Restorative Growth Therapy Student Profiles PDF
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Emilio Aguinaldo College - Manila
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This document presents student profiles, highlighting their experiences with emotional challenges and personal growth.
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Emilio Aguinaldo College – Manila School of Arts and Sciences P sychology Department P repared by: Angke, Trizza Mae Bacud, Claudine Damasco, Ro-anne Dominguiano Ma. Therese Rian Shayne Ganancial, Angelica Elmerose...
Emilio Aguinaldo College – Manila School of Arts and Sciences P sychology Department P repared by: Angke, Trizza Mae Bacud, Claudine Damasco, Ro-anne Dominguiano Ma. Therese Rian Shayne Ganancial, Angelica Elmerose Kagalingan, Zyril Meriales, Adrian Paul Submitted to: Ms. Jennifer Ebio 1 RESTORATIVE GROWTH THERAPY B ACKGROUND OF THE STUDENTS TRIZZA ANGKE grew up a s the e ldest daughter in a family that e mphasized independence, which shaped her strong sense of self-reliance but a lso brought e motional a nd relational c hallenges. Childhoode xperiencesofbeinga wayfromherparents,bullying,favoritism,a nde motionalneglectdeeply impacted her c onfidence a nd a bility to formc loserelationships.Despitethesestruggles,Trizzareliedon a cademics a nd c reative pursuits a s c oping mechanisms, which e nabled her to build resilience a nd perseverance.However,thesestrategiesa lsoreinforceda tendencytointernalizeherstrugglesa nda void seeking external support. Overtime,Trizzadevelopeda beliefinthetransformative powe ro fadve rsity,recognizingthat growthc omesfromc onfrontingc hallengesa ndfindingpurposeindifficulte xperiences.Whileshevalues herindependence,sheisgraduallye mbracingtheimportanceofc onnectiona ndsupporta spartofpersonal growth.Herwillingnesstoa ddresssociala nxiety,fostere motionalopenness,a nde xploretherapyreflects herc ommitmenttohealinga ndself-improvement.Throughthisprocess,Trizzaisintegratingherstrengths with new skills for emotional expression and connection, moving toward a more balanced and fulfilling life. CLAUDINEB ACUD’slifehasbeenshapedbya quietstrugglewithe motionalneglecta ta young a ge.Growingup,sheoftenfeltunseeninthewaysthatmatteredmost.Thislackofe motionalc onnection from her parents led her to a void her feelings, burying them deeptoa voiddiscomforta ndvulnerability. Sharing her thoughts or struggles felt like a risk she wasn’t willing to take. Asking for help seemed impossible, a s if a dmitting she c ouldn’t handle e verything on her own. It would shatter her c arefully c onstructed image of self- reliance. This fear made it difficult for her to form meaningful c onnections, leaving her feelings alone even in the company of others. Ittooktimeforhertorealizethatisolationwasn’ta shieldthatc ouldprotecther.Overtime,she sawhowmuchthiswasholdingherbacka ndstartedtoe mbracevulnerability,a nda skforthehelpofher friends when needed, a nd trust others with her feelings. Though her journey is ongoing she now understands that growth is messy becauseitdisruptsoldhabits,butit’sa lsotransformativea sitc reates lasting profound change. RO-ANNEDAMASCO'slifejourneypresentedherwithpersonalstruggles—momentsofloss, self-doubt, fear, unvalued, weakness, a nd unexpected c hange—that tested her resolve but ultimately 2 becamepowerfullessonsinstrengtha nddetermination.Growingupina c hallenginge nvironment,shewas shaped by her e arly e xperiences. Through these c hallenges, Ro-anne discovered the power of growth, believing that e very person has the c apacity to rise a bove c ircumstances with the right mindset a nd support.Alongtheway,thekindnessa ndguidanceofothers—family,friendsplayeda pivotalroleinher, reminding her of the importance of compassion and mutual encouragement. Today, she views humannaturea sinherentlyc apableofresiliencea ndreinvention,a ndherjourney serves a s a testament tothepowerofstruggletoshapepurposea ndhope.Withthehelpofothers,She was a bletobreakfreefromthelimitingbeliefsthatheldherbacka ndshestartedlivinga morefulfilling a nd authentic life. M A. THERESE RIAN SHAYNE DOMINGUIANO grew up a s the e ldest daughter. She c arried a weight of responsibilityfroma ne arlya ge,e xpectedtolead,e xcel,a ndseta ne xampleforthe peoplea roundher.Thepressuretomeetpeople’sunrealistice xpectationsfueledherdrivetosucceed,but ita lsoleftlittleroomformistakesorimperfection.Thescarsofc hildhoodbullyingmadeherc autiousa nd introverted, retreating intoa worldofherownwhereshec ouldfeelsafefromjudgment.Overtime,this solitude transformed into hyper-independence, a shield she built to protect herself from the sting of rejection and ostracism. Lifetestedherresilienceinprofoundways,fromgrapplingwithinfidelitytonavigatingtheisolating gripofsociala nxiety.Fora while,thesestrugglesfeltoverwhelming,shapinghowsheviewedherselfa nd her place in the world. But a s she movedthroughthesec hallenges,shebegantounderstandsomething important:lifeisa balanceofwhatwec ana ndc annotc ontrol,a ndg rowthc omesfromc hoosinghow to respond to both. Shestartedtoe mbracetheimperfectionsinlife,recognizingthatstrengthdoesnotmeana voiding pain but a llowing herself the space to heal. Her journey taught her that self-worth is not found in the a pprovalofothersbutinthequietc onfidenceofknowingherownvalue.Shea lsolearnedtoopenherself to c onnection, understanding that leaning on the right people does not make her weak—it makes her human. Today,shec arriesthelessonsofhere xperienceswithquietresilience.Eachc hallengehasshaped her into someone stronger a nd more self-aware, c ommitted to growth a nd a uthenticity. She no longer 3 strives for perfection but focuses instead on moving forward, one step a t a time, with grace a nd determination. For ANGELICA GANANCIAL,itisindeednote asytobefeelinglikesomeoneyou'venever knownbefore.Angelicawouldliketolooka tita ssomethingthatisnewtoherratherthanfeelinglikeshe c ompletelylostherself--drowninginherhorrendouse motions,stuckinthiswallshewasa bletobuildreal high.Lifehasbeentougha ndroughbutsheknewthatdeepdownshebadlyneededc hange.Angelicahas c ometothinkthatshe wouldn'tbea bletosurpassortostartsomethingnewifshewouldn'ttry,a ndsheis trying. One might feel lost--nowhere to be found but a long one's e xploration in life, we might find something to light our way through the change that we have always been thirsting for Growth c oexists withvulnerability.Angelica'sstruggleswithhopelessnesse venifithasc ometo beheavya ndc onsuminga ttimes,itshowedAngelicathedepthofhumanity.Vulnerabilityhasbecomea gatewaytodeeperhealinga sshee mbracesherpaina sa naturalpartofhere xplorationinlife.Growthis not a bout e rasing the pastbutitisa bouthavingtheselessonsbuilda betterfuture. Healinga ndgrowth e ven though it is c hallenging is a lways possible when we take steps to understand ourselves a nd our e xperiences. ZYRILK AGALINGAN’slifejourneyhasbeenmarkedbyc onstantinnerbattles,c ompounded by the mental health struggles thatmanyfacebutfewopenlytalka bout.Growingup,e motionalneglect a ndfamilialtensionsinfluencedherworldview,fosteringa beliefthatherworthwastiedtohowwellshe c ould manage her own struggles. Although her e xperiences a nd life c hallenges make her question her strengtha ndsanity,shea lwaysfoundwaystogroundherself,seekingsmallmomentsofstabilitytokeep moving forward. She realized that healing wasn’t a linearp athbutonefilledwithd oubts,setbacks, a nd the occasional need to lean on others for support. In the darkest moments, hope became the lifeline that kept her going—a belief that better days were possible. As she navigated the c omplexities of her mental health, she became drawn to the humanistic ideals that e mphasize self-actualization a nd healing, particularly resonating with Carl Rogers’ person-centered therapy, which underscores the importance of e mpathy, self-worth, a nd unconditional positiveregard.Theseideas,a longwithherpersonale xperiences,inspiredZyriltoa dopta viewofhuman nature rooted in humanism, where individuals a re c apable of tremendous growth, e ven in the face of a dversity. With time, patience, a ndtherightsupportsystem,shelearnstoreconnectwiththepeopleshe wants to c herish most in her life. Even if life's hardships often made her question her resilience, Zyril 4 ultimately found strength in the people a round her, a nd through re solution and s e lf-compassion, she strivestolearntohealfromsuchwounds.Shebelievesthatonec oulda lwaysgrowa nde xperiencewhat life still had to offer–to embrace vulnerability and put trust in oneself and others. ADRIANM ERIALES,c ommonlyknownbyhisfriendsa ndc olleaguesa sAdie .Hegrewupin a separated family a nd wasmainlyraisedbyhisgrandparentsa ndbyhisfather,whowereoftena bsent duetohisbusya nddemandingworka sa ne ngineer.Thisresultedinhyper-individualisticbehaviors.Adie learnedtorelyonhimselffroma younga ge,becomingself-sufficienta ndindependent.Despitethelackof c onsistent parental presence in his life, Adie e xcelled a cademically a nd in his e xtracurricular a ctivities during hisprimarya ndsecondarye ducation.Becauseoffamilialpressurea nda lsothepressureofbeing the oldest male c hild in a patriarchal family, this put a heavy burden on him, Adie felt the need to c onstantlyprovehimselfa ndsucceedinordertofeelvalued.Thisdrivetoe xcelpushedhimtoworkhard a nda chievehighgrades,butita lsolefthimfeelingisolateda nddisconnectedfromothers.Adiestruggled to form deep a nd meaningful relationships, a s he was a lways focused on his own goals a nd a ccomplishments. During Adie's a dolescent life, he started to work on a book c alled "immersion through the melancholia o f life," which e xplores topics a bout finding s olace throughthemelancholylifehasgiven a nd a lso topics of overcoming thosee xtrememomentsinlifea ndc omingoutofita sa maturedperson. His writing helped him process his feelings a nd c reate most of his life philosophies now, such a s understanding that healing is a responsibility a nd he aling from past traumas is e ssential to be fully immersed in the present and overcoming drawbacks for growth and maturity. 5 INTRODUCTION Vie w of Human Nature Re storative GrowthThe rapyviewshumanbeingsa sinherentlyresilienta ndc apableofgrowth, e ven in thefaceofa dversity.Atitsc ore,ita lignswiththeprinciplesofhumanism,strayinga wayfrom thedeterministicinfluenceofpaste xperiencesonoura ctionsbutfocusingratheronwhatwepossessa s humans–thea bilitytoheala ndthrivewhensupportedbya nurturinge nvironment.InspiredbyCarlRogers' belief in the importance of unconditional positive regard, e mpathy, a nd a uthenticity, this therapy a cknowledges that though we c arry e motional wounds, we a re still c apable of reconstructing our s e lf-wortha nd creating fulfilling lives. Central to this perspective is the belief that human g rowth is a dynamic inte rplaybe twe e n c hoice and c ircumstance. While the journey toward healing is not a lways a c onscious decision, individuals hold the potential to transform their pain intostrengthwhenprovidedwiththerighttoolsa nd support.Thistherapya lsorecognizesthathumansa rerelationalbeings,a ndthequalityoftheirc onnections deeplyinfluencestheirsenseofself.Yet,self-worthultimatelybeginswithin—re storative g rowthstarts whenindividualslearntovalidatetheirowne xperiences,e mbracevulnerability,a ndtakeownershipoftheir narrative. In understanding human nature, this therapy e mphasizes that healing is a proce ss, not a de stination.Growthhappensinvulnerabilitya sindividualslearntoc onfronttheirwoundsa ndreconnect with their inner strengths. When self-compassion a nd e motional resilience a re c ultivated, a meaningful personal transformation is possible. RestorativeGrowthTherapyisbuiltonseveralkeya ssumptionsthatshapeitsa pproacha ndguide the therapeutic process, focusing on the importance of he aling e motional wounds, re building s e lf-worth, ande mpowe ring individuals to grow through life ’s adve rsitie s. K e y assumptions: 1. Pote ntial and Growth Humans a re inherently trustworthy a nd possess the innate potential to grow. However, growthisnota lwaysa nimmediateorc onsciousc hoicebutrathera processinfluencedbye xternal support,e motionalreadiness,a ndself-discovery. In doing s o, a c ritical s tep one c antakeishealing emotional w ounds that paves the road to a productive and meaningful life. While we have the 6 c apacitytogrow,thispotentialunfoldsuniquelyfore achperson,dependingontheirc ircumstances, resources, and environment. 2. Emotional He aling and Re silie nce There c an be wounds that may hinder one’s c apabilities to be resilient when facing c hallenges, past e xperiences playing a big part in this. With the right e nvironment—one of e mpathy, unde rstanding, a nd s upport—pain is something that c an be faced together with self-acceptance.Healthierstrategiesa ree mployedwhenunhealthyc opingmechanismsa rise(like those that avoid pain but blocks potential growth). 3. Se lf-Worth and Conne ctions Humans a re deeply re lational beings whose self-esteem a nd e motional well-being a re influenced by their c onnections; many strivetofeelseena nda ppreciated.Relationshipsmarked byv alidationandacce ptance fosterself-esteem,whileneglectorrejectionc andamageit.This e mphasizes the significance of rebuilding self-worth–to not confuse it with external recognition. 4. Aware ne ss and Se lf-Discove ry Wea ree xpe rtso fo uro wne xpe rie nce s,a ndself-discoveryisa no ngoingproce ssof recognizing our c apacitiesa ndunderstandingouridentity.Throughincreasedself-awarenessa nd guidance, individuals a re e ncouraged to reconnect with their s tre ngths a nd initiate meaningful c hange. Principle s of Re storative Growth The rapy The c ore principles written a re grounded in how self-awareness, e motional resilience, a nd the c ultivationofself-worthleadtohe alingandg rowth.Emotionalwoundsc anc reatebarrierstoprogress, but when a pproached with c ompassion a nd understanding, they a lso provide opportunities for transformation. For the practice of thesaidtherapy,theseprincipleslaythefoundationthroughpractical strategies and collaborative support. 1. Growth Requires Emotional Healing Healing e motional wounds isa foundationalstepinfosteringgrowth.Withouta ddressing past pain, individuals may remain stuck in patterns that hinder self-acceptance a nd progress. 7 Therapyprovidesa safespaceforc lientstoe xplorea ndprocesstheire motionalwounds,c reating the groundwork for cultivating self-esteem and rebuilding connections. 2. H ealing is a Responsibility and a Collaborative Process Healing is a n e ssential human responsibility a nd forms the foundationforfulfillingother liferolesa ndresponsibilities.Growtha ndhealinga renotimmediatec hoicesbutprocessesshaped by readiness, e xternal support, a nd self-discovery. Therapy should guide c lients through these processes without forcing premature resolutions; guidance, validation, a nd e ncouragement a re shown to fully realize their capacities 3. Rebuilding Self-Worth is Central to Growth and Healing Relationships Humanself-worthisofteninfluencedbyrelationships,butrelyingtooheavilyone xternal validationc andistortone’ssenseofself.Therapye mphasizesthatself-worthc omesfromwithin a ndsupportsc lientsinrebuildingitindependentlyofothers’a pproval.Strongerself-worth,inturn, fosters healthier a nd more meaningful c onnections, shifting from external validation to internal appreciation of one’s worth. 4. Rebellion is a Natural Phase of Growth Re be llion is a natural stage a human must undergo but a lso a stage they need to overcome in order to grow. Therapy a cknowledges this stage where individuals a ssert their independence a nd individuality, particularly in a dolescence. However, it must be resolved by a cknowledgingtheimportanceofrelationala uthority(e.g.,parentsorc aregivers)a nde stablishing healthya utonomy.Therapyhelpsc lientsreflectonunresolvedrebelliona nditsimpactonc urrent relationships orself-identity.Role playingmaybeusedtohelpc lientsintegratetheirindividuality with respect for relational dynamics. 5. Coping Mechanisms Can Block Growth Humans naturally developc oping me chanismsto avoid pain, but these mechanisms may unintentionally hinder growth. Therapy helps clients recognize and transition from maladaptive patterns to healthier coping strategies. 6. Growth Coexists with Vulnerability Vulnerability is not a weakness but a gateway to deeper healing. Restorative growth therapyrecognizesthatgrowthc oexistswithvulnerability,helpingindividualse mbracetheirpaina s 8 a part of the human e xperience. Resilience is c ultivated when individualsa resupportedintheir journey, allowing them to face difficulties with strength and hope. THE THERAPEUTIC PROCESS The rape utic Goals The therapy a ims to facilitate e motional healing byprovidinga safea ndsupportivee nvironment wherec lientsc ane xplorea ndprocesspaste motionalwounds,includinge xperiencesofneglect,rejection, or invalidation. After a ll, the restorative growth a pproach’s main focus leans toward healing e motional wounds a nd damaged self-esteema nde ncouragementofpersonalgrowth. Akeygoalistohelpc lients release e motional pain that serves a s a foundation for self-acceptance a nd growth. Clients c ome to recognize their intrinsic value, separate from e xternal validation or societal e xpectations. This therapy strives to foster self-compassiona nde mpowerc lientstorebuildself-esteemthroughtheirownstrengths a nd a ccomplishments. It is the heart of the therapy to a ssist c lients into healthier, g rowth-orie nte d be haviors. The therapist helps the c lient see strength in vulnerability a nd e motional intimacy, e ven potential growth in exploring their identity, values, and aspirations. The rapist’s Function and Role Inthistherapy,thetherapistise xpectedtobethe(1)facilitatorofe motionalsafetyofthec lientswhere thetherapistprovidesc onsistente motionala ndpsychologicalsupportthata llowsthec lienttoprocesstheir vulnerabilities a nd identify their potential in a non judgmental a nd a ffirming space; (2) the nurturer of resilience by helping the c lients e mbrace their vulnerability a s part of growth a nd guiding them toward strength, fostering hope a nd the a bility to e xplore difficulties e ffectively; (3) the one supporting c lient’s e arly influences a ddressing c hildhood wounds, unmet needs, e ncouraging c are givers or c lients to recognize the importance of e motional presence a nd nurturing development; a nd (4) the c ollaborative partner that e ncourages c lient of having self-compassion a nd a uthenticity, helping them to build trust in themselves and their capability to engage with life fully and effectively. Clie nt’s Expe rie nce in The rapy Within the therapy, the c lient is welcomed into a safe, e mpathetic e nvironment where their e motions a nd e xperiences a re validated without judgment. It is important that the therapist e ngages in a ctivelisteninga ndreflectivedialoguetoa llowthec lienttofeelc omfortableinsharingtheirvulnerabilities. 9 Through guided reflection, the c lient may begin to learn to c onfront a nd process e motional wounds, identifyingunmetneedsthatmayhavec ontributedtoe motionalburdens.Centraltothec lient’se xperience a re e motional he aling a nd pe rsonal g rowth; reframing of s e lf-worth is a lso e ncouraged to build self-compassionwhereself-criticalthoughtsa rec hallenged.Asthec lientfeelssupporteda nde mpowered, they develop the confidence to initiate changes in their life and actively pursue their dreams. Forthec lienttofullye xploretheirpotentialforpersonalgrowtha ndbuildingwiththemselves,the therapist a nd the therapeutic process itself a re e ssential, a s trust is the foundation of thec ollaborative nature of the therapeutic process that will gradually guide thec lientstoidentifypatternsofthoughta nd behaviorsthatmaystemfrompaste xperiencesofneglecta ndinvalidation.Thiswillgivec lientsthea bility to recognize how these patterns of past experiences shaped their present behaviors and relationships. Withinthedurationofthetherapy,thec lientwillgraduallyinternalizethetherapeuticprinciplesthat will lead them towardsactionable , growth-orie nte d be haviors: Internal validation Clients Responsibility for Emotional Healing Healthy autonomy and interdependence Recognizing maladaptive patterns of coping mechanism Vulnerability P ersonal growth Re lationship Be twe e n The rapist and Clie nt Restorativegrowththerapygivesprecedencetoa cknowledgingthec lient’sinternalvalidationfirst before setting the therapeutic e nvironment. The therapist must first c onsider the importance of helping c lients recognize internal validation, fostering a sense of self-worth a nd a utonomy. The therapist helps c lients develop a n a wareness of their own feelings, thoughts, a nd values. This process is e ssential to building a strong foundation for the client's personal growth and healing. The therapeutic process a ssumes the importance of the therapeutic relationship a s a source of stability that facilitates the gradual c hange of a person towards growth-oriented behaviors, thus the restorativegrowththerapistmuste stablishtrusta ndrapporttoc reatea nurturinge nvironmentwherethe c lients feel safe to e xpress their e motions, fears, a nd negative self beliefs. This safe space will help 1 0 e stablish trust, which in turn e nables vulnerability. An e ssential c omponent for e motional healing a nd growth. From the perspectiveofthetherapy,thec lient-therapistrelationshipshoulda lwaysbevieweda s c ollaborative. The c lient a nd therapist works towards identifying their a bility to face c hallenges a nd e xplore solutions to give a sense of ownership over their therapeutic journey (healing). Overtime, this c ollaborativeprocesswillhelpc lientstransitionfrombeinge xternallyinfluenceda ndvalidatedtorelyingon their owninte rnal compassthat serve as the foundation for the clients growth. APPLICATION: THERAPEUTIC TECHNIQUES AND PROCEDURES Restorativegrowththerapydoesnotfollowa rigid,sequentialframeworkbutinsteada daptstothe unique needs a nd e motional state of the c lient. The therapeutic process is c ollaborative a nd flexible, e nsuring that each strategy is tailored to address the client’s current challenges and goals. B uilding the Inte rnal Compass It is particularly important for the restorative growth therapy to ground the session in s e lf-affirmation a nd inte rnal s tre ngth, both a cting a s a foundation for the focus of the therapy itself–emotional healing,rebuildingofself-worth,a ndpersonalgrowth.Thetherapistworksa longsidethe c lient immediately a fter they share their c urrent struggle in a c ollaborative process that builds inte rnal v alidation.Buildingtheinternalc ompassservesa sa waytostartthetherapeuticworkbya cknowledging the client’s current struggle while collaboratively identifying their strengths, values, and capabilities. Distinctivetoe achc lientistheirc urrentc hallenge;thetherapistvalidatestheiruniquee xperiences a ndfeelingsa fterthec lientsharesa boutthem,thengraduallyshiftsthefocus towardself-awarenessa nd internal validation. The therapist’s starting prompt c an be, “It sounds lik e this situation is really weighingo ny ou.Let’stak ea momenttoe xplorewhatstrengthsy oua lreadyh avewithiny ourselfto f acethis.” Then,thetherapistmustuncoverthec lient’squalitiesthata lignwiththec hallengea thandwith a sample question like, “What’s a q uality y ou h ave that c ould h elp y ou throughthissituation?” or “Think a bouttimesy ou’vef acedsomethingsimilarb efore—whatd idy ourelyo niny ourselftog et through it?” The c lient’s a nswers must be reflected on a nd reaffirmed to reinforce their internal c apabilities. 11 Byreframingthestrugglewithinternalvalidation,thec lientishelpedwithc onnectingtheirc urrent situation with their strengths a nd values. A question like “What would it look lik eify ouleanedinto y ourstrengthstotak ee vena smallstepf orwardh ere?” maybea sked,a ndthea nswersfromthismay beusedtoseta focusforthesession,a goodfollow-upc ouldbelike“Nowthatwe’veidentifiedsomeo f y ourstrengths,h owwouldy oulik etou sethemtoa pproachthisc hallengetoday?” or“We’llk eep these strengths in minda swee xplorethissituationf urther.Remember,they’rea lwaysa vailableto y ou.” in reiterating the c lient’s strengths.Adeeperself-acceptancebecomespossiblefromthisprocess when the c lient is guided to focus on their intrinsic value,thentheyc anbeledtohealfrompatternsof e xternal invalidation and self-doubt. Re imagining The Emotional Cup Art therapy offers a unique way toe xploree motionalneglecta ndunmetneedsbytransforming a bstract feelings into tangible representations. One such a pproachusesthemetaphorofa n“e motional c up” to symbolize the c lient’s c apacity to hold a nd receive e motional fulfillment. This techniqueinvites c lients to c reatively understand their c urrent e motional statea ndrecognizetheirc apacityformanaging e motions. The process begins withthetherapistintroducingtheideaofthec upa sa symbolofc apacityto handle life’s c hallenges, itsc ontentsrepresentingtheire motions,stressors,a ndc opingresources Clients a re a sked to visualize whatisfillingtheirc uprightnow Thetherapistmighta ska questionsucha s,“Is y our c up o verflowing, o r is there space left f or g rowth a nd self-care?” Clients a re e ncouragedto drawtheire motionalc up,usingc olors,symbols,orwordstoreimaginea ndillustrateita ssomethingthey c an adjust and balance, even if it may look cracked, fragile, or sturdy Throughthisc reativeprocess,c lientsmightillustratethec up’sstructureinrealizationthattheyc an manage it–what c an be poured or reduced (unnecessary stress, perfectionism, negativeself-talk),what c an be a dded for resilience (healthy c oping mechanisms, self-care practices, a ffirmations), what c ould support it (support systems, self-compassion, boundaries). The therapist, in c ollaboration withthec lient, interpretsthesevisuale lements,c reatingspacefordialogue.Questionssucha s,“Whatf eelingsc omeu p a sy ouv iewy ourc up?” ,“Whatd oesa b alancedc uplook lik etoy ou?”or“Whatsmall,manageable steps can you tak e to work toward it?” to deepen the reflective process. 1 2 The therapist introduces the idea of re building the e motional c up to symbolize the c lient’s transformative process. This new c up represents their e volving sense of self-worth a nd e motional c apacity. The therapist may start a sking,“Whatd oesy ouridealc uplook lik e?” a nd“Whatq ualities will mak e y our n ew c up stronger a nd more sustainable?” Such a djustments maya llowthec lientto hold space for challenges while leaving room for self-care and positive growth. Clientsa regentlye ncouragedtoreflectontheirnewc reation,oftenwithc uriositya ndc are.The therapist might a sk, “How d oes it f eel to see this c up reflect y our strengths, v alues, a nd p ersonal g rowth?” or “What small stepsc any outak etob ringthesen urturinge lementsintoy oure veryday life?” These c onversations a re not rushed; instead, they unfold naturally, giving c lients the space to c onnect deeply with their emotions. The reflection on the process of building their c upreinforcestheprocess,seeingthedifference from their old c up a nd how they c an maintain the new one to keep moving forward. The process is personalized,a llowinge achc lienttodefinewhattheirideale motionalc uplookslikebasedontheirunique e xperiences a nd a spirations. This c reative process becomes more than just a na rte xercise—ittapsthe c lient’s potential for positive c hange a s they strengthen their e motional c apacity. Throughit,c lientsc an face their e motional woundswithc ompassion,rediscovertheirstrength,a nde nvisiona futureshapedby healing and self-love. Grounding Obje cts P roviding c lients with a physical object to holdorfocusonc anhelpgroundtheminthepresent momenta ndreducefeelingsofdistressa nde motionaloverwhelm.Theseobjectsc anservea sa tangible a nchor, a llowing the individual to shift their a ttention a way from overwhelming e motions or intrusive thoughts, a symbolic reminder of their progress, self-worth, or resilience. The therapist may introduce grounding objects such a s smooth stones, photographs, or sensory items to help the c lient stay present a nd c onnected with their body/environment, e specially when overwhelmed bydifficulte motions.Initially,itisimportanttonotethatthistechniquemaynotbesuitable for c lients e xperiencing severe traumatic symptoms or intense e motional reactions a s it may require a dditionalsupporta ndstabilizationinterventionsbeforethegroundingobjectstechniquec anbee ffectively utilized. However,itc anservea sa na djuncttoc ontinuingtherapywhenthec lient'se motionalresponses a re more manageable. The object selected c an vary a nd may hold personal meaning a nd e motional 1 3 significance.Thetherapistshoulda ssessthec lient’sindividualneedsa ndreadinessbeforeintroducingthis a pproach for these methods are most effective when introduced gradually and with the client's consent. Ac ollaborativeprocessofidentifyingthestrengthsa ndpreferencesforgroundingtechniquesc an e mpower c lients todevelopself-regulationskillsa nda senseofc ontrolovertheire xperiences.Itc anbe tailored to a n individual's strengths a nd preferences, for e xample, if the c lient is particularly good a t visualization,theymightusev isualg roundingte chnique s.Thec lientselectsa nobjectwithvisualdetails thatc anhelpthemfocusa ttention,sucha sa smallfigurine,a photograph,ora pieceofa rt.Ontheother hand,forc lientswhomayprefermorekinesthetice xperiences,thetherapistmaysuggestusinga smooth riverrock,a softfabric,ora stressballthatthec lientc anhold,feel,a ndmanipulatea sa waytoe ngage their sense of touch. The tactile g rounding te chnique a llows the c lient to focus on the physical sensationoftheobject,whichc anbesoothinga ndc omforting.Thetherapistmighta skthec lienttoreflect on how touching theobjectmakesthemfeelsucha s“Doc ertaintexturese vok especifice motionso r memories?” By bringing a wareness to their immediate sense, individuals c an ground themselves in the present moment, interrupting the cycle of dissociation that often accompanies emotional distress. While these techniques c an beself-soothing,theya lsoa llowthetherapisttoobservethec lient’s e motionala ndphysiologicalstateduringtheprocess,informingtheoveralltreatmentplan.Theuseofthese grounding techniques c an serve a s a toolkit of self-regulation strategies that c lients c an use tomanage distressing thoughts a nd feelings a s they a rise. It serves a s a re minde r o f the c lie nt’s c apacity to re build s e lf-worth a nd navigate c hallenges. It reinforces the idea that healing is both a physical a nd symbolic process—grounding objects c onnect e motional work with tangible representations of growth. Through the c lient’s journey of therapeutic e xploration,supportingthemindevelopingtheskillstheyc an utilize may lead to e mpowerment to take a n a ctive role in navigating their e motional e xperiences, this symbol of transformation and growth as their tool for emotional regulation. Role playing Aspartofthestrategiesofrestorativegrowththerapy,a ligningwiththegoalsofe motionalhealing a ndpersonalgrowth,c lientsmaya lsoe ngageina role playingproce sswheretheyc anrehearsedifficult c onversations a nd overcome e motional wounds tied to relationships. In a c ontrolled a nd supportive e nvironment,itisa therapeuticpracticetohelpc lientsrevisitrelationalscenarios,sothetherapiste xplains its purpose and importance in understanding emotions. 1 4 Thetherapiste nsuresthec lienta tthestartthatthereisnorightorwrongwaytoresponda sthey a re guided to c hoose a particular relational issue they’d like to a ddress–a c onflict with a c aregiver, a partner, a friend, or e ven themselves (internal dialogue). Questions may be a sked by the therapist like “What’sa situationo rd ynamicthat’sc ausingy oustresso rd iscomfort?” or“Istherea relationship where you feel misunderstood, hurt, or invalidated?” Itisimportantforthescenea ndrolestobesetc ollaboratively,theoneinvolved,thec ontext.The e xpressionoffeelingsa ndneedsisupforthec lienta stheytaketherole,a ndthetherapistmaystepinto the other person’s role, the c lients switching roles if they c hoose to gain a nother perspective. As the practice begins, it is the role of the therapist to mirror realistic reactions to gradually guide the c lient towardc laritya nda ssertiveness.Thec lientse xpresstheirthoughtsa ndfeelingsa uthentically,wherethey may practice expressing needs or boundaries. In a sample setup, if the c lient feels hurt a nd invalidated by their parent, who dismisses their e motions a s "too sensitive," they may want to e xpress how these a ctions have impacted thembutfear beingmisunderstoodordismisseda gain.Thec lie ntplaysthemselves;thethe rapistplaystheparent.And thetherapistmaysaysomethinglike,“You’reb eingsod ramatica gain.Id on’tu nderstandwhyy ou’re mak ingsucha b igd ealo uto fn othing,” a stheystarttheroleplay.Theinteractionc ouldbepausedto helpthec liente xplorea ndrefinetheirresponse,diggingdeepera stheyc ontinueitwithguidancefromthe therapist. The therapist c onsiders stopping the process if e motions become overwhelming for the c lient. Negative patterns of responses c an be c ommon, so c lients a re guided a s well to reframe them with asse rtive c ommunication(e.g.,“Ifeelhurtwhen…”),s e ttingboundarie s(e.g.,“Ineedsometimeto process this beforec ontinuing.”),orre asse ssinghowthe ys e e the s ituationo nthe o the rpe rson’s actions.“Howd iditf eeltosaywhaty oun eeded?” mayfollowa sa reflectivequestiona fterfinishing the roleplay, a nd whether thec lientwouldliketotrya nyothera pproaches,thetherapiste xploresit,too, with a question like “Is there a nything e lse y ou’d lik e to say o r d o d ifferently if y ouh ada nother c hance?” In the sample setup stated,thec lientsmaylearntoa sserttheirfeelingsmoree ffectivelya nd understand the emotional dynamics with their parent. Tofurtherreinforcethee motionalinsightthatc anbegainedfromthis,thetherapisthelpsthec lient c onnecttheroleplaytotheirreal-worldinteractionswitha questionlike“Howc any oup reparey ourself e motionallyf orthen extinteractionlik ethis?” Roleplayingworkswiththe[]therapy’sfocusina way 1 5 that healthier waysofresolvingpainfulrelationaldynamicsa ree xplored.Thec lient’strustinthemselves c an be rebuilt a s they e xpress their needs, theirresponsese mpoweringthemtobetheirmorea uthentic selves while they navigate real-world relationships with resilience. What-If Flip The “What If” Flip is a therapeutictechniquedesignedtohelpc lientstransformtheirself-doubt a nd negativea ssumptionstowardsactionable ,g rowth-orie nte dbe haviors.Thetherapiste xplainsthe What-If Flip a s a tool to c hallenge negative thought patterns tied to fear, doubt, or self-criticism by e xploring a lternative, e mpowering possibilities.This a pproach begins with the therapist c reating a safe, e mpathetic space where the c lient feels c omfortable sharing their fear-based thoughts they may often dwellon.Thetherapistmaya sk,“What’sa ‘whatif ’thoughtthat’sb eenweighingo ny oulately?” or “What’ssomethingy ou’veb eena voidingo rd oubtingb ecauseo ff earo rself-doubt?” butpossibilities a re later on explored wherein things could go right for the client, even if there’s uncertainty. The therapist guides the c lient to reframe the negative “what if” intoa positiveore mpowering one, with something like “What if this situation h elps y oug rowstrongero rlearnsomethingn ew?” From“WhatifIc an’th ealf romthis?” ,thec lientmayturnintoa skinga boutitdifferentlythistimewitha “What if h ealing is a j ourney I’m a lready o n, e ven if it f eels slow?” The flip is notmerelya bout reframing thoughts but about fostering a mindset that encourages growth andactionable change . The therapist helps the c lient c reate a ctionable steps to a lign with the positive “what if”. A question like “What a ctions c an y outak en owtomovetowardthisp ositivep ossibility?” Byshifting the focus from rumination to actionable strategies, the client develops resilience and a sense of agency. By validating the c lient's e motions, c hallenging negative beliefs, a nd e ncouraging c onstructive thinking, the “what if flip” promotes open-ended possibilities that c an be used by the c lient's journey towards e motional healing. Instead of having self doubt, this process a ssists c lients in a dapting growth-oriented behaviors, enabling them to move forward with clarity. 1 6 RESTORATIVE GROWTH THERAPY APPLIED TO THE CASE OF TRIZZA Trizza’s biography indicates that a s the e ldest daughter, she had longbeene xpectedtoe mbody independencea ndstrength,whichc ontributedtofeelingsofneglect,particularlyduringherc hildhood.She spoke a bout beingoverlookedbyherfamily,e speciallyregardinge motionalsupport.Thise xperiencehad fostereda patternofa voidinge motionalvulnerability,drivenbyherfearofbeingperceiveda sa burdenor facingrejection.ThroughRestorativeGrowththerapy,thefocusisnotona formala ssessmentbutrather on c ollaborative c onve rsations c entered on healing a nd personal growth. Shesharedsomerelational wounds that had deeply impacted her sense of self-worth that the intervention can address. Theworkc ouldbeginbyinvitinghertoe xpressherc urrentstruggles—herc arryinge verythingon her own a ll the time leading to her e xhaustion a nd reluctance to a sk for help due to the fear of being perceiveda sweak.Herstorye xtendedtofeelingsociallya nxiousa ndstrugglingwithtrustingothers,that opening up might hurt more than what she a lready feltfromherfamily.Itistheroleofthetherapistto validateherfeelingsa ndprovidereassurancea fter.Thee xpectationsforthetherapyc ouldbesetbytelling Trizzathatthisc ounselingwasa boutc reatingspaceforhertoreflect,heal,a ndgrowa therownpace,to e xplore what’s weighing her down and find ways to help her feel more connected to herself and others. Before diving deeper into the therapeutic process, Trizza was e ncouraged to takea momentto reflectonherstrengths,fosteringherinternalvalidationa ndself-awarenesstouseita sthefoundationof her growth. She saw her independence a s something thathelpedhergothroughtoughtimes,a ndbeing thereforotherswassomethingshevalueda boutherselfe venifit’ssmall.Thesharedqualitiesthroughthis inte rnal c ompass e xercise c ould be kept in mind a s she a nd the therapist work through the session together. Trizzawasthenhelpedtovisualizea nda ssessherc urrente motionalstatea sa c up,e xploringwhat wasfillingitup(overwhelmingher)a ndtakingupthemostspace(toseewhatc ouldbringbalance).She wasa bletoidentifythatitwasstressfromschool,buta lsoguiltwhenshec ouldn’tdoe verythingperfectly. Whena skeda boutwhatc ouldbepouredoutorreducedinhere motionalc up,itwasstoppingfrombeing sohardonherselfthatwasa stepshewaswantingtotake,remindingherselftonotfeelobligatedtoget e verything done. She was a lso invited to practice a g rounding te chnique to help her regulate e motions during momentsofoverwhelm.Trizzatriedtofocusonherbreathingfora momentsoshec ouldhelpherselffeel 1 7 c almerinsimilarsituations.Toa ddresstheproblemsshepresented,role playingwasintroduceda sa tool tohelpherpracticec ommunicatingherfeelingstoa familymember,specificallyheryoungersibling,with whomshehade xperiencedunderlyingtension.Throughthisa pproach,shewasguidedtoe xpresshowit felttobec onsistentlyoverlookeda ndneglected.Thetherapistplayeda sthesiblinga ndposeda question a fter:“Howd idthatresponsef eel?Whatwouldy oulik etosaytothat?” Initially,Trizzastruggledto a rticulatehere motions,hinderedbyherdiscomfortwithc onfrontationa ndfearofrejection.However,the processwasa pproachedgradually,startingwithsmallstepstohelpherpracticee xpressinghere motions a nd setting boundaries. These skills were unfamiliar a nd intimidating for her but were e ssential to her growth. As the roleplaying sessions progressed, Trizza began togainc onfidencea ndpracticeda ssertingher feelings. With e ach a ttempt, her voice grew stronger, a nd herwordsbecamemoreintentional.Through this e xercise, she wasnotonlypracticingc ommunicationbuta lsoreclaimingherrighttobeheard.Each instanceofe xpressingherfeelingsduringroleplaybroughthera senseofe mpowerment,a sshelearnedto a ssert her e motions in a way that did not feeloverwhelmingorburdensome.Overtime,theroleplaying sessions a llowed Angke to a ddress thee motionalneglectshehadinternalizeda ndprovidedherwiththe tools to establish healthy boundaries within her family dynamics. As the therapeutic process went on,Trizzalearnedtoreframeherfearsofrejectiona ndfailure intopossibilitiesofgrowthshedidnotpreviouslyperceive.Shethoughtonefear,“WhatiftheythinkI’m weak or they just ignore me?” whentryingtoimagineherselfopeninguptoothers.Thispossibilitywas flippedwitha lternativeones,“Whatiftheydon’tseeita sweaknessbuta sc ourage?Whatifbeinghonest a ctually strengthens your relationships?” a nd sherealizedthepotentialc onnectionthatmightresultfrom c hangingherthinking.Thisa llowedhertomovea wayfroma fear-basedmindseta ndtowardonerooted ine mpowermente veninmomentsofvulnerability.Thec ombineduseofroleplayinga ndtheWhat-ifFlip Techniquesupportedherinbuildingthec onfidencetoe xpressherself,sethealthyboundaries,a ndviewher worth through a more e mpowered lens. She was not only healing from past relationalwoundsbuta lso guidedingoingthrougha pathforpersonalgrowth,onethatstrengthenshera bilitytoe ngagea uthentically a nd meaningfully with her family and loved ones. Throughout the therapeutic process, what stood out to her was thinking a bout her strengths, making her feel less lonely. From this, she learns to ground herself during moments of overwhelma nd planstopracticea healthierc ommunicationwithherlovedonea swell,trustingherselfa ndothersa sshe moves closer to meaningful connection and growth. 1 8
