I believe that psychotherapy is a reciprocal process of engagement, learning and changing that happens in both the client and the therapist, Therefore, when the client comes from a radically different cultural background from our own, as clinicians we must familiarize ourselves and adjust to the nature and conditions of that culture. For a while, the most prominent focal point of psychoanalytic studies, literature and practices in the United States has been the “issues concerning the development of the sense of self and personal identity” and “the importance of the child’s early attachment to the mother and the emergence of the self as an independent identity” (Corsini, 2011, p. 26). Through my experience as a client, student and …show more content…
No matter how acculturated clients are, when using Western psychotherapy with non-Western clients, it is important to consider the possibility that their worldviews contain structures that differ from those of Westerners. One of the most prominent figures and contributors of the study of development and of object relations was Hungarian-born psychoanalyst Margaret Mahler (1968) who trained in Vienna and immigrated to New York City. Through the use of an empirical model of observation, Mahler studied the overt (but pre-verbal) behavioral interactions between mother-child dyads in order to formulate the theory of separation-individuation, which is the topic I have chosen to focus on for this paper. Although I acknowledge the values, potential usefulness, and ways in which Mahler’s theory of separation-individuation can be universally applicable, I would argue that it can become a critical issue (having the impact of harm than of help) in psychotherapy with clients from collectivistic and Confucian societies, such as China, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam.
I recognize the wide scope of clinical implications that Mahler’s separation-individuation theory offers, not only in clarifying mother-child interactions and object relations, but also in terms of its intra-psychic and inter-personal dimensions. Symbiosis is a biological term borrowed and used metaphorically by Mahler et al. (1975) when referring to the infant’s intra-psychic
3. In the latter phases of therapy, adult clients are coached in differentiating themselves from their family of origin, the assumption being that gains in differentiation will automatically flow over into decreased anxiety and greater self-responsibility within the nuclear family system (Penny, 1999 p. 101).
A therapist will face problems, issues and client troubles everyday. The professional must understand how their client relates to the world around them. These feelings and ideas affect how the client sees the problem and how they respond to their situation. Their actions, in turn, have bearing on individual thoughts, needs, and emotions. The therapist must be aware of the client's history, values, and culture in order to provide effective therapy. This paper will outline and provide information as to the importance of cultural competence and diversity in family therapy.
Culture plays a significant role in psychotherapy. The therapist cultural, as well as the client’s cultures play a significant role. The therapist should be aware of the client’s cultural differences. Person-centered therapy requires a great deal of empathy and to be a multicultural therapist using this theory, a therapist must be sure to not be assertive with a particular view on various cultures (Quinn, 2012). One multicultural issue that may arise is the therapist making assumptions because of the client’s culture. The therapist must be aware of their assumptions. They must not let their attitudes about his or her own culture and his or her beliefs about the client’s culture interfere with the treatment. Learning about the background or cultural of the clients can help to discover any preconceived thoughts about a particular culture (MacDougall, 2002).
As social workers, it is our responsibility to use the most effective method of practice to engage our clients, assess their situation, and help them create goals that will produce positive outcomes. Every client will present a unique set of challenges; therefore, the social worker must be careful in choosing an approach that will meet the client’s needs, compliment the skills of the therapist and are in line with the agency’s mission. According to Robert and Watkins (2009), psychotherapy is a therapeutic interaction between a trained therapist and a client that is
Cognitive behavioral therapy is a theory that deals with depression and ways to relieve the depression. The theory is based on the assumption that events happen and affect the behavior and emotions of an individual. When a positive event happens, there are three things that get to the depressed individual. First, the depressed child or adult think about the event. The depressed person selectively chose the negative aspect of the event and sees themselves as failure. Second, the emotions of the child or individual go down. Third, what the person does is withdrawal, de-activation,
Among these therapeutic approaches are the psychodynamic approach and the existential approach. An example of existential approach psychotherapy is the person-centred therapy that was introduced by Carl Rogers in the 1940s. Person-centred therapy (PCT) focuses on the quality of the person-to-person therapeutic relationship; it places faith and gives responsibility to the client in dealing with problems and concerns (Corey, 2009, p. 30). On the other hand, for the psychodynamic approach, Sigmund Freud, the core founder of this approach developed psychoanalysis. Psychoanalysis is a therapy aimed to treat mental disorder. It is a set of techniques for treating the unconscious causes of mental disorders; as well as to explain the underlying factors of how human personality and abnormality develop from childhood (Corey, 2009, p. 30). This paper examines the similarities and differences between psychoanalytic therapy and
Proponents of relational-cultural therapy (RCT) reject an intrapsychic explanation of distress and instead operate based on an understanding that external social structures and interpersonal relationships have a significant effect on emotional and psychological well-being. In addition, a non-deterministic view of human development is taken and special attention is paid to the influence of various socialization processes, such as gender-role socialization (Miller, 1976). According to Miller and Stiver (1997), a person 's sense of self develops in the context of their interpersonal relationships. Growth is achieved through interacting with others and developing meaningful connections, rather than through striving for independence. While traditional theories typical focus on independence as an indicator of mature functioning and psychological health, RCT emphasizes the importance of interdependence. From Miller 's (1976) perspective, personal growth
Chapter One: In this chapter talks about the history of many decades where the different therapist is treating family members separated from the family and eventually when one member of the family sought help and got better another one seems to be affected. These different observations lead to begging the family therapy movement (Nichols, M. 2017).
Derald (2013) stated, “The adage “counselor or therapist, know thyself” is the basic building block to cultural competence in the helping professions.” (P.6) Part of connecting with clients includes the separation and awareness of the helping professional versus the other person. The helping profession has not always embraced the awareness of self in regards to culture. To be culturally competent the helping professional should conceptualize the issue with the understanding of the cultural background of their client. In this paper I will summarize significant historical changes in society that influenced
My worldview reflects who I am a Hmong woman, but most importantly my assumptions and beliefs in how I view and interpret the world around me. As previously discussed, the underlining foundation of my worldview lies within the nature of relationships formation, early childhood relationships, affect, and instilment of hope. As such, my theoretical orientation draws on these foundations to conceptualize and work with clients. I view psychotherapy as a process of uncovering the past to understand the present through the formation of a therapeutic alliance and instilment of hope. To demonstrate what I believe defines therapeutic change and progress, I will briefly discuss the common factors model and how it serves as a meta-framework in how I work with client. I will also discuss psychodynamic therapy from an Intensive Short Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP) as the specific technique I utilized to uncover a client’s past.
This essay is based upon a study of my personal reflections, emotions and opinions of the five major psychotherapy theoretical frameworks that I have studied over a five week period as part of a postgraduate diploma in psychology: psychoanalysis; behaviour therapy; person-centred and humanistic therapies; cognitive behaviour therapy; and family therapy. The purpose is to assist in determining which framework is the best fit for me as a future therapist based on my personality, life experiences and beliefs. The main basis of this evaluation is a weekly reflective journal (refer to Appendix A) I have maintained in which I recorded a range of background theoretical information, ‘gut’ reactions, pertinent life experiences and reports on practical ‘homework’ activities. I begin by undertaking a qualitative analysis of my journal which provides the insight to make the most appropriate selection of psychotherapy theory. Once the selection is made, I then provide a more focused evaluation of the chosen theoretical framework, based on a review of the literature, interwoven with pertinent elements from my journal.
Still, the counselor must realize that his or her intuitive assumptions are based in a particular cultural worldview. This does not negate his or her ability to counsel persons from different cultures, but it does demand the ability of the counselor to step back and to view his words with an objective perspective. For example, when counseling an Asian family, the counselor may have to contextualize the parent's demand for obedience as a cultural product, and not simply see it as a neurotic instrument of control. The relationship of parent to child may be different from what the counselor has personally experienced in his or her own life and also what conventional
ALTER THIS PAPER....IT HAS BEEN SUBMITTED TO TURN IT IN....USING IT VERBATIN WILL RESULT IN A 100 MARK AND IDENTIFICATION WITH ANOTHER STUDENT PAPER...IN OTHER WORDS, YOU WILL BE FOUND TO BE COMPLETELY CHEATING AND MAY BE EXPELLED FROM YOUR UNIVERSITY...I WOULD USE IT AS A GUIDE, A LAUNCHING POINT....SOMETHING YOU COULD PARAPHRASE OR BORROW SOME IDEAS...
Depression in late life is very common, particularly in older adults who are moving in to a different phase of their lives. They may experience a loss of a job, death of a spouse, empty nest, or a move that has taken them away from their social network. Geriatric depression is expensive for everyone involved, from the seniors who suffer not only mentally but physically from its effects to the increased use of health services such as emergency room visits. Suicide is also a consequence of depression in seniors. Sometimes depression is not diagnosed properly because its physical symptoms can mimic other illnesses. Many women, ages 55 and up, experience feelings of loneliness, isolation and do not know what to do now that they are in this new stage in their life; not working etc. Is the women’s group effective in helping members overcome feelings of depression and isolation?
Person-centered theory and psychoanalysis have a strong influence on today’s practices in the psychology field. They are both still used in counseling and therapy. Freud’s and Rogers’