization sketch - describe self from different perspectives
Personal construct - fixed role therapy
try on and adopt alternative personal constructs
