Monday, March 18, 2013

Family Systems

http://www.waxhawfc.com/therapy-charlotte-therapy-waxhaw-therapy-treatmen/family-systems/


Founders:

Alfred Adler: (1870-1937) was the first psychologist of the modern era to do family therapy using a system approach. He had set up more than 30 child guidance clinics in Vienna. After he brought this concept to the United States. See Adlerian Therapy section of this blog for more information on Adler. 

http://webspace.ship.edu/cgboer/adler.html


Murray Bowen: (1913-1990) was one of the original developers of mainstream family therapy. He believed that families could be best understood coming from a three-generation perspective. This is because patters of interpersonal relationships connect family members across generations. 
http://ideastoaction.wordpress.com/dr-bowen/


Virginia Satir (1916-1988) she developed conjoint family therapy. She worked to bring family patterns to life in the present through sculpting and family reconstructions. She believed that the focus should be between the therapist and family to achieve change. 
http://www.landsiedel-seminare.de/nlp/wichtige-personen/virginia-satir.html


Carl Whitaker (1912-1995) He created symbolic-experiential family therapy. He saw that the therapist was an active participant and coach who enters the process placing enough pressure to produce change. 
https://store.erickson-foundation.org/product/ep85-clinical-presentation-15-carl-whitaker/


Salvador Minuchin: (1921-) in the 1960's he started to develop structural family therapy. In the 1970's Minuchin refined his theory and practice . he focused on the organization of the family. He believed that in order for an individual's symptoms to be reduced there must be structural change in the family first. 
 
http://www.psicologosencostarica.com/blog/2012/12/15/


Jay Haley (1923-2007) & Cloe Madanes (1941-) they founded the School of strategic family therapy in the 1970's. They favored re framing family directives and interventions.  
http://www.iamdrshort.com/book.htm



Adlerian Family Therapy:

First noticed that the development of children was based on birth order. Rudolf Dreikurs redefined Adler's concepts and created an organized approach to family therapy. Assessment is based on subjunctive descriptions that family members use to define themselves and interactions. The therapist must unlock goals and patterns that were once mistaken. Another goal is to enable parents as leader  family, as well as promoting effective parenting. There is a relationship based on mutual respect and investigation of birth order. 


Multigenerational Family Therapy: 

Bowen observed and his interests lead to patterns across multiple generations. He stated that the problems that develop in a family will not change until the family patterns change. The cause of the individual's problem can only be understood by viewing the role of the family as a unit. Change must be done with other family members and cannot be done with just the individual in a counseling room. Some of the goals of this therapeutic technique include differentiate the self, change the individual within the system, and to decrease anxieties. 


Human Validation Process Model:

Virginia Satir envisioned and sought to support the development of the nurturing triad. This included tow people (parents) and another, whom were working for the well-being of a child. Satir placed a large amount of importance communication in family interactions. There are four communication stances people tend to take when under stress: Blaming, placating, super reasonable, and irrelevant. Some goals of this therapy include: promoting growth and self-esteem, and helping family reach congruent communication. The therapist uses empathy, touch, communication, and role playing as some techniques withing the counseling. 



Experimental Family Therapy: 

Pioneered by Carl Whitaker. He stressed choice, freedom, self-determination, growth, and actualization. 
There is great importance of the relationship between the family and the therapist. His goal was not to eliminate anxiety but rather, but enhance it so it would help motivate the client for change. There was no set method to this approach, it was a personal involvement that made the difference. Some of the goals were to Promote Spontaneity, creativity, autonomy, and ability to play. 



Structural-Strategic Family Therapy:

The central idea of structural family therapy was that the individual's symptoms are best understood from the vantage point of patterns or sequences within a family. Structural changes must occur before the an individual's symptoms can be reduced. The goals of this therapy are reduce symptoms, and then bring about structural change within the symptoms. Structural-strategic approaches were the most used models in family systems therapy. Some goals include, restructuring family organization, change dysfunctional transitional patterns,  as well as eliminating presenting problems.




Explanation of family systems



Information courtesy of:
Gerald Corey-Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy 9th ed

Postmodern Approaches



                                                  http://amypaulsenreed.wordpress.com/




Founders:

While the postmodern approaches do not have a single founder, it is a collective effort. Including founders of solution-focused brief therapy and narrative therapy. These include:

Insoo Kim Berg: (1935-2007) was a co-developer of the solution -focused approach. She was also the director of the Brief Family Therapy Center in Milwaukee. As a leader in this therapy she provided workshops in several countries including the U.S.
http://www.jackhirose.com/newsletter/

Steve de Shazer: (1940-2005) he was a pioneer of solution-focused brief therapy. He was also the director of research at the Brief Family Therapy Center in Milwaukee. He wrote several books in his field. He also presented workshops and conducted a teaching tour in 2005, before he died.
Steve de Shazer
http://www.solutions-centre.org/quotes/frame.htm

Michael White: (1949--2008) he was the co founder of the narrative therapy movement. He has worked with families and communities and this has attracted him international interests. He too has written many books in his field.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/

David Epston: (1944-) He also co developed the narrative therapy movement. He is currently the co director of the family Therapy Center in Auckland, New Zealand. He likes to travel and present workshops. He is very well known for working with people affected with eating disorders.
 
http://oreillyjnarrativetherapy.com/narrative-therapy/founders






Solution Focused Brief therapy




Goals of Therapy:

Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) reflects some about change, interaction, and reaching goals. The SFBT believe that people have the ability to construct goals and have the resources available to solve their problems. Goals are unique to each client and the client is the one responsible for creating their goals for a better future. It is important that the client is allowed to express what they are expecting and what they would like to achieve from the therapy. Solution focused therapist focus on realistic changes that can later lead to positive outcomes. The therapist offer several form of goals such as: Viewing the situation from a different frame of reference, changing what is being done (the doing), and getting in to the clients strengths. one of the main goals is to bring new meaning in the client's life, whatever that may be. Clients are often encourages to cooperate in solution-talk, rather than problem-talk. This is done because talking about problems is seen to bring on more problems, while talking about change and solutions can bring about just that. 



                              http://www.solutionmind.com/approach/solution_focused_FAQ.html



Techniques:

Pre-therapy Change: simply making an appointment tends to set up for a positive change. Upon the first meeting the therapist might ask "What have you done since making the appointment that has made a difference in your problem?" by asking such questions the therapist is able to see what has already been done to make way for change. 

Exception Questions: There are times in a clients life when the problems they are facing now were not seen as problems. SFBT therapist will often times ask exceptions questions, to direct the client to the time when this was not seen as a problem. By acknowledging this the client is able to work towards solutions. 

The Miracle Question: de Shazer refers to the miracle question as a main technique of SFBT. The therapist will ask, "If a miracle occurred overnight and it solved the problem you are having, How would you know it was solved and what would be different?" This technique allows clients to hypothetically rid themselves of their problem. While doing so, there is a belief that changing the viewing of the problem, may in fact help with changes to the actual problem. 

Scaling Question: solution focused therapists use these questions when the change in human experiences are not easy to observe. Things like feelings, moods, and communications. The therapist will assist the client in noticing that they are not completely defeated by their problem. Scale of 0-10 and rating oneself on anxiety of the problem before therapy and after the miracle when the problem is gone. This allows clients to pay close attention to what they are doing and how they can make changes based on that. 

Formula First Session task: This is a form of homework that the therapist can give to the client to complete between the first and second visit. They simply ask them to observe things and to be able to describe them next session. This assignment shows that change is inevitable. Also emphasizes future solutions and diminishes thoughts of past problems. 



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PCwER4B5sk


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtfFMiz5vKY




Key Concepts:

Unique focus of SFBT: focus on what is possible and have little to no interest in how the problem started. It is not necessary to know the originality of the problem to promote change.
Positive Orientation: people are healthy and competent and have the ability to create solutions to enhance their lives.
Looking for what is Working: focus on what is working in the clients life and encouraging clients to replicate these patterns is very important.




Narrative Therapy



Goals of Therapy:

A general goal of this therapy is to have clients describe their experience in a new language so to speak. While doing so they open up new possibilities. Narrative therapists seek to gain perspective and focus and facilitate the discovery or creation of new options that are unique to the clients that they see.


Techniques:


For the Narrative approach to be effective one must focus on the therapists' attitudes and perspectives rather than specific techniques. There is no set agenda that the therapist can follow for specific results. This approach is more of an application of skills than techniques. The questions a narrative therapist may ask seem to form a unique conversation. Whatever the purpose the questions seek to empower the clients. Narrative therapists use these questions as a way to generate new experiences rather than to gather information. Narrative therapists often times believe that it is not the person that is the problem, but the problem that is the problem. The therapist is always searching for unique outcomes from the questions asked. One way narrative therapists consolidate the gains of a client is to have him/her write letters. The letter highlights the struggle the client is having and can they can be read at later times.

http://profileengine.com/groups/profile/423215775/unique-outcomes-the-narrative-therapy-network





http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UtOflvfW8Ys



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uO5ssGiWHT8



Key Concepts:

Focus on Narrative Therapy: therapists are encouraged to establish a collaborative approach with an interest in listening to client's stories.
The Role of Stories: We live our life by stories we tell about ourselves and that others tell. These stories shape and mold us by what we see and do.
Listening with an Open Mind: listening to clients should be done without judgement or blame.

http://www.findyourvoice.us/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/whats_your_story_off.jpeg







Information courtesy of
 Gerald Corey- Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy 9th ED. 



Thursday, March 14, 2013

Reality Therapy

                        
                  William Glasser                                                 Robert Wubbolding
                       (1925-)                                                                (1936-)



Founders:


William Glasser was initially a chemical engineer who turned into a psychologist. After that he turned towards psychiatry attending medical school and received MD in 1953. He had intentions on becoming a psychiatrist. In 1961 he became board certified in psychiatry. Very early on Glasser rejected the Freudian model. Glasser thought it was best to talk to the sane part of the client, rather than the disturbed part. In 1962 Glasser began to host public lectures on reality psychiatry. However very few psychiatrist were in the audience. The audience consisted mainly of educational & social workers as well as some counselors and correctional workers. since the 1960's reality therapy has been applied to educational and human relationships. Glasser believed that it was pertinent that  clients accept personal responsibility for their behavior. The essence of reality therapy is now taught all over the world. We as humans are responsible for what we do, we are internally motivated by our needs and wants.

Robert Wubbolding received his doctorate in counseling from the University of Cincinnati. He is licensed as a counselor and a psychologist.. He is currently the director for the Center for Reality Therapy in Cincinnati and a professor at Xavier University. He has taught there for over 32 years. He found that reality therapy suits him best of the counseling approaches. He attended many workshops provided by Glasser. He has become internationally know for teaching, an author and practitioner of reality therapy. He has written 11 books and more that 145 articles/essays.



Goals of Therapy: 

The main goal with reality therapy is to help clients to get connected with the people they have chosen to have relationships with in their world. Another goal seen with this therapy is to help clients learn better way of fulfilling all of their needs. This includes basic human needs as well as other needs such as power, control, freedom, and fun. Basic needs however serve as focus points for planning treatment goals, both long term and short term. It is essential for the therapist to do whatever they can to get involved or connected with clients that may seem involuntary. if the counselor is unable to make a connection there is no possibility for providing significant help.



Techniques:

The practice of reality therapy can be best described a cycle of counseling, and this consists of two major components. The fist of which is to create a counseling environment. And secondly implement procedures that will lead to a change in behavior. The therapist will weave these components together in ways that lead the clients in effective directions. The cycle will begin when the relationship between the counselor and the client is established. Clients will then explore their own behavior and make evaluations. If a client decides they want a new behavior they will make plans to lead the change. The counselor will follow up and offer further consultation as seen needed. These principles are applied in a progressive manner.  It is important to keep in mind, that while these concepts may seem simple, it is important to be able to translate them into actual therapeutic practices. This takes skill and creativity. This counseling is not a simple model that can be applied to every client the same way.  The counselor will tailor the counseling to what each client presents. Wubbolding implies the WDEP system. This acronym is used to describe key procedures in the practice of reality therapy. This can be broken down simply as W- wants/needs/perceptions, D-direction/doing, E-self-evaluation, P-planning.  This practice has been described as effective, practical, and usable.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FckebmElMa8


                                         http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZWGzWPqja0




Key Concepts:



  • View of Human Nature: we are not born as blank slates and we are waiting on external forces to motivate us. We have 5 genetically encoded needs that drive us. Those drives are survival, love, power, freedom, and fun. Glasser believes that the need for love is the primary need because we need someone else to satisfy the need for us. 
  • Choice Theory Explanation of Behavior: all we ever do our whole lives is behave. everything we do is chosen. Total behavior is our attempt to get what we want to satisfy our needs. Our behaviors come from the inside ans therefore we choose our own destiny. 
  • Characteristics of reality Therapy: focuses on the unsatisfying relationship or the lack of relationship that causes the client's problem. Meaningful relationships promote health. If we choose what we do we must be responsible for those choices.  


                                 http://newcounselor.blogspot.com/2012/04/reality-therapy.html


    http://newcounselor.blogspot.com/2012/04/reality-therapy.html


                                               Role play of reality therapy
                                            http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_3oeqyrmoE








Information courtesy of Gereld Corey: Theroy and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy 9th E.D.

Photos courtesy of:
http://pegasus.cc.ucf.edu/~csrce/pages/summer2002.html
http://www.ait.net/workshops/wubbolding/


Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Cognitive Behavior Therapy




Albert Ellis             
                  Albert Ellis                                                        Aaron Temkin Beck
                 (1913-2007)                                                               (1921-)

Judith Beck, Ph.D.                    
                   Judith Beck                                                       Donald Meichenbaum
                     (1954-)                                                                     (1940-)






Founders:

Albert Ellis- Despite having several health problems as a child he lived a active and energetic life until he passed at the age of 93. He decides to become a psychologist because he could counsel people and enjoyed doing so. In early 1955 he developed an approach to psychotherapy and he called it rational emotional therapy, it is now known as rational emotional behavior therapy or (REBT). he greatly enjoyed teaching and working with REBT it was his passion and primary commitment in life. To a certain degree Ellis developed this approach as a method of dealing with his own problems during his youth.

Aaron Temkin Beck- had a happy childhood until the age of eight, when he was faced with a life-threatening illness. He developed some anxieties and fears related to blood, his health, and suffocation because of this sickness. He used his own experiences as a basis for understanding others and developing his cognitive theory. He graduated from Brown University and Yale School of Medicine. He joined the department of Psychiatry of the University of Pennsylvania in 1954. He currently holds a position there as a University Professor. He has applied cognitive therapy to depression, generalized anxiety and panic disorders, suicide, alcoholism, drug abuse and several others. He also founded the Beck Institute, a research and training center.

Judith Beck- both of her parents were notable, her father (Beck, above) was known as the "father of cognitive therapy". Since a young girl Beck wanted to be an educator. She is able to break down complex subject material into easy to understand ideas. She studied education and psychology at the University of Pennsylvania. In 1994 she and her father opened the Beck Institute for Cognitive Therapy. She is currently the president of the institute. Beck travels the United States and abroad teaching Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT).

Donald Meichenbaum- born in new York City and attended City College of New York and received a PhD in clinical psychology from the University of Illinois. He conducted research and development of CBT at the University of Waterloo. He attributes the origins of CBT to his mother whom loved to tell stories. Meichenbaum ensures that the client takes credit for the changes they have achieved.



Goals of Therapy:

A general goal of this therapy is to teach clients how to separate the evaluation of their behaviors from the evaluation of themselves. Or in other words how to accept themselves in spite of their imperfections. The therapist leads the client to minimize emotional disturbances and self-defeating behaviors. This process relies heavily on the client and therapist setting realistic and self-enhancing therapeutic goals. A job the therapist must take on is to differ from unrealistic and realistic goals. A basic goal with this therapy is to dysfunctional behaviors into healthy behaviors. As clients become more apt to accept themselves they will be more likely to accept others. According to Ellis we have a tendency to rate or actions as good/bad and worthy/unworthy, as well as rate ourselves based on our performance.


Techniques:

Rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT) generally starts with the clients feelings and then explores these feelings in connections with thoughts and behaviors. These therapist tend to use different modalities, such as Cognitive, imagery, emotive, and behavior. These therapists are encouraged to be flexible and creative in their use of methods. Now lets explore these four types mentioned above.

  • Cognitive Methods: demonstrate to the client in a quick and direct manner. teaches clients how to self-statement they no longer believe. The most effective way to bring about lasting behavioral change is to change the clients way of thinking. The therapist must dispute the client's irrational beliefs. Clients must also do their homework. These assignments are a way of tracking down "shoulds"and "musts". Therapists also educate clients on the nature of their problems and how the treatment will proceed.
  • Emotive Techniques: clients are taught the value of unconditional self-acceptance. even though they may not want to accept the behavior they must see themselves as worthy human beings. Therapists use rational emotive imagery (REI) this is where clients imagine the worst thing that could happen to them,and are shown how to replace that with healthy emotions. Humor is also important. Humor has cognitive and emotional benefits for change. Role playing can be helpful to help clients bring out behaviors and what they feel in certain situations. Another technique seen is shame attacking exercises. These exercises are aimed at increasing self-acceptance and mature responsibility.
  • Behavioral Techniques: clients are given homework that carry out real life situations. These assignments are done systematically and recorded and analyzed. Clients are encouraged to desensitize themselves gradually to help out with the homework activities.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HoFNs-3r0Go


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ds3wHkwiuCo



Key Concepts:

  • View of Human Nature: Human beings are born with the potential for both rational and irrational thinking. REBT encourages people to accept themselves even though they will make mistakes. 
  • View of Emotional Disturbance: We learn irrational beliefs from significant others during childhood and then recreate these beliefs throughout our lifetime. 
  • A-B-C- Framework: central to the understanding the client's feelings, thoughts, activities, events, and behavior.(See example below)


ABC-model.jpg
                                                http://www.abc-counselling.com/id126.html



                           http://thisaintevenfunny.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/cbt-bigchart.gif



                                           http://harvestheart.tumblr.com/post/2617045471



                                           http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5GdlEYGzJQ









Information cortesy of Gerald Corey - Theroy and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy 6th ED.

Photos courtesy of:
Photo of Albert Ellis: http://www.jimpoz.com/quotes/Speaker:Albert_Ellis
Photo of Aaron Beck : http://ipcs2009.blogspot.com/2009/05/artigo.html
Photo of Judith Beck: http://www.mentalhelp.net/poc/view_doc.php?type=doc&id=28542
Photo of Donald M.:http://www.psych.ualberta.ca/GCPWS/Meichenbaum/Images/Meichenbaum.jpg


Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Behavior Therapy

                              
     B.F. Skinner                             Albert Bandura                              Arnold Lazarus
    (1904-1990)                                  (1925-)                                          (1932-)



Founders: 

B.F. Skinner grew up in a warm stable environment. He received his PhD in psychology from Harvard University in 1931. He returned after teaching at many other universities to Harvard to continue in his teaching. He had two daughters, one of which followed in his footsteps and is and educational psychologist, the other is an artist. Skinner can be considered the father of the behavioral approach to psychology. He place emphasis on the effects of the environment to one's behavior. Skinner also believed that humans did not have free choice.  He did however believe in cause-and-effect links between environmental conditions and our behavior. Most of Skinner's work consisted of an experimental nature in a laboratory. Skinner believed that science and technology were the future.

Albert Bandura was born in Canada and was the youngest of six children. Because of the shortage of teachers and resources available to Bandura throughout his high school years, he learned skills on self-directedness. Self-directedness later became one of his research themes. He received his PhD in clinical psychology from the University of Iowa in 1952. One year after receiving his PhD he joined the faculty of Stanford University. In research programs, Bandura and his colleagues examined the social learning theory and the role of observational learning. The notion by Bandura that we are not (as Skinner believed) shaped by environmental forces expressed a dramatic shift in behavior therapy. Bandura broadened the scope of behavior therapy by exploring cognitive-effective forces that motivate human behavior.

Arnold Lazarus was born in South Africa where he was also educated. He grew up around very few children and remembers being lonely as a child. Even though he grew up in South Africa he strongly related to the U.S. He achieved his master's degree in experimental psychology in 1957 and a PhD in clinical psychology in 1960. In 1963 Albert Bandura invited him to come and teach at Stanford. He received many honors and awards. Lazarus has written 17 books and over 300 professional articles. He is the developer of mulitmodal therapy which is a systematic approach to behavior therapy. Lazarus is currently the president of The Lazarus Institute located in New Jersey. His son and daughter-in-law also work there.



Goals of Therapy:


Goals in behavior therapy are crucial. The central goal with this type of therapy is to increase personal choice and create new conditions for learning. The client, aided by the therapist, define specific treatment goals outside of the therapy process. It is important to find a way to measure the progress towards the goals that are made. The therapist will assist in forming these goals that can be easily measured. The goals that must be made have to be clear, concrete, understood, and most importantly agreed on by both the therapist and client. The more contemporary types of behavior therapy stress the importance of the client's role in deciding their own treatment. The client and therapist can alter goals throughout the process as seen needed.


Techniques:

According to Lazarus behavioral therapists can incorporate any technique that can demonstrate to effectively changing behavior into his/her treatment plan. Lazarus encourages the use of diverse techniques from any theoretical origin. The therapeutic procedures used by behavior therapist are specially designed for each particular client.

In applied behavior analysis operate conditioning techniques and methods of evaluation are applied to a variety of different settings. Applied behavior analysis is seen as aw way to understanding and addressing a client's problems. To increase target behavior reinforcement (positive and negative) is the goal in this situation. Positive reinforcement is an addition of something (praise, attention, money, etc.) while negative reinforcement is the escape from or the avoidance of an unpleasant stimuli. Another operate method of changing behavior is known as extinction. Extinction is withholding reinforcement from a previously reinforced response.

 Another way to control behavior is through punishment. The difference between punishment and reinforcement is; the goal of reinforcement is to increase the targeted behavior, while the goal of punishment is to decrease the targeted behavior. There are forms of positive punishment (a stimulus is added to decrease the behavior) and negative (a stimulus is taken away to decrease behavior). Some behavioral therapists are against using punishment and would rather stick with reinforcement. The key principle here is to uses the least adverse means possible to seek change to a behavior.



https://wikispaces.psu.edu/display/PSYCH484/3.+Reinforcement+Theory

Some other techniques seen in behavior therapy may include but are not limited to:
  • Progressive muscle relaxation-aimed at achieving muscle and mental relaxation, and is easily learned. This technique teaches people to cope with stresses of daily life. 
  • Systematic Detestation- Clients imagine anxiety-arousing situations and while doing that engage in a behavior that competes with anxiety. Overtime (gradually) clients will become less sensitive to the anxiety-arousing situation.  
  • Exposure therapies- introducing clients to controlled situations that contribute to their problems, this therapy is designed to treat fears and other emotional responses.

An example of positive reinforcement
                                           http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejjZZNGfIOM


An example of exposure therapy.
                                          http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8GHsjBhWV8




Key Concepts:


  • View of human Nature: The person is the producer and the product of his/her own environment. People have the ability to choose how they respond to their environment, this allows therapists to use behavioral methods to attend to these humanistic characteristics. 
  • Basic Characteristics and Assumptions: 7 key characteristics of behavior therapy
    1. Behavior therapy is based one principles and procedures of the scientific method. Treatment goals are agreed on by therapist and client.
    2. Behavior includes cognition, images, beliefs, and emotions not just actions one can observe.
    3. Behavior therapy deals with the client;s current problem. It does not analyze any history of the client. This therapy also recognizes the importance of the individual. 
    4. Clients are expected to assume roles and engage in actions to deal with their problems. They do not just merely talk about their problems. Clients learn new behaviors to replace old bad behaviors. 
    5. This therapy assumes that change can occur without understanding the origin of the psychological problem.
    6. This assessment is ongoing and focuses on determinants of behavior. 
    7. This therapy is specifically tailored to the individual client. Several techniques can be used to treat a clients problem. 


Four Areas of Development:


Contemporary behavior therapy can be broken into four major areas of development.

    1. Classical Conditioning- Happens prior to learning and creates a response through paring. Key figure is Ivan Pavlov who demonstrates this with the use of experiments with dog and salvation. *see link below for more information.  
    1. Operant Conditioning- behaviors are influenced by the consequences that follow them. 
    2. Social Learning Approach- an interaction between environment, personal factors, and individual behavior. An assumption that individuals are capable of self directed behavior change. 
    3. Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT)- operates on the assumption that what people believe influences how they act and feel. 


                                                  http://shivaraichandani.blogspot.com/2011/09/pavlovs-dog.html


                                                                                               
CBT


Psychologist NH | Cognitive Behavioral Therapy | CBT
http://www.psychologist-nh.com/cognitive-behavioral-therapy-cbt/

        

                                             Classical Conditioning in "The Office"











Information courtesy of: Gerald Corey -Theory and practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy 9th Ed. 

Photo of Skinner- http://www.crystalinks.com/skinner.html 


Photo of Bandura- http://unt.unice.fr/uoh/learn_teach_FL/affiche_theorie.php?id_theoricien=8 

Photo of Lazarus- http://edituratrei.wordpress.com/tag/lazarus/    


Monday, March 4, 2013

Gestalt Therapy

                               
                    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fritz_Perls                                        http://www.gestalt.org/laura.htm

                       Frederick (Fritz) Perls                                              Laura Posner Perls 
                             (1893-1970)                                                           (1905-1990)



Founders:

Frederick "Fritz" Perls was the main originator and developer of  Gestalt Therapy. He was born in Berlin, Germany to a lower middle class family. He earned his medical degree with a specialization in psychiatry. In 1916 he joined the German Army where he served as a medic during World War I. He had experience with solders whom were gassed on the front lines this gave him an interest in mental functioning. Which lead the way to the Gestalt psychology. He came to see the importance of viewing a human as a whole. Perls (and other colleagues) established the New York Institute for Gestalt Therapy in 1952. People wither responded well to Perls or saw him as harshly confrontational.

Wife of Fritz, Laura Posner Perls, had a rich psychological background when she met fritz in 1926. The couple married in 1930 and had two children. Laura came from well-to-do parents and was very talented with the ability to play the piano with professional skill at the age of 18. Music and dance became vital parts of her adult life. Laura made significant contributions to the development and maintenance of the gestalt therapy movement in the U.S. and around the world. Laura a Fritz differed, Laura payed a great amount of attention to contact and support while Fritz had attention in intrapsychic phenomenon with his focus awareness. She taught that every Gestalt therapist needs to develop their own style and that whatever is integrated in our personality becomes support for what we use.


Goals of Therapy: 

While Gestalt therapy may not be goal oriented there are six methodological components that are essential because of the complexity of the therapeutic work. These methodological components that are vital to Gestalt Therapy are:

  1. the continuum of experience
  2. the here and now
  3. the paradoxical theory of change
  4. the experiment
  5. the authentic encounter
  6. process-oriented diagnosis
While a Gestalt therapist may not be focused on predetermined goals for their client, they do seem to have a basic goal and that is to assist the client to gain greater awareness and greater choice. The sense of awareness that needs to be gained includes, knowing the environment, knowing oneself, accepting oneself, and being able to make contact. Without the awareness clients tend to not be able to make a personality change. But with this awareness they have a capability to face and accept. Gestalt therapy is essentially an existential encounter where the clients move in certain directions. 

http://www.gestalt-annarbor.org/gestalt_therapy.htm


Techniques:


Techniques in the Gestalt therapy are seen as experiments where the therapist may tell the client "try this out and see what it's like for you." These experiments are presented in an invitational manner. Experiments can shift focus from talking about a topic to an activity that makes the client aware and understand the experience. Gestalt therapy can be seen as a series of experiments. The learning from these experiments can both educate the client and the therapist. Experiments bring struggles to life by having the client act them out in the present. The experiments are tailored to each individual client. Experiments can take many forms, just to name a few examples:

  • setting up dialog between the client and some significant person in his/her life
  • dramatizing the memory of a painful event
  • assuming the role of one's mother or father during a role play
  • a dialog between two conflicting aspects within the person
A specific technique used in Gestalt therapy (which Perls used often) is the empty chair technique. while examining the splits in personality Perls states that there is a main division. the "top dog" which is righteous  moralistic, demanding, bossy, manipulative etc. and the "underdog" which is like the role of the victim and is apologetic, helpless, and weak. The top dog and underdog are in a constant struggle for control. while using the two chairs the therapist asks the client to sit in one chair and fully become the top dog, then sit in the other chair and be as the underdog. In this role playing technique all parts are played by the client. This technique aids the client in experiencing the conflict fully and helps the client resolve and accept both sides. It also brings forth feelings that the client may be denying. 

                              http://quiteinterestingpeople.blogspot.com/2011_12_01_archive.html

                                   http://www.ddftherapy.com/therapy-style/gestalt-therapy-style

Making the rounds is another exercise seen in Gestalt therapy. It is used in a group setting and involves the client going to other members of the group and either speaking or doing something with the members of the group. The purpose is to confront and disclose oneself to the new behavior and from that grown and change. This helps when people are in groups and they may be shy about speaking with the new members. This exercise encourages communication between the members. 

                                            http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0L56oF_z9s

                                           http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2CtRKej7dw


Key Concepts:

  • View of Human Nature- clients have to grow up, stand on their own feet and deal with their life problems themselves. Perls was a master at intentionally frustrating clients to enhance their own awareness. 
  • Some Principles: 
  1. Holism- Gestalt in German means whole or completion. Gestalt therapists are interested in the whole person. They place no value on aspects of the client.
  2. Field Theory- The organism (client in this sense) must be seen in its environment. 
  3. The Figure-Formation Process- this describes how the individual organizes experience from moment to moment. In Gestalt practice there is a foreground and background.
  4. Organismic Self-Regulation- a process where equilibrium is disturbed by a need, sensation, or interest. 
  • The Now- emphasis on learning to appreciate and experience the present moment. Phenomenological inquiry- means paying attention to what is happening now. 
  • Unfinished Business- this can be manifested and expressed as rage, pain, hate, anxiety, grief, guilt, etc. 
  • Contact and Resistance to Contact- in Gestalt therapy contact is a must for growth and change to take place. 
  • Energy & Blocks to Energy: pay special attention to energy, how it is used and how it can be blocked in Gestalt therapy. 
http://boulderrelationshiphealing.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/cartoon-indiv-gestalt.jpg





Information courtesy of:
Gerald Corey Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy 9th Ed 






Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Person-Centered Therapy

                                                    
                                                                      Carl Rogers
                                                                      (1902-1987)


Founder:

The founder of the person-centered therapy approach is Carl Rogers. Rogers childhood was lonely and he sought out scholarly interests rather than social ones. He was an introvert who spent a lot of his time reading. Rogers held various academic positions. He earned recognition around the globe for his origin or the humanistic movement in psychotherapy. His groundbreaking discoveries have had major impacts in the field of psychotherapy. During the last 15 years of his life Rogers applied the person-centered approach. 

Goals of Therapy: 

Person-Centered therapy aims in the client maintaining a greater sense of independence and integration. It stems focus to the client and not the client's "problems". Rogers did not believe that the goals of therapy was to solve problems. He did however believe that the goal was to help the client grow and through the growth the client could better cope with and identify their problems. Another aim with this therapy is to help the client become better self-actualized. Rogers believed that before a client can work towards a goal they must first remove the masks they wear. Rogers was interested in knowing what kind of person his clients really were after the facades were put aside. Rogers had four characteristics that provided a general for understanding the direction he wanted to go. Does the client 1. have an openness to experience, 2. trust in themselves, 3. have an internal source of evaluation, 4. willingness to continue growing. Rogers believed that encouraging these characteristics was his basic goal of person-centered therapy. 


                           

Techniques:

Person-centered therapy is a result of evolution of 70 plus years. It continues to change and refine. There are really no technique that are basic to the practice of person-centered therapy. Being with clients and entertaining the imagination into their world of perception and feelings is helpful in aiding change. Traditional person-centered therapists will not suggest any form of a technique. What is essential, however is the therapist's presence. The therapist must be completely attentive and immersed as the client expresses feelings. This way of being is thought to be more powerful with person-centered therapy than a technique. Person-centered therapists have freedom to use a variety of responses and methods to assist their clients. 







Key Concepts:

  • View of Human Nature: Basic sense of trust in the client is very important, this allows for the client to move forward. To be able to help move a client forward a therapist must have: 1. Congruence- this is genuineness  or realness, 2. unconditional positive regard- acceptance or caring, 3. accurate empathetic understanding- the ability to grasp the world of another person. 
  • Actualizing Tendency: a directional process of striving toward realization, fulfillment, autonomy, and self-actualization. 




                                          Click here for more information on Carl Rogers


                                       Click here for more info on person-centered therapy


Photos courtesy of :
http://www.fractale-formation.net/rogers-carl/
http://www.primarygoals.org/models/rogers/

Videos Courtesy of Youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdhuLZNdaiA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bY51IZKq-9I
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0neRQzudzw

Information courtesy of:
Gerald Corey from Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy 9th ed.