Emotional Focused Therapy (EFT) is a theory on couple’s therapy focusing on emotional reactions between relating partners. The focus of the theory is on how negative interaction cycles provoke negative and hostile emotional reactions among primary relational partners. The therapeutic focus is to correct emotional experiences in the couple’s relationship.
The theory uses attachment theory with a perspective that there are two relationship roles that play into negative interaction cycle to support the couple’s conflict namely the “withdrawer” and the “blamer” (pursuer). To Show how Emotional focused therapy works, I have created a fictious case of a couple named Bob and Cynthia.
Bob(27years) and Cynthia (25 years) have been married for approximately three years. They met when they started working together seven years ago. The source of their going for therapy was a recent conflict between them which resulted in Cynthia moving back to her parent’s home. They have been in therapy for six sessions. Both report that when they fight they try to Say the most hurtful thing that they can to each other. They continually revisit past issues and use intimate details against each other.
In this case Cynthia is the pursuer while Bob is the withdrawer. The pursuer partner does so due to the perceived disengagement in the relationship. Cynthia pursues Bob in order to engage him into the relationship because she feels “overwhelmed, rejected and alone”. If Bob does not respond to her she becomes more upset and pursues him further and brings up times when Bob disappointed her. Bob on the other hand reacts by withdrawing until the “nagging” eventually leads him to explode in name calling and brings up a past relationship that Cynthia had in the early part of their relationship
The first thing that a therapist does in such a case is to track and reflect on emotional experiences. This allows the therapist to focus on the process of therapy as well as build the therapeutic alliance and clarify relationship roles vis-à-vis who is the pursuer and who is the withdrawer. In our case we have identified Cynthia as the pursuer and Bob as the withdrawer. The other issue is to identify the attachment injury by encouraging the partners to discuss a particular painful incident where the other partner was inaccessible and unresponsive.
This is referred to as the “marker event”. For Cynthia this is the time that she had a miscarriage. She relates how every time Bob is not there she “re-experiences the miscarriage”. She reflects on how Bob appeared to be disinterested with the pregnancy and even when she was rushed to hospital he did not respond or return her calls. To make it worse, after the baby was lost, Bob did not comfort or empathize with her. On the Part of Bob, the injury pertains to the relationship that Jessica had with his best friend when Bob was away due to work demands.
Read more: http://www.bukisa.com/articles/369004_how-emotional-focused-couples-therapy-work#ixzz11ufAmyzd
This is a blog that I educate and express my opinions on some health and mental Health issues. Different therapies used in psychotherapy are also discussed.
Saturday, October 9, 2010
8 Simple Ways to manage depression
Depression is a mental illness that is experienced by most people if not all at one time or another in their lifetime. This is because we all go through some life changes be they physical, emotional or psychological which cause us to depress
Depression can manifest as feelings of sadness, low self-esteem, hopelessness, weariness, sleeping problems and physical pains. It is important to consult a doctor if the symptoms are affecting your daily functioning and for a proper diagnosis. There are many other illness that may manifest as depression or cause depression and it is therefore important to rule out other medical conditions that maybe the cause of your symptoms.
The doctor may prescribe antidepressant but it is also important to seek a mental health therapist who will assist you to process your thoughts and feelings that maybe causing the depression. Depression is caused by feelings that are internalized which may cause chemical imbalance and the way to deal with them is to externalize.
Ways to help yourself Recover
1) Depression will cause you to want to isolate and feed on your negative emotions that are in the first place causing you to depress. The first thing to try and do is to avoid isolation. This in the beginning can be done by taking walks near where you are. Even though you are not talking to people, you will find observing your surrounding or people around you will help you take the focus out of you. If you can, take walks in the park because there is always some activity going and it is also serene.
2) Connected with this, is when you are outside you enjoy the sun. People who depress have been found to be short of Vitamin D. The sun is the greatest supplier of vitamin D which is absorbed through the skin. Most depression happen during the gloomy season and indeed the cases of depression in Africa are very low perhaps because the sun is up most days of the year.
Read more: http://www.bukisa.com/articles/366241_8-simple-ways-to-manage-depression#ixzz11ueGQGT1
Depression can manifest as feelings of sadness, low self-esteem, hopelessness, weariness, sleeping problems and physical pains. It is important to consult a doctor if the symptoms are affecting your daily functioning and for a proper diagnosis. There are many other illness that may manifest as depression or cause depression and it is therefore important to rule out other medical conditions that maybe the cause of your symptoms.
The doctor may prescribe antidepressant but it is also important to seek a mental health therapist who will assist you to process your thoughts and feelings that maybe causing the depression. Depression is caused by feelings that are internalized which may cause chemical imbalance and the way to deal with them is to externalize.
Ways to help yourself Recover
1) Depression will cause you to want to isolate and feed on your negative emotions that are in the first place causing you to depress. The first thing to try and do is to avoid isolation. This in the beginning can be done by taking walks near where you are. Even though you are not talking to people, you will find observing your surrounding or people around you will help you take the focus out of you. If you can, take walks in the park because there is always some activity going and it is also serene.
2) Connected with this, is when you are outside you enjoy the sun. People who depress have been found to be short of Vitamin D. The sun is the greatest supplier of vitamin D which is absorbed through the skin. Most depression happen during the gloomy season and indeed the cases of depression in Africa are very low perhaps because the sun is up most days of the year.
Read more: http://www.bukisa.com/articles/366241_8-simple-ways-to-manage-depression#ixzz11ueGQGT1
Basic Concepts of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is one of the models used by psychotherapist to improve the life of a client. The therapy emphasis is on our thinking, feelings and how we act as result of those thoughts
Most mental health therapies suggest a client's psychological symptoms emanate from the client's family of origin. It is presumed that the client learnt to do things the way they do from their family of origin and if they are not properly differentiated they will have clinical symptoms. CBT on the other hand suggest that people get psychological problems because of self induced rigid “musts” commands about the events in their lives.
This kind of thinking creates perfectionist tendencies where “must” and “should” are highlighted creating un attainable goals. Often this system of thinking leads to a low tolerance for frustrations, self pity, and anxiety. CBT therapy aims at helping the client think and look at how their irrational and distorted thoughts are maladaptive to achieving personal success.
The emphasis is on the therapeutic, collaborative, and Socratic dialogue which helps the client see how their feelings and behavior is affecting their quality of life. By collaboration, the therapist seeks to learn what the client’s goals in life are and then helps the client achieve the goals. By using Socratic methods the therapist gains a good understanding of the client and client’s problems by asking questions. The therapist also teaches the client to ask themselves questions.
The therapist carries out an assessment on the client to determine the areas of distortions and consequently dysfunctions that is leading to clinical symptoms. The most common found distortions in individuals and families are in the following areas:
Read more: http://www.bukisa.com/articles/350963_basic-concepts-of-cognitive-behavioral-therapy-cbt#ixzz11udGuVcM
Most mental health therapies suggest a client's psychological symptoms emanate from the client's family of origin. It is presumed that the client learnt to do things the way they do from their family of origin and if they are not properly differentiated they will have clinical symptoms. CBT on the other hand suggest that people get psychological problems because of self induced rigid “musts” commands about the events in their lives.
This kind of thinking creates perfectionist tendencies where “must” and “should” are highlighted creating un attainable goals. Often this system of thinking leads to a low tolerance for frustrations, self pity, and anxiety. CBT therapy aims at helping the client think and look at how their irrational and distorted thoughts are maladaptive to achieving personal success.
The emphasis is on the therapeutic, collaborative, and Socratic dialogue which helps the client see how their feelings and behavior is affecting their quality of life. By collaboration, the therapist seeks to learn what the client’s goals in life are and then helps the client achieve the goals. By using Socratic methods the therapist gains a good understanding of the client and client’s problems by asking questions. The therapist also teaches the client to ask themselves questions.
The therapist carries out an assessment on the client to determine the areas of distortions and consequently dysfunctions that is leading to clinical symptoms. The most common found distortions in individuals and families are in the following areas:
Read more: http://www.bukisa.com/articles/350963_basic-concepts-of-cognitive-behavioral-therapy-cbt#ixzz11udGuVcM
Managemnet and treatment of schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a mental condition or illness that occurs in people from all cultures and from all works of life. The disorder is characterized by an array of diverse symptoms, including oddities in perception, thinking, action, sense of self and manner in relating to others. The hallmark of the disorder however is the significant loss of contact with reality.
Before the 1950s the prognosis for schizophrenia was rather bleak because there were very few treatment options. Treatment was mainly based in institutionalizing the patient in overcrowded hospitals and treated with electroconvulsive “shock” therapy. Dramatic improvement came in the mid 1950’s with the introduction of “anti-psychotic” drugs.
Currently there are two phases of schizophrenia treatment and recovery. One phase addresses severe symptoms of an acute psychotic episode and the other focuses on improving functioning and preventing relapse during the maintenance or recovery phase of illness.
Acute Phase: The aim of treatment in the acute phase is to get the psychotic symptoms under control so the patient is not in danger to self or to others. Hospitalization may be required during this time. At this time medication is the primary treatment.
Maintenance Phase: During the maintenance phase of treatment, the goal is to sustain symptom remission or control, reduce the risk of relapse and hospitalization, and teach skills for daily living. Maintenance treatment typically involves medication, supportive therapy, family education and counseling, vocational and social counseling.
Medication:
The medications used in the treatment of schizophrenia are known as antipsychotic (neuroleptic drugs). These medications do not provide a cure but rather work by reducing the psychotic symptoms of the illness. They are thought to work by changing the balance or activity of chemical that transmit message in the brain (neurotransmitters).
The antipsychotic medications are particularly effective at controlling the positive symptoms of schizophrenia. The positive symptoms include hallucination, delusions, paranoia, and disordered thinking. These drugs are however less helpful in treating the negative symptoms such as social withdrawal, lack of motivation and lack of emotional expressiveness.
The two main groups of medications used for treatment of schizophrenia are the older or “typical” antipsychotic medications and the newer “Atypical” antipsychotic medications.
Read more at: http://www.bukisa.com/articles/351487_treatment-of-schizophrenia
Before the 1950s the prognosis for schizophrenia was rather bleak because there were very few treatment options. Treatment was mainly based in institutionalizing the patient in overcrowded hospitals and treated with electroconvulsive “shock” therapy. Dramatic improvement came in the mid 1950’s with the introduction of “anti-psychotic” drugs.
Currently there are two phases of schizophrenia treatment and recovery. One phase addresses severe symptoms of an acute psychotic episode and the other focuses on improving functioning and preventing relapse during the maintenance or recovery phase of illness.
Acute Phase: The aim of treatment in the acute phase is to get the psychotic symptoms under control so the patient is not in danger to self or to others. Hospitalization may be required during this time. At this time medication is the primary treatment.
Maintenance Phase: During the maintenance phase of treatment, the goal is to sustain symptom remission or control, reduce the risk of relapse and hospitalization, and teach skills for daily living. Maintenance treatment typically involves medication, supportive therapy, family education and counseling, vocational and social counseling.
Medication:
The medications used in the treatment of schizophrenia are known as antipsychotic (neuroleptic drugs). These medications do not provide a cure but rather work by reducing the psychotic symptoms of the illness. They are thought to work by changing the balance or activity of chemical that transmit message in the brain (neurotransmitters).
The antipsychotic medications are particularly effective at controlling the positive symptoms of schizophrenia. The positive symptoms include hallucination, delusions, paranoia, and disordered thinking. These drugs are however less helpful in treating the negative symptoms such as social withdrawal, lack of motivation and lack of emotional expressiveness.
The two main groups of medications used for treatment of schizophrenia are the older or “typical” antipsychotic medications and the newer “Atypical” antipsychotic medications.
Read more at: http://www.bukisa.com/articles/351487_treatment-of-schizophrenia
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