Humanistic and constructivist psychotherapies Flashcards
(48 cards)
Humanistic therapy characteristics
phenomenological; must understand subjective experience of client
focus on current behaviors
belief in inherent potential for self-determination and self-actualization
authentic, collaborative, egalitarian therapy relationship
rejection of traditional assessment techniques and diagnostic labels
Type of humanistic therapy
person-centered, gestalt, existential, reality
Constructivist therapy emphasis and focus
client’s perceived reality is viewed to be individually or socially construction
focus of therapy is on process of meaning creation rather than accuracy or rationality of meanings
Roger’s person-centered therapy theory
people have an innate self-actualizing tendency which is source of motivation and guides them towards positive growth
characteristics, perceptions of I/me and value attached to these perceptions
Person-centered maladaptive behaviors
self becomes disorganized as a result of incongruence between self and experience as a result of conditions of worth
anxiety alleviated through defensive maneuvers including perceptual distortion or denial
Person-centered therapy goal
help client achieve congruence between self and experience
Person-centered view of transference, directiveness, diagnosis
transference is not necessary but accept and acknowledge it
directive is avoided
diagnosis places therapist in superior role and impedes process
Gestalt therapy founder
Fritz Perls
Gestalt confluence
absence of a boundary between self and environment
intolerance between self and others
underlies guilt and resentment
Person-centered techniques
Provide right environment including:
unconditional positive regard (respect)
genuineness (congruence)
accurate empathic understanding
Gestalt therapy
Fritz Perls
Gestalt premise and focus
each person capable of assuming responsibility for thoughts, feelings, actions and living as integrated whole
focus on perception
Gestalt incorporates principles from
psychoanalysis, phenomenology, existentialism
Gestalt concepts
people seek closure
person’s gestalts (perceptions of parts as wholes) reflect current needs
behavior as whole is greater than sum of parts
behavior can be understood only in context
experience world as figure/ground
Perls personality consists of
self and self-image
Perls’ self
creative aspect of personality that promotes self-actualization
Perls’ self-image
darker side of personality, hinders growth and self-actualizataion by imposing external standards
Perls view of childhood development
early interactions with environment are important
must have opportunities to overcome frustration for self to develop
if only approval, then self curtailed and self-image dominates
Gestalt therapy re: maladaptive (neurotic) behavior
growth disorder, abandonment of self for self-image and resulting lack of integration
Gestalt boundary disturbances
introjection, projection, retroflection, confluence
Gestalt introjection
person psychologically swallows whole concepts without understanding or assimilating them; trouble distinguishing between me/not me
overly compliant
Gestalt Projection
disowning aspects of self by assigning them to other people
extreme=paranoia
Gestalt Retroflection
doing to oneself what one wants to do to others; e.g. anger turned inward
Gestalt confluence
absence of a boundary between self and environment
intolerance between self and others
underlies guilt and resentment
