Symbolic Experiential Flashcards

1
Q

Main Ideas

A

~ anxiety is a good thing and can be channeled
~individual health create system health
~emotional suppression causes many family problems
~ authentic therapists
~ therapist had ‘grandparent’role with children
~ responsibility to change lies with family
~ all family members including generations must be present
~most important aspect of therapy is therapists own personality and psychological health.
~viewed therapists as healers and artists… Learn the education then be yourself and not stuck with using it.
~ abandoned structured therapy and relied on spontaneous therapist reactions
~ when therapist sets structure so all family is there when therapist said when it would work. Hypothesized that if the clients aren’t willing to meet the counselors requirements then they won’t likely be invested in therapy.

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2
Q

Contributors

A

Carl Whitaker (main)
August Napler
David Keith
Walter Kempler

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3
Q

Affective Confrontation

A

The therapist’s intentional confrontation with the family where he or she will directly and openly share his/her subjective emotional experience working with the family

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4
Q

Activating Constructive Anxiety

A

Therapist’s effort to reframe symptoms as efforts towards building competence by focusing on the positive attributes of anxiety as means toward self-growth

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5
Q

Battle for Initiative

A

After the therapist wins the battle for structure, the family must win the battle for initiative- that is realize and demonstrate that they are responsible for change, no the therapist

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6
Q

Battle for Structure

A

Therapist must first win the battle of structure if therapy is to be effective- this entails determining who attends the session, what time sessions are, how frequently sessions occur, and for how long. If the family is not willing to meet these expectations set by the therapist, then they are not prepared to invest in the growth-process and change would be unlikely.

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7
Q

Bilateral Pseudo Therapy

A

Occurs when family members attempt to play therapist to one another- this is avoided.

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8
Q

Fantasy Alternative

A

Discussing problematic or stressful situations in fantasy based “what if” terms or deemphasizing stressful situations by suggesting absurd fantasy alternatives (ex. maybe if you medicated your husband, he wouldn’t be so emotional)

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9
Q

Person of the Therapist

A

Symbolic Experiential Therapy attributes the psychological factor in effective therapeutic outcomes. The therapist is encouraged to be authentic and real with his or her clients, relying on the spontaneity of their emotional responses as they remain present with the family.

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10
Q

Individuation

A

A primary goal in growth-oriented therapies, encouraging each individual family member in becoming more and more oh who they are.

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11
Q

Fight Toward Health

A

When a family would abruptly stop showing up for treatment, Whitiaker would take this as a positive sign that the family experienced profound growth and no longer requires therapeutic support. Whitaker would always be supportive of a family’s request to terminate therapy regardless of the phase of treatment.

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12
Q

Redefining Symptoms

A

Symbolic experiential therapists will often redefine symptoms from pathological to efforts toward growth.

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13
Q

Expanding Distress

A

This is a process of expanding the symptom to the system, that is, expanding the distress to include each member, shifting the nature of anxiety within the family, and reducing blame and scapegoating.

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14
Q

Family Interaction

A

Healthy family interaction is characterized by flexibility and openness to life experiences.

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15
Q

Existential Encounter

A

The therapist’s willingness to both receive the family’s reactions to them as well as disclose their own reactions to the family.

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16
Q

Craziness

A

Whitaker advocated for craziness (nonrational and right brain thinking) in both therapist and family. Craziness gives the freedom to be spontaneous.

17
Q

Degrees of Craziness
Driven Crazy

A

Member driven outside the family

18
Q

Degrees of Craziness: Going crazy

A

Intensified version of therapeutic neurosis (chronic distress)

19
Q

Degrees of Craziness: Acting crazy

A

A member who was crazy regresses into crazy behavior when faces with anxiety

20
Q

Therapy of the Absurd

A

Symbolic Experiential therapy may be referred to as absurd given its unrecognizable structure, spontaneous process, and therapist transparency.

21
Q

Therapeutic Double Bind

A

When asked about a possible diagnosis, Whitaker would initiate a therapeutic double bind, that is a relational diagnosis that is unlikely ever to change

22
Q

Teaming Roles

A

Healthy members of a family may be intentionally paired into teaming roles by the therapist to encourage further healthy behavior by other family members.

23
Q

Co-therapist

A

Whitaker would always work with a co-therapist as he believed this allowed him to be more crazy in session as he could rely on his co-therapist to ground him. In symbolic experiential therapy, the co-therapy team was used as a therapeutic tool.

24
Q

Bilateral transference

A

A therapists intentional maneuver to adapt the language, accent, rhythm, or posture of the family.