discussion feminist or transpersonal counseling case conceptualization

Hi 🙂 

Please see doc attached. I am waiting for the second post to come in and will send over to you ASAP. The responses are due in this week so I cannot wait as long as I did last time 😉 

C3 WK7 Resp

April 10, 2019

Below you will see the requirements for this assignment. 

A response is required for two different posts (listed below), Dawn R and __ (pending)

There is no set word count or pages needed. They only need to be about one paragraph. They need to flow and sound natural (b/c it’s a discussion post), and APA is required.

You can also use the previous google drive link if needed:

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1FV8O_vJjwV3GXrAd…

Discussion: Feminist or Transpersonal Counseling: Case Conceptualization

For this Discussion, you will write a case conceptualization as though you were a feminist or transpersonal counselor.

As you review this week’s Learning Resources and media files, note techniques and interventions, and consider the role of a feminist counselor in planning treatment. Further, reflect on feminist therapy with respect to developing your own theoretical orientation. In what ways do you find that feminist therapy may resonate with your own point of view? 

Note: For this Discussion, you are required to complete your initial post before you will be able to view and respond to your colleagues’ postings. Begin by clicking on the Post to Discussion Question link, and then select Create Thread to complete your initial post. Remember, once you click on Submit, you cannot delete or edit your own posts—and cannot post anonymously. Please check your post carefully before clicking on Submit!

To Prepare:

• Review      this week’s Learning Resources. 
• Review      the feminist therapy video from this week’s Learning Resources.      Take note of language and techniques used by the counselor that is      specific to this theory.
• Review      the Psychoanalytic Case Conceptualization Example found in this week’s      Learning Resources and use this document to prepare your initial      Discussion post.
• Select      one of the four case studies presented in this week’s Learning Resources,      and answer the following points as if you were a feminist or      transpersonal counselor. Use your Learning Resources and the notes you      took on language and technique from the feminist therapy video to      support your conceptualization and integrate examples from the case to      support your post. Include the following:
  • Presenting       Problem
  • Treatment       Goals
  • Identification       and explanation of at least two techniques and interventions
  • Expected       Outcome

By Day 3

Post your feminist or transpersonal conceptualization.

Be sure to support your main post with specific references to the Learning Resources using proper APA format and citations. Your response posts may be more conversational and less formal.

Read your colleagues’ postings.

By Day 5

Respond to at least two of your colleagues’ posts and explain whether you believe the proposed case conceptualization is the most beneficial for the case selected and why.

Your responses may be more informal than your main post. 

Dawn R

Case Conceputlization Transpersonal Theory 

Case of Jason: Conceptualization of Problem through Transpersonal Theory Approach

Presenting Problem

From a transpersonal perspective, Jason appears to be experiencing some depression because of his religious beliefs not being congruent with his chosen sexuality preferences.  According to Hartelius (2007), Transpersonal theory is a transformative approach of the whole person.  It is their intimate interrelationship with the whole self and the world.  It pays special attention to self-experience states as well as spiritual ones.  Jason could be suffering from an overlap of spiritual experiences that are causing him to have disturbed mental symptoms (Davis, 2000).   

If he can be helped to reach a higher consciousness from the personal self to the transpersonal or outside of self a more healthy development can exist throughout the whole person (Wilber, 1997).  Jason’s religious beliefs have taught him that homosexuality is sinful and forbidden, but he chooses to stay in a same sex relationship thus is causing tension.  This tension has caused transformation in his consciousness because the horizontal and vertical dimensions are not equal.   In order for him to find relief with some of his depressive symptoms, he must find wholeness in each of his separate parts (Bidwell, 1999).  

Jason presents with feelings of loneliness, despair, frequent crying, and isolation.  The transpersonal counselor will work with him to reframe his current conditions and find his “authentic self”.  He might feel powerless and desperately trying to escape these emotions through long work hours.  Transpersonal theory believes that all voices within each person should be honored in some form.  In addition, that even these negative emotions have a time and place because not everything is in ones control.  Jason must realize and accept this in order to move on both psychology and emotionally (Carrier & Mitchell, 2016).  

Suicidal ideation not detected at this time. Though he blames his depression on the betrayal of his cheating boyfriend Kevin.  He does not want to lose his partner, but does not know if relationship can be repaired.

Goals

According to Carrier & Mitchell (2016), the primary goal of a transpersonal theory approach is to consider the whole person, so that his or her life functioning can begin to improve.  This includes a strong consideration of the client’s spiritual side as well.  However, Jason’s counselor will also use a set of techniques with the objective of symptom reduction and increased personal awareness.  Some commonly used techniques used for depression include: mindfulness, yoga, biofeedback, breath training, contemplation, dream-work, and altered states of consciousness (Carrier & Mitchell, 2016). 

Just like other goals in other approaches, the counselor will work with Jason to reduce his overall frequency, intensity and duration of his depression so that his daily functioning is maximized.  This will be achieved by the earlier mentions interventions.

Interventions

The transpersonal psychotherapies seek to have an expansive view of human nature.  “They will incorporate elements of behaviorism, psychoanalysis, humanism, Jungian analysis, and Eastern philosophy”.  Jason’s counselor will incorporate many viewpoints from adjacent and even opposing theories.  In addition, they will focus on the expanded human qualities that have been ignored by other theories (Strohl, 1998).  

The number one goal of the counselor will be to help Jason reach his highest potential, and ultimately explore his spiritual experiences and development.  Jason’s ancestor and culture backgrounds will be explored. He will not be viewed as “sick”, but rather helped on a journey to become his authentic self, by way of his past, all voices speaking, and a look into his spiritual beliefs.  

Mediation could be used to help Jason relieve some of his emotional pain, relaxation, self-exploration, and self-liberation.  These techniques will allow him to take off his masks or egos and realize his true transcendence of self, so that he can start the process of liberation (Birnbaum, 2005; Colemena & Ram, 1996). 

Phenomenological mapping is a technique used to help the client to organize and understand their experiences during an altered state (Wilber, 1997).  Both Jason and his counselor will map, compare, and differentiate states of consciousness.  According to Walsh (1994), phenomenological mapping is necessary because when the client’s emotions, self-sense, and awareness of environment are compared there are multiple differences between each state that come into view.  Once this is achieved the client will undergo a process called deep structured analysis.  It is here that Jason will begin to attempt to make sense of his altered states of consciousness and reveal any hidden meanings that are impacting his life.  

CBT focused visualization, biofeedback, and dream-work could be used to help Jason with brief short-term intervention strategies.  These will help him to dismiss negative beliefs, and create positive and constructive thinking patterns.  The ultimate goal being that he will begin to produce productive behavioral habits (Strohl, 1998).  Jason reports experiencing nightmares that his secret sex life had been discovered.  In the dream there is a correlation between him being forced to wear a pink triangle and his cultural history surrounding the Star of David. These interventions might give him insight into his nightmares.  

Rationale and Expected Outcomes

The transpersonal theory approach would be a good starting point for Jason because he is entrenched in his religious Jewish culture throughout every area of life.  His spirituality is where he finds “comfort and consolation”.  This theory will allow his counselor to integrate counseling concepts from different approaches, and it also allows Jason to include his religious and spiritual disciplines (Davis, 2000).  

Since we are including spirituality in each counseling sessions, we must think on a spiritual plane because we are now treating the whole person.   To me, a whole person encompasses the body, mind, and soul.   Jason identifies himself as a Jew.  Based on the case study he describes “devastating” consequences for himself and Kevin if their relationship was discovered.  The Torah is clear about homosexuality, and the counselor should openly discuss this religious belief with Jason.  The counselor should reiterate and confirm that he is in fact an Orthodox Jew?  To bring balance to the conversation, one must also reiterate and confirm that God loves each human deeply and unconditionally regardless of our sins.  This makes us all equal in His eyes, and focuses on the positive aspects of the Jewish beliefs.  

Supporting Researchers bring to light that the transpersonal theory approach has existed for thousands of years, but did not lend itself to modern empirical study. It is eclectic in nature and draws from a wide range of empirically validated interventions (Kalischuk & Nixon, 2009).  It is not dependent on one religion or belief because it recognizes that each part (each person) is ultimately a part of the whole universe.  

A very positive outcome would be at the end of therapy Jason would have removed psychopathogies, and resolved his interpersonal difficulties that have caused his depressive symptoms.  In addition, he also would have fostered a higher human developmental sense of self (Hartelius et al., 2007).   Ultimately, Jason will have begun or achieved the goal of transcendence and deepening connection with the universe (Carrier & Mitchell, 2016). 

References

Bidwell, D. R. (1999). Ken Wilber’s transpersonal psychology: An introduction and preliminary critique. Pastoral Psychology, 48, 81-90.

Birnbaum, L. (2005). Connecting to inner guidance: Mindfulness meditation and transformation or professional self-concept in social work students. Critical Social Work, 6, 111-121.

Carrier, J. W., & Mitchell, N. G. (2016). Transpersonal theory. In D. Capuzzi & M. D. Stauffer (Eds.), Counseling and psychotherapy: Theories and interventions (6th ed., pp. 391-418). Alexandria, VA: American Counseling Association.

Davis, J. (2000). We keep asking ourselves, what is transpersonal psychology? Guidance and Counseling, 15, 3-9.

Hartelius, G., Caplan, M., & Rardin, M. A. (2007). Transpersonal psychology: Defining the past, divining the future. Humanistic Psychologist, 35, 1-26.

Kalischuk, R. G., & Nixon, G. (2009). A transpersonal theory of healing following youth suicide. International Journal of Mental Health and Addition, 7, 389-402.

Powers, Y.O. & Kalodner, C. R. (2016). Cognitive-behavior theories. In D. Capuzzi & M. D. Stauffer (Eds.), Counseling and psychotherapy: Theories and interventions (6th ed., pp. 227-252). Alexandria, VA: American Counseling Association

Psychotherapy.net. (Producer). (1997c). Feminist therapy [Video file]. Mill Valley, CA: Author.

Strohl, J. E. (1998). Transpersonalism:  Ego meets soul.  Journal of Counseling & Development, 76, 397-403.

Wilbur, K. (1997). The spectrum of consciousness. Wheaton, IL: Quest Books.

Second post pending