Humanistic and constructivist psychotherapies

Question 1

Humanistic therapy characteristics

Answer 1

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

Question 2

Type of humanistic therapy

Answer 2

person-centered, gestalt, existential, reality

Question 3

Constructivist therapy emphasis and focus

Answer 3

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

Question 4

Roger’s person-centered therapy theory

Answer 4

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

Question 5

Person-centered maladaptive behaviors

Answer 5

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

Question 6

Person-centered therapy goal

Answer 6

help client achieve congruence between self and experience

Question 7

Person-centered view of transference, directiveness, diagnosis

Answer 7

transference is not necessary but accept and acknowledge it
directive is avoided
diagnosis places therapist in superior role and impedes process

Question 8

Gestalt therapy founder

Answer 8

Fritz Perls

Question 9

Gestalt confluence

Answer 9

absence of a boundary between self and environment
intolerance between self and others
underlies guilt and resentment

Question 9

Person-centered techniques

Answer 9

Provide right environment including:
unconditional positive regard (respect)
genuineness (congruence)
accurate empathic understanding

Question 9

Gestalt therapy

Answer 9

Fritz Perls

Question 9

Gestalt premise and focus

Answer 9

each person capable of assuming responsibility for thoughts, feelings, actions and living as integrated whole
focus on perception

Question 9

Gestalt incorporates principles from

Answer 9

psychoanalysis, phenomenology, existentialism

Question 9

Gestalt concepts

Answer 9

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

Question 9

Perls personality consists of

Answer 9

self and self-image

Question 10

Perls’ self

Answer 10

creative aspect of personality that promotes self-actualization

Question 11

Perls’ self-image

Answer 11

darker side of personality, hinders growth and self-actualizataion by imposing external standards

Question 12

Perls view of childhood development

Answer 12

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

Question 13

Gestalt therapy re: maladaptive (neurotic) behavior

Answer 13

growth disorder, abandonment of self for self-image and resulting lack of integration

Question 14

Gestalt boundary disturbances

Answer 14

introjection, projection, retroflection, confluence

Question 15

Gestalt introjection

Answer 15

person psychologically swallows whole concepts without understanding or assimilating them; trouble distinguishing between me/not me
overly compliant

Question 16

Gestalt Projection

Answer 16

disowning aspects of self by assigning them to other people

extreme=paranoia

Question 17

Gestalt Retroflection

Answer 17

doing to oneself what one wants to do to others; e.g. anger turned inward

Question 18

Gestalt confluence

Answer 18

absence of a boundary between self and environment
intolerance between self and others
underlies guilt and resentment

Question 19

Gestalt goal

Answer 19

integrate aspects of self

Question 20

Gestalt techniques

Answer 20

awareness: full understanding of one’s thoughts, feeling, actions in the here-and-now
empty chair technique, role-play, guided fantasy, dreamwork

Question 21

Gestalt view of transference, diagnosis, historical events

Answer 21

transference counterproductive

diagnosis and historical events avoided, only important when directly impinging on current functioning

Question 22

Existential therapy theory

Answer 22

emphasis on personal choice and responsibility for developing a meaningful life; people are constantly evolving

Question 23

Existential maladaptive behavior

Answer 23

inability to cope with ultimate concerns of existence, including death, freedom, existential isolate, meaninglessness

Question 24

Existential versus neurotic anxiety

Answer 24

existential is normal, neurotic is avoidance of existential

Question 25

Existential goals and techniques

Answer 25

help live committed, self-aware, authentic, meaningful
recognize freedom to choose destiny
accept responsibility for change
therapist-client relationship is important tool

Question 26

Paradoxical intention

Answer 26

reduce client fear, focus on exaggerated humorous way on feared situation

Question 27

Reality therapy - who?

Answer 27

William Glasser

Question 28

Reality therapy theory

Answer 28

based on choice theory (previously control theory), assumes people are responsible for the choices they make and focuses on how people make choices

Question 29

Glasser reality therapy on innate needs

Answer 29

Motivated by survival, love and belonging, power, freedom, and fun
love and belonging most important

Question 30

Success identity

Answer 30

fulfills needs in a responsible way that does not infringe on rights of others

Question 31

Failure Identity

Answer 31

fulfilled needs in irresponsible ways

Question 32

Reality theory maladaptive behavior

Answer 32

mental illness is result of choice

person chooses to depress self eg. to avoid unpleasant activities

Question 33

About reality therapy

Answer 33

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

Question 34

Reality therapy goal

Answer 34

help client identify responsible and effective way to satisfy needs

Question 35

Reality therapy techniques

Answer 35

questioning, encouragement, explore needs/perceptions, evaluate behaviors, develop and commit to realistic plan of action

Question 36

Reality therapy “total behavior”

Answer 36

actions, thoughts, emotions, and physiology but primarily thoughts and actions

Question 37

Personal construct therapy - who

Answer 37

George Kelly

Question 38

Personal construct theory of personality

Answer 38

person construes events using personal constructs which are bipolar dimensions of meaning eg. happy/sad, competent/incompetent

Question 39

Personal construct on anxiety

Answer 39

recognition that events lie outside of one’s construct system eg. don’t know how to behave as disabled person

Question 40

Personal construct on hostility

Answer 40

rely on constructs despite evidence and tries to force to fit

Question 41

Personal construct goals/techniques

Answer 41

act as co-experimenters
repertory grid - identify people in life, how similar/different
self-characterization sketch - describe self from different perspectives

Question 42

Personal construct - fixed role therapy

Answer 42

try on and adopt alternative personal constructs