2 parts

Running head: Psychoanalytic Theory Application 1

Psychoanalytic Theory Application

Psychoanalytic Theory Application

Falayan Trotter

PCN:500

Case analysis using the psychoanalytic theory approach

The client’s unconscious behavior include the tearfulness when filling the intake paper, the shaking of hands, and the halting speech. The conscious aspect of the client includes eye contact. The client is anxious and depressed from the things happening around her: loss of job, difficulty in raising the child alone, unsupportive friends and family, and the deployed military in overseas. The defense mechanism of the client is projection. According to Lichtenberg (2016), the projection is an attempt by the ego to solve discomfort by pointing to another person one's unacceptable feelings, motives, and thoughts. The disconnect between the client and her wealthy family is a major contributing factor to her anxiety.

What will be the goals of counseling and what intervention strategies are used to accomplish those goals?

Counseling has various goals. First, it promotes decision making by enabling the patient to make essential decisions concerning alternative ways of approaching the problem without influence from outside. Counseling assists these individuals in clarifying their attitude and emotional concerns which can interfere with the decisions involved. By stimulating individual assessment, action, and acceptance, the person will learn the entire decision-making process. Secondly, counseling improves relationships between the individual and others. Due to poor self-image and lack of social skills, the person may act defensively in relationships. Thirdly, counseling enhances coping skills. Sometimes occupational and social responsibilities may require a person to be assertive, experience anxiety, as well as unable to perform their duties effectively. Finally, counseling facilitates behavior change hence enabling the person to define his/her life within society and to be more productive. The strategies of achieving these goals include making the unconscious become conscious and strengthening the ego for the behavior to be based more on reality than on irrational guilt or instinctual cravings (Wosket, 2016). 

Is your theory designed for short- or long-term counseling?

For this case, the psychoanalytic theory is designed for short-term counseling. The treatment ensures that the tension between the ego, superego, and id is alleviated. The therapy is structured in with specific goals set-out. The goals are intended to reduce the client's symptoms which include lack of sleep, not eating, and the fear of getting homelessness. The therapy is ended when the symptoms become les acute (Wosket, 2016).

What will be the counselor's role with this client?

The counselor has various roles. First, the counselor creates a working relationship with the patient, and he/she makes a lot of interpretation and listening. The counselor pays more attention to the client's resistance. Additionally, the counselor listens to the client’s story and identify inconsistencies and gaps, and remain insensitive. Secondly, the counselor assists the clients in acquiring the freedom to work, play, and love. The counselor also helps the client become self-aware, achieve effective personal relationships, gain control over irrational and impulsive behavior, and deal with anxiety. Thirdly, the counselor assists the client to develop realistic goals and focus on opportunities that come from the change. This greatly impacts and improves the state of mind as well as optimism concerning the future.

What is the client’s role in counseling?

In Psychoanalytic, the client is supposed to give the full information, being genuine and realistic in all conversations, as well as being open to change. The client also creates a therapeutic relationship, understanding he/she desires from the therapy, and develop an objective or goal for the session (Bollas, 2017).

For what population(s) is this theory most appropriate? How does this theory address the social and cultural needs of the client?

The psychoanalytic theory is appropriate to patients with repressed memories and emotions. The theory addresses a client's emotions by exploring the social and cultural narratives as well as the unconscious and conscious motivations and meanings which accompany the narratives. The therapy reflects the client's sociocultural context. The therapist also takes into account the use of contextual language in therapy (Bollas, 2017).

What additional information might be helpful to know about this case?

Additional information includes whether the patient has tried getting help from the family (parents and siblings) before.

What may be a risk in using this approach?

The approach can lead to emotional pain due to the new insights as well as the changes in behavior patterns which the client has cherished for long. Also, the approach can make the patient too anxious that he or she cannot continue with this method of treatment. If there are cultural differences and the therapist lacks the skills on how to approach them, the therapeutic alliance can be difficult to form hence affecting the treatment (Bollas, 2017).

References

Bollas, C. (2017). The shadow of the object: Psychoanalysis of the unthought known. Routledge.

Lichtenberg, J. D., Lachmann, F. M., & Fosshage, J. L. (2016). Self and motivational systems: Towards a theory of psychoanalytic technique. Routledge.

Wosket, V. (2016). The therapeutic use of self: Counselling practice, research, and supervision. Routledge.