Psychoanalysis
Sigmund
Freud’s therapeutic technique. Freud believed the patient’s free associations,
resistances, dreams, and transferences—and the therapist’s interpretations of
them— released previously repressed feelings, allowing the patient to gain self
- insight.
Resistance in psychoanalysis, the blocking from
consciousness of anxiety- laden material.
Interpretation in psychoanalysis, the analyst’s
noting supposed dream meanings, resistances, and other significant behaviors
and events in order to promote insight.
Transference in psychoanalysis, the patient’s
transfer to the analyst of emotions linked with other relationships (such as
love or hatred for a parent).
Humanistic
Therapies
·
Humanistic therapists aim to boost
people’s self-fulfillment by helping them grow in selfawareness and
self-acceptance.
·
Promoting this growth, not curing
illness, is the focus of therapy. Thus, those in therapy became “clients” or
just “persons” rather than “patients” (a change many other therapists have
adopted).
·
The path to growth is taking immediate
responsibility for one’s feelings and actions, rather than uncovering hidden
determinants.
·
Conscious thoughts are more important
than the unconscious.
·
The present and future are more
important than the past. The goal is to explore feelings as they occur, rather
than achieve insights into the childhood origins of the feelings.
Carl Rogers (1902–1987)
developed the widely used humanistic technique he called client - centered
therapy, which focuses on the person’s conscious self - perceptions. In this nondirective
therapy, the therapist listens, without judging or interpreting, and seeks to refrain
from directing the client toward certain insights. Believing that most people
possess the resources for growth, Rogers (1961, 1980) encouraged therapists to
exhibit genuineness, acceptance, and empathy. When therapists drop their
facades and genuinely express their true feelings, when they enable their
clients to feel unconditionally accepted, and when they empathically sense and
reflect their clients’ feelings, the clients may deepen their self -
understanding and self- acceptance.
“Hearing” refers to
Rogers’ technique of active listening—echoing, restating, and seeking clarification
of what the person expresses (verbally or nonverbally) and acknowledging the
expressed feelings.
Given a nonjudgmental,
grace - filled environment that provides unconditional positive regard, people
may accept even their worst traits and feel valued and whole. If you want to
listen more actively in your own relationships, three Rogerian hints may help:
1. Paraphrase. Rather
than saying “I know how you feel,” check your understandings by summarizing the
person’s words in your own words.
2. Invite
clarification. “What might be an example of that?” may encourage the person to say
more.
3. Reflect feelings.
“It sounds frustrating” might mirror what you’re sensing from the person’s body
language and intensity.
