Introduction To Counseling PDF

INTRODUCTION TO COUNSELING Prepared By: Engrid Manaloto National Teachers College | 2023 Counseling is a professional relationship that empowers diverse individuals, families, and groups to accomplish mental health, wellness, education, and career goals. (ACA, 2013a...

INTRODUCTION TO COUNSELING Prepared By: Engrid Manaloto National Teachers College | 2023 Counseling is a professional relationship that empowers diverse individuals, families, and groups to accomplish mental health, wellness, education, and career goals. (ACA, 2013a, para. 2)  THE COUNSELOR’S IDENTITY: The word guidance first appeared around the 1600s and was defined as “the process of guiding an individual.” Early guidance work involved individuals giving moralistic and direct advice. This definition continued into the twentieth century when vocational guidance counselors used the word to describe the act of “guiding” an individual into a profession and offering suggestions for life skills. Consequently, the word counseling was adopted to indicate that vocational counselors, like the psychoanalysts who practiced psychotherapy, dealt with social and emotional issues Presentation by Engrid Manaloto | 2023 | National Teachers College  THE COUNSELOR’S IDENTITY: The word counselor refers to any “professional who practices counseling” The counselor’s training is broad, and we find counselors doing individual, group, and family counseling; administering and interpreting educational and psychological assessments; offering career counseling; administering grants and conducting research, and many more. Counselors in Southeast Asia work in the broad domains of career guidance, delivering guidance curricula, providing psychoeducation, and direct work with students, parents, and teachers (Harris, 2014) Presentation by Engrid Manaloto | 2023 | National Teachers College  THE COUNSELOR AS A THERAPEUTIC PERSON “It is not theories and Counseling is an intimate form techniques that heal the of learning, and it demands a suffering client but the human practitioner who is willing to be dimension of therapy and the an authentic person in the ‘meetings’ that occur between therapeutic relationship therapist and client as they work together” (Elkins, 2009, p. 82). Presentation by Engrid Manaloto | 2023 | National Teachers College  TYPES OF COUNSELOR School counselors or guidance counselors commonly work with students to discuss issues or obstacles that are affecting their social and academic success. Marriage and Family Counselors or Therapists are certified counselors who work with individuals, married couples, and families experiencing problems within their relationship. Communication issues, contemplating divorce, dealing with family loss, and many other factors can impact the health of a relationship and are often the issues a family counselor has to take on. A rehabilitation counselor works with individuals who are struggling with personal, social, or physical disabilities that affect their ability to gain employment, or even live independently. Presentation by Engrid Manaloto | 2023 | National Teachers College Presentation by Engrid Manaloto | 2023 | National Teachers College  CHARACTERISTIC OF AN EFFECTIVE COUNSELOR Effective counselors Effective counselors Effective counselors are respect and appreciate have an identity. open to change. themselves. Effective counselors Effective counselors Effective counselors make choices that are are authentic, sincere, generally live in the life oriented. and honest present. Presentation by Engrid Manaloto | 2023 | National Teachers College  CHARACTERISTIC OF AN EFFECTIVE COUNSELOR Effective counselors Effective counselors have Effective counselors appreciate the a sincere interest in the possess effective influence of culture welfare of others interpersonal skills. Effective counselors Effective counselors Effective counselors become deeply involved in are passionate. are able to maintain their work and derive healthy boundaries. meaning from it. Presentation by Engrid Manaloto | 2023 | National Teachers College  OTHER TYPES OF MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS The social workers traditionally have been found working with the underprivileged and with family and social systems, today’s social workers provide counseling and psychotherapy for all types of clients in a wide variety of settings, including child welfare services, government- supported social service agencies, family service agencies, private practices, and hospitals. The field of Clinical Psychologist places a greater emphasis on pathology and more severe mental health conditions. A psychiatrist is a licensed physician who generally has completed a residency in psychiatry, meaning that in addition to medical school, he or she has completed extensive field placement training in a mental health setting. Psychometrists administer and score neuropsychological and psychological tests under the guidance of a clinical neuropsychologist or a clinical psychologist. They assist psychologists by identifying the appropriate tests to administer, interpreting test results, and documenting processes. Presentation by Engrid Manaloto | 2023 | National Teachers College  PERSONAL THERAPY FOR THE COUNSELOR (1) as part of the therapist’s training, personal therapy offers a model of therapeutic practice in which the trainee experiences the work of a more experienced therapist and learns experientially what is helpful or not helpful (2) a beneficial experience in personal therapy can further enhance a therapist’s interpersonal skills which are essential to skillfully practicing therapy (3) successful personal therapy can contribute to a therapist’s ability to deal with the ongoing stresses associated with clinical work. Orlinsky et al., 2015 suggest that personal therapy contributes to the therapist’s professional work in the following three ways: Presentation by Engrid Manaloto | 2023 | National Teachers College  PERSONAL THERAPY FOR THE COUNSELOR Presentation by Engrid Manaloto | 2023 | National Teachers College  Wellness refers to a holistic approach in which mind, body, and spirit are integrated. It is a way of life oriented toward optimal health and well-being in which body, mind, and spirit are integrated in a purposeful manner with a goal of living life more fully (Myers, Sweeney, & Witmer, 2000). Presentation by Engrid Manaloto | 2023 | National Teachers College  R – religious/spiritual identity E – economic class background S – sexual identity P – level of psychological development E – ethnic/racial identity C – chronological/developmental challenges T –various forms of trauma and other threats to one’s sense of well- being F – family background and history U – unique physical characteristics L – location of residence and language differences D’ANDREA AND DANIELS’S RESPECTFUL COUNSELING MODEL, WHICH HIGHLIGHTS TEN FACTORS THAT COUNSELORS SHOULD CONSIDER ADDRESSING WITH CLIENTS Presentation by Engrid Manaloto | 2023 | National Teachers College  THE ROLE OF VALUES IN COUNSELING Value imposition refers to counselors directly attempting to define a client’s values, attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors. It is unethical The American Counseling Association’s (ACA, 2014) Code of Ethics is explicit regarding this matter: Personal Values. Counselors are aware of— and avoid imposing—their own values, attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors. Counselors respect the diversity of clients, trainees, and research participants and seek training in areas in which they are at risk of imposing their values onto clients, especially when the counselor’s values are inconsistent with the client’s goals or are discriminatory in nature. (Standard A.4.b.) Presentation by Engrid Manaloto | 2023 | National Teachers College  THE ROLE OF VALUES IN DEVELOPING THERAPEUTIC GOALS Setting goals is inextricably related to values. The client and the counselor need to explore what they hope to obtain from the counseling relationship, whether they can work with each other, and whether their goals are compatible. Even more important, it is essential that the counselor be able to understand, respect, and work within the framework of the client’s world rather than forcing the client to fit into the therapist’s scheme of values. Presentation by Engrid Manaloto | 2023 | National Teachers College  THE ROLE OF VALUES IN DEVELOPING THERAPEUTIC GOALS So where can a counselor begin? The initial interview can be used most productively to focus on the client’s goals or lack of them. The therapist may begin by asking any of these questions: “What do you expect from counseling? Why are you here? What do you want? What do you hope to leave with? How is what you are currently doing working for you? What aspects of yourself or your life situation would you most like to change?” Presentation by Engrid Manaloto | 2023 | National Teachers College  ACQUIRING COMPETENCIES IN MULTICULTURAL COUNSELING Sue, Arredondo, and McDavis (1992) and Arredondo and her colleagues (1996) have developed a conceptual framework for competencies and standards in multicultural counseling. Their dimensions of competency involve three areas: (1) beliefs and attitudes, (2) knowledge, and (3) skills. Presentation by Engrid Manaloto | 2023 | National Teachers College  Beliefs and Attitudes First, effective counselors have moved from being culturally unaware to ensuring that their personal biases, values, or problems will not interfere with their ability to work with clients who are culturally different from them. Knowledge Second, culturally effective practitioners possess certain knowledge. They know specifically about their own racial and cultural heritage and how it affects them personally and professionally Skills and Intervention Strategies Third, effective counselors have acquired certain skills in working with culturally diverse populations. Counselors take responsibility for educating their clients about the therapeutic process, including matters such as setting goals, appropriate expectations, legal rights, and the counselor’s orientation. Presentation by Engrid Manaloto | 2023 | National Teachers College  ISSUES FACED BY BEGINNING COUNSELORS Dealing With Clients Who Lack Dealing With Anxiety Commitment Being Yourself and Self-Disclosure Tolerating Ambiguity Avoiding Perfectionism Becoming Aware of Your Being Honest About Your Limitations Countertransference Understanding Silence Developing a Sense of Humor Dealing With Demands From Clients Sharing Responsibility With the Dealing With Clients Who Lack Client Commitment Learning to Use Techniques Appropriately Presentation by Engrid Manaloto | 2023 | National Teachers College  THEORIES AND SKILLS A counseling theory offers us a comprehensive system of counseling and assists us in conceptualizing our clients’ problems, knowing what techniques to apply, and predicting client change In addition, by examining what we say to our clients, we can evaluate whether we are acting congruently with our theory. Theories are heuristic; that is, they are researchable and testable and ultimately allow us to discard those aspects shown to be ineffective Having a theory indicates that we are not practicing chaotically; rather, that there is some order in the way we approach our clients. Presentation by Engrid Manaloto | 2023 | National Teachers College  THEORIES AND SKILLS Probably the most important aspect of any theory is its view of human nature, which is critical to the formation of the theory’s template. Typically, the view of human nature held by each theorist takes into account the effects of biology, genetics, and environment on the personality development of the individual. Presentation by Engrid Manaloto | 2023 | National Teachers College  PSYCHODYNAMIC THEORY Sigmund Freud (1856–1939), who developed quite a following early in the twentieth century, dominated the psychodynamic field for almost half a century. Today, psychodynamic approaches vary considerably but contain some common elements. For instance, they all suggest that an unconscious and a conscious affect the functioning of the person in some deeply personal and dynamic ways. They all look at early child-rearing practices as being important in the development of personality. They all believe that examining the past, and the dynamic interaction of the past with conscious and unconscious factors, are important in the therapeutic process. Presentation by Engrid Manaloto | 2023 | National Teachers College  PSYCHODYNAMIC THEORY psychoanalysis, analytical therapy (Jungian therapy), individual psychology (Adlerian therapy). Presentation by Engrid Manaloto | 2023 | National Teachers College  PSYCHOANALAYSIS Developed by Freud, who was trained as a physician, psychoanalysis is steeped in biological determinism, or the notion that instincts and drives greatly affect behavior. parenting styles within the first five or six years of life interact in a complex fashion with instincts and inherent personality structures to produce one’s personality. Freud suggested that we are born with raw psychic energy called instincts. The life instinct (Eros), said Freud, meets our basic need for love and intimacy, sex, and survival for the individual and the species. It is associated with cooperation, collaboration, and harmony with others. Freud said the death instinct (Thanatos) seeks our demise and dissolution and that fear, hate, self-destructive behaviors, and aggression toward others (death instinct projected outward) is a reflection of this instinct. Presentation by Engrid Manaloto | 2023 | National Teachers College  PSYCHOANALAYSIS The ego develops soon after birth and is ruled by the reality principle as it tries to deal logically and rationally with the world. The superego develops during and soon after ego development and is responsible for the development of one’s moral code and conscience. The ego must contend with the irrationality of the id and the morality of the superego as it attempts to mediate behaviors Presentation by Engrid Manaloto | 2023 | National Teachers College  PSYCHOANALAYSIS Freud postulated that all of one’s psychic energy becomes focused on differing erogenous zones that correspond to the unfolding biological development of the child. When a child is overindulged or frustrated during a stage, his or her libido becomes locked or fixated, resulting in unfinished psychological issues and behaviors that are reflective of what Freud called the psychosexual stages. Presentation by Engrid Manaloto | 2023 | National Teachers College  PSYCHOANALAYSIS the structures of personality (the id, ego, and superego) become established in the child as he or she traverses the first three psychosexual stages. Fears of the id or superego taking over can wreak havoc and create anxiety for the individual. To manage the pressures from the id and the superego, children create defense mechanisms. Freud, and later his daughter Anna Freud (1936–1966), identified several defense mechanisms that unconsciously help the individual cope with anxiety Presentation by Engrid Manaloto | 2023 | National Teachers College  PSYCHOANALAYSIS Psychoanalysis is considered a deterministic approach because consciousness is considered the “tip of the iceberg,” which implies that most of our motivations are conscious and are the result of the intricate relationship among how the structures of personality (id, ego, and superego) are developed as a function of different parenting styles, as children traverse the stages of development Presentation by Engrid Manaloto | 2023 | National Teachers College  PROCEDURE OF PSYCHOANALAYSIS 1. the therapist attempts to build a transference relationship, in which the client projects past patterns from significant early relationships onto the counselor. 2. use a fair amount of empathy while encouraging clients to share their deepest thoughts. 3. use free association, where clients are encouraged to say anything that comes to their minds to allow for the uninhibited expression of unconscious desires and repressed memories 4. the therapist will incorporate dream analysis, where both the manifest (obvious) content of dreams and the latent (hidden) meaning of dreams are interpreted to understand unconscious desires and repressed memories 5. Interpretation of client resistance, interpretation of defense mechanisms, and interpretation of parapraxes (errors of speech, slips of tongue, or misspeaks) are also used to reveal unconscious meanings that may be symbolic of repressed wishes and desires Presentation by Engrid Manaloto | 2023 | National Teachers College ANALYTICAL PSYCHOLOGY (JUNGIAN THERAPY) Departing from Freud over his pessimistic, deterministic view of human nature and the psychoanalytic views on childhood sexuality, Jung optimistically believed that we could become conscious of unconscious forces and gradually integrate such knowledge into a healthier way of living. Jung believed each of us has a unique psychological type that includes the attitudes of extraversion and introversion (whether one is oriented to the outside objective world or the internal subjective world) and the mental functions of thinking and feeling and sensing and intuiting (which reflects how we operate in our outer or inner world). Presentation by Engrid Manaloto | 2023 | National Teachers College ANALYTICAL PSYCHOLOGY (JUNGIAN THERAPY) Carl Jung, a Swiss psychiatrist and psychoanalyst, developed a theory of personality that included eight cognitive functions that he believed influenced the way individuals perceive and process information. According to Jung’s theory, each individual has a dominant function that strongly shapes the personality. His theory on cognitive functions is closely related to the personality types described in the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). The MBTI is a psychological assessment tool that is based on Jung’s theory of personality and is used to identify an individual’s personality type based on their preferences for certain cognitive functions. Presentation by Engrid Manaloto | 2023 | National Teachers College ANALYTICAL PSYCHOLOGY (JUNGIAN THERAPY) Jung believed that our psychological type mediates our conscious experience. For instance, the extroverted person who is predominantly a Thinking and Sensing type would tend to see the world from those frames of reference, with other experiences being pushed into what Jung called the personal unconscious. In addition to the personal unconscious, Jung believed that each of us has a collective unconscious. Almost mystical in nature, the collective unconscious is a depository of ancient experiences—an entity from the early beginnings of civilization that has been passed down to each of us. Jung suggested that awareness of all parts of ourselves is the first step to integration, self- acceptance, and wholeness Thus, understanding our unconscious (e.g., our repressed attitudes and mental functions; our complexes) and our collective unconscious (our archetypes) are critical goals in analytical therapy and are achieved by examining our dreams, amplifying the meaning symbols have in our lives, participating in creative techniques (e.g., working with clay), and a process Jung called active imagination. Presentation by Engrid Manaloto | 2023 | National Teachers College ANALYTICAL PSYCHOLOGY (JUNGIAN THERAPY) Some of the more well-known archetypes include the persona, or the mask we wear in public life; the anima and animus, which represent the feminine and masculine characteristics that all of us have; and the shadow, which represents the most hidden and scariest parts of ourselves that we are afraid to reveal to the self. A complex is created, according to Jung, when repressed experiences get pushed into the personal unconscious and become bound with one or more archetypes. For instance, a young child who is abused by his or her parents might repress the resulting feelings of hurt and shame into the personal unconscious. To gain protection from these experiences, the child becomes bound with the trickster and power archetypes, creating a bully complex. In the end, this person becomes a bully. Presentation by Engrid Manaloto | 2023 | National Teachers College INDIVIDUAL PSYCHOLOGY (ADLERIAN THERAPY) Using the word teleology, from the Greek telos (meaning “goal-directed process”), Adler suggested that we move toward the future to make ourselves whole and complete and to fulfill our one true drive, our striving for perfection. Part of being human, said Adler, was dealing with inevitable feelings of inferiority. In attempting to overcome those feelings, Adler believed that we all develop unconscious beliefs or private logic. Private logic leads to what Adler originally called a fictional final goal, later referred to as a subjective final goal, to emphasize its subjective nature birth order and other factors in early childhood could play critical roles in the development of the person. However, Adler also believed that a child is not determined by his or her early experiences. Rather, he believed that the child could change if afforded a corrective education. Adler suggested that our drive toward our subjective final goal often results in the development of behaviors that compensate for feelings of inferiority (a “100-pound weakling” becomes an obsessed bodybuilder). Adler suggested that the individual develops a style of life that is reflective of the person’s movement toward his or her subjective final goal. Whether our subjective final goal results in a lifestyle that is reflected by healthy or maladaptive behaviors Presentation by Engrid Manaloto | 2023 | National Teachers College INDIVIDUAL PSYCHOLOGY (ADLERIAN THERAPY) The term "Gemeinschaftsgefühl" originates from the German words Gemeinschaft, meaning "community" or "neighborship," and Gefühl, meaning "feeling." Adlerian psychologists use this term to describe the level of social connectedness and concern for others that defines psychological well-being. The purpose of the therapeutic relationship in individual psychology is to help clients gain insight into how their current style of life is not working for them and develop new behaviors that will lead to healthier relationships highlighted by empathy, a sense of belonging, and cooperation THE 4 PHASES OF ADLERIAN COUNSELING 1. building the therapeutic relationship 2. assessing and understanding the lifestyle 3. insight and interpretation 4. and reeducation and reorientation Presentation by Engrid Manaloto | 2023 | National Teachers College INDIVIDUAL PSYCHOLOGY (ADLERIAN THERAPY) Dinkmeyer, Dreikurs, and Adler developed a wide range of techniques to help accomplish this with some of the more common ones being. 1. exploring the family constellation 2. examining early recollections, 3. encouragement 4. democratically held discussion groups 5. limit setting, acting “as if” (in other words, “fake it ’til you make it”) 6. spitting in the client’s soup (showing the client how behaviors are not working) 7. setting logical and natural consequences. Presentation by Engrid Manaloto | 2023 | National Teachers College  EXISTENTIAL–HUMANISTIC APPROACHES Today, existential–humanistic approaches embrace a phenomenological perspective by stressing the subjective reality of the client, deemphasizing the role of the unconscious, and focusing on the importance of consciousness and awareness. the counselor uses himself or herself in the relationship to effect change. In addition, most existential– humanistic approaches believe in an inborn tendency for individuals to self-actualize, or fulfill their potential, if they are afforded an environment conducive to growth (Maslow, 1968, 1970). Although Ludwig Binswanger (1881–1966) is generally acknowledged as being the first existential therapist (Cain, 2002), Viktor Frankl is seen as the person who popularized this approach through his form of existential therapy called logo therapy (“meaning therapy”). Existential therapists believe that people are born into a world that has no inherent meaning or purpose. People are not born good or bad; they are just thrust into the cosmos. Because life has no inherent meaning, each of us is charged with the responsibility of making it meaningful through the choices we make. Presentation by Engrid Manaloto | 2023 | National Teachers College  EXISTENTIAL–HUMANISTIC APPROACHES Existential therapists reject the no tion that we are determined by early childhood development, instincts, or intrapsychic forces, although talking about the past is not avoided if the client believes that it would help him or her understand the self in a more meaningful way. Central to existential therapists’ beliefs is the notion that, consciously or uncon sciously, people struggle throughout their lives with basic questions related to what it is to be human. Some of this struggle has to do with a few core issues, such as the fact that we are born alone, will die alone, and except for periodic moments when we encounter another person deeply, we live alone; death constantly looms over us and reminds us of the relatively brief amount of time we have; we alone are responsible for making our lives meaningful; and meaning, as well as a limited sense of freedom, come through conscious ness and the choices we make (Yalom, 1980). Existential therapists believe that most people live a life of limited self-reflection as they put energy into avoiding the core issues related to their humanness. Such avoidance is the result of trying to maneuver around the anxiety and dread that we will feel if we ex amine these issues head on. Presentation by Engrid Manaloto | 2023 | National Teachers College  EXISTENTIAL–HUMANISTIC APPROACHES MAJOR POINTS 1. We are born into a world that has little inherent meaning. 2. We are born alone and we will die alone. 3. We alone make our lives meaningful. 4. We bring meaningfulness into our lives through the choices that we make. 5. Meaningful choices occur only if we are conscious of our aloneness and our limited time on Earth. 6. Anxiety, feelings of dread, and having struggles are a natural part of living and are important messages about how we live and relate to others. 7. Limited freedom is experienced through the realization that we choose our existence. 8. With the recognition that we choose our existence comes the responsibility to choose wisely for ourselves and to recognize how those choices affect those close to us and all people Presentation by Engrid Manaloto | 2023 | National Teachers College  EXISTENTIAL–HUMANISTIC APPROACHES Although there are no preset techniques that existential therapists use in applying its core philosophy, most existential therapists will stress the importance of the relationship between the therapist and the client, discuss the philosophy of existential psychotherapy and how it might apply to the individual’s particular life circumstances, be authentic with the client, and view the therapeutic process as a shared journey. This journey is significant, as it is only through a genuine relationship that change can occur. Therapy is not seen as a process of applying techniques; instead, it is viewed as a joint discussion concerning the meaning of life and how one can make constructive change to alter one’s sense of fulfill ment and meaningfulness. Therefore, inherent in existential therapy is the assumption that the client can change, has the capacity for deepening self-awareness, and can build a meaningful and real relationship with the therapist—a relationship that can have an impact on the client, the therapist, and the world. Presentation by Engrid Manaloto | 2023 | National Teachers College  PERSON-CENTERED COUNSELING Trained as a clinical psychologist, Carl Rogers (1902–1987) greatly changed the face of psychotherapy with the development of his nondirective approach to counseling (Rogers, 1942). First called client- centered therapy (Rogers, 1951), and later person-centered counseling, his approach was seen not only as a means of assisting clients, but also as a way of living Rogers believed that people had an actualizing tendency (Rogers, 1951), and if placed in a nurturing environ ment, they would develop into fully aware, fully functioning selves. However, Rogers postulated that all too often, an individual’s natural growth process is thwarted as others place conditions of worth on the person. Because the person has a strong need to be regarded positively by others, he or she may act in unnatural, unreal ways and develop a distorted sense of self in order to meet these conditions of worth. Presentation by Engrid Manaloto | 2023 | National Teachers College  PERSON-CENTERED COUNSELING Rogers felt that people can get in touch with their true selves if they are around others who are real (congruent or genuine), empathic, and exhibit uncon ditional positive regard, which he collectively called the core conditions, believing that these attributes alone are enough to facilitate change Presentation by Engrid Manaloto | 2023 | National Teachers College  PERSON-CENTERED COUNSELING Applying the core conditions to the therapeutic relationship, Rogers believed that personality change would occur if the therapeutic framework included what he called the necessary and sufficient conditions: 1. Two persons are in psychological contact. 2. The first, whom we shall term the client, is in a state of incongruence, being vulnerable or anxious. 3. The second person, whom we shall term the therapist, is congruent or integrated in the relationship. 4. The therapist experiences unconditional positive regard for the client. 5. The therapist experiences an empathic understanding of the client’s internal frame of reference and endeavors to communicate this experience to the client. 6. The communication to the client of the therapist’s empathic understanding and un conditional positive regard is to a minimal degree achieved (Rogers, 1957, p. 96) Presentation by Engrid Manaloto | 2023 | National Teachers College  PERSON-CENTERED COUNSELING When originally developed, person-centered counseling was considered a short-term therapy, at least in comparison to the then–widely popular psychodynamic methods. However, with recent changes in the health care system and the movement toward brief treatment, what was traditionally considered short term is now seen as long term. Although the principles of person-centered counseling can be applied if you meet with a client one time or for five years, generally, person-centered counseling lasts from a few weeks to a year or more. Probably the most important determining factors in the length of treatment are the level of incongruence in the client and the kinds of issues that the client is bringing to treatment. However, it should be noted that many counselors today have integrated the core skills of congruence, unconditional positive regard, and empathy with techniques from some of the shorter-term approaches currently used. Presentation by Engrid Manaloto | 2023 | National Teachers College  GESTALT THERAPY Gestalt therapy was created by Fritz Perls (1893–1970), a German Jew who fled Nazi Germany Borrowing ideas from Gestalt psychology, phenomenology, and existential ism, Perls developed a highly directive approach that pushes clients to confront their unfinished business and live a more real and sane life. Today, most Gestalt therapists believe that from birth, the individual is in a constant state of self- regulation through a process of need identification and need- fulfillment. They believe that the individual’s pressing need dictates his or her perceptual field (what the person sees), or, as Gestalt therapists state, the indi vidual is only aware of the need that is in the foreground. For the Gestalt therapist, how the individual makes contact with his or her environ ment in an attempt to satisfy needs is reflective of the individual’s way of being in the world and determines the self This person has a constant free-flow ing exchange between self and other (all that is outside of self), and this exchange causes the self, or ego, to be constantly changing; that is, as needs are met, the self changes. For instance, when “falling in love,” the boundary extends to include the essence of the other person. Presentation by Engrid Manaloto | 2023 | National Teachers College  GESTALT THERAPY Although satisfaction of needs is a natural process, need satisfaction can be thwarted by such things as parental shoulds, social and cultural dictates, and peer norms. Such influences result in the development of mechanisms that resist the experience of that pressing need. These mechanisms yield individuals who are fake, incongruent, false to their nature, and “playing” at being a self-created image, all in an effort to avoid the experience of the need. Such false behaviors result in impasses or blockages that prevent experiencing and are revealed through dysfunctional and neurotic behaviors that are called unfinished business by Gestalt therapists. Breaking free from these influences and the resulting impasses and dealing with one’s unfinished business is one of the goals of Gestalt therapy. Successfully doing so allows individuals to live more authentic lives in which they are fully in touch with themselves and are able to have open and honest communication with others. Because unfinished business prevents a person from experi encing oneself fully, one goal of Gestalt therapy is to help the client once again experience the now. Experiencing fully is the basis for seeing one’s reality clearly. Presentation by Engrid Manaloto | 2023 | National Teachers College  GESTALT THERAPY Some of the more popular techniques that Gestalt therapists use include the following: Awareness Exercises. With this technique, therapists ask clients to close their eyes and experience all their feelings, thoughts, and senses. This allows clients to quickly get in touch with hidden feelings or thoughts that are defended against when one uses the external world to avoid inner senses. Use of “I” Statements. One frequently used defense is the projection of issues onto people or things. Thus, therapists will encourage clients to take ownership of such projections through the use of “I” statements. For example, “This world sucks,” becomes “I suck; I don’t take responsibility for my happiness.” The Exaggeration Technique. Here, therapists have clients exaggerate a word, phrase, or nonverbal behavior that is believed to hold some hidden meaning. For instance, a client who is slouched over might be asked to slouch more and to attach words to what it feels like to be so slouched. One client might say, “I feel as though the world is on my shoulders,” and then soon realize that the “world” represents demands the client feels placed upon him. Further exploration may reveal how the client blames others for his inability to stop taking on tasks Presentation by Engrid Manaloto | 2023 | National Teachers College  GESTALT THERAPY Empty-Chair Technique. This popular technique has clients imagine that a person, or a part of the client’s self, is sitting in an empty chair. The therapist then facilitates a dialogue between the client and this “other person” in order to uncover underlying issues within the client. For instance, a therapist might ask a client who feels as if she has the world on her shoulders to have a conversation with the world, eventually getting to the hidden meanings that “the world” holds. Turning Questions Into Statements About the Self. Gestalt therapists assume that all questions hide a statement about the self. Therefore, the therapist asks the client to change questions into statements about the self. Imagine a client changing: “Why don’t people care more about others?” to the following statement about the self: “I feel that people don’t care about me.” Presentation by Engrid Manaloto | 2023 | National Teachers College  THANK YOU Presentation by Engrid Manaloto | 2023 | National Teachers College