
Image by AndreasC via Flickr
OUTLINE: THE PROCESS AND GOALS OF
PSYCHOTHERAPY
I. COMMON THEMES, PROBLEMS, AND PATTERNS
- Specific symptoms
- Self-hatred and/or grandiosity. Internal focus. Forgetting that “you are less than you think you are, and also more.”
- Lack of meaning: idea that my life does not matter, my actions do not matter
- Not seeing things clearly
- Fighting with the world, trying to change the things that are beyond our control
- "Escape" activities; addictive/compulsive behaviors
- Impulsivity; overidentification with “small I” impulses
- Inactivity, lethargy, helplessness
- Isolation, lack of intimacy with others
- Disconnection from self, others, world; addiction to self, disregard for others, forgetting that we can and should be here for others
- Missing forest for trees; what is the big picture? What is the job of a human being?
- Relationship disturbances/estrangement
- From self (body, emotions, cognitions, behavior)
- From others (trust/mistrust; clinging)
- From the world (disinterest, fearfulness, distortion)
- From the transcendent (or the “big picture”) (disbelief, cynicism, fearfulness, disinterest)
II. TYPICAL GOALS, HOPES, WISHES
- To feel good, to not feel painful emotions
- To stop doing certain things
- To start doing other things
- To get others to change, i.e., to stop causing me to suffer
III. REALISTIC GOALS
- To live a good life
- To be reasonably comfortable in my own skin
- To see myself, others, and the world clearly
IV. TASKS OF THERAPIST
- Education
- Empathy, fostering self-compassion
- Coach/cheerleader/motivator
- Human connection (deep, intimate, non-invasive, supportive)
- Spiritual companionship
- Monitor of progress
- Assistance in goal-setting
- Model for a way of being-in-the-world and being-in-relationship
- Resource for referrals and materials
V. TASKS OF CLIENT
- Commit to completing homework between sessions
- Goal setting
- Adequate self-care
- Daily meditation
- Exercise (aerobic), at least 20 min, at least 4 times per week
- Keep records of completed homework
- Awareness practice, at least 3 times daily
SPECIFIC PRACTICES, HOMEWORK, AND ACTIVITIES
I. Keeping written records: This is a proven method to increase positive behaviors, and to decrease unwanted (negative) behaviors. It also helps us to enhance the clarity of our perception (what is really going on?), and provides a way to objectively assess progress toward goals
II. Meditation: the Body Scan, Sitting Meditation, Walking Meditation. With these practices, the primary focus is internal (cognitions, feelings, impulses). The reasons for these practices include the following:
- To loosen the connection between impulse and action
- To become familiar with one’s internal terrain, including preoccupations, thought patterns, dominant feelings
- To understanding that thoughts and feelings are transitory phenomena and relatively unimportant
III. Exercise: Aerobic exercise at least 20 minutes, at least 4 times per week. Exercise is important for the following reasons:
- It enhances brain functioning, including the serotonin system
- It helps us to re-engage with self/body
- It works to reverse inactivity, lethargy
IV. Awareness Practices: Three practices: Sensory Inventory; the Breathing Space; and Befriending the Sky. With these brief exercises, the primary focus is external (sensations). The reasons for these practices include the following:
- They help us to re-engage with the external world
- They help us to “get out of our heads” (where things are distorted)
V. Meaning, Values, Goals, Activities: The big question is this: What is the job of a human being? And the follow-up question is: How am I to do my job (in concrete terms: Goals, and Activities in Support of Goals)?
Related Question: Are Cause and Effect Clear?
- What is the relationship between looking for good feelings (craving stuff, wanting things to be different) and unhappiness?
- What is the relationship between my thoughts and my feelings?
- What is the relationship between my actions and my feelings?
- What the relationship between my actions and the lives of others?
- What is the relationship between my actions and the life/condition of the earth?
COPYRIGHT 2008: Delany Dean, PhD
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