REBT, Gestalt, and Existential

Question 1

Name the first 3 propositions of REBT

Answer 1

1. People are born with a potential to be rational (self-constructive) as well as irrational (self-defeating).
2. People’s tendency to irrational thinking, self-damaging habituations, wishful thinking, and intolerance is frequently exacerbated by their culture and their family group.
3. Humans perceive, think, emote, and behave simultaneously.

Question 2

Psychopathology occurs when

Answer 2

individuals demand that their wishes be satisfied, that they succeed and be approved, that others treat them fairly, etc.

Question 3

What is the most “elegant” solution to irrational demandingness?

Answer 3

To help individuals become less demanding through minimization of demandingness.

Question 4

What are inelegant solutions to emotional trouble?

Answer 4

1. Distraction - a therapist can try to divert a patient into activities such as sports, a political cause, yoga, etc.
2. Satisfaction of demands: satisfy clients needs so they feel better (i.e., therapist gives their love or approval to the client).
3. Magic and mysticism: therapist is some kind of magician who will take their problem away.

Question 5

(True or False) REBT therapists make sure to get an accurate depiction of the client’s history and be reflective while the client story tells.

Answer 5

False.

Question 6

Describe the ABC’s of REBT

Answer 6

A - adverse event
B- beliefs about adverse event
C- emotional consequences
D - dispute the irrational beliefs
E - effective new philosophy

Question 7

Describe the paradoxical theory of change

Answer 7

The more one tries to become who one is not, the more one stays the same. Knowing and accepting the truth of one’s feelings, beliefs, situation, and behavior builds wholeness and supports growth.

When one knows, senses, and feels one’s self here and now, including the possibilities for change, one can be fully present, accepting or changing what is not satisfying.

Question 8

Describe the three main concepts emphasized in gestalt therapy

Answer 8

1. Contact - being in touch with what is emerging here and now, moment to moment.
2. Conscious awareness - primary therapeutic tool along with dialogue. Being in touch with what is.
3. Experimentation - the act of trying something new to increase understanding. (i.e., role-playing, two-chair work)

Question 9

What is the second order of awareness? (Gestalt)

Answer 9

The awareness of one’s awareness process

Question 10

Name 2 similarities and 2 differences between Gestalt therapy and client-centered therapy

Answer 10

1. Both believe in the potential for human growth.
2. Both believe that growth results from a relationship in which the therapist is experienced as warm and authentic (congruent).
3. Gestalt therapy has a more active and experimental phenomenological approach (similar to behavior techniques, but designed to clarify the patient’s awareness rather than control her or his behavior)
4. Gestalt therapist is more inclined to self-disclose about his or her own feelings or experience.

Question 11

What does gestalt therapy focus on?

Answer 11

1) helping patients become aware of how they avoid learning from experience
2) how their self-regulatory processes may be close ended rather than open-ended
3) how problems in current awareness limit one’s ability to experiment to broaden awareness.

Question 12

Goal of Gestalt therapy

Answer 12

Awareness

Question 13

Discuss how gestalt therapy is done

Answer 13

Gestalt therapy is an exploration rather than a direct attempt to change behavior. Gestalt therapy prioritizes an active relationship and active methods to help patients gain the self-support necessary to solve problems.

Question 14

What is the primary tool in Gestalt therapy?

Answer 14

Direct experience. Focus is always on the here and now. Therapist focuses on what the patient does and how the patient does it.

Question 15

Nonverbal subtext is the most important form of contact in the gestalt therapy session (true or false).

Answer 15

True

Question 16

Gestalt therapy probably has a greater range of styles and modalities than any other system. (true or false)

Answer 16

True

Question 17

Describe the mechanism of focusing (gestalt)?

Answer 17

Helping patient focus on his awareness. “What are you aware of, or experiencing, right here and now?”

Question 18

Name other gestalt interventions

Answer 18

Enactments, mental experiments, guided fantasy, body awareness, two chair work

Question 19

What is the existential dilemma?

Answer 19

The reality that although we want to live on and persist in our being, we will eventually die. We alone are thrown into existence without a predestined life structure or destiny that each of us must choose how to live fully, happily, and ethically.

Question 20

What model does existential psychotherapy borrow from?

Answer 20

Freud’s psychoanalytic theory of personality: personality is a system of forces that are in conflict with each other.

Question 21

What is the ultimate existential concern?

Answer 21

Death

Question 22

Existential therapy is a comprehensive psychotherapeutic system (True or False)

Answer 22

Fales. It is not a comprehensive psychotherapeutic system, but rather, a paradigm by which a therapist views and understands a client’s suffering.

Question 23

How does an existential therapist view the past?

Answer 23

The past is important only insofar as it is part of one’s current existence and how it has contributed to one’s current concerns.

Question 24

The existential therapist strives to eliminate anxiety (True or False)

Answer 24

False. The existential therapist strives to reduce crippling levels of anxiety, but not to eliminate it. The therapist’s task is to use the anxiety constructively.

Question 25

Name two essential mechanisms in the therapist-client realtionship

Answer 25

1. a focus on the here and now
2. viewing the therapist-patient relationship as one of fellow travelers

Question 26

Through _______ and _________ , the therapist strives to counter __________ and ____________ (existential).

Answer 26

Through authenticity and presence, the therapist strives to counter avoidance and withdrawal.

Question 27

__________ is the most powerful tool we have in our efforts to connect with other people. (existential)

Answer 27

Empathy

Question 28

________ are a profoundly important access road to the inner life of patients. (existential)

Answer 28

Dreams

Question 29

There is no distinction between the client (“the afflicted”) and the therapist (“the healer”). Both are humans authentically meeting. (existential) (True or False)

Answer 29

True

Question 30

In existential therapy, the therapist tries to be as authentic and genuine as possible. (True or False)

Answer 30

True

Question 31

Disclosure by the therapist doesn’t always facilitate therapy. (existential)

Answer 31

False. Disclosure does facilitate therapy, but the therapist still needs to be mindful of boundaries.

Question 32

Existential therapy can only be applied individually. (True or False)

Answer 32

False. Although existential therapy primarily has its applications in individual therapy, existential themes and insights can be successfully applied in group therapy, couples therapy, family therapy and so forth.

Question 33

All humans, regardless of cultural background share the problems of existence and must come to terms with freedom, isolation, meaninglessness, and death (True or False).

Answer 33

True