Experiential Therapy

1
Experiential Therapy

• Intro to Theories of Therapy

2
Hallmarks of Experiential Therapies

3
Beliefs about humans

• Potential for growth
• All behavior is motivated out of good desires
• Dysfunction is a result of hindrance of growth
• Change comes by striving to be real or authentic
• Therapeutic relationship characterized by honesty
  and openness.

4
Symbolic Experiential FT (SEFT)

• Carl Whitakerfather of this theory
• Multigenerational Approach
• Symbolic refers to the fact that much of our
  experience lies outside of our consciousness. It
  refers to something or some process that has more
  than one meaning.

5
SEFT Theoretical concepts

• Non-theoretical approach
• Creativity
• Emotional experience prized
• Use of self Self of the Therapist
• Cotherapy
• Black sheep
• White knight
• Battle for structure
• Battle for initiative

6
SEFT Goals

• For families to develop a sense of identity, but
  allow for individuality of members
• Getting people to be more real

7
SEFT Lessons for therapists

• Relegate every significant other to second place
• Learn how to love, flirt with any infant
  available. Unconditional positive regard probably
  isnt present after the baby is 3-years-old.
• Develop a reverence for your own impulses, and be
  suspicious of your behavior sequences.
• Enjoy your mate more than your kids, and be
  childish with your mate.
• Fracture role structures at will and repeatedly.
• Learn to retreat and advance from every position
  that you take.

8
SEFT Lessons for therapists (contd)

• Guard your impotence as one of your most valuable
  weapons.
• Build long-term relations so you can be free to
  hate safely.
• Face the fact that you must grow old and die.
  Develop a sense of the benign absurdity of
  lifeyours and those around youand thus learn to
  transcend the world of experience. If we can
  abandon our missionary zeal we have less chance
  of being eaten by cannibals.
• Develop your primary process living. Evolve a
  joint craziness with someone you are safe with.
  Structure a professional cuddle group so you
  wont abuse your mate with the garbage left over
  from the days work.
• As Plato said, practice dying.

9
SEFT Techniques

• Redefining symptoms as growth
• Modeling fantasy alternatives to actual stressors
• Separating interpersonal from intrapersonal
  family stress
• Adding practical bits of interaction offering a
  number of interpretations that the family can
  accept or reject.
• Augmenting the despair of a family member
  heightening the anxiety of one member to generate
  family support.
• Affective confrontation siding directly with one
  or more members against others
• Treat children like children and not
  peersheirarchy.

10
Virginia Satir

• Human Validation Model
• People want to be whole, authentic, sensitive,
  and genuine with one another.
• Humans strive toward growth and development

11
Satir-Goal of therapy

• Building self-esteem
• Expanding awareness
• Clarifying family communication

12
Satir 5 dysfunctional communication stances

• Placator
• Blamer
• Computer
• Distractor
• Leveller

13
Satir Techniques

• Sculpting