Self-of-the-therapist Signature Theme and Underlying Cores Throughout this MFT program and now reading Aponte and Kissil article, “If I can grapple with this I can truly be of use in the therapy room, I have been able to identify and learn about self-of-the-therapist in great depth. In this paper I will identify a signature theme, underlying core and describe how my signature theme played out in session with a client. I will use a social contructionist lens to identify and describe these concepts of self-of-the-therapist in order to share how this signature theme informs my life and world views. Family History On Signature Theme As a hispanic women growing up in a collectivistic culture, loyalty and trust were highly embedded in me. In …show more content…
The first time I was presented with loyalty and trust self-of-the-therapist issues was when M. E. asked his mother for help; his mother said he would outgrow his symptoms and his symptoms were not a big deal. At that moment I thought to myself how can mom not be there for her son, he is asking for help, he should be able to count on her. However after hearing myself, I tried to look at the situation from a different lens (the client’s mother brought the client to therapy to get help and hypothesizing that his mother was trying to protect her son or was not educated in OCD and psychosis) this allowed me to empathize with the client’s mother and maintain a neutral …show more content…
It was not easy hearing someone accuse you of something out of your character. At that moment so many things passed through my head and all I could think about was my client, M. E. I never said or thought that this client was a monster on the contrary, I believed this client had a lot of potential, smart and a very nice client who was going to a difficult time and needed help. Again the underlying core at that moment was feeling helpless due to the fact that this client was not able to see another perspective or ready to be open to another understanding. There was no males in filing this DCF report; I did what was best for my client. Again what allowed me to not blow up at the client’s mother and not try and force my point of view on to her was trying to understand her side. The client’s mother was angry, but more than her anger I noticed that her eyes had teared up a bit and I saw fear. I hypothesized the client’s mother was fearful perhaps of losing her son. I also told myself no the client is back getting medication from the psychiatrist and was referred to another therapist to help
I was drawn into the Brice family's story and by the end of the book I cared about them and felt as if I knew them. I appreciated the author's no holds barred, realistic portrayal of the therapist and client relationship. Not only is the reader drawn into the subject's inner world, the reader is also pulled into the world of the therapist and given a ring side seat into the cognitive operation of the therapist mind. Napier and Whitaker lay out the theories that inform their practice. For example, they identify, feedback spirals, triangulation, transference, and enmeshed identities, for the reader and then demonstrate through the narrative, methods for assisting families in leaping over these
As a traditional, collectivistic cultural group, the Latino population is believed to adhere deeply to the value of familismo. (Arditti, 2006; Calzada, 2014). Familism is an emphasis on the importance of the family unit over values of autonomy and individualism”. (Santistaben, 2012). Family is considered to be the top priority in the Latino culture. Comparatively, at times, this isn’t true of our busy, work devoted western culture. In western culture we think of our family in a nuclear sense made up of a: mom, dad, and siblings. Conversely, Hispanic culture focuses on the whole extended family including aunts, uncles, grandparent, and cousins. Their culture believes having close connections with the entire extended family benefits the development of their children. The entire family helps the child by giving them differing levels of social and emotional support. (American Home Resolutions,
We tend to be like those around us that have the same values and beliefs. So we also tend to do the same things and are raised the same way. Marrying into an Anglo family, this family does not have the close family relations that my Mexican family has. Some Anglo families may, although not to the extent of Mexican households. If you have ever seen My Big Greek Fat Wedding, well this is how Mexican families tend to live their lives, always in each other’s business. I don’t see much of this in my husband’s family and for me, it was a huge adjustment. There almost seems to be a distance and lives are not shared. Where Mexican women think family is most important, Anglo women think family is important, but so is the status. Anglo women seek it all; they want family and career; although not an impossible task, it can take away from family time. “Since prestige, power, and self-esteem are not derived from achieved status to as great an extent among Mexicans, employment is more crucial to psychological well-being for Anglo women than form Mexican” (Ross et al. 1983). Inequality among races shows that Mexicans take immense pride in the household chores while Anglos take great pride in status. By tradition, Mexican women are praised and revered for their roles as homemakers. This view is a status of prestige that is very respected in the Hispanic community. “Ministering mothers are respected revered and recognized important figures despite their alleged low status in the family” (Mirande, 1977:752). On the other hand, “Anglo women are not in traditional homes where the wife receives prestige for her role in family, yet they are not in nontraditional homes where the husband and wife share the work (both outside and inside the home) equally” (Ross et al. 1983). As stated earlier Mexican women in the roles of homemakers in their home are viewed as pillars of strength and respect in their homes and
The therapeutic process is an opportunity for both healing and restoration, as well as discovering new ways of being. Although exposed to a variety of psychological theories, I narrowed my theoretical orientation to a relational psychodynamic approach, drawing on attachment theory and Intersubjective Systems Theory (IST). IST describes how the subjective experiences, both embodied and affective, of an individual becomes the manner of organization, or way of being, in which the person operates in the world relationally. It is through this process of transference and countertransference, the unconscious ways of being can become explicit and through the collaborative effort of therapist and client, new ways of organizing the relational world can be discovered. I pay particular attention to enactments, which expose intra-psychic dynamics between the therapist and client, as opportunities for relational remodeling.
Clutter, Ann W., and Ruben D. Nieto. "Understanding the Hispanic Culture." Osu.edu. Ohio State University. Web. 20 Nov. 2011. .
Another way the diverse Latin American culture has influenced many individuals, including myself, is with their ...
In conclusion, Anderson et al. (2010) discussed the relationship between therapeutic models and the techniques utilized by them. However, the contextual model that they posit in this article is built upon a postmodern philosophy and has numerous flaws. As a result, I reject many of their arguments, at least as they are presented. Despite this, there was some information (albeit modified) from this article that I can incorporate into my own practice as a therapist.
The rapport and friendship built throughout this movie is vital to the success of the therapy exhibited here. This is a great example of Gestalt therapeutic approach and helps to identify most of the techniques incorporated. The techniques and ways of gently confronting but pushing a client all the way through are very beneficial to each viewer of this film.
Psychodynamic therapy, focuses on unconscious mind and how past experiences, inner thoughts, fears, and emotions The main goal of psychodynamic therapy is for clients to be self-aware of the past and how it effects who they are in the present. This type of therapy focuses on the underlying problems and emotions that influenced the client’s behavior. (Psych Central, 2016)
To explain, the client should not be inferior to the counselor; the environment should be two people discussing an issue and ways to make a difference. A therapist should occasionally share similar experiences; therefore, sessions should make clients feel comfortable. To add, the client should feel safe due to the positive atmosphere the therapist brings to the session. The goal is to finally give the client a chance to be heard, regularly people are muted and feel like they are insignificant to society. Similarly, to Person-centered therapy where communication with the client is unconditionally positive. The therapist needs to genuinely care about the client needs for them to fully express themselves successfully. Furthermore, clients should be encouraging to make their own choices which model how to identify and use power responsibly. Hence, this will help the client feel more confident in everyday life when making a meaningful
Within the therapeutic alliance, the clinician-client relationship can be critical to the outcome of therapy. If a client does not feel that his or her feelings, expressions, and or thoughts matter to the therapist, there is no alliance much less a relationship. When a client feels invested in it can certainly change the outcome of therapy. For instance if a client has come to therapy with feelings of inadequacy, lack of visibility and indifference if the therapist treats him or her in the same manner it is highly unlikely the client will return to this clinician. A study (Friedlander, Bernardi, and Lee, 2010) shows that outcomes were more negative when clients felt clinician lack of engagement and involvement in session.
Taylor, R. R., Wook Lee, S., Kielhofner, G., & Ketkar, M. (2009). Therapeutic use of self: A nationwide survey of practitioners' attitudes and experiences. American Journal of Occupational Therapy , 63 (2), 198-207.
Carl Rogers developed person centered therapy, also known as client centered, non-directive or Rogerian therapy, in the 1930s. The person centered therapy, differs than other typical formal therapy, against directive and psychanalytic approach. Rogers believed that the therapy should take place where there is a close personal relationship between the client and the therapist. Rogers rejected the traditional hierarchical relationship between the client and therapist, and view the clients as equals by using the term “client” instead of “patient”. In person-centered therapy, the client determines the general direction of the therapy while the therapist ask informal clarifying question to promote client’s self-insight and self-understanding.
Fritz and Laura Perls are responsible for the founding of gestalt therapy in the 1940’s. From there on, Gestalt has contributed significantly to the field of psychotherapy, counseling, and personal development. When therapist uses this method, his or her ultimate aim is to ensure the client achieves personal growth and development. To achieve this outcome, gestalt utilizes existential philosophy and phenomenology. In summary, this form of therapy aims to empower the patient to use his internal and external senses for the purposes of developing personal responsibility and a self-supportive system (Franzke 1999; Corcoran & Daly 2008).
Reinkraunt, R., Motulsky, L. S., & Ritchie, J. (2009). Developing a Competent Practioner. Use of Self in Counseling Psychology Training, 16, 1, 7-29.