Advanced Counseling and Psychotherapy

School of Advanced Studies

Second Semester, Academic Year 2023-2024
Midterm Examination
March 2024

Name: Fatima Joy V. Congco

1. A case study that used the mixed method explored the effect of Positive
Psychology (PP) techniques on the happiness and well-being of students was
done in a UK school, involving 30 students and 11 teachers. The identified PP
techniques are as follows: a) Relaxation; b) Three good things; c) gratitude
letters; d) Random acts of kindness; and e) Identification/use of personal
strengths. Conclusions of the case study are the following: 1. The group
identified stress as the primary obstacle to their happiness; 2. Students reported
feeling calmer and less stressed during the following completion of the
intervention: 8/11 teachers reported positive changes in the way the students
responded to reprimands and 9/11 felt that the students seemed happier
following the intervention. Finally, the relaxation task appeared to have had the
greatest impact upon students’ sense of happiness and well-being.

a) Using the Positive Therapy, Wellness Counseling and Mindfulness Therapy,

present and discuss two (2) various theoretical concepts, for each, that shall
support the findings of the exploratory study that PP techniques have a
positive effect on the students’ happiness and well-being. (30 points)

i. Positive Therapy – HAPPINESS

- One of the goals in positive therapy is to alleviate distress and to encourage

clients to learn skills that will help them achieve and sustain happiness. Positive
therapy would support the use of PP techniques in the case study particularly the
Gratitude Letters because it is seen as one of the most effective techniques for
clients to achieve the elements on PERMA+ Model which constitutes to
happiness as well as well-being.

ii. Positive Therapy – PSYCHOLOGICAL RESILIENCE

- Positive therapy would utilize it Psychological Resilience concept to support the

claim the 8/11 teachers who reported positive changes in the way their students
responded to reprimands. In here, possibly, the students have realized their
emotional resilience or mental toughness that a reprimand of which most people
see as negative or related to pain, allows them to learn a lesson out from. The
psychological resiliency would explain the student being tougher or being able to
withstand any adversity, loss, disappointment and the like.
 iii. Wellness Counseling – THE COPING SELF

- The identification/use of personal strengths provided a gateway for the student to

discover their COPING SELF because this technique enabled them to realize
that despite the presence of stress as primary obstacle in their happiness, they
were still able to feel conquer it and feel happier after the intervention for, they
have come to realize their STRESS MANAGEMENT. This concept of wellness
counseling further supported the effectiveness of PP techniques in terms of
helping the student to feel calmer less stressed during the following completion of
the intervention.

iv. Wellness Counseling – WELLNESS

- The relaxation task being the greatest impact upon students’ sense of happiness
and well-being allows them also to come into contact with the diverse factors of
body, mind and spirit which leads them to attain the highest order factor which is the
Wellness.

v. Mindfulness Therapy – Meditation

-Mindfulness Therapy’s concept on meditation is connected with the PP technique

relaxation used in the case study. Meditation has many forms such as seated
meditation, walking meditation and many other. It helps clients/groups to come into
awareness of the self and his/her internal and external present moments which supports
the benefit of relaxation to the students in arriving at awareness that the intervention of
relaxation is effective to them in their pursuit of and feeling of happiness.

vi. Mindfulness Therapy – Kindness and Self-Compassion

- This concept is related to the PP Technique of random acts of kindness used in

the case study. Mindfulness is believed to include not only moment to moment
awareness but also the presence of compassion and kindness that is offered to
self and others. Random acts of kindness allowed the students to cultivate
kindness to themselves making them have full understanding on what hinders
them to be happy, have discovery on their coping skills to stress and to become
tougher despite of adversity.

b) Cite and discuss two (2) implications of these findings in your practice as a
counselor or as a psychotherapist. (10 points)

- First, the results of the case study assert the truth of the reciprocal relationship
of between positive and negative. I meant, in life it is not all positivity or
 optimism. There is still a vital role of negativity such in the form of adversity or
stress. As a counselor, we know that a client will come to us because he/she has
a problem but also we obviously know that we exists to help client find positivity
in the image of helping them realizing solutions to their problem and empowering
them to know their strengths and capabilities. In connection with the case study,
the students determined stress as leading hindrance to their happiness however
through the interventions provided, they discovered the best technique to use
when faced with stress and the have developed a calmer and tougher
characteristic of themselves. Secondly, as a counselor or as a psychotherapist,
the ethical domain of having sufficient knowledge, skills, and good judgment to
provide efficacious intervention is very important. It is expected to us to utilize the
best and appropriate techniques that can help client to overcome their condition,
to realize their strengths and to empower towards personal development and
optimum functionality.

2. Case Study 1: Solution Focused Brief Therapy

Maria is feeling distressed and tired because of her difficult life situation. She is
a single mother of two children- aged 3 and 8 and is currently pregnant with her
partner. Her socioeconomic status is low since she has no high-school
education, and she earns money by being involved in prostitution. There are
also times when her eight ear-old child refuses to attend school. She does not
have a major disorder and is willing to open up to a counselor.

You are the counselor and you decided, from among the available therapies, to
use the Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT).

a) Given the case of Maria, what ethical guideline immediately becomes your
baseline in working with her through counseling and why? (5 points)

- Respect for the unique worth and inherent dignity of all human beings.
I chose this ethical guideline as it reminds me always to acknowledge the
uniqueness of each client I will be working with. Maria, despite of the tight
situations she is into, she still has a worth and has a dignity. All clients are equal
regardless of if they are customer, complainant or visitor as categorized by De
Shazer (1988). Maria, like any other client deserves to be respected and
provided of necessary care.

b) Based on Maria’s situation, cite and discuss two (2) major key concepts that
will support your use of SFBT. (10 points)

i. Unique Focus of SFBT

- To be able to provide a brief therapy to Maria is to first distance her or take her a
way to dwelling place of her numerous problems and lead her to the unique focus
which SOLUTIONS. It is important to note that Maria has no major disorder but
 have these problems that made her feel distressed and tired. As a counselor, my
focus should be on what are the possible solutions and have her little or no
interest in gaining understanding of how the problem emerged. SFBT as future
focused approach suggests that Maria doesn’t need to know the relationship
between the causes of problems and their solutions. Furthermore, as a strength-
based approach, SFBT best works to Maria as it will allow me to emphasize her
strengths and resilience so that she will see herself as capable of finding and
formulating solutions to her problems.

ii. Looking for What is Working

- This concept of SFBT gives emphasis on the course of actions or interventions

Maria have tried to overcome her existing problems. In using SFBT, I will assist
her in paying attention to the exceptions to her problems and on her instances of
success. We will draw a pattern collaboratively towards the time when a problem
is less intrusive in her life and what did she do to overcome or at least lighten the
burden during those time and then encourage her to replicate or work on the
problem again the way she did. This will promote help and will boost her self-
confidence that she can handle her problems no matter how severe or many they
may be.

c) Identify three (3) specific techniques or strategies as your intervention during

your session/s with Maria. Illustrate the use of this technique by coming up
with a conversation script between you and Maria. (15 points)

i. Pretherapy Change

Me as her Psychotherapist: Hello Maria, it’s nice to meet you. I’m your
psychotherapist and I will be collaboratively working with you. How are you feeling now?
Maria: Hmm okay. It is nice to meet you too.
Me as her Psychotherapist: Is it okay if we get started?
Maria: Okay. Sure.
Me as her Psychotherapist: First, I just want to say that I appreciate you for having
scheduled an appointment with me for that indicates already a courage and wiliness
from you to address the problems you are going through. If I may ask, what have you
done since the time you called for this appointment that has made difference in your
problems?

ii. Exception Questions

Me as her Psychotherapist: Are there times when the problems do not happen or less
serious? For instance, are there times when you feel less distressed? When?
Maria: I think, yes. There really is a time when I feel less distressed especially during
the days when my eight ear-old child was waking-up early and was eager to go to
school.
Me as her Psychotherapist: What are the things you think that made your child to act
that way during those days? Are there things you have done a day before her school
days that motivates him to go to school?
Maria: I noticed that if I got to spend time to join him for dinner, he wakes up early for
school the next day. Also, I think this may contribute, when I am at home all day and not
going to work at night.

iii. Miracle Questions

Me as her Psychotherapist: If you are given a magic wand, and this gives you a
chance to make changes in your life, what are the things you want to change?
Maria: If I have given a chance, I would use the magic wand to get me back to my
younger year wherein I can finish my studies and have the opportunity to have a
professional work and to provide better for my future family. I should have made myself
ready enough to raise my kids.
Me as her Psychotherapist: I can see that you have a view of a wonderful view of your
future. If that wonderful view happens and all your problems vanished in one night, what
would be the first sign of difference?
Maria: Then I won’t be a prostitute. That would be the first thing I want to be different.

d) As a counselor, why do you think SFBT is an effective intervention for Maria?

(10 points)

- SFBT is an effective intervention to her because primarily she is willing to open

up, meaning she has an intention to find solutions to her problems. Also, she has
no major disorder that most probably would not require a brief therapy. Her
feelings of distressed and tiredness is brought about by the problems she is
experiencing are the main cause of her seeking-help attitudes. Roughly, I can
say that she has gone a long way and have conquered prior problems before the
existing ones that made her overcome. There is a need to emphasize her
strengths and resilience that she can find and formulate doable, achievable and
workable solutions to the problems she has.

e) As a multiculturally competent counselor, what cultural factors are evident

surrounding the case of Maria? Given these cultural factors, what basic
guidelines are you to follow to ensure that Maria experiences trust and
confidence to you as her attending counselor? (10 points).

- The cultural factors evident in the case of Maria are her socioeconomic status,
educational background, and nature of work. Also, she belongs to the minority
group of single mothers. Given the case of Maria, the basic guidelines of
confidentiality and privileged communication must be valued in order to ensure
the trust and confidence she has for me as her counselor. These will assure her
that whatever culture sensitivity she might be sharing, actually all the information
that she will entrust to me is protected. Furthermore, as a multiculturally
 competent counselor, the basic guideline on cultural awareness, understanding
and sensitivity will keep the vitality of the therapeutic relationship that we have.

3. The following case studies demonstrate how Narrative Therapy can be employed
as an intervention with a client. Pedro has been referred to a psychotherapist
following an increasing number of angry outbursts at home and work. His
employer has advised that he is on his ‘final warning’ regarding his heated
behaviour in the workplace. He has also been getting into a number of fights in
pubs and clubs. He feels very negative about his future and cannot see a way
forward. This is his first meeting with his psychotherapist.

Here is the conversation script:

a) Psychotherapist: Hi, Pedro, it’s good to meet you. I’m your psychotherapist
and I will be working with you. How are you feeling today?
Pedro: Oh, okay I suppose.
Psychotherapist: Is it okay if we get started?
Pedro: Sure.
Psychotherapist: Okay. What I would like you to do is to tell me a story
about yourself so I can understand a little more about you. Any events you
think are important to you. You can give as much detail as you like.
Pedro: Well, I finished university over two years ago. I studied Engineering. I
did okay at my university. I had really good marks in the first three years. I
had lots of friends. I spent a lot of time doing sports, particularly basketball. I
was in the university basketball team and really enjoyed the social side of the
team too. That’s how I met my girlfriend. We went out together for two years
and it was pretty. We were making plans about looking for jobs in the same
city when we finished studying. We just started to look forward to graduation
when she was killed in a car accident. I managed to finish college but things
have been pretty terrible since then. I got a job fairly soon after I graduated.
But that’s not hard for an Engineer in this town. I believe they would never
have taken me in if they had known what kind of weirdo they were getting.
Psychotherapist: Tell me more about what you mean by that?

Question 1: How do you describe the psychotherapist and what leading

technique did he/she use? (4 points)

- The psychotherapist shows curiosity in calmness. The therapist is leading into

the NT technique of Joining. In this conversation, the therapist is now trying to
gather more information by positioning him/herself as an ally in the therapeutic
relationship.

b) Pedro: Well, I just lose the plot at the least little thing. I know the boss and
they are watching me as they are sick of it and just waiting for me to kick off.
Sometimes I think they say stuff just to get me to lose it.
 Psychotherapist: What do you mean by lose the plot?

Question 2: What was the psychotherapist’s objective in this question?

(4 points)

- The psychotherapist’s objective is to get thin and thick descriptions out of the
figurative sentence of the client

c) Psychotherapist: Have you ever hit anyone?

Pedro: Not at work but I have been in lots of fights in the pub lately. The other
night I really hurt a guy for nudging me. My friends say they do not want to go
out with me anymore. I think they are embarrassed, but I can’t help it. I just
snap. Mom and Dad say I am angry all the time. They’re right. I flew into a
rage last night with Mom for not ironing the right shirt. I know I am going to
lose my job and likely my friends too, but I just get so angry and out of control
I can’t stop. It is not even at anything specific now.

Question 3: In Narrative Therapy, this disclosure of Pedro is described

as what type of a story? (4 points)

- The disclosure described a Dominant Narratives or Stories. Pedro provided

linkages or themes that are deemed to be important to the therapy.

d) Psychotherapist: Pedro, you have spoken about how the problem is

affecting your work and relationships with your friends and parents. Can you
tell me how the problem is affecting your emotions?
Pedro: Well, I feel pretty low and lonely at times. It is so unpredictable. This is
when it gets difficult with my friends. After an explosion I am so embarrassed
I don’t want to contact them. This makes it harder to call them up to do
anything the next weekend and I end up sitting at home on my own.
Psychotherapist: Do you think we could name the problem? Perhaps
something that you think describes it well for you?

Question 4: What technique was used by the Psychotherapist? (4

points)

- The psychotherapist used the technique of Externalization. By providing name to

the problem is a way of externalizing the problem from Pedro.

e) Psychotherapist: Can you remember any time that ‘The Explosion’ has not
happened at work when you are under pressure or when you have been out?
Pedro: Well, it happens most days, but about a month ago I went camping
with one of my old friends from college. We used to do go out to the hills a lot
but hadn’t been for ages. Well, since my girlfriend died actually. It was good
to get out of the house. We usually would bring some beer but this time we
 forgot. But it ended up that we had a good time anyway. Only once did I think
I was going to lose it when I tripped on the tent pegs, but I kept it cool. ‘The
Explosion’ did not come near me for 3 days.
Psychotherapist: So, there are times that ‘The Explosion’ could be there but
it has not manifested?

Question 5: What technique was further used by the psychotherapist?

(4 points)

- In this conversation, the technique of Unique Outcomes and Exceptions was

utilized.

f) Psychotherapist: What do you think was different?

Pedro: Well, I was not drinking for one thing. I was not pressured, and no one
was watching or judging me. And I was having a good time. We were
laughing about some of the good times we had in college. My friend Juan did
not avoid talking about my girlfriend and included our memories of her openly.
That was good. I could be me.
Psychotherapist: So, there were a number of things happening. You did not
drink but still felt relaxed and did not feel you were being judged or watched.
You could be yourself instead of what some of your friends thought you
should be. Also, you were able to speak about your girlfriend openly. Is that
correct?

Question 6: What technique is evident? (4 points)

- Search for Unique Outcomes was used as a technique this time. The
psychotherapist talked to Pedro about the moments of his success regarding the
‘The Explosions’.

g) The psychotherapist set Pedro a task. S/he asked him to think about his life
story again. S/he asked him to write down how his story might be different if
‘The Explosions’ did not present. S/he asked him to think about the control he
might have in day-to-day situations, how he might be feeling, how he might
interact with people at work, home and with friends and family. S/he also
asked him to think about his wishes for the future and how his story might
end. Pedro agreed to do this for their next session.

Question 7: What assignment did Pedro work on for the next session?
(4 points)
- It is the Alternative Stories and Reauthoring. The tasks encompass constructing
counter stories goes hand in hand with deconstruction. The assignment can be
done in a reauthored autobiography.