Integrative Therapy for Anxiety: Utilizing Psychodynamic, Person-Centered, and Other Models

Client History and Presenting Issues

This case study involves a 53-year-old woman known as SF with two children in their 20s. The reasons to seek therapy include anxiety, low mood, and overwhelming feelings after her boyfriend broke up after eight years. SF has been tearful and yearning for her ex-boyfriend, who has already moved on. She has been calling and harassing him, which led to police involvement.

Personal Philosophy

I value and focus on developing my client’s strengths, interests, skills, abilities, and knowledge to attain the required outcome. Every client has their uniqueness, which is why I work in a non-judgmental, empathetic manner with them since everyone is unique. I have always ensured that I do not harm any of my clients, and I believe in giving people second chances.

Personal Methods of Integration

Psychodynamic Model

Feud’s psychodynamic model focuses on unconscious processes and how they influence an individual’s behavior (“Week 5: Counselling theories”). In my client’s case, I will utilize this model to understand SF’s behavior of calling and harassing her ex-boyfriend after they broke up.

Person-Centered Model

Carl Rogers’ person-centered model focuses on unconditional positive regard, empathy, and congruence in the therapeutic relationship (“Week 6: Person-centered approach”). While working with SF, I will ensure she has a safe and supportive environment that makes her feel heard, understood, and validated.

Heinz Kohut Theory

Kohut’s self-psychology focuses on the importance of empathy and self-object transference and how empathetic mirroring helps clients develop a healthy sense of self (Kohut, 2022). I will focus on how I reflect and validate SF’s emotions and experiences to help her create a sense of self.

Winnicott Theory

Winnicott’s theory emphasizes the crucial transitional object and its role in a child’s development of a sense of self (Winnicott, n.d.). I will offer a holding environment and ensure SF feels safe and supported.

Finlay Theory

This theory focuses on how the client-therapist interaction is beneficial for supporting change (Fricker and Rigdon, 2020). I will use Finlay’s approach to develop a strong and effective relationship with SF and ensure she feels involved.

Carl Jung

To integrate a client’s shadow and aid in their individuation, Jung’s analytical psychology recommends looking into their unconscious and archetypes (Hilaire, 2019). I will use this model to help SF explore her unconscious and integrate her shadow.

Triangle of Insight and Integrative Theory

The Triangle of Insight and Integrative Theory emphasizes the importance of going through the client-therapist relationship, the client’s experience, and the experience the therapist is having in the process (The Clarkson Model, n.d). I will focus on these three elements to understand SF’s issues and how to support her.

Countertransference

I will use my countertransference to guide my interventions and my reparative work with SF. (Aasan, Brataas and Nordtug, 2022) (Gabbard, 2020). I will incorporate empathy and understanding to help SF feel there is someone to hear and validate her (Week 23: “Ethical Framework for Counsellling/Helping Professions”). I will also challenge her when necessary to help her grow and overcome different challenges.

Alternative Therapeutic Approaches

With SF, I will adopt a solution-focused approach, concentrating on her assets and strengths to assist her in achieving her objectives (Kim et al., 2019). I would use strategies like the scaling questions and the miraculous question to help her concentrate on the future (Neipp and Beyebach, 2022). However, this approach would require longer therapy sessions to realize the benefits.

Short-Term vs. Long-Term Approaches

I have been working with SF for six sessions using Clarkson’s model, and I plan to work with her for another six sessions. If I had used a long-term approach like psychoanalysis, I would handle her underlying emotional issues, but it may have taken longer (Week 23: “Ethical Framework for Counsellling/Helping Professions”). On the other hand, according to Baker (2021), using a short-term approach like CBT would help address her immediate symptoms but fail to address underlying emotional issues.

Reference List

Aasan, O.J., Brataas, H.V. and Nordtug, B. (2022) ‘Experience of managing countertransference through self-guided imagery in meditation AmnIKong healthcare professionals,’ Frontiers in Psychiatry, 13. Web.

Baker, A. (2021) ‘A defense of Kohut’s “self”,’ Psychoanalysis, Self and Context, 16(1), pp.85-93. Web.

Fricker Jr, R.D. and Rigdon, S.E. (2020) ‘Yellow fever discovering the cause and designing effective experiments,’ Significance, 17(3), pp.22-27. Web.

Gabbard, G.O. (2020) ‘The role of countertransference in contemporary psychiatric treatment,’ World Psychiatry. Web.

Hilaire, C.S. (2019) ‘Jungian psychology in a demanding modern world,’ Environment and Social Psychology, 4(1). Web.

Kim, J. et al. (2019) ‘Is solution-focused brief therapy evidence-based? An update 10 years later,’ Families in Society, 100(2), pp.127-138.

Kohut. (2022) ‘Self Psychology,’ Psychodynamic Theories Working Reparatively. Lecture Notes.

Neipp, M.C. and Beyebach, M. (2022) ‘The global outcomes of solution-focused brief therapy: A revision,’ The American Journal of Family Therapy, pp.1-18. Web.

The Clarkson Model. (n.d). How does transformation come about. Lecture Notes.

Week 23: Ethical Framework for Counsellling/Helping Professions. NCFE CACHE Level 3 Diploma in Counselling Skills. Lecture Notes.

Week 5: Counselling theories: Humanistic philosophy. NCFE CACHE Level 3 Award in Counselling Skills and Theory. Lecture Notes.

Week 6: Person-centered approach. NCFE CACHE Level 3 Award in Counselling Skills and Theory. Lecture Notes.

Winnicott, D. (n.d.) Child development & the therapeutic relationship. Lecture Notes.