THERAPY TECHNIQUES

MA. JEDIDIAH R. RILE

The entire therapy session, was collaborated with three different approaches in therapy: Person-
Centered, Individual Psychology and Cognitive approach.

The insight stage would be greatly influenced under the atmosphere of Carl Roger's Person
centered therapy. I believe that with this approach used with the rapport establishment phase,
would create a safe place for the client to trust the therapist. Since the client would be able to
sense the authenticity of the therapist, l as the therapist would begin with the introduction as my
initial or first phase. A simple "kamustahan" in the beginning. I believe that empathic listening
would give the feeling of warmth welcoming sense for the client. Listening technique would involve
consistent eye contact, nodding and being sensitive with the needs of the client by letting him
direct the entire journey of every session would greatly have a huge impact on the him. The
process of "being with" the client as he expresses himself, shall be mainly expressed by the
therapist, so that the client would feel accepted unconditionally with positive regard. Listening is
being able to understand the client, it's a basic approach but a very challenging one. So, i would
ask permission to take down notes every now and then. I would try to have a spontaneous
response as possible, to show and make the client feel that I am committed to him and the entire
conversation.

Like Clara Hill's exploration stage, the second phase of my therapy plan, is the inclusion of the
Individual psychology and cognitive counseling approach. With this, I as the therapist would be
able to explore further the client's perception and issues. I personally would like to explore Adler's
five tasks of life. This, would focus on the client's love, work, friendship, self and spirituality. Since,
i have observed that a person experiencing depression would tend to manifest unhealthy
behaviors, the purpose of this stage is more on to know more about the client's story (family
atmosphere, birth order and personality) and to understand the possible causes - if he's been
using safeguarding tendencies or if he has a low or high social interest - of his perceptions and
beliefs. Moreover, to have an idea of his style of life and cognitive distortions, if present. This
phase would strive to have a collaborative interaction with the client, so that the client would feel
that the therapist is offering encouragement and hope for him. Since, depression would tend to
be serious and draining not only for the client but for the therapist as well, humor technique shall
be utilized to gain more insight as the therapist genuinely hears the client's concerns, as well to
have an engaging conversation and connection.

Cognitive therapy fused with the expressive arts would be my main approach with the action
stage. My main choice of strategy would be the double standard technique combined with the
expressive art. Besides the fact that it is evidenced based, I personally recognize the effect of
arts, particularly sketching or painting in alleviating negative moods - anxiety. I would let the client
choose his own art tools and would let him do his own craft (guided by his emotions after he
expressed his story). The purpose of this technique is to be able to let out thoughts and emotions
in a therapuetical playful and creative way. Then, together, we will process what he was able to
create, may it be a symbol or an abstract. Afterthat, the double standard technique will follow.
Most of the people whom I have encountered who has depression, tend to have less to no
compassion within. It's different when you hear comfort from other people to hearing it from
yourself as if your telling it to your friend. The main reason why I fused such technique with the
expressive arts. As a contingency plan, in cases of different case or issues - still connected with
depression - semantic technique would be substituted with double standard technique. Lastly,
giving feedbacks to the client would play such an impact on encouraging the client to participate.
This would also give hope that he could still have chance in healing.

Lastly, i like the strategy of giving the client an assignment. May it be in form of a step-by-step
socialization, journaling, or painting. This would serve as a form of making the client committed
with the sessions. Prior to that, I would ask suggestions or opinions from the client, regarding the
assignment ( a task that they are comfortable doing) before assigning a task to them. Permission
is everything in counseling. With these techniques, i am hoping that every session would leave
the client empowered or at least they would look forward in healing.

References:

Fall, K. A., Holden, J. M., & Marquis, A. (2016). Theoretical models of counseling and
psychotherapy (3rd ed.). New York: Routledge.