Counseling Style Presentation

Integrating mind, body, & spirit through

diverse techniques and existential outlook Michael Reeder, MS, LGPCTherapist in private practice

Brookland Pastoral Center & Hygeia Counseling ServicesWashington & Baltimore Locations

Version 12/17/06© Reeder 2006

Overall Assumptions

• Holistic Balance:– A balance of several factors is needed for health.

• Existentialism:– Search for meaning– Fears: Meaninglessness, Isolation, Death, & Freedom

• Evolution & Transcendence:– Clients seek to evolve and transcend once:

• basic needs are met (Maslow)• basic needs are impossible (such as dying)

© Reeder 2006

The ModelBody

IntegrationCognition

Spirit

Affect

•Skills & Techniques I Often Use

•Who Benefits Most

•Client Examples

•My Assumptions

Make sure to look at the Notes section for more thoughts on each slide!

© Reeder 2006

Client Examples

I’ll use some fictionalized examples of what I’d do for people from each of the model areas

• “Max” (I’ll refer to him several times)– 47-year old divorced white male– Fighting alcoholism, depression, and hopelessness– Years of moving from counselor to counselor

• Mainly values medication, not counseling

– Former company vice president now living in a group home on low income

© Reeder 2006

Cognition

• Skills & Techniques I Often Use:– Cognitive-Behavioral Techniques: ABC– Psychoeducation– Development of personal stories– Concrete tools:

• Thought Journals• Card Sorts

»

© Reeder 2006

Cognition

• Who Benefits Most:– Verbal, analytical clients– Clients with negative self-talk– Clients willing to do homework– Clients needing to learn about their condition

• Client Examples– Max: Assigned thought journals

»

© Reeder 2006

Cognition

• My Assumptions:– Existential Underpinnings: Finding meaning

through understanding and story-making.– The client must buy into the treatment

• I explain, show treatment plans, and sometimes diagnoses

• The client has a brain and is an equal partner in the treatment process

– Understanding is curative… but rarely enough.

© Reeder 2006

Affect

• Skills & Techniques I Often Use:– Basic humanistic counseling techniques:

• Reflective listening, unconditional positive regard…

– Gestalt– Card sorts– Guided imagery

© Reeder 2006

Affect

• Who Benefits Most:– People who have trouble accessing their emotions– People needing emotional expression, support, and connection

(anyone!)

• Client Examples– Max: Gestalt empty chair

• His drinking self versus clean self talk• More pros and cons to drinking can be generated in 5 minutes than

in 20 minutes of group discussion!

– Beth: Emotional card sorts• Build vocabulary, deeper precision of recognition, prompt

conversation

»

© Reeder 2006

Affect

• My Assumptions:– Humanistic counseling techniques underlie

everything!

• Quote:– “All forms of psychotherapy, when successful, arouse

the patient emotionally.” – Jerome Frank

© Reeder 2006

Body

• Skills & Techniques I Often Use:– Referral: Medical and psychiatric

consultations– Relaxation & breathing

• For physical stress release

– Body-centric approaches

© Reeder 2006

Body

• Who Benefits Most:– Persons with medical conditions– Persons needing psychotropic medications– Anxiety & panic disorder patients– Trauma patients

• Client Examples– Max takes meds for depression– Max has a family history of alcoholism

© Reeder 2006

Body

• My Assumptions:– Less psychiatric medication is best IF personal

resources can be mobilized.– An agitated mind can not exist in a relaxed body.

© Reeder 2006

Spirit

• Skills & Techniques I Often Use:– Spiritual Assessment

• Spiritual autobiographies, spiritual roots exercise• Highfield & Cason’s four spiritual needs (meaning &

purpose, give love, receive love, hope & creativity)

– Goal-Setting: • Based on Highfield & Cason, & getting back to roots

– Meditation & Awareness

© Reeder 2006

Spirit

• Who Benefits Most:– Depressed patients– Addicted patients– Spiritually or religiously inclined patients– Clients searching for meaning

• Client Examples– Max: SHI & INSPIRIT

• Spirituality as boost to AA efforts

– Drug Relapse group: Definitions & roots exercise

© Reeder 2006

Spirit

• My Assumptions:– Existential Underpinnings: Finding meaning

through understanding.– Transcending yourself is healthy

© Reeder 2006

Integration

• Skills & Techniques I Often Use:– Integrating fragments of self:

• Gestalt - empty chair, feed you a line, exaggeration, etc.• Adlerian -- Acting As If• Meditation – Finding the center

– Balance:• Integration of techniques from all five areas• Mindfulness

– Recognizing, understanding, and releasing emotions & thoughts

© Reeder 2006

Integration

• Who Benefits Most:– PTSD and DiD clients– Trauma clients in general– Patients harboring body memories– Anyone experiencing depersonalization,

derealization, and dissociation

© Reeder 2006

Integration

• Client Examples– Max: Trauma Symptoms?

• Reports losing time, trouble following conversations due to memories intruding, and feeling numb emotionally.

• Alludes vaguely to earlier trauma

• My Assumptions:– People have multiple, sometimes paradoxical,

separate selves/parts– Meaning can help integrate self and life

© Reeder 2006

Conclusion

• Counseling requires a balanced approach:– Body, cognition, affect, spirit, integration

• Existential influences underlie the model.– Especially meaning– Especially isolation (transcendence &

centering)

© Reeder 2006