Psychoanalytic Theory Application: What is the Client's Role in Counselling? (Research Paper Sample)

              Psychoanalytic Theory Application By Institution                     1.    What will be the goals of counselling and what interventions will be used to accomplish those goals? In the case of Ana, one of the prime goals of counselling will be to increase her awareness concerning the problems that she is currently facing. To get her to know that whatever she is experiencing including being worried and having anxiety is as a result of issues that are arising within her rather than around her. Consequently, making them accept and value themselves. Another goal that will allow for therapeutic relief according to Gestalt theory is allowing Ana to assume gradually ownership of her experience. Also, the client should be encouraged to move from outside support towards increasing her internal support. For example, worrying less about her financial problems as a result of losing her job and focusing on her inner strengths that will allow her to effectively tackle her problems. Lastly, at the end of the counselling sessions, Ana should be able to ask for and get help from others and also give to others. Some of the intervention strategies that are going to be employed to see this through include guided fantasy where the client is encouraged to visualize here and now experiences (Robertson, 2012). The counselor can make use of the empty-chair technique whereby the client is asked to speak to an empty chair as though it were another part of the client or another person. Lastly, the counselor can employ the exaggeration exercise where counselor exaggerates mannerism of the client or even ask the client to exaggerate mannerism so as to make the client aware of her true feeling (Murdock, 2013). In the case of Ana, the counselor may exaggerate the anxiety and depression she exhibited when she was filling her intake paperwork. 2.    Is your theory designed for short or long counselling? Gestalt therapy sessions usually last between 50 to 60 minutes and are carried out on the weekly basis. There is no fixed duration for the therapeutic process as it is dependent on the reasons for therapy, the rate of progress, the pace of the work, and the depths to which the clients wants to reach (Robertson, 2012). Those who want to resolve one particular issue may need less therapy compared to those who go to therapy for significant life changes or personal growth. The length of therapy can range from just a few months to one or two years of weekly meetings. 3.    What will be the counselor's role with this client? The counselor has the responsibility of noticing what is in the background and the background. This, together with paying attention to the client’s body language will allow the counselor to have the insight to what is affecting the client (O’Leary, 2013). The other role of the counselor is to focus on the client’s language both verbal and nonverbal for example listening to the language that uncovers a story thus enabling the counselor to get an idea of their struggles (O’Leary, 2013). Also, the counselor should look out for language that denies the power, for example by adding disclaimers or disclaimers such as “but”, “I guess.” Listening to clients metaphors can also provide a clue to the client’s internal struggle. 4.    What is the client’s role in counselling? The client has some roles, one of them being that they should be active participants who come up with their meaning and interpretations. The counselor only provides guidance, but it is up to the client to come up with their interpretation of what is affecting them so that they may easily get out of the cocoon of not being aware (Yontef, G. & Jacobs, 2007). The client also has a role in making a discovery which entails having a new view of the old situation. At the end of the therapeutic counselling sessions, they are supposed to have a new perspective concerning the probable stressors that she is having. The client should also recognize that she has a choice. That she can accommodate whatever she thinks is necessary for her to get through this tough situation (Murdock, 2013). Whether it may involve keeping away from the stressors e.g. raising te baby by herself, financial problems due to losing her job and others or avoiding the behaviors of worry and anxiety.  5.    For what population is this theory most appropriate? How does the theory address the social and cultural needs of the client? Gestalt theory is used in the treatment of some problems including depression, anxiety disorders, addictions, eating disorders, phobias, panic attacks, difficulties relating to other people and others (Robertson, 2012). However, this type of therapy works best with those people who recognize they are having problems and are willing to work on these difficulties. The theory addresses the client’s social and cultural needs as she can open up to someone (counsellor), and talk about the problems that she is currently facing (Robertson, 2012). This in itself offers some comfort. The counsellor offers the social client support by guiding her through a process that will ensure she finds a solution to her problem. 6.    What additional information might be helpful to know about this case? The counsellor should see...