Applying Humanistic and Existential Theories

Applying Humanistic and Existential Theories

A common element of this week’s theories is the focus on client emotion. The central tenet of these theories is that clients are at the center of the counseling process. When counselors use these approaches, they ask clients to not only assess their emotions, but also how they perceive these emotions to influence their lives.

 

During this process, counselors who often use humanistic and existential approaches partner alongside the client as a nonjudgmental ally, prompting the clients to reconnect with themselves and increase their own self-awareness. Theorists in these paradigms believe that it is not the interpretation of the counselor that helps clients, but rather the interpretation of the clients themselves. In fact, prominent humanistic and existential theorists cast aside the dominant, all-knowing presence of the counselor illustrated by some behavioral and psychoanalytic approaches Applying Humanistic and Existential Theories.

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In this Discussion, you consider how each of this week’s theories, existential, person-centered, and Gestalt, provides a different counseling approach. You also reflect upon how theoretical approaches influence the interventions that you might employ with your case study client, Deidre. Before watching the Deidre media, review this week’s Learning Resources to review how the Capuzzi and Gross text used each theoretical approach with the client in “The Case of Maria.”

Posting Directions: In the subject line of your post, use the following title format: “Title of Discussion: The theory you selected for this Discussion.” Your initial post must be at least 200 words in length.

Post by Day 3 a brief description of the humanistic or existential theory you selected. Then, based on this theoretical approach, describe two interventions you could employ with Deidre and explain why. Finally, explain how each of these interventions would help Deidre move toward her goals. Applying Humanistic and Existential Theories

Week 2 Learning Resources

This page contains the Learning Resources for this week. Be sure to scroll down the page to see all of this week’s assigned Learning Resources.

Required Resources

Readings

Capuzzi, D., & Gross, D. R. (Ed.). (2011). Counseling and psychotherapy: Theories and interventions (5th ed.). Alexandria, VA: American Counseling Association.

o    Chapter 6, “Existential Theory” (pp. 119–142)

o    Chapter 7, “Person-Centered Theory” (pp. 143–166)

o    Chapter 8, “Gestalt Theory” (pp. 167–191)Applying Humanistic and Existential Theories

Media

·         Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2012). Deidre [Multimedia]. Baltimore, MD: Author.

Note: Please click on the following link for the transcript: Transcript (PDF)

 

 

·         Association for the Advancement of Gestalt Therapy. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.aagt.org/

 

·         Association for the Development of the Person Centered Approach. (2011).  Retrieved fromhttp://www.adpca.org/

 

·         Association for Humanistic Psychology. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.ahpweb.org/

 

·         Existential-Humanistic Institute. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.ehinstitute.org/

 

·         World Association for Person Centered and Experiential Psychotherapy and Counseling. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.pce-world.org/ Applying Humanistic and Existential Theories

 

Please proceed to the Discussion.Return to top

QUESTION 1

 

1.      In order to be genuine, counselors:

 

[removed]	a.	Have to practice using a “poker face”
[removed]	b.	Have to know themselves
[removed]	c.	Must use reflections of feeling
[removed]	d.	Should avoid analysis of transference

 

2 points   

 

QUESTION 2

 

1.       Heidegger’s notions of choice, that each choice one makes represents the loss of an alternative, includes all of the following except:

 

[removed]	a.	The past becomes important in terms of lost opportunities.
[removed]	b.	Future choices are limited due to past choices and the time remaining to fulfill them.
[removed]	c.	We have the freedom to choose but must balance this with responsibility.
[removed]	d.	Some choices are irrational and we need to train ourselves not to make them with rewards and punishments.

 

2 points   

 

QUESTION 3

 

1.      Consider a client who feels that he is unlikable by others in his life. When the counseling discussion turns to how likeable the client is to the counselor or therapist, this is an example of:

 

[removed]	a.	Distracting the client
[removed]	b.	Empathic understanding
[removed]	c.	Immediacy
[removed]	d.	Self-actualization

 

2 points   

 

QUESTION 4

 

1.       The three people credited for the development of Gestalt therapy are:

 

[removed]	a.	Perls, Burber, and Nitche
[removed]	b.	Perls, Perls, and Goodman
[removed]	c.	Rogers, Glassman, and Goodman
[removed]	d.	Perls, Kohler, and Koffka

 

2 points   

 

QUESTION 5

 

1.      As a person becomes more congruent, which of the following changes is most likely to be seen?

 

[removed]	a.	Elimination of negative thoughts
[removed]	b.	Eradication of problem behaviors
[removed]	c.	Greater self-empowerment
[removed]	d.	Success in a failing relationship

 

2 points   

 

QUESTION 6

 

1.       All of the following are existential philosophers except:

 

[removed]	a.	Sartre
[removed]	b.	Heidegger
[removed]	c.	Tillich
[removed]	d.	Bion

 

2 points   

 

QUESTION 7

 

1.      Accurate _______ means that the counselor is able to both understand the client’s words, feelings, and perceptions of the world and communicate that understanding successfully.

 

[removed]	a.	empathy
[removed]	b.	congruence
[removed]	c.	unconditional positive regard
[removed]	d.	genuineness

 

2 points   

 

QUESTION 8

 

1.       In existential counseling, the client is

 

[removed]	a.	An existential partner with the counselor
[removed]	b.	A student learning from a teacher
[removed]	c.	Analyzed by the counselor
[removed]	d.	None of the above

 

2 points   

 

QUESTION 9

 

1.       Which of the following is descriptive of what “closure” means in existential counseling?

 

[removed]	a.	Facing the end of the helping relationship is the final confrontation with reality.
[removed]	b.	It means stopping therapy at the end of the semester at a counseling center.
[removed]	c.	It is when counselors close out all of their files.
[removed]	d.	It is a relatively unimportant part of counseling.

 

2 points   

 

QUESTION 10

 

1.      According to person-centered theory, for someone to be continuously believed and trusted by a client they must:

 

[removed]	a.	years of professional experience
[removed]	b.	be genuine
[removed]	c.	know the right questions to ask
[removed]	d.	not make mistakes

 

2 points   

 

QUESTION 11

 

1.      A criticism of person-centered counseling or therapy is:

 

[removed]	a.	Its deterministic stance
[removed]	b.	Rigid steps in the counseling or therapy process
[removed]	c.	Too few specifics regarding actions for the new counselor or therapist
[removed]	d.	Overly confrontational

 

2 points   

 

QUESTION 12

 

1.      Perls:

 

[removed]	a.	Had a passionate belief in the holistic nature of humankind
[removed]	b.	Believed that human beings had the capacity and strength to grow, develop, and to become the persons that they desired
[removed]	c.	Asked clients to focus on why they behaved in certain ways
[removed]	d.	Both “a” and “b” above

 

2 points   

 

QUESTION 13

 

1.      The word Gestalt is a German term that means:

 

[removed]	a.	Counselor/client working alliance
[removed]	b.	Existential anxiety
[removed]	c.	The integration of parts into a perceptual whole
[removed]	d.	The phenomenological field

 

2 points   

 

QUESTION 14

 

1.      Active listening includes which of the following?

 

[removed]	a.	Making good eye contact
[removed]	b.	Leaning toward the client
[removed]	c.	Facing the client
[removed]	d.	All of the above

 

2 points   

 

QUESTION 15

 

1.      The study of human experience through attending to the subjective observations of individuals is:

 

[removed]	a.	Retroflection
[removed]	b.	Empty chair
[removed]	c.	Boundary disturbance
[removed]	d.	Phenomenology