Reading Summary
The central reading for this work was the first chapter of Irvin Yalom’s book, Every Day Gets a Little Closer. This section describes Jeanie’s visit to a specialist for help. A woman complains about a feeling of emptiness that haunts her and problems in her sexual life. The value of this reading lies in the presentation of the point of view of both a specialist, Dr. Yalom, and a patient, Ginny (Yalom, 1974). This aspect is helpful because it provides insight into how patients respond to specific actions during therapy.
During the course of therapy, the patient noted a frequent feeling of anxiety. Most often, it arose because of the fear that her partner would leave her, or in cases when they were not engaged in sexual intercourse, which seemed very important to her. Dr. Yalom began working with a woman to define her central life values, consistently showing active participation and presence in their conversations. This gave the patient a sense of calm and made her less aware, which represents a positive aspect of therapy. Over the course of subsequent sessions, the patient noted significant improvement in her condition and the vision of an alternative solution to address her problem.
The excerpt focuses on ways to assist in treating patients like Ginny. Henceforth, “reconstruction of the past, interpretations, clarifications of this sort” can be productive (Yalom, 1974, p. 17). For example, understanding the past can provide insight into the problems an individual faces in adulthood.
In addition, Dr. Yalom’s setting of limits is an essential component. This circumstance arises because specialists must maintain a certain level of responsibility and authority over patients. The doctor stated that, to preserve the patient’s reporting, a summary of the sessions from her perspective is mandatory. Therefore, this reading illustrates the intricate process of assisting patients and the complex process of establishing a proper relationship between doctors and clients.
Alignment with Theories and Research
The New Science of Happiness
The first reading of the course, which will be investigated for compliance with the course readings, is “The new science of happiness.” This article explores what makes people happy and how this condition can be measured. Furthermore, the author presents the viewpoints of various researchers, each of whom has been engaged in measuring happiness and its factors.
Regarding the case of Jinnia, it is worth noting that a statement about the aspects most important to women is valuable. The article states that a study was conducted, the results of which showed “five most positive activities for women were (in descending order) sex, socializing, relaxing, praying or meditating, and eating” (Wallis, 2005, p. 2). Thus, this article contributes to understanding why Ginny’s sex life was so valuable and why it bothered her.
Five Useful Questions in Couples Therapy
Although the passage did not mention couples therapy, the article “Five useful questions in couples therapy” can be critical. When investigating Ginny’s situation, it immediately becomes necessary for her and her partner to undergo therapy. This is because they have significant difficulties both in sexual and ordinary life.
The woman experiences anxiety almost daily because of her relationship with her partner. Couples undergoing therapy can have a positive effect on the partners’ interest and understanding of each other (Madden, 2005). Thus, this course reading can also be applied to the case under study.
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
The concepts presented in the book “Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders” can also be applied to the case of the patient Ginny read. Thus, it is imperative to consider the cultural concept of distress to understand how the disorder manifests and is perceived by an individual (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). In Ginny’s case, Dr. Yalom made the right choice by learning from the patient her fundamental life values and beliefs. Therefore, he gained awareness of the factors that affect her mental state and what is most essential for her in a relationship, and was able to determine the further course of their interaction.
Constructing the Self, Constructing America
“Constructing the self, constructing America” is another source studied in this course. This work focuses on providing information regarding the formation of psychotherapy in a cultural context. The author notes that “Researchers do not ‘see’ or ‘discover’ the one, reified truth of a culture; they construct a truth through the process of collecting, studying, and analyzing” (Cushman, 1996, p. 26). This statement applies to the investigated case, as Dr. Yalom, when conducting therapy, focused on obtaining as much information as possible from the patient. He asked many questions, assessed her values, and asked her to keep records of each appointment, including her emotions and experiences related to treatment.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
The principles of cognitive-behavioral therapy are valuable guides for determining what should be included in the process of helping patients. In “Basic principles and practice of cognitive behavioral therapy,” particular importance is given to the treatment’s structure. It is indicated that “cognitive behavioral therapy uses a collaborative process in which the therapist and patient work together to problem-solve how to challenge dysfunctional thoughts and behaviors underlying the presenting problem” (Calkins et al., 2016, p. 5). This theoretical approach is characterized by the constant interaction between Ginny and Dr. Yalom, which occurs both through face-to-face meetings and through record-keeping. After each session, the patient can note positive changes, which is critically important.
Influence of the Readings on Personal Experience
The chosen readings had a significant impact on my approach to helping people. In particular, the contribution helped me plan for engaging in helping relationships. This circumstance is because, first of all, I gained an understanding of what aspects must necessarily be present in the process of working with individuals. Hence, it is essential to consider patients’ cultural backgrounds, including their values, beliefs, and perspectives. This will provide an understanding of how people perceive, respond to, and cope with events that occur to them. Another aspect that should become an integral part of therapy is the constant interaction between the patient and the specialist.
Regarding cognitive-behavioral therapy, fostering communication among participants in the care process can yield the most effective results. In the future, my primary task will be to further research this field and expand my skills as a specialist. Moreover, when assisting individuals, I will apply these aspects to more successful outcomes.
References
American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders. American Psychiatric Association.
Calkins, A. W., Park, J. M., Wilhelm, S., & E. Sprich, S. (2016). Basic principles and practice of cognitive behavioral therapy. The Massachusetts General Hospital Handbook of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, 5-14.
Cushman, P. (1996). Constructing the self, constructing America: A cultural history of psychotherapy. Da Capo Press.
Madden, M. (2005). Five useful questions in couples therapy. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Family Therapy, 26(2), 61-64.
Wallis, C. (2005). The new science of happiness. Time.
Yalom, I. D. (1974). Every day gets a little closer: A twice-told therapy. Basic Books.