Collections Analysis

   Sigmund Freud is arguably the most prominent psychologist to date due to his psychoanalytic approaches and dynamics. The approach is broken into four stages: drive, ego psychology, object relations, and self-psychology. Psychoanalytic psychotherapy has the goals of increasing client awareness and control. In turn, the client is able to rid his or her self of self-destructive behaviors that lead to the need of treatment. Freud believed most psychological conditions stemmed from childhood occurrences or learned behaviors early on. Psychoanalytic methods were derived from Freud’s overview of human development; which seems to be the controversial aspect of his theories that had potential to discredit the psychoanalytic approach. He coined various theories, such as the structural approach in which the superego, ego, and id control one’s behaviors. This approach was able to shape many theories and act as a catalyst for various therapeutic methods. Freud’s development of ego defense mechanisms provided a sort of “cheat-sheet” for occurrences in which the client unknowingly avoids a certain topic. While his contributions were essential, his findings are often critiqued and he is famously known for almost all of his findings being proven wrong at some point in the psychological evolution since his death. His credit lies in the fact that he founded and expertly expanded on most of the evolutionary concepts altogether. Rather than focusing on his wrongdoings, this writer would like to acknowledge his overall breakthrough finding that the conscious mind is controlled by the unconscious. In such findings, his defense mechanisms seem to be relevant in the fact that the human brain avoids pain rather than dealing with it, as Freud vaguely put in his explanations of the structural approach. While there is no realistic proof of the superego, ego, and id as scholarly sources have pointed out, the basis consciousness overrides any discreditation. Thus, psychoanalysis has proven to be relevant and effective, especially when combined with other therapies. Psychoanalysis utilizes various techniques to uncover the thoughts and experiences one has repressed to avoid pain. In free association, the therapist says a word or phrase and encourages the client to say whatever comes to mind. This technique can be helpful in uncovering repressed thoughts, but also can be detrimental if one goes off-track or on a tangent irrelevant to the goal of treatment. This is common for psychoanalytic therapy overall because the model is effective for the right client. Clients that suffer from depression or anxiety have the potential to greatly benefit from psychoanalytic therapy. However, in terms of psychoanalytic therapy, clients with more strenuous disorders may have some limits. For example, schizophrenia is believed to be a regression to the oral stage in which the ego was not developed from the id. This would suggest those with schizophrenia have little recognition for others and are primarily narcissistic, as the id allows. This is one of many theories that pertains to schizophrenia, however nothing has been proven to support this claim. Thus, psychoanalytic therapy could potentially not fit such clients because of the limitations psychoanalytic techniques present. In addition to this, transference and countertransference play a large role in the psychoanalytic approach. The universal ethical code would require therapists to recognize their roles in a client’s treatment. Boundaries are to be firm and consistency is key in terms of effective treatment. Transference and countertransference present risky factors to counseling. In transference, the client could associate the therapist with others and either muddle the relationship or hinder trust in the therapist, which would ultimately deter the goal of a therapist being able to uncover repressed thoughts or emotions. The entire goal is diminished and treatment has to be altered drastically in order to reach such goals. Overall, the psychoanalytic approach uncovers essential footwork for therapists, however presents challenges and critiques that would make reaching counseling goals difficult.

            Freud’s close associate, Alfred Adler, founded individual psychology, also known as Adlerian therapy. In this approach, Adler’s core belief was that humans are unique individuals and their lifestyle is determined by task accomplishment or lack of. The categories of the tasks are as follows: employment, social relationships, sense of self, spirituality or religion, and family. If one is struggling with these tasks of life, they are encouraged to seek this type of counseling, as according to Adler these tasks are imperative to this goal-oriented method. Adlerian therapy’s four stages are forming a friendly therapeutic relationship, obtaining information for a comprehensive style of life, using interpretation to help clients reach style of life goals, and reorientation to better reach these task goals. These stages are not meant to be completed in order, but rather they overlap and intertwine with each other. Adler also developed techniques to support this therapy, such as goal alignment, the family constellation, the question, early recollections, and the psychological birth order. Like Freud’s psychoanalytic techniques, Adler’s techniques were questioned in terms of validity and relevancy. In particular, the question presents itself to be controversial as it asks “what if you were well”, attempting to have the client imagine how he or she would be living without present symptoms of psychological conditions or problems. The therapist then works backwards to align treatment steps to reach such goals. Adler’s approach included various sociological factors, such as family dynamics and sense of self in social structures. The inclusion of such dynamics allow for Adler’s approach to be more widely accepted and utilized in various settings. This writer personally believes this approach would greatly benefit her desired client base, as she would like to work with troubled youth as a therapist. Adolescents have a strong sense of self in sociological settings, and are conscious of such dynamics. Their sense of self is primarily based off of acceptance from others, which drives Adler’s approach to be useful in adolescent counseling.

            While the previously mentioned therapies were mainly discovered by individual psychologists, existential therapy is an evolutionary therapy that has been derived from many psychologists and researchers. It is mainly focused on existentialism as a philosophical viewpoint, which includes self-awareness and meaning of self in terms of existence. Human experience fuels the principles of existential therapy, however, therapists do not use specific techniques of counseling. I-Am is an experience of this therapy in which it is similar to self-discovery. This is a key element in the therapies presented thus far. I-am and I-thou delve deeper into existential elements of being. This brings up the four ways of “being” as outlined by existential approaches. These components are called umwelt, mitwelt, eigenwelt, and uberwelt. Umwelt is described as “being-with-nature” or the physical world. Mitwelt is “being-with-others”, or the social world. Eigenwelt is “being-with-oneself” or the world of the self. Uberwelt is “being-with-the-spiritual”, or over world. These are the factors clients and therapists attempt to explore when a client discloses feelings and scenarios of lifestyle. Experiences or feelings described in a session are meant to be classified by one or multiple ways of being, and then examined as such for further self-discovery or awareness. This type of therapy requires a deep trust between client and therapist in order to be successful, as it is fueled by emotional sharing and confrontation. Existential counseling is controversial as it acknowledges death and in ways is desensitized to such life events. In some viewpoints, existential counseling is viewed as ignorant, which poses the question of multicultural competency. As previously stated, it is one’s responsibility in a professional counseling relationship to obtain multicultural sensitivity and derive practices with acknowledgement of such limitations. Existentialism can be impractical in such environments if not properly executed. Thus, the lack of structure in this type of counseling can inhibit efficacy. Existentialism approaches bluntly confront realistic events, and strives to center the person in therapeutic process. In this theory, each person is made up of their choices, existentialism sorts through these occurrences to instill or realize balance of self.

            Carl Rogers created Person-Centered therapy as the model in which the client has control over treatment. The therapist is to support the client by observing and not trying to interpret what is said. The client expresses how he or she feels, with the therapist occasionally restating or repeating what is said. This is a catalyst for the client to self-edit or clarify. This process is repeated until the client feels as though they have expressed exactly what they think or feel. This talk therapy promotes self-change and awareness, but requires a great deal of motivation. The ideal client would be one that is dealing with grief, depression, anxiety, stress, or other mental health conditions. Success is directly related to the amount of work the client is willing to put in, and the amount of motivation said client exhibits. That being said, there are also three components therapists must bide by for success. Therapists must provide unconditional positive regard in order for the client to feel trust and understood. They must also have an empathetic understanding, accepting their client’s thoughts and feelings. Lastly, the therapist must be transparent and have no sort of authority in the session. These components are essential to person-centered talk therapy. Person-centered therapy is not as accepted in comparison to other methods, due to the lack of superiority for a therapist. The therapist is not at liberty to share opinions or make suggestions in order to avoid a client feeling judged or misunderstood. The core concept of self-discovery seems like an efficient method, however may not pertain to some more serious conditions such as bipolar disorder or dissociative identity disorder. Person-centered therapy may be effective when paired with other therapies, however individually person-centered therapy does not allow for intervention. Intervention is said to be a pillar in self-growth, and when absent from some treatment, self-discovery can seem far-fetched. This would eliminate efficacy of person-centered therapy overall. While person-centered therapy may be effective in some scenarios, the lack of structure presents potentially problematic or inefficient schemas.

            As an overall takeaway, this writer was able to distinguish various methods she would use in her future career as a clinician. This writer believes free association and Adlerian practices would best suit her projected clientele. This writer desires to work with troubled adolescents and youth. While the motivational and self-discovery points of Person-centered therapy would seem to be helpful, the lack of structure or allowance for suggestions would eliminate person-centered as the primary practice in talk therapy. Similarly, existentialism would be a good thought for adolescents, however the essence of being is already somewhat lost on this age-group. This would present problems as they would be less receptive to what is being said by the therapist, this less susceptible to change. The emphasis on friendly relationship between client and therapist is a humanistic quality of Adlerian therapy that is a catalyst for client understanding of superiority in the therapist. This is essential in establishing multiple roles, where the client would view the therapist as a figure in which it is easier for the client to trust the therapist. This also would play on transference, in which the client would associate the therapist without consciously acknowledging the connection in the best of cases. The therapist would hold hierarchy, and in turn be able to uncover the components that cause the present symptoms in the client. For this writer, she can acknowledge the power of self-discovery but overall understands her desired client base would benefit greatly from more guidance and structure within treatment. This writer enjoyed the theories presented in the first portion of her studies, and looks forward to uncovering more in the future.

 

References

Diamond, S. A. (2011, January 21). What Is Existential Psychotherapy? Retrieved from https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/evil-deeds/201101/what-is-existential-psychotherapy

Dvorsky, G. (2013, August 7). Why Freud Still Matters, When He Was Wrong About Almost Everything. Retrieved from https://io9.gizmodo.com/why-freud-still-matters-when-he-was-wrong-about-almost-1055800815

Essays, UK. (November 2018). Person-Centered Therapy Strength And Weaknesses Psychology Essay. Retrieved from https://www.ukessays.com/essays/psychology/person-centred-therapy-strength-and-weaknesses-psychology-essay.php?vref=1

GoodTherapy. (2016, April 10). Adlerian Psychology / Psychotherapy. Retrieved from https://www.goodtherapy.org/learn-about-therapy/types/adlerian-psychology

Psychology Today. (n.d.). Person-Centered Therapy. Retrieved from https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapy-types/person-centered-therapy

Sommers-Flanagan, J., & Sommers-Flanagan, R. (2018). Counseling and psychotherapy theories in Context and practice: skills, strategies, and techniques. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons.

(Sommers-Flanagan & Sommers-Flanagan, 2018)