Human Services in Contemporary America - Assignment Example

Answers to Questions: 1.Can you apply any aspects of the psychoanalytic theory to your own personal growth? Does this approach help you in  any way to deepen your self-understanding? If so, how and in what ways?  Psychoanalysis finds its roots in Sigmund Freud’s idea of the unconscious mind. “Psychoanalysis is based upon the observation that individuals are often unaware of what underlies their emotions and behavior” (Burger, ___, p. 170). The unconscious thoughts are believed to cause unhappiness, frustrations and inability to nurture good interpersonal relationships. Psychoanalysis has evolved critically in the past years, and has been considered as a powerful tool for clinical cases and in practical settings that target towards the improvement of the human potential. The liberation of the individual from these unconscious thoughts which have either facilitated the neurosis or hampered personal growth remains the core principle of psychoanalysis. Personally, I have come to appreciate how psychoanalysis has contributed to better understand myself. I have found value in bridging past experiences to present reactions and perspectives. I came to realize that my anxiety and frustrations about particular events and conditions are related to my childhood experiences, especially in the relationships I have with my parents. The ability to find how the past shapes my present expectations has helped me to change perspective, and be able to handle frustrations and anxiety in a more positive light. Thus, I continue to practice self-reflection and self-analysis; having come to terms that personal growth can only happen through a deeper understanding of oneself. 2. According to Jung, in order to develop as a full person, a man must express his feminine dimension (anima), and a woman must express her masculine side (animus). What specific traits do you see in yourself from both the feminine and masculine dimensions? How do you think this is related to  your ability as a counselor to understand the subjective worlds of the opposite sex?  One of the descendants of Freud, Carl Jung, proposed the contrasexual attitudes at work in the unconscious of each individual, which needed to become assimilated into consciousness for personal development. He identified the anima, which is the feminine dimension, and the animus, the masculine dimension. I welcome Jung’s explanation as I can see how I have manifested both feminine and masculine traits. My ability to listen and understand others are expressions of my anima. Most of my friends attest their appreciation for my presence and understanding while they go through major difficulties in life. I believe also that my abilities to think logically and assert myself intellectually are manifestations of my animus side. An awareness of these dimensions in an individual has made me conscious of the struggles of my clients in acknowledging and appreciating the animus and anima sides. This can also go back to the maternal and paternal influences of their past. Moreover, it serves as a guiding therapeutic point: “The assimilation of the anima/animus prompts the transcendent function, the change in personality” (Miller and Jung, ___, p. 69). 3. What is your concept of a self-actualizing person? In what specific areas of your life do you experience a gap between the way you actually see yourself and the way you would like to experience yourself?  Personal growth and personal development has been closely associated with the term “self-actualization,” which I personally believe is where counselors must bring their clients to an awareness and practice. I perceive self-actualization is both a process a process and a goal. It is manifested by the ability to transcend challenges, release creativity, expression and spontaneity, and to shift paradigms to be able to view life experiences as positive and worthwhile. It continues to be a process as one pursues in life’s journey, having the capacity to continuously grow while remaining true to oneself --- one’s desires, needs and aspirations. To do this, a person must be anchored within, humble but courageous enough to face limitations and be able to embrace the differences of those around him. 4. What within yourself might make accurate empathetic understanding difficult for you? Do you have broad life experiences that will help you identify with your client’s struggles?  As a counselor, empathic understanding is one of the skills and attitude that I continuously develop. It is not an easy task considering that I have my own personal biases and issues as well. To be able to reflect on the client’s feelings, the content and their meanings during a session is a challenging task. I believe I have had enriching experiences in the past, yet I know I will encounter clients who have gone through difficulties which I may not have encountered. This requires a greater amount of understanding on my part. I believe that as a counselor, I will always be a work in progress. Every opportunity to work with clients is a learning experience for me. And I draw upon these experiences to hone my skills as a counselor. 5. What ethical issues are involved in the use of certain behavior-therapy techniques? List the techniques, as well as the issues, that you see as being central. Behavior therapy is becoming increasingly popular in most clinical cases. It refers to techniques “based on the premise that specific, observable, maladaptive, mildly adjusted or self-destructing behaviors can be modified by learning new, appropriate behaviors to replace them” (Healthline, 2010, n.p.). There are different techniques employed in behavioral therapy, which are receiving criticisms based on ethical issues. Generally, treating the patient as an experimental subject raises a lot of questions already. However, there are more specific techniques that warrant careful examination and evaluation: Contingency Contracting – The patient responds based on a reward feedback basis which may not necessarily happen in real life. The success of the therapy is still questioned for the high incidences of relapse. Modeling – The issue is highly targeted on the expertise of the counselor or therapist. How effective is the behavior being modeled and how effective is the person modeling to convey the proper behavior? There is a possibility that other co-occurring behavior might be picked up. Systematic Desensitization – The repeated exposure to a fearful situation is considered stressful, especially for very young clients. Is it really necessary to expose the individual to undue stress which he may eventually avoid despite having better quality of life? Flooding – Related to systematic desensitization this is again encountering higher levels of stress. There are again ethical issues in letting the patient undergo an experimental condition. What if the patient is not fully prepared for these situations, and might only lead to more serious problems? References Burger, W. R. (2008). Human services in contemporary America, 7th edition. Belmont, CA: Thomson Higher Education. Miller, J.C. (2004). The transcendent function: Jung’s model of psychological growth through dialogue with the unconscious. New York, NY: State University of New York. Ford-Martin, P. (2005). Behavioral Therapy. Gale Encyclopedia of Public Health. Retrieved from http://www.healthline.com/galecontent/behavioral-therapy Read More