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A con to gestalt therapy
An assignment on gestalt therapy
Reflection on gestalt therapy
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Couples are known for experiencing all sorts of emotions, especially when dealing with issues regarding dating or marriage. But when those displays of emotions or lack thereof of take a toll on the relationship for the worst, what type of alternatives can couples choose? For some, counseling is the best option. Counseling serves as a way to discuss particular issues that may interfere or hinder the relationship. Often time’s therapy causes couples to focus on the problem instead of resolution. In Emotional Focused Therapy clients are required to focus on change (Greenmam & Johnson, 2012). The Emotionally Focused procedure takes place over a series of stages even though the therapy sessions are brief. According to Johnson; (2004, 2008), …show more content…
Stage II is known as the “Withdrawer Re-Engagement and Blamer Softening stage (Bradley & Furrow, 2004; Johnson, 2004).” This stage exemplifies how couples interact back and forth with one another emotionally (Gottman & Silver, 1994). Lastly, stage II illustrates how couples react to one another after they have received constructive criticism from therapy (Johnson, 2004; Johnson & Greenman, 2006). Research suggests that Emotionally Focused Therapy encompasses ideas from psychologist such as Carl Rodgers and Gestalt (Greenmam & Johnson, 2012). Both used theories, which go hand and hand such as empathy and emotional regard. (Greenmam & Johnson, 2012). This display of emotional regard prompts clients to recognize their feelings when undergoing emotional turmoil in a relationship (Greenmam & Johnson, 2012). Research also suggest that during therapy couples are required to …show more content…
EFT is a powerful form of therapy for couples because it provides a blueprint for recognizing as well as voicing concerns between couples, but most of all it focuses on change. I believe this intervention is particularly useful because it is brief yet effective. It is also highly goal-oriented particularly when dealing with attachment issues. I believe that in order for therapy to be effective couples should focus on how they can counteract concerns together by focusing on the issues that need to be changed. That way couples can determine ways that might benefit each other in the long run. I also like the fact that EFT uses concepts much like therapist Carl Rodgers and Gestalt used, such as empathy and emotional regard. These two techniques throughout therapy set the tone for building a rapport between therapist and client and speak volumes in regards to treatment. Both are needed to provide insight into emotional feelings. It also acts in a positive manner, which enables couples to gain clarity, not to mention that each encounter allows clients to provide an initial framework for
In B. L. Duncan, S. D. Miller, B.E. Wampold, & M.A. Hubble (Eds.), The heart and soul of change: Delivering what works in therapy (2nd ed., pp. 143-166). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
Ripley, J. S., & Worthington Jr., E. L. (2014). Couple therapy: A new hope-focused approach. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press. ISBN:
The strengths of the EMDR therapy are that it uses elements of cognitive behavior and psychodynamic to treat clients. (1).EMDR therapy has eight phases of the treatment approach, they are; in phase one is the development of the treatment plan and getting the history from the client. In the second phase of the treatment is to teach the client coping skills needed to deal with stress in a positive manner. In phases three, four, and five the focus is on the therapist assisting the client into finding positive belief to replace negative ones. In the seventh phase the clients keeps a journal for the week. In that journal the client writes down anything that may trigger any negative ima...
While CBT has many advantages, it alone does not encompass all of the concepts I believe are necessary to tackle a client’s needs. Therefore, I draw upon concepts from various theories to assist clients in achieving their goals. Pulling from Reality therapy, a key concept I utilize is focusing on what the client is doing and how to get them to evaluate whether they’re present actions are working for them. CBT does use some form of this in the sense that one must examine and establish their cognitive misconceptions; however, I prefer to extract this concept from Reality therapy because CBT tends to do so by focusing on the past. I am a firm believer that while the past can shape who you are, it does little good to remain focused on it. Focusing on overt behavior, precision in specifying the goals of treatment, development of specific treatment plans, and objective evaluation of therapy outcomes all come from Behavior therapy (Corey, 2013, p. 474). Behavior therapy is highly structured much like that of CBT. By utilizing this aspect of Behavior therapy, I am better able to closely observe where a client is currently and where they are headed. Lastly, I pull from Person-Centered therapy as the final key concept of my counseling approach. PCT focuses on the fact that client’s have the potential to become aware of their problems and resolve them (Corey, 2013). This Person-Centered therapy concept has overlap with CBT as
Emotionally focused therapy is designed to be short-term in structure. Developed principally by Dr. Susan Johnson, the main target of this type of therapy is couples and is focused on expressing emotions. The primary goal of emotionally focused therapy is to create a safe and long-lasting bond between romantic partners and family members while expanding and restructuring significant emotional responses. Partakers in emotionally focused therapy are emboldened to express their thoughts and emotions in a safe environment without fear of judgment. In this paper, we will discuss a therapy session between Sue Johnson and a couple, Leslie and Scott.
Supporting Evidence for Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy Initial EFT Research – the 1980’s The evidence base for Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy (EFT) contains a rich history of research not only by its founders, but also by a wide range of professionals within the fields of counseling and psychology. Johnson and Greenberg (1985) first examined the effectiveness of the EFT model by comparing the outcomes of EFT treated couples to those of couples treated in a traditional problem-solving manner. Through newspaper recruitment and subsequent assessment interviews, 45 couples were chosen to participate in a study in which 15 were randomly assigned to EFT treatment, 15 to cognitive-behavioral problem-solving treatment, and 15 to a control group receiving no treatment. Six measures were utilized, including the Test of Emotional Styles (ES), the Couples Therapy Alliance Scale (AS), the Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS), Target Complaints (TC), Goal Attainment Scaling (GAS), and the Personal Assessment of Intimacy in Relationships Inventory (PAIR).
Gurman, A. S., & Kniskern, D. P. Research on marital and family therapy: Progress, perspective and
Conflicts within relationships are inevitable and some conflict can help strengthen a relationship; however, in marriages and families, many people fail to work through their conflict, which results in unhealthy patterns of behavior. Over time, if left unresolved, these patterns of behavior can lead to a breaking of the relationship. Furthermore, most people do not set out seeking conflict within relationships, but rather they lack the emotional maturity to move through conflict. In fact, it is not the differences between the two parties that create the conflict, but rather the emotional reaction to their differences. Therefore, an intervention is required to begin the healing process of working through conflict. Often a pastor or counselor
Furthermore, my goal is to let client fix their problems on their own through insight and guidance from the therapist. I envision a successful therapeutic process being when a client follows their goals and achieves positive outcomes in their lives. I seek to gain a therapeutic process with my clients by building rapport, trust, and helping them gain insight. When my clients are stuck and need motivation, I plan to remind them about their goals and the positive things that will come with change. If family is important to a client, informing the client about their family and their happiness may help motivate them to continue to
t's problems. Instead, it should permit the client to feel that she has support to dive into emotions she might have been afraid to do so before entering client centered therapy. It is interesting to note according to Raskin et al. ( 2011), “Our basic practice [client centered therapy] remains true to the core conditions no matter who our client may be. We also assert that our ability to form an initial therapeutic relationship depends on our own openness to and appreciation of respect for all kinds of difference” (p. 183).
New York, NY: Guilford Press. Gurman, A., (Ed.). Clinical Handbook of Couple Therapy (4th ed.). New York, NY: Guilford Press.
Acknowledging, the importance of attachment has been in helpful development of couples therapy, in particular to Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFT), “where it helps explain how even healthy adults need to depend on each other,” (Nichols, 2013, p. 62). EFT is an empirically validated experiential therapy model that works with emotion to create change. EFT therapists use “attachment theory to deconstruct the familiar dynamic in which one partner criticizes and complains while the other gets defensive and withdraws,” (Nichols, 2013, p.63). Research has demonstrated the importance of attachment in individuals. It is not solely a childhood trait attachment is a trait that individuals carry for the rest of their lives. Nonetheless, it is important to work on the attachments with families and couples in order to alleviate some of the negative interactions that arise from feeling a fear of losing the attachment with
The techniques used in marriage and family counseling can be different. For instance, counselors will sometimes handle family therapy in different ways than they would couples or marital therapy. Both family and marriage c...
In the book The Practice of Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy: Creating Connection, Susan M. Johnson offers a comprehensive view of EFT in working with couples. The brilliant insights of this therapeutic manual want to reconsider love and authentic connection among partners not simply as naïve and overwhelming feelings but rather the core for a successful couple therapy that can bring long-lasting healing. EFT offers a unique horizon for therapists who are looking to understand the nature of marital distressed and overcome the impasse of negative emotions and interactions of a distressed couple. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the underlying philosophy of Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy with its main values and principles and to
When relationship conflict arises the therapist would have to work with that individual to help them develop individualization so they can learn to be independent and become an ‘I’ in a ‘We’