Experiential
Describe the Experiential Therapist's stance/role
Genuine person, non-normative, non-judgmental, warm and empathetic, listening and active in the therapeutic process. They are emotionally in touch with their feelings
Describe the Structural Therapist's role/stance
They take an active, involved, leadership position within the family.
Emotionally Focused Therapy Goals
Disclosure of inner-vulnerabilities, fears, and anxieties to their partner.
Goals of Narrative Therapy
The generation of alternative stories that incorporate vital and previously neglected aspects of lived experience.
Define a Solution-Focused Therapist's stance
Collaborative, client-centered and strength based.
Goals of Experiential Therapy
Growth as opposed to stability.
Structural Family Therapy Goals
Alter the structure of the family units (hierarchies, clear boundaries, etc.,) so the family can solve it's own problems
Role of an Emotionally-Focused Therapist
Accepting, nonjudgemental, genuine, focus on empathetic attunement, genuine, collaborative,
A safe therapeutic environment for the client to feel comfortable
Describe 1 or more Narrative Therapy Techniques
Relative influence questions - a number of questions to explore how a problem has managed to disrupt or dominate a family versus how much they have been able to control it
Externalizing - separating the client from the problem
Re-authoring - Asking about past victories over the problem, allowing a new self-narrative to form
Letter writing (David Epston) - letters that convey a deep appreciation of what the client has endured, an outline of a new story, and the therapist's confidence in the client's ability to continue to progress
Goals of Solution Focused Therapy
Resolve complaints by helping clients think differently and become satisfied with life
From Problem-talk to Solution-talk
Help clients set clear and achievable goals
Name & Describe one or more Experiential Techniques
Family sculpting - having all the members take turns being the "sculptor" of the family where they direct the rest of the family in a re-enactment of a past event from their perspective.
Family Drawing - where each member is asked to draw their family as they see their position in it
Role-Playing - family members re-enact scenarios acting as if they were the other person
Empty Chair - having a client speak to an empty chair in place of an important person for them say what they need to say
Psychology of the Absurd - Carl Whittaker's reverse psychology
Family Puppet Interviews - dolls are used in place of important persons for clients to interact with.
Why do problems arise, according to Structural Therapists?
Problems arise when inflexible family structures cannot adjust to developmental and situational challenges.
How do problems develop and persist over time, according to EFT?
Grounded in Attachment Theory. Assumed negative interaction patterns in the couple system were root in unmet attachment needs.
Attachment “injuries” - Traumatic occurrences that damage the bond between partners and if not resolved, maintain negative cycles and attachment insecurities
Attachment “panic” - One partner constantly fears that the relationship is falling apart.
How do problems develop and persist according to Narrative Family Therapy?
Problems arise when people allow society to indoctrinate them into self-defeating and narrow views or narratives that lead to responses that only perpetuate the problem story.
Problem-saturated stories
Describe one or more Solution-Focused Techniques
Miracle Question - asking a client to imagine how things would be if they woke up tomorrow and their problems were solved
Exception Questions - a question exploring instances where the presenting problem didn't occur
Scaling Questions - a question where clients are asked to rate on a 10-point scale how much they want to resolve their problems or how bad it is, how much better it is, etc.
Coping Questions - a question designed to draw attention to resilience
Compliments - calling attention to what the client has already accomplished
Summary Message - rephrasing and restating what the therapist has heard during session
According to experiential therapy, how do problems develop and persist overtime?
Problems develop as a result of the family's inability to tolerate emotional expression. Symptoms develop due to emotional repression.
Name & Describe at least one Possible Problematic Structure
Detouring - scapegoating as a means of avoiding conflict
Enmeshed Parent/Child - diffuse boundaries between parent and child, often creating a parentified child
Cross-Generational Coalition - a coalition between one parent and a child against the other parent
Difference between Primary and Secondary emotions
Primary emotions are the deeper, more vulnerable emotions. Secondary emotions are surface level emotions in reaction to the primary emotions.
What are Unique Outcomes?
Exceptions to the rule (of the problem-saturated story) that can be changed to a new rule (new narrative)
How do Solution-Focused Therapist's believe problems arise?
They don't care! They are more interested in the here and now - and solutions!
Prefer to focus on the future, where problems can be solved. They believe that therapists do not need to know a great deal about the nature of the problems that people bring to therapy but rather they need to know about the solutions.
Difference between transference and countertransference.
Transference is the client's carryover of feelings from a past relationship onto the client/therapist relationship.
Countertransference is the therapist's strong emotions in reaction to the client.
What types of boundaries are associated with Structural Family Therapy?
Rigid - overly strict boundaries
Clear - healthy boundaries
Diffuse - lack of boundaries
Name the four horseman of the apocalypse
Criticism - complaint about character
Contempt - belief that oneself is above another, disrespect (most destructive to a relationship)
Defensiveness - shielding from criticism by deflecting blame to someone/something else
Stonewalling - shutting down or disengaging in the middle of an argument abruptly.
Describe the 2 types of Relative Influencing Questions
Mapping the Influence of the the problem on the person - questions that help people consider how the problem influences them
Mapping the Influence of the person on the problem - questions that help people consider how they influence the problem
What are some of the assumptions of Solution Focused Therapy?
Assume clients want to change, are have the resources and strengths to solve their problems.
Only a small change is necessary.
You don't need to know a great deal about the problem or it's cause in order to solve it.
Clients define their goals
Problems are unsuccessful attempts at solving difficulties
Change will occur more quickly if the client feels they are understood by the therapist.