Problem:
Jenifah comes to therapy experiencing apprehension and nervousness regarding the treatment process. Jenifah describes feeling abandoned as a child, and craved the attention her father gave her brothers, and the attention her adopted siblings received from both her parents. She describes still holding on to significant resentment, which leads to her "pushing" her family away. After Jenifah "pushes" her family away, she feels significant guilt. It appears that Jenifah does not feel her resentment is valid and is ashamed that it isolates her from her family.
Jenifah's childhood experiences of feeling abandoned and lacking meaningful attention from her parents are very real, valid experiences, and emotional responses in reaction tothose experiences. Jenifah should feel comfortable acknowledging that her anger and resentment are valid, and she should not feel consumed by guilt when she responds negatively to these emotions. She describes being "nasty" to her mother in college when she attempted to connect with her in particular moments, such as through tennis and shopping outings. Although Jenifah's acting out in response to her anger is maladaptive, her childhood experiences help explain her behavior, and she should not continue to harbor guilt.
Applying theories of Gestalt Therapy could be practical in Jenifah's case. Awareness, choice, and responsibility are cornerstones of practice. The initial goal is for clients to increase their awareness of their present-moment experience (Corey, 2023). Jenifah demonstrates significant awareness of her negative childhood experiences, her maladaptive relationships, her lack of coping skills, and difficulties regulating her emotions. She can identify her problems clearly but struggles to resolve them effectively. A basic assumption of Gestalt therapy is that individuals have the capacity to self-regulate when they are aware of what is happening in and around them (Corey, 2023). Therefore, Gestalt Therapy techniques could be effective for Jenifah because of her existing awareness of hersituation, and her willingness to participate in treatment.
One technique of the Gestalt approach that could be used successfully with Jenifah is the practice of "staying with the feeling". Facing and experiencing feelings not only takes courage but also marks an individual's willingness to endure the pain necessary to unblock and make way for new levels of growth (Corey, 2023). In this practice, clients are encouraged to remain with feelings they typically avoid because they are unpleasant. I believe this technique would be effective with Jenifah because she demonstrates not only awareness but also a willingness to work through unresolved feelings and negative experiences. This technique could be effective at resolving the guilt Jenifah experiences. If successful, she could begin to understand how her negative childhood experiences impact her current behavior and relationships with her family, and react to attempts at connection in a healthier way, despite enduring what she has with her family in the past. She could begin not only to recognize her negative emotions as they arise but also to choose healthier ways to respond.
When using this technique with a client, having a strong therapeutic relationship, built on trust and nonjudgmental acceptance, fosters the safety needed for clients to remain with these unpleasant feelings (Corey, 2023). The goal is to create an alliance and environment where Jenifah feels comfortable working through these vulnerable, unpleasant emotions with me as her counselor. I can introduce this technique to her by reflecting on the physical signals I notice when she recalls certain experiences; doing so could help identify the negative feelings she is hesitant to stay with. For instance, I would look for these signals when Jenifah recalls instances in which she felt she had "ruined" her mother's efforts to connect with her, such as through thought tennis and shopping. Perhaps Jenifah physically shrinks her body or struggles to maintain eye contact. I do not want to pressure Jenifah into exploring these feelings so as not to make her feel even more uncomfortable, but rather to invite her to reflect on them more deeply. Gestalt Therapy encourages somatic awareness, and I would inquire where Jenifah is experiencing these negative emotions in her body as she remains with the feeling. Providing Jenifah with support, warmth, and empathy as she remains with the feeling is crucial. I want her to know that I am here to work through this experience with her. As Jenifah remains with her feelings longer, we can increase her awareness and, consequently, her ability to grow. Exploring this technique during future sessions, with a focus on her relationship with her mother, could be significant, as Jenifah admits she "was harboring all this anger inside" her. Need Assignment Help?
References:
Corey, G. (2023). Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy (11th ed.). Cengage Learning US.