Theory Outline

Theory Outline

I. Theory: Psychoanalytical Theory

a. Key Concepts (Murdock, 2013)

i. Freud says that one's behavior is based on their instincts developed in their first stages of life.

ii. Another is the unconscious mind where the unconscious is thought to be a state of mind that we are unaware. This is the place where feelings, thoughts, urges, and memories are held.

iii. Freud believed in the development of transference, in which the counselor and client will work through tough issues.

iv. The counselor and client will review the past experiences of the client.

b. Key Theorists (Murdock, 2013)

i. Sigmund Freud is the discoverer of the theory. He worked with mentally disturbed clients and found out that childhood experiences and unconscious wants have an effect on behavior.

ii. Erik Erickson and Alfred Alder contributed to the theory as well.

c. Appropriate Populations for the Theory (Murdock, 2013)

i. The individuals that will benefit from it are people who are usually content with their life even though they may indeed suffer from distress in their lives.

d. Inappropriate Populations for the Theory (Explain why.)

i. People with higher levels of emotional distress are not good clients. These include one's with suicidal tendencies.

e. Therapist's Role (Murdock, 2013)

i. The therapist is responsible for giving the client a sense of safety and acceptance.

ii. The therapist also interprets the information provided by the client from their past in order to work through unresolved issues.

f. Client's Role (Murdock, 2013)

i. The client has to act in accordance with the basic rule.

ii. The client will explore difficult situations from their past in order to gain insight and work through the issues.

g. Theory Strengths (Murdock, 2013)

i. Strength of the theory is that it emphasizes the importance of childhood experiences.

ii. It also explains defense mechanisms and why everyone responds in a different way to related situations.

h. Theory Limitations (Murdock, 2013)

i. The theory has limited thought for culture and its persuasion