...Family Counseling Approach Research Gestalt Family Therapy Gretchen Thomas Liberty University Abstract Not every client will be of the Christian faith. With that known, proper integration of psychology, spirituality and theology is imperative to have a successful and healthy therapeutic relationship. There are many theorists with distinctively diverse approaches. The Gestalt experiential family therapy process allows professionals the flexibility to individualize their procedures while maintaining an unyielding theoretical background. The way one views integration has a lot to do with their worldview, which determines their use or lack of use of spiritual methods in counseling as well as help the professional deal with on-Christian counselees. This manuscript provides a synopsis of the history of the Gestalt experiential family therapy framework, the leading figures, and in conclusion an overview of how a personal worldview interacts with the Gestalt theory. keywords: Gestalt, integration, experiential family therapy, worldview Family Counseling Approach Research Gestalt Family Therapy Introduction The experiential model or experiential approach to family therapy has many innovators. The symbolic experiential approach pioneered by Carl Whitaker highlights how the therapist provides counselees different ways to accept and deal with issues (Goldenberg and Goldenberg, 2013). Satir (1967) emphasizes the importance...
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...in-home family therapy with short and creative experiential activities. Method: A Texan social service agency that serves families with troublesome adolescent children presented families with the opportunity for this study. The recruitment criteria were that the youths were 12-17 years old and were living at home, the family resided within a 30-mile radius of the agency, and at least 1 parent was willing to participate in family therapy sessions. Parents and youth who agreed were provided a full explanation of the study. Researchers documented the number of sessions each family attended in the 12 week period. For the intervention group families, all sessions took place in their homes and their therapy included the addition of experiential activities that were developed to target...
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...Self-Therapy for Mental Health Professionals: As to research into the specific area of therapy for counsellors, there has been more attention paid to this recently. The ground breaking book by Geller, Norcross and Orlinsky (2005) The Psychotherapist's Own Psychotherapy: Patient and Clinician Perspectives’ considers the role of therapy that therapists themselves undergo. One of its aims is to “provide clinically tested and empirically grounded assistance to psychotherapists treating fellow therapists, as well as to those clinicians who seek personal treatment themselves” (Wong, 2007). Therefore the EPT will not fulfil the empirically grounded and objective approach, because it is more experiential and subjective in nature. However, the work by Hill (2005) indicates that a therapist who is undergoing therapy has a far better understanding of the process of the individual finding their self and managing their mental health (Hill, 2005). This is because the subjective is the central criteria; rather than an objective and unrealistic ideal of good mental health. The move away from the objective is one of the reasons that Hill et al (1993) revisited dream therapy not to have it interpreted objectively by a therapist, but by the individual in therapy themselves in order to have a better understanding of their self. This understanding will lead to an increased ability for the individual to resolve their mental health issues: Interpreting one’s own dream was superior to interpreting...
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...The Use of Music Therapy on Stroke Victims When normal blood flow to the brain fails, a stroke occurs, there are more than 780,000 strokes every year in the United States causing more serious long-term disabilities than any other disease that number is expected to increase in the coming years. (Know Stroke). While preventing strokes is obviously a goal, the development of successful rehabilitation strategies is equally important. Music therapy has shown promise as a way to help stroke victims recover a variety of lost functionality. In this paper I will be describing the beneficial effects that music has on stroke victims. There are two main types of stroke ischemic and hemorrhagic. Ischemic stroke occurs when blood vessels are blocked, usually by a clot. This accounts for four in five strokes. Hemorrhagic stroke is caused by a broken or leaking blood vessel in the brain (NIH). The effects of a stroke vary by its type, severity and location within the brain. A stroke may affect only one side of the body or part of one side. It can cause cognitive deficits, muscle weakness or paralysis. A stroke in the right half of the brain can cause visuospatial issues, impaired judgment and behavior, along with short-term memory loss. A stroke in the left half of the brain can cause speech and language problems, slow and cautious behavior, as well as memory problems. A stroke in the cerebellum can cause abnormal reflexes, balance problems, and dizziness, nausea, or vomiting (Office on...
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...these interventions, matching the criteria of evidence for (psycho) therapies, while keeping up with the very nature of creative and dance-informed processes that are at the core of DMT. This workshop will present the Codarts Arts for Health research into DMT interventions and will invite participants into experiential exploration of DMT key wordings. Codarts Arts for Health focusses on the DMTs’ specific, dance-informed contribution...
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...There are many types of therapy that have been included and excluded throughout history. Starting from Freud and his gateway into the subconscious mind and psychoanalysis, there have been many people and innovations in the psychiatric world that have spurred from him. One of those innovations was the Gestalt Theory by Fredrick S. Perls. The background behind Perls and his theory, an analysis of what his theory was and what it did, and how it is still used today, is what is focused on in this paper. Fredrick S. Perls created the Gestalt Theory in the 1940’s and continued to have an influence on culture through the 1950’s. His main interests in existenalism and Eastern religions, and Gestalt psychology contradicted what his Freudian training had taught him, but in the end led him to his well-known Gestalt Theory. “Perls saw the human being as a unified organism, an integration of mental, physical, emotional. And sensory processes expressed in the present moment” (Irving B. & Craighead, 2010). A lot of Perls work had been influenced by Kurt Goldstein, a neurologist, Moreno’s social experimentation, field therapy by Kurt Lewin, and ideas derived from Zen (Gaie, 2003). His theory focused on the less shy and submissive idea of feelings and brought up the value of the client/patient dynamic and the effectiveness of facing the problem head on. Even though all the people and therapy’s listed above had an influence on Perls, he was able to mesh all of what he had learned together...
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...Family Therapy: A Systemic Integration, 8th Edition PART 1 THE SYSTEMIC FRAMEWORK Chapter 1: Two Different Worldviews The Framework of Individual Psychology The Framework of Systemic Family Therapy Basic Concepts of Systems Theory and Cybernetics Family Therapy or Relationship Therapy? Summary Chapter 2: The Historical Perspective Planting the Seeds: The 1940s Cybernetics Development of Interdisciplinary Approaches Gregory Bateson Putting Down Roots: The 1950s Bateson (Continued) The Double-Bind Hypothesis Nathan Ackerman Murray Bowen Carl Whitaker Theodore Lidz Lyman Wynne Ivan Boszormenyi-Nagy John Elderkin Bell Christian F. Midelfort Overview of the 1950s The Plant Begins to Bud: The 1960s Paradigm Shift The MRI Salvador Minuchin Other Developments Blossom Time: The 1970s Psychodynamic Approaches Natural Systems Theory Experiential Approaches Structural Approaches Strategic Approaches Communication Approaches Behavioral Approaches Gregory Bateson Connecting and Integrating: The 1980s Other Voices The Limits of History Controversy, Conflict, and Beyond: The 1990s The Feminist Critique Family Therapy and Family Medicine Integration and Metaframeworks Managed Care The Twenty-First Century: Continuing Concerns and Emerging Trends Summary Chapter 3: The Paradigmatic Shift of Systems Theory A Cybernetic Epistemology Recursion ...
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...Dialectical Behavior Therapy to Treat Borderline Personality Disorder Kari Deutscher University of Saint Francis Abstract Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a specific type of cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy initially developed by Marsha Linehan for the treatment of individuals diagnosed with borderline personality disorder and additional psychiatric disorders associated with emotion dysregulation. DBT is currently the most frequently investigated psychosocial intervention for Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). DBT’s treatment program includes weekly skills training group led by two therapists, individual therapy, telephone consultation, and consultation team meetings. Over the years, DBT has been proven to be beneficial in treating...
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...Learning Group Posting Person Centred Therapy 1. The Goals of the therapy Developed by humanist psychologist Carl Rogers as a non-directive form of talk therapy in the 1940’s and 1950’s.The goals of the person-centred approach are different to many traditional approaches to therapy. “Its focus is on the person, not on the person’s presenting problem. The main goal of the therapy is for the client to realise their capacity for self-actualisation” (Davis).To achieve this goal therapists would work on developing an” increased self-esteem within the client and create an environment whereas the client is more open to experience(Person Centered Therapy,2012)” Rogers (1977) did not believe that the aim of therapy was to solve problems. Rather, it was to assist clients in their growth process so clients could better cope with their current and future problems.”(Corey, 2009, p170). Person centred therapists do not set goals for their clients, but assist clients through facilitative therapy to achieve their own goals. As self-concept develops goals would be expected to change. This therapy could not be applied to all clients as some would not possess the natural inclination towards the self-actualisation process even within the context of the supportive, facilitative client-therapist relationship. 2. A description of the processes and procedures of the therapy Person centred therapy differs from other therapies in that it is not technique orientated and the therapist does not assume...
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...Developing Personal Style of Counseling Abstract Counseling is a profession, a unique relationship in which the counselor’s job is to hold a ‘mirror’ for the client to see himself or herself. The counselor understands that sometimes it takes a while for the client to see what he or she needs especially if there are more subtle things needing recognition. The counselor knows how to hold the ‘mirror’ in such a way that the client can see himself or herself from a caring, supportive and sympathetic perspective. Sometimes counselors may appear to be repeating what the client says or paraphrasing the clients rather than giving answers. When counselors are doing this there is a strategy behind it. Counseling is not about expect fixing problematic people, they just motivate people to pick up the broken pieces in their behaviors that need attention. Because counselors have a lot of experience witnessing human beings in various forms of life challenges, they use techniques or share observations that are more revealing than what friends or family members might say. With these revelations, clients make decisions and with the support of the counselor, clients take action towards positive growth in their lives. This paper is an expression of my current thinking regarding a theoretical approach of individual counseling. The counselor’s approach is unique based on his or her personal belief systems and values. I have adopted and integrated counseling approach to understanding...
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...Across a variety of mindfulness-meditation training, three processes are most often present: 1. Calm focused attention on for example Breathing and body. 2. Your mind will start to wander. 3. Calmly, without punitive thoughts or thoughts of failure, and returning to the frst state using a higher awareness of oneself. “Sonic Cradle” began with the question, “Can an interactive medium cultivate an experiential introduction to mindfulness?”. It is not meant as a “meditationmachine”, where one enter and passively is “fulflled”, but rather a form of “training wheels” to provide the sensation of how it is done and being capable. By making the “controller” your own breathing, not only is it a simple way of evoking curiosity, but your mind, more intuitively, are re-oriented back to breathing, when it starts to wander, without a sense of failure. The tools he uses to achieve this is Arduino and .NET Gadgeteer for his sensorbased interaction design. Max/MSP, Pure Data and Processing is used for the audiovisual interaction and elements in addition to elements created with the Adobe Creative Suite. There was a longer process in fnding out what kind of...
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...Abstract This paper examines four published articles and one chapter in a textbook that reports results from research conducted in counseling sessions involving bullies, the bullied, and others affected by bullying. Reality Therapy (RT), Choice Theory (CT) and Bullying Prevention Programs (BPP) are examined to see their effect on clients becoming autonomous in directing their actions. School shootings have brought to light the effects of bullying and bullying seems to be occurring at epidemic proportions. Studies are needed on how to effectively counsel those involved in bullying so that they can reassess and learn methods to choose better actions to prevent bullying. This paper compares the research along with Glasser’s RT/CT to have counselors and clients examine their own struggles and how specific procedures can lead to changes in behavior. The process allows the clients to move in a direction of getting what they want while stepping away from the world of bullying. It also allows the counselor to teach clients how to make substantial connections with others and how to determine if better choices are possible. Keywords: bullying, RT/CT, BPP A School Counselor’s Approach to Combating Bullying Using the Choice Theory and Reality Therapy Katy Perry once said, “People talk about bullying, but you can be your own bully in some ways. You can be the person who is standing in the way of your success, and that was the case for me.” (Perry, n.d.). RT and CT used in conjunction...
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...especially since the evidence shows that family treatment dramatically improves recovery rates for many illnesses. When family therapy had its first wave of popularity, the charismatic leaders were out front wowing the crowds. Dr. Sal Minuchin's sessions were heavily focused on structure and boundary making, and involved much chair rearranging and pulling family members, especially children, out from between the couple dyad and into their own space and chairs One of his most famous tapes involved putting an ashtray between the chairs of two family members to literally increase the distance between them! Jay Haley, Ph.D., delivered strategic barbed arrows that pierced the hearts of the family members. Virginia Satir demonstrated the theater of families, sculpting organic shapes that pulsed with the gestalt of the family. There was much smoking of cigarettes during the sessions, by both the family psychiatrists and the family members. Psychiatry was exciting. The possibilities for change were endless. It was the 1960s. Unfortunately, in those early days, family therapy was oversold as the sole treatment for schizophrenia and other mental illnesses. As a result, families have felt blamed by the negative attention and are still hesitant to engage in traditional family therapy. Nevertheless, quiet pioneers, like Carol M. Anderson, Ph.D., continue to research and practice a measured educational and collaborative approach aimed at involving families in mental health treatment....
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...behaviors through which knowledge of the world is attained. This requires an understanding of us as counselors, to know what the variety of factors are including, biological, social, environmental, experiential, and motivational as well as the emotional life of each of our clients’. When we know this information, we are best able to examination their needs and understand the ways in which their cognitive and moral development have hindered their lives. As a result, we are then able to treat the problem and get into the solution. At Stella, we do this by treating our clients in a number of different ways. According to Piaget, he believed the environmental factors played a large role in the psychological development, in general, and cognitive development. As a counselor, we see this everyday with our clients’. They come into treatment with different environmental factors that play a major role in their addictions. As a result, we see that in their behaviors and attitudes. Piaget’s work identifies important elements that in today’s society is still viewed upon as relevant and well respected. Because I believe it to be relevant to this chapter as it relates to Cognitive Development, below, I will introduce how Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) is used at Stella Maris as one form of a therapy intervention for our clients. 2....
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...Abstract Through narrative therapy a counselor can help clients gain access to preferred story lines about their lives and identities taking the place of previous negative and self-defeating narratives that destroy the self. Presented in this paper, is an overview of the Narrative therapy and the Social Construction Model and several facets of this approach including poststrucuralism, deconstructionism, self-narratives, cultural narratives, therapeutic conversations, ceremonies, letters and leagues. A personal integration of faith in this family counseling approach is presented and discussed also in this paper. NARUMI AMADOR’S FAMILY CONSELING APPROACH Introduction Narrative therapy is found under the Social Construction Model. Using the Narrative approach, the therapist will not be the central figure in the therapeutic process, instead he will be influential to the client, helping him/her internalize and create new stories within themselves to draw new and healthier assumptions about who they are. This process enables clients to distract from focusing on the negative narratives which defined their past, redefining their lives into future positive stories. Narrative therapists define the problem as the problem instead of defining the client as the problem. The therapy process begins redefining the problem, externalizing it and getting it out in the open. The narrative therapist uses the questioning technique and creates alternative narratives...
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