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Psychodynamic Case Study Summary

1059 Words5 Pages

The case of “Paula” presents a 51-year-old divorced Caucasian female with persistent symptoms of depression and anxiety. Her symptoms are related to her failed career ambitions, stress about work and difficulties in relationships. Despite years of treatment her symptoms have persisted. She has worked with therapists in both cognitive-behavioral and psychodynamic modalities. This treatment overview presents an existentially based treatment approach. In addition, other therapeutic approaches the client was familiar with were integrated in order to amplify previous gains made in therapy and with the hope of adding context and meaning to the interventions. The client suffers from chronic depression known as Dysthymic Disorder and Generalized Anxiety …show more content…

The aforementioned existential exploration was integrated with psychodynamic examination of core identity issues and cognitive behavioral therapy to address thoughts and core beliefs that contributed to the client’s symptoms. I appreciated how seamlessly the therapist was able to integrate these three modalities and although I found portions of the psychodynamic a bit heavy handed (e.g. putting constant pressure on a client’s defenses). However, I do think that the interventions were a near perfect fit for the client’s symptoms and goals. The collaborative nature of treatment was underscored with the case explicitly mentioning Paula’s co-constructed goals that included symptom reduction, interpersonal improvement, and returning to the creation of art. This was paired with the therapist’s insight into the client’s need to further explore, understand and accept her identity and reconcile difficulties from the past. I enjoyed that the case noted that existential theory puts forth the notion that the reasons for depression can vary from person to person. Part of what I enjoy about this concept is the need to explore client perceived causes rather than primarily focusing on cognitions. Along the same lines I was impressed to read that empirically based clinicians have shown that the efficacy of cognitive therapy can be improved when the client’s existential questions are explored (Addis & Jacobson,

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Phase One (Sessions 1 through 3) • The session 1 and 2 consists of the assessment of the client’s clinical problems and background information. Questions relate to her clinical problems, including (a) the nature of her problems (depression and difficulty with making decisions), (b) reason of seeking psychotherapy, and (c) previous attempts to deal with the problems. For the background information, the client’s histories are assessed in the areas of intimate/family relationship, educational/vocational activities, past history of psychological treatment, and physical condition. Session 3 primarily consists on the further functional assessment around her coping skills (e.g., avoidance) in the areas of interpersonal relationships. Phase Two

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It provides a concrete example of how psychological theories and models are applied in diagnosing, understanding, and treating individuals with major depressive disorder. Moreover, it emphasizes the value of an integrated treatment approach, combining medication, psychotherapy, and support systems, in addressing the multifaceted nature of mental health disorders. This case study serves as a reminder of the ongoing need for research, education, and training in the psychological sciences to better understand and treat mental health conditions

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This therapy is not focused on what happened in the client’s life, but how the client

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The concept of existential therapy derives on human experiences and how one relates to the world. Two books that have an emphasis on this concept include The Big Picture by Sean Carroll and a short story—San Manuel Bueno, Martyr— in Abel Sanchez and Other Stories. Throughout his book, Carroll focuses on what it means to exist (or not exist) in the world, and just how insignificant the life span of individuals are relative to the existence of the universe. Similarly, Don Manuel, the protagonist and suffering priest in the short story San Manuel Bueno, Martyr, experiences a sense of emptiness and guilt; he consistently doubts his beliefs and place in the world. If given the opportunity, could Carroll assist in the rehabilitation of a discouraged

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PCT aims to promote therapeutic change by collaborating with clients to achieve the following: psychodynamically interpret and understand their cognitive patterns; gain insight on how these emerged and may be cyclically affecting their current behavior, motivations, interpersonal relations and mental states; challenge these cognitively; and test them behaviorally and interpersonally both within and outside the therapeutic parameters. While cyclical psychodynamic therapy employs a psychodynamic relational orientation to inform client conceptualization (Gold & Wachtel, 1993), PCT draws focus on dysfunctional thinking patterns (Beck & Weishar, 2008), that have emerged from a particular MMC constellation (including relational psychodynamics) and

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Students will complete an individual biopsychosocial assessment, including goal setting and implementation of a change strategy (e.g. therapeutic approach) for either a real or a fictional client. For students who are presently enrolled in a practicum, and if it is feasible and appropriate to do so, they will be encouraged to use a real client (names and personally identifiable information must be changed for the purposes of the assignment). If a real client is not practical, a fictional client from a television series (In Treatment) will be used instead. If using a fictional client, students will need to imagine, based on the presentation in the show, what the client’s goals might be and what change strategies the student social worker might

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A therapist can develop a system of using various treatment approaches that will help facilitate positive responses to the treatment process. David Myers (2014) notes, “ The humanistic perspective (Chapter 13) has emphasized people’s inherent potential for self-fulfillment. Like psychodynamic therapies, humanistic therapies have attempted to reduce growth-impeding inner conflicts by providing clients with new insights.” (p. 655). Though the two approaches complement each other, they do differ in many

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Marsha Linehan started off life with major difficulties in functioning, moved passed and learned to cope these difficulties, and created a successful and widely-used therapeutic approach that can help people who suffer from chronic disorders. She struggled most of her early adult life, but was able to work past her issues after she had a realization in her chapel one night. After a sudden realization, she was able to learn how to cope with her thoughts and feelings. Linehan, after working hard to complete her education following her institutionalization, apply everything she had realized to create a successful therapeutic approach. Her past experiences helped her shape Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) into a successful therapeutic approach to help people who suffer from Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), suicidal thoughts and attempts, and other chronic mental disorders.

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“Intake interviews, as part of the assessment phase of counseling, gather information about the client's reasons for seeking counseling, current and past functioning, social history and interpersonal style, and goals for counseling” (Mears, 2009). First impressions are vital while trying to establish a relationship with the client. If the client feels too uncomfortable with the therapist for any reason proper treatment may not be available or the client could even choose not to continue the counseling process. In this primary interview conducting a good starting rapport with the client will be the main goal along with deciding which psychotherapy technique to use in future sessions. With further counseling down the road and a stronger relationship with the client I could then begin defining the presenting problem, identifying and setting goals, choosing and initiation interventions, and planning termination and

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Ronald David Laing was a Scottish psychiatrist who had a specific interest in psychosis and mental illness. His views on the causes and treatments of mental dysfunction were influenced greatly by existential philosophy, but they also went against the standard views and ideas of existential philosophy at that time. Laing had a strange childhood growing up. His father didn’t get along with his brother often times, and his mother has been described as “psychologically peculiar” due to her behavior at certain times. This went on in his household while he himself suffered from episodic alcoholism and clinical depression.

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The counselor should help Margarita learn the ways in which she is not being authentic and not being honest to herself (Corey, 2013). The counselor should also challenge Margarita to take responsibility for her actions (Corey, 2013). It is important that Margarita begins to take control of her life (Corey, 2013). Due to the flexibility of the existential theory, the counselor is free to use techniques from other theories (Corey, 2013). A counselor may use different interventions for different clients.

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Back in the day, patients were all treated with a standard treatment process. What this process failed to consider was that each individual is unique, living in unique circumstances. It was unreasonable for therapist to believe that one

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Existential counseling is a humanistic theory focused on helping people achieve their full potential. It is a philosophical approach to counseling as it is loosely based upon existential philosophy and is not tied to any particular therapeutic technique. Existential therapy encourages individuals to develop a complete comprehension of their meaning of life and purpose of existence in this world. Most often a counselor will develop a personal style of counseling. Furthermore it is not tied to any particular counseling technique but does promote a therapeutic counseling relationship, which also promotes an individual’s personal growth and development.

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Existential therapy seeks to help people who are facing problems with issues relating to these and it provides a phenomenological approach during therapy sessions. Existential therapy lives by the belief that every individual has the freedom to choose and is responsible for their choices in life (Corey, 2009). It also encourages clients to be aware that they have the ability to construct their lives, find the purpose of living, deal with anxieties and death (Corey, 2009). Existential therapy is more of an idea rather than an independent school of psychology with certain abided rules in therapy such as psychoanalysis or behaviorism. Some key people that contributed to existential therapy are Victor Frankl and Rollo May.

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Experiential authentic treatments provide a brief structured intervention which then results to a beneficial approach for clients. This then lead itself to a freedom of limitation and preconception. These treatments will last for years to provide efficiency and optimum results towards the clients. (Nunberg, NCBI, 1943) Psychoanalysts battling against the founder of the discipline take special pride in discovery. This has then result to a richness of psychoanalytic ideas.

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