Essay on Psychology: The Psychoanalytic Theory by Sigmund Freud

The proponent of the psychoanalytic theory was Sigmund Freud. According to the theory, people could be cured through transforming the unconscious thoughts and their drives to conscious thoughts such that they obtain insight. The therapy entails releasing of the suppressed of emotions and involvements. The subject of focus is mostly disorders associated with anxiety and depression (Elliot, 2015).

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The basic assumptions of the theory are that the psychological problems that people face emanate from suppressed issues and bad experiences that are stored in their unconscious minds. For an individual to gain help, the unconscious has to be made conscious such that the issues are dealt with by the client. An individual can be cured or receive assistance. The facets associated with psychoanalysis is that psychologists perceive issues as emanating from the unconscious mind, the symptoms exhibited are instigated by hidden problems, the hidden problems are mostly unsolved issues by suppressed trauma and problems during the growth of an individual in addition to treatment focusing on the problem bring brought to consciousness that allows the patient to deal with it. In the therapy, Freud would allow a patient to lie comfortably on a couch while he would take notes when the patient talked about his or her experiences. The sessions would be quite lengthy and take place for many weeks (Elliot, 2015).

Due to the nature of resistance mechanisms and the inaccessibility of the deterministic forces functioning in the comatose, psychotherapy in its standard form is an extensive process often encompassing 3 to 5 sessions per week for several years. The technique bases itself on the assumption that a decrease of the symptoms is irrelevant when the unresolved issue is not handled such that more symptoms might occur. The analysts make a brief presentation of himself or herself such that there is enough space that allows the client to face the unconscious without any external interference. Also, the analyst employs the use of various methods that include transference analysis, free association, in blots, interpretation, and resistance analysis in addition to parapraxes (Elliot, 2015).

Therefore, for Sallys case, the possible approaches that can be used to assist her to include; transference analysis, free association, in blots, interpretation, and resistance analysis in addition to parapraxes. The ink blot tends to be vague such that the interpretation of it by the Sally is what is significant. In this approach, Sally is perceived to draw the interpretation of the inkblot from the unconscious. For the parapraxes, the unconscious issues are transferred to the conscious through slips whereby Sally will be able to make an assertion on issues that she did not intend to say. The slips are perceived to represent issues in the unconscious mind and hence quite effective. The free association allows the patient to talk about any issue that comes into their mind such that he or she is able to bring about the repressed issues. The other approach is through dream analysis whereby it is perceived that the repressed issues fully come into the conscious through dreams when the mind is at rest. Sally will be able to exhibit healing when she comes to terms with the repressed issues such that they accept any loss and exhibits less independence. The approach would be beneficial to Sally as it will help her deal with the issues that she experienced during her development. By accepting them, it becomes easier make adjustments in her current life.

Gestalt Theory

The theory puts into perspective the concept of being whole. The theory was developed by German psychologist whereby they based their analysis on visual perception. The gestalt theory tends to illustrate the methods in which people arrange visual facets in groups such that they form wholesome when applying certain methodologies (Corey, 2009). The principles involved include; similarity, closure, continuity, proximity and figure and ground. Similarity takes place when two objects appear to be similar when placed together. They tend to form a pattern such that when one exhibits a certain difference, it becomes an anomaly. Continuation takes place when the eye is prompted to make movements from one object to another. Closure takes place when there is a space in an object such that it not full. When a shape is presented, people tend to view the whole of it despite having not being complete. Proximity takes place when objects are placed together such that they are perceived to form a unit or a group. In regards to figure and ground, the eye tends to differentiate between an object and its location or where it is placed. A balance between the two makes the object or image clearer (Corey, 2009).

The therapy associated with Gestalt psychology bases itself on the assumption that the behavior of people can be understood by analyzing how they relate to the environment through a concept referred to as field theory. The theory does not align with unilinear sequences and compartmentalization. The life of the client is perceived to be a whole field whereby the events and the people present in the life of an individual are perceived to parts of the field. The field has a foreground and context and facets that indicate the role that they have in the life of an individual. What the patient perceives is what is considered to be important than the interpretation (Corey, 2009).

In Sallys case, the perception of Sally on her environment is what is put into perspective such that focus is paid to the interaction and not the interpretations. The therapy does not fully focus on the goals of the patients, but instead, a therapist focuses on giving support to a client such that they obtain great awareness of herself or himself. Therefore, in Sallys case, the therapy session will assist her in identifying herself in terms of strengths and weaknesses such that she suppresses her fears. Sally will be able to check and control her behavior as the process will make her aware of the activities that take place within and around her. The view is that when Sally becomes fully aware of her personality, new choices begin to manifest in regards to the approaches that she uses in making decisions as per the consequences. The therapy session allows clients to take responsibility for their experiences instead of suppressing them or avoiding them. Therefore, the session will allow Sally to face her fears instead of suppressing them. The end result is that her levels of anxiety will reduce in addition to Sally gaining confidence through making reasonable choices. Furthermore, by gaining awareness, Sally will be able to gain insight on activities that interest her and make her happy such that shes able to express herself fully and engage in more healthy behavior and interaction with her environment.

Person-centered approach

The person-centered approach, which is also referred to as the Rogerian theory, was proposed by Carl Rogers. The theory is based on the belief that each person has the desire and the capacity to reach his or her potential (Wolman, 2012). Instead of perceiving people to have bad behavior or rather patients, the therapy approaches people as having the capacity to achieve their potential. Rogers asserted that people are innately efficient with resources that allow them to understand themselves and allow the manipulation of an individuals attitudes, behavior, and concepts. The resources may be reached through the presence of psychological facets. When administering a person-centered therapy, the therapist picks up and identifies the potential of clients such that he or she is able to positively acknowledge the patient and empathize with the patients situation in order to achieve progress. Also, the therapist allows the client to take the lead to prevent controlling the therapy. This is achieved by the therapist providing direction, support, and form such that the client is able to identify solutions on his or her own (Wolman, 2012).

There are six facets used in giving support to the client through the Rogerian therapy. The first facet is a psychological connection between the client and the therapist. It entails the establishment of rapport between the therapist and the client in order to achieve an improvement. The next facet is identifying the vulnerability of the client whereby he or she might be unaware of the impending insecurities such that it becomes easier to work together and suppress the insecurities. The next facet is the therapist being self-aware of himself or herself such that they are genuine during the therapy. The next facet is a complete positive support to the client by the therapist such that the client is able to express his or her insecurities without feeling judged. The fifth facet entails empathy from the therapist whereby the therapist identifies the emotional issues but with limits to prevent being emotionally attached. The last step is the perception from the client whereby if a client feels that the therapist is negative in regards to verbal and non-verbal cues, then cooperation may be difficult (Wolman, 2012).

In regards to Sallys case, applying the six facets will be quite essential in improving her psychological health. It will be the responsibility of the therapist to pay attention to her especially of her anxiety issues and fear. The therapist should view her as an individual with massive potential and try as much to identify her strengths and work together with her in order to suppress the fears. A rapport between the two will assist Sally to fully open up to the therapist such that she expresses her fears and problems without feeling judged.

When it comes to identifying the vulnerability of the client, the therapist should identify Sallys vulnerability as she might be unaware of the impending insecurities. It becomes easier to work together and suppress the insecurities. The next facet is the therapist being self-aware of himself or herself such that they are genuine during the therapy to prevent interference by personal issues. The next facet is a complete positive support to the Sally by the therapist such that she is able to express her insecurities without feeling judged. The fifth facet entails empathy from the therapist whereby the therapist identifies the emotional issues but with limits to prevent being emotionally attached. The last step is the perception from Sally whereby if she feels that the therapist is negative in regards to verbal and non-verbal cues, then cooperation may be difficult. The therapist has the duty to ensure that there is a positive energy in the sessions for Sally to fully cooperate in the session such that progress is achieved.

The therapist may also employ spirituality in the session in regards to aspects such as love, protection from God and the need for forgiveness for Sarah to obtain peace within herself. On love, the therapist might quote the scripture But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the God. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil, (NKJV Bible, Luke 6:35) for the purpose of allowing her to forgive people that wronged her in the past and instead express love as it has its rewards. Spirituality taps into the emotions of an individual and hence effective when applied in the person-centered approach when the therapist is employing empathy (Grant, 2004).

References

Corey, G. (2009). Theory and practice of counseling and psychotherapy (8th ed.). Belmont: Brooks/Cole Publishing.

Elliott, A. (2015). Psychoanalytic theory: An introduction. New York: Palgrave MacMillan.

Grant, D. (2004). Spiritual Interventions: How, When and Why nurses Use Them. Holistic Nursing Practice, 18(1): 36-...