Counseling: Psychodynamic Theories

• Counseling approaches are represented by psychodynamic, person-centered, and existentialist theories.
• These theories provide various frameworks for understanding and changing human behavior in therapy.
• Key psychodynamic figures: Freud, Jung, and Adler.

Psychodynamic Theories

• Behavior is shaped by unconscious processes.
• Early childhood experiences are critical to personality development.
• Aims to bring unconscious conflicts into conscious awareness for insight and resolution.
• Explores past experiences, interprets dreams, and analyzes transference as therapeutic techniques.

Freud's Psychoanalytic Theory

• Sigmund Freud founded psychoanalysis.
• The psyche is composed of the id, ego, and superego.
• The id operates on the pleasure principle for immediate gratification.
• The ego operates on the reality principle, mediating between the id and the external world.
• The superego embodies internalized moral standards and values.
• Freud proposed psychosexual stages: oral, anal, phallic, latency, and genital.
• Fixation at any stage can cause specific personality traits and psychological issues.
• Defense mechanisms like repression, denial, and projection protect the ego from anxiety.

Jung's Analytical Psychology

• Carl Jung expanded on Freud's ideas, highlighting the collective unconscious.
• The collective unconscious houses universal archetypes: persona, shadow, anima, and animus.
• Archetypes are inherited patterns influencing experiences.
• Individuation, psychological integration, and self-realization are key to Jung's beliefs.
• This involves integrating conscious and unconscious aspects of the self.
• Jungian therapy is geared toward understanding archetypes and achieving wholeness.

Adler's Individual Psychology

• Alfred Adler focused on striving for superiority and social interest.
• People seek to overcome inferiority feelings and achieve competence.
• Social interest is the innate desire to contribute to the well-being of others.
• Family dynamics and birth order shape personality, according to Adler.
• Therapy is directed at correcting mistaken beliefs and promoting adaptive life goals.

Person-Centered Theory

• Developed by Carl Rogers.
• Individuals have inherent goodness and potential.
• Individuals can understand themselves and grow.
• Therapeutic relationships are based on empathy, unconditional positive regard, and congruence.
• Empathy is understanding and sharing the client's feelings.
• Unconditional positive regard is accepting the client without judgment.
• Congruence requires genuineness and authenticity in the therapeutic relationship.
• Therapy should provide a supportive environment for exploring feelings, clarifying values, and moving toward self-actualization.
• Self-actualization is becoming fully functioning and realizing one’s potential.
• Active listening, reflection of feelings, and a safe, non-judgmental space are key techniques.

Existentialist Theory

• Focuses on the human condition: freedom, responsibility, and the search for meaning.
• Addresses fundamental questions about existence, like death, isolation, and purpose.
• Key figures include Viktor Frankl, Rollo May, and Irvin Yalom.
• Emphasizes individual choice and creating meaning in life.
• Anxiety is viewed as normal, stemming from the awareness of freedom and responsibility.
• Therapy helps clients confront existential anxieties, clarify values, and make authentic choices.
• Techniques involve exploring experiences, challenging assumptions, and promoting self-awareness.
• Viktor Frankl’s logotherapy is about finding meaning and purpose to overcome suffering.
• Rollo May emphasized the role of anxiety and courage in self-discovery.
• Irvin Yalom focused on the "four givens" of existence: death, freedom, isolation, and meaninglessness.
• Existential therapy encourages taking responsibility and creating personal meaning.