Love's Executioner

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Cohn, HansW. 1997. Existential Thought and Therapeutic Practice: An Introduction to Existential Therapy. USA: Sage Publications DISCUSS THE THERAPEUTIC PROCESS AND THERAPEUTICALLIANCEAS CASE STUDIEDINN IRVIN YALOM’S LOVE’S EXECUTIONER. IS THE THERAPY WORKING? EXPLAIN. Psychotherapy is a well known type of counseling which is associated to psychoanalysis popularized by Sigmund Freud and other behavioral theorists whose work focused on behavioral analysis. Existential Psychotherapy came out in the work of four psychiatrists, they are: Karl Jaspers in Germany (1951, 1964), Ludwig Binswnger (1946, 1963), Medard Boss (1957, 1962, 1979), and Victor Frank. Emmy Van Deurzen in her article entitled “Existential Psychotherapy” explained that existential psychotherapy can only be truly existential if it involved the cultural, social, political and ideological context of a person’s existence. Deurzen noted that existential approach is a holistic approach examining the human condition and tries to figure out and investigate the individual’s experienced (Deurzen).

The collection of ten absorbing tales by master psychotherapist Irvin D. Yalom uncovers the mysteries, frustrations, pathos, and humor at the heart of the therapeutic encounter. In recounting his patients’ dilemmas, Yalom not only gives us a rare and enthralling glimpse into their personal desires and motivations but also tells us his own story as he struggles to reconcile his all-too human responses with his sensibility as a psychiatrist. Not since Freud has an author done so much to clarify what goes on between a psychotherapist and a patient. Love’s Executioner and Other Tales of Psychotherapy by Irvin D. Yalom – eBook Details I’m going to put forward an argument from the view point of both the client “Thelma” and the therapist “Yalom” that the therapeutic process and therapeutic alliance may or may not have worked. You, the reader can make up your own mind. This basic and fundamental concept of existential psychodynamic and psychoanalysis has some significance in the application of Neuro-linguistic psychotherapy. As what Cooper and Seal have stated, that NLP is not a therapy but a methodology in the counselling of patients with deviant and disrupted behaviour. We may conclude therefore that neuro-linguistic psychotherapy is a good and effective method of counselling that could be utilized after a thorough study of a particular case has been done using existential and psychoanalysis. Yalom himself felt guilty at the end of the treatment and he felt his belief that “he could treat anyone” let him down and embarrassed himself professionally. However, Thelma did not throw any blame on Yalom and remained secretive with the Research Group about the details of her therapy which certainly did not point the finger of failure at Yalom as a therapist, which leads the reader to believe that Thelma did not think the therapeutic process or therapeutic alliance was a failure. Thelma is a very interesting case though and there are several factors in the story which leaves you wondering if Thelma was just a person vulnerable to being fixated (she cannot accept the loss of Matthew) but this may not be a conscious thing. Her age is also important as she’s thinking of “the meaning of her life” and what’s it all about. As the reader I wanted to “fix” Thelma and this made me realise that it also brought out an exaggerated sense of responsibility in me – this is possibly from bringing up my kids as a single parent. Thelma was having a need met by attending therapy and at the end of the six months, there was no mention of suicide in the Research Report, she was happily meeting Matthew for coffee every month or so and her psychological issues and depression had improved. It certainly seems like the therapeutic process and therapeutic alliance did work.In view of theoretical concept, Asaf Rolef Ben-Shahar explained the differences between the two therapies in terms of presupposition. According to him, the understanding underlying psychoanalytic theory is that “cure happens through bringing unconscious material into consciousness” (Sharar, par. 2), in which according to the author, unconscious forces are often bad or negative that results or poses danger to the integrity of a person. On the other hand, in Neuro-linguistic psychotherapy, curing through understanding is possible but not necessary (Sharar, par. 3). He explained that the legitimate processes in this kind of therapy require insight-based strategies and transference-interpretations and analyses which also serve as the only tools of this therapy. Thus, he stated that the main concern of psychoanalysis is finding the cause or simply answering the question why, while the nuero-linguistic psychotherapy is finding the right method among choices or simply answering the question how. Bateman, A. Pedder, J., 2000. Brown, D. Introduction to Psychotherapy: An Outline of Psychodynamic Principles and Practice. Routledge The Research Report Yalom mentioned at the end of therapy with Thelma paints a positive picture where it depicts Thelma as being “improved significantly”. It states she is less depressed and no longer seen as a suicide risk. Her self-esteem has improved and also her anxiety, hypochondriacal tendencies and her tendency for obsession and psychotic behaviour. It also states that Thelma was very secretive about the therapeutic process. It could be said that Thelma is well capable of duping the Research Group. That leads the reader to wonder was it the therapeutic process/alliance that improved Thelma’s state of mind or was it the fact that she was meeting Matthew once monthly for a coffee and a chat, after she finished therapy i.e. just two people having coffee and chatting, no other agenda. Is this all she wanted and possibly used Yalom to facilitate the three-way meeting with Matthew so she could perhaps arrange these regular meetings at a different time? Regardless of what the Research Report stated at the end of the 6 months therapy sessions, Thelma it seemed still had trouble connecting to “reality”, but how can we the reader, judge what her reality is? She was still with her husband Harry as far as the reader knows, but yet yearning for a relationship with Matthew, but this marriage filled a need in both Thelma and Harry as they stayed together. People deserve understanding and acceptance because they are human (Cully and Bond 2004). When, during the therapy process, Thelma became aware of her obsession with Matthew being a problem and the illusion was striped away, she did feel anger but then used that as an excuse to end therapy as her losses were too great. She did commit to the therapy process for the six months which also indicates to the reader that the therapeutic process was working for Thelma. In the Beginning Stage of therapy, we saw a working relationship being established, problems defined and clarified, an assessment made by Yalom (i.e. willing to work with Thelma) and a contract was negotiated. In the Middle Stage we saw Thelma being assisted in reassessing her problems and concerns, which helped to shift the process from problems to solutions and the End Stage typically in concerned with planning for and taking effective action and focuses on ending the Counselling relationship. (Cully and Bond 2004). Thelma ended the therapy herself.

All behavior serves a purpose behavior that is negative in terms of results is dependent of the value of the individual. If you need assistance with writing your essay, our professional essay writing service is here to help! Essay Writing ServicePrincipally, their aim is to help patients cope up with these challenges brought about by their everyday experiences which at one time they seemed unable to overcome. These circumstances in their lives force them to act differently which is quite deviant from the normal reaction which normal people do. Shahar, Asaf Rolef Ben. “Comparative Evaluation and Criticism of Neuro-Linguistic-Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis.” NLP & NLP Psychotherapy, The therapeutic process for a client usually means meeting with a therapist to resolve problematic behaviours, beliefs, feelings, relationship issues and)/or somatic responses (sensations in the body). (Cully and Bond 2004). Sue Cully and Tim Bond 2004, Integrative Counselling Skills in Action, London, Sage Publications Ltd.

Existential psychotherapy, psychodynamic principles and practices and neuro-linguistic are all basically therapeutic approaches which deal with human experiences, human behavioural patterns and verbal and non verbal reactions about the different problems the patients encounter and the impact of these experiences in their lives.Anthony Bateman, Jonathan Pedder and Dennis Brown noted that psychodynamic is based on the provision of a setting in which a person may begin to reconcile with this disowned aspects of himself, his experience (Bateman, Pedder and Brown, p. 63). They pointed out that the setting for this process is the relationship with the therapist, which without it, psychodynamic therapy cannot begin. They confirmed Cohn’s findings that dynamic psychotherapy had begun with Freud and psychoanalysis (p. 96), which utilizes three different meanings and functions. First, it is technique for investigating unconscious psychic life; second, it refers to theoretical body of knowledge built up on the basis of such observations; and third, it is used to describe an intense method of psychotherapeutic treatment. Dr. Helmut Jelem and Mag. Peter Schutz in their article about Neurolinguistic Psychotherapy have stated clearly the similarities and difference between the two concepts both theoretically and in practice. On the other hand, Asaf Rolef Ben-Shahar found differences in terms of theory and/or presuppositions. Individual’s experience internal and external event through sensory modes including visual, auditory, kinesthetic olfactory and gustatory. Our academic experts are ready and waiting to assist with any writing project you may have. From simple essay plans, through to full dissertations, you can guarantee we have a service perfectly matched to your needs. View our services Compare and Contrast Existential and Psychodynamic Principles and Practices with Neuro-Linguistic Psychotherapy