In 2012, Sommers-Flanagan and Sommers-Flanagan discussed how theorists Fritz Perls was a controversial and yet charismatic individual who developed the Gestalt theoretical modality. The Gestalt theory integrates an array of historical and intellectual modalities which consists of the psychoanalysis, existential philosophy, and field theory of a person's psychopathology to reference a few (194). According to Sommers-Flanagan and Sommers-Flanagan (2012), the Gestalt theoretical orientation embodies Fritz Perls personality and historical development rather than supported by empirical evidence and peer-reviewed sources, which can create inconsistencies and limitations in the psychopathology of an individual seeking professional counseling (194). …show more content…
The Gestalt theoretical orientation would benefit those individuals who have a diagnosis of the following mental health disorders: post-traumatic stress disorder, psychotic disorders, borderline personality disorder, depression and anxiety disorder (Yontef & Jacobs, 2008). However, this approach is unpredictable, meaning it is on a moment to moment bases as it focuses on how the person functions within their roles of family, employment, vocational, educational, and social settings (Sommers-Flanagan & Sommers-Flanagan, 2012). The primary goal of this therapy approach is to assist individuals in concentrating on the here and now by examining what is occurring presently rather than what is being discussed during the session (Sommers-Flanagan & Sommers-Flanagan, 2012). In addition, this approach has the goal of assisting people with achieving self-awareness through examining the immediate feelings and emotions. Therapists will employ techniques that will enable them to stay with the feelings of clients through encouraging them to act out or act on their feelings and emotions which is referred to as the here and now. Among other things, therapists who utilize this approach will instruct individuals to give their beliefs a voice to recognize the sensations that follow to assist them with organizing their thoughts (Sommers-Flanagan, & Sommers-Flanagan, 2012). Other techniques utilized consists of reversal skills which merely attempts to modify the client behaviors by assisting them with noticing physical sensations, thoughts, and emotions to reduce maladaptive behaviors, as well as, the empty chair technique which enables a counselor to focus on the feelings of the client with the notion that they will be able to deepen their self-awareness. The role of the counselor that fosters the Gestalt therapy is to aid individuals in identifying their needs, desires, impulses, and sensations to empower their ability to approach the mentioned elements with a sense of more clarity and genuineness (Sommers-Flanagan & Sommers-Flanagan, 2012). Further, a study was conducted where theorists Carl Rogers and Fritz Perls employ their theoretical orientation in an effort to demonstrate its practicality. Theorist Fritz Perls conducted a therapy session with a woman by the name of Gloria Szymanski.
She is a thirty-one-year-old woman who’s presenting issue is having challenges with differentiating fear from avoidance. During this session, theorist Fritz Perls allows the individual to perceive herself in control of the session. Fritz Perls permits this to take place in the effort to assist her with recognizing how she avoids feelings and emotions by masking them with smiles and confidence when in fact she frightened. As the session progressed, Fritz Perl elicited fantasies from Gloria which would consist of her hiding in the corner as that is considered to her to be a safe place where she withdraws when experiencing the so-called fear emotion. Fritz Perls then evokes primary and secondary emotions from Gloria via crying and emotional reasoning which is an illustration of her blocking as she demands to be respected by Fritz Perls. Gloria makes it evident that she wishes he was at her level, so she can make him feel belittled and disregarded; however, she becomes upset and unsatisfied, as he is not bothered by her demeaning choice of words. Fritz Perls notes that she projected many explicit projections on to him, which manifest in the forms of mutual respect, uncertainty and her being cornered with nowhere to go and he immediately ends the session when she begins to tear up. Fritz Perls noticed many inconsistencies in non-verbal and verbal behaviors which manifest when she would smile, and report being scared; however, he explained that she was being a phony, simply because when people are scared they do not smile, which appeared to be provoking her. Gloria took immense offense to that comment, and she would become embarrassed, which would translate into anger and rage. Afterward, she began playing the role of a child that wanted to be comforted and coddled as if she was an infant to avoid displaying her actual feelings and emotions. In a similar manner, the development
of person-center therapy has made significant contributions to the field of professional counseling as well. Carl Rogers is the theorists that created the framework of the person-centered therapy approach. Person-centered therapy permits an individual to present problematic issues from the future, past and present as this approach believes by allowing them to explore those domains, they will inadvertently remove barriers to their ability to thrive and function autonomously. Carl Rogers theorized that mental illness is simply a progression of life; as he believed some people are essential deemed to be healthy and or good. In the same manner, he contributed metal illness to the criminality which is the result of cognitive distortions that stem from actualizing tendency. Actualized tendency can be defined as the everyday life form where it is likely that all human species attempt to make best out of their presence. This modality thrives by providing individuals with genuineness, congruence, and empathetic positive regard which is paramount to determine the effectiveness of the counseling session (Sommers-Flanagan & Sommers-Flanagan, 2012). According to Sommers-Flanagan & Sommers-Flanagan (2012) the person-center therapy approach is widely regarded and a useful modality as it allows the therapist to simply listen to the person empathetically and genuinely as they vent life-stressors and difficulties coping with symptoms enabling the individual to assume the role of the expert of their lives. Carl Rogers person-centered therapy fosters four specific domains which consist of the following: non-directive counseling, client-centered therapy, becoming a person, and world issues (Sommers-Flanagan & Sommers-Flanagan, 2012). In addition, the person-centered therapeutic orientation employs an array of techniques all of which are centered around the notion of genuineness and empathy. For instance, Carl Rogers believes that a therapist should provide self-disclosure if appropriate, provide minimum encouragers such as head nods, mirror body positions, paraphrase nonverbal and verbal messages as well as reflecting emotions and feelings (Phillips, 1951). He theorized by employing the previously mentioned; this will allow the person to build a sense of autonomy through becoming independent and self-determining to achieve goals of significance, which initiates the therapeutic alliance. In addition, Carl Rogers person-centered approach empowers individuals to select the direction in which they believe to be best for them to enable their ability to achieve chosen goals without hurting and or exploiting individuals negatively (Sommers-Flanagan, Sommers-Flanagan, & Sommers-Flanagan, 2012). Theorist Carl Rogers also conducted a therapy session with the Gloria Szymanski who is the same women that engaged in a therapy session with theorist Fritz Perls initially. To provide an overview, she is a thirty-one-year-old woman who’s presenting issue is experiencing difficulties with communicating with daughter that she has had sex with other men besides the child's father. Based from my assessment of the therapy session, Gloria would begin the session by talking about the present and past feelings, and throughout the session, she would explore aspects of her behaviors; however, it was evident that she disowned them. It is also worth noting that there were instances where she would seek forms of virtual respect from others and placed it within the context of black or white reasoning. Additionally, Gloria would experience catharsis at the conclusion of the session, which was evident by her tears and projection of intimate feelings on to Carl Rogers. Also, Gloria was able to be cognizant of the here and now through rationalized her decisions and choices and how that may affect her relationship with daughter in the future. In a personal opinion, Carl Rogers was able to create a therapeutic alliance with Gloria through meeting her where she is at, providing reflective statements of feelings and emotions, providing genuine empathy and positive regard, and more importantly understanding her disposition and worldview. In comparison to the modalities presented, the Existential theory provides interesting and evidenced-based interventions which provide a different perspective to meet the needs of person seeking therapy services. According to Sommers-Flanagan and Sommers-Flanagan (2012), the role of a counselor who fosters the Existential therapy approach is primed towards assisting individuals with achieving self-awareness and cope with mental health symptoms such as anxiety, anger, and psychosis to reference a few. This therapeutic approach addresses immediate impairments by providing individualized interventions, which will empower individuals to thrive and establish meaningful roles within the community. More specifically, this modality educates individuals with the intention of them growing and embracing all aspects of their lives despite the adversity encountered (Rowan, 2007). In retrospect, if Gloria had engaged in a therapy session with a counselor who fosters the Existential modality, she would have experienced interventions such mindfulness, paradoxical intention, and cognitive reframing (Sommers-Flanagan and Sommers-Flanagan, 2012). The mindfulness technique is utilized to challenge a person to accept their thoughts and feelings; it is worth noting that this approach was the precursor to the development of dialectical behavioral therapy. The paradoxical intention technique would have taught Gloria to embrace her characteristic defaults by doing the opposite of what is distressing. Lastly, the cognitive reframing technique would have assisted Gloria with developing practical modalities to enable her ability to reframe negative thoughts and incorporate more positive views to improve mental health wellness (Sommers-Flanagan and Sommers-Flanagan, 2012).
Though, acceptance of trauma can allow hindered development, eventually allowing full self-acceptance. Bernice, a once strong woman has been verbally, emotionally and physically abused since her childhood. Resulting in a loss of her sense of being. Within the beginning of the novel, when she is reflecting on her past memories, it becomes clear to the reader that in order for her to be able to accept herself, she needs to surface her past traumas. Bernice explains that, “In the tendrils, Bernice realizes there is remorse in her body and she is trying to kick it out. Her shell rejects remorse. Shame. Feeling bad over feeling good” (49). This mindset is negative and expresses her inability to share her emotions due to previous emotional abuse from her family and the many men that have taken advantage of her. This idea of disallowing happiness hinders her ability to accept herself and her past actions. However, through more time of self-reflection (over 200 hundred pages of her lying in bed with the author switching perspectives, confusing the hell out of me lol) Bernice realizes that she must learn to cope with these traumas and attempt to have a positive outlook on life. As Bernice is accepting the damaged part of herself, she comes to the realization that, “She can feel her body now, its loose and stiff at the same time. Her head, though will be the hard part. Part of her lost for so long that it is hard to enunciate what, exactly, she has found” (228). In comparison to when Bernice was unable to acknowledge her feelings and thoughts, it is now clear that she is slowly learning to manage her issues. By Bernice discovering that she is beginning to acknowledge her thoughts, this is the first step to being able to accept one’s self. In Total, It is shown that Bernice is deeply affected by the trauma within her life, however she is able to
...e that what he is doing is frightening. He starts to harass her and practically torment her until “ [she] [starts] to cry holding [her] sides and sobbing. (290). What this shows about Yo is that even though she is a collected, poised woman, there seems to be a an innocent girl inside of her who is still fearful of the world around her.
Sharf, R. S. (2008). Theories of Psychotherapy and Counseling: Counseling and Cases (5thed.). Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole
The first theory Psychodynamic theory presented by Sigmund Freud, is based on how a person’s self-awareness and understanding of the past on present behavior. Psychody...
A severe economic depression, as well as the beginning of psychology as a social science, marked the 1890’s. Paranoia is known to be a thought process, heavily influenced by anxiety or fear, often to the point of irrationality and delusion. Paranoid beliefs can also be associated with the feelings of powerlessness and victimization. When Christian von Ehrenfels founded gestalt psychology, William James also published “Principles of Psychology”, which introduces readers to four methods of psychology: analysis, introspection, experiment, and statistical studies. This period experienced a tremendous amount of growth within the scientific studies of the psychological mind, and can be known as the experimental stage of social sciences.
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.
As a conclusion, many of the psychologist and theorist that contribute to the development of Psychology do leave a significant impact behind which will be carried forward to in the future in any school of thought. This discipline can be used to measure and describe why we perceive such things in a way which can be explained by the concept of perceptual organization. Gestalt psychologists believed that one’s behaviours and perceptions is shaped by the past phenomena’s or antecedents that one has previously encountered at some point in his or her life.
She continues in this sequel to talk about the abuse she faced and the dysfunction that surrounded her life as a child and as a teen, and the ‘empty space’ in which she lived in as a result. She talks about the multiple personalities she was exhibiting, the rebellious “Willie” and the kind “Carol”; as well as hearing noises and her sensory problems. In this book, the author puts more emphasis on the “consciousness” and “awareness” and how important that was for her therapeutic process. She could not just be on “auto-pilot” and act normal; the road to recovery was filled with self-awareness and the need to process all the pieces of the puzzle—often with the guidance and assistance of her therapist. She had a need to analyze the abstract concept of emotions as well as feelings and thoughts. Connecting with others who go through what she did was also integral to her
Sigmund Freud and Albert Ellis are widely recognized as two of the most influential psychotherapists of the twentieth century. “It is argued that the striking differences in their therapeutic systems, Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy (REBT) and psychoanalysis, respectively, are rooted in more fundamental theoretical differences concerning the essential nature of client personality” (Ziegler 75). This paper will discuss in detail, both Sigmund Freud’s Psychoanalytical Therapy and Albert Ellis’ Rational Emotive Therapy, as well as compare and contrast both theories.
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).
In short the heroine’s development in the film from a naive, weak little girl into a powerful, knowledgeable wife is mirrored by this symbolic transition from a negative Oedipal stage to an Electra stage to a father-daughter incestuous relationship. The heroine’s actions are not given explicit justification in the film, but the typical behavior of Freud’s proverbial girl matches her behavior perfectly. The heroine tries to become like the woman who she believes Maxim loves, fails, and tries then to compete with her. The twist on the Oedipal/Electra complex comes about when the girl’s feminine rivalry turns to aligned opposition with the father against the mother leading to an incestuous relationship, precisely the outcome Freud’s theory sought to avoid. Because the film’s development of the heroine diverges from normal sexual development in this way, Rebecca’s development attains Hitchcock’s sought after unheimlich effect.
Freud, Sigmund. “Fragment of an Analysis of a Case of Hysteria (“Dora”).” The Freud Reader. Ed. Peter Gay. Trans. James Strachey. New York: Norton, 1995. 172-239.
The female protagonists’ subservient behavior in each of the narratives seems almost too perfect for the experiences they are subjected to. Not only do they not retaliate, they also do not show any negative attitude towards their stepmothers. Instead, they are diligent to the tasks assigned to them, and extend their extreme kindness to everyone within the household. This resembles the usage of the defense mechanism of reaction formation. According to the theories of ego psychology, reaction formations occur when individuals’ anxiety or conflict-driven intended behaviors are masked by exaggeration of opposite behaviors. Children relate to how the female protagonists suppress their conflicted emotions because the children themselves may using similar defense mechanisms to regulate their affect towards their
"Know Thyself!" This oracle at Delphi which was Socrates' motto inspires many philosophers but also psychologists and even psychotherapists. Each of them has good reasons for insisting that this is his domain. Several questions could be raised: Was Socrates a philosopher or a 'psychologist'? What kind of knowledge is this self-knowledge? How do these domains differ and do they have something in common? How are they related to spirituality? And many others. My interest, however, is more narrow. Although we can suppose there is an overlap between philosophy, psychology and psychotherapy, in this paper I will focus on the overlap between teaching philosophy and psychotherapy. More precisely: how can Gestalt principles and techniques help in the teaching of the topic of selfhood. I will outline some theoretical background of the importance of Gestalt in relation to didactics of philosophy and describe some possible applications.
Freud, Jung, and Adler each contributed essential concepts in accordance to one’s personality and environment. Focusing on one’s personality, each theorist assisted in the understanding of personality and each theory is still being used today throughout many therapy sessions. Throughout one’s education, one will go through personal development, seeking to find who he/she is and along the way react to life’s events accordingly. Academic success and developmental are hand in hand, allowing persons to set goals and develop plans to reach each goal. Each theory provides a different aspect in one’s personality which leads to the behaviors of that individual. According to Richard E. Watts, “Adlerian counseling theory affirms that humans are characterized by unity across the broad spectrum of personality-cognitions, affect, and behavior. Style of life, the Adlerian term for personality, is a cognitive blueprint