Theories of Counseling Object Relations Theory Power Point

Theories of Counseling: Object Relations Theory Power. Point produced by Melinda Haley, M. S. , New Mexico State University. “This multimedia product and its contents are protected under copyright law. The following are prohibited by law: v any public performance or display, including transmission of an image over a network; v preparation of any derivative work, including the extraction, in whole or part, of any images; v any rental, lease, or lending of the program. ” “Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004”

Object Relations Theory Basic Tenets v Examines the relationship between and among people. v Examines how the history of interpersonal relationships are transferred from the past to the present through behavior. v Looks at the primary caregiver (this is culturally defined and might be the mother, father, grandparents, extended family or community. ) “Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004”

Object Relations Therapy Attachment Theory Ainsworth v Mother-infant relationship is the start of personality development. v Significant elements of the personality carry forward into later life. “Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004”

Object Relations Therapy Attachment Theory John Bowlby v Stresses the importance of the child developing in relation to the context and environment. v Provided theory of attachment. v The child impacts the environment and the environment impacts the child. v Attachment styles: Secure, anxious/resistant, anxious/avoidant. v Securely attached children are able to successfully separate and individuate. “Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004”

Object Relations Therapy Theory of Personality v Humans are born with autonomous motivation to relate to other people. v Humans are born with a wide range of capabilities, possibilities and capacities. v Children who feel loved, prized, nurtured, feel secure and develops trust for the caretaker, can internalize positive effects. “Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004”

Object Relations Therapy Development of Personality v The “other” person provides context and focus that the infant needs in his or her early personality development. v Context: the “arms-around holding” that the caregiver provides for the infant. v Focus: The direct” eye-to- eye” relationship that the caregiver provides that the infant needs to relate to and think about experience. “Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004”

Object Relations Therapy Development of Personality v The caretaker becomes the object that nurtures the infant’s attachment. v Without attachment formation, the infant will die. v Personality is formed through interaction with others. v The need for relationships throughout life is at the center of personality development. “Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004”

Object Relations Therapy Nature of Maladjustment v Pathology is viewed in terms of developmental arrest. v Developmental arrest results in unfinished, disorganized and unintegrated parts of personality. v Individuals can also become traumatized by early attachment disturbances. “Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004”

Object Relations Therapy Main Concepts v Object: A person who provides gratification to the infant or person or with whom a person relates. v Object relations is essentially an individuals need of important others from infancy to old age. v Humans are essentially social and the need for relationships is at the core of the self. v Humans exist both in an external and internal world. “Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004”

Object Relations Therapy Main Concepts v The object that libido is continuously seeking is another human being. v Motivation is understood in terms of striving for a relationship. v Splitting: Infants who are exposed to a high degree of uncertainty and stress may find it impossible to form an attachment. The infant then separates everything bad from everything good. “Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004”

Object Relations Therapy The Counseling Process v Client/therapist relationship: Person-to-person relationship with therapist is crucial. v Focus on the client: Therapists genuinely accept all clients and therapist follows the client’s affective lead. v Transference is also important but it is less important than the quality of therapist/client relationship. v The therapist shows deep empathy and attends to the client’s expressed wish, dream or fantasy that brings understanding to an internalized relational issue. “Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004”

Object Relations Therapy Strategies for Helping Clients v The therapist builds a relationship, shows empathic understanding, concern and acceptance and tries to uncover meaning in the client's inner world. v The therapist works to create an environment in which the client can be himself or herself and maintain autonomy. v Once the bond and trust has been established, therapist goes after painful, guarded material to confront the client and help him or her better gain self-understanding. “Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004”

Object Relations Therapy Strategies for Helping Clients v The therapist attends to the client’s inner world dimension (e. g. dreams, fantasies, wishes and needs), looking for object relational issues. v The therapist also attends to what the client says, what the client does not say, and how the client reacts. v Primacy of relationship is established over impulse and serves as the central psychoanalytic rationale. “Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004”

Object Relations Therapy v Object relations has deepened our understanding of humans and their relationships. v Object relations has transformed Western social policies (e. g. children are placed in foster homes instead of impersonal institutions. ) “Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004”

Object Relations Therapy Disadvantages v The model fails to account for certain needs of the client (e. g. the need to be alone or to regress. ) v It may not work well with mandated clients or those who do not want to explore themselves through therapeutic relationship. v It is considered to be culture-bound. v Writings about object relations are complex and difficult to understand. v Transference and countertransference don’t always allow a client to work through difficult feelings. “Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004”

Object Relations Therapy Use with Diverse Populations v Some therapists believe that because object relations is about relationships, it can adapt to other cultures. v Many feel it is universal in the way it looks at things. v It encompasses age, race, gender, nationality and socioeconomic status. v Cultural differences are brought out in the open immediately. “Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004”

Object Relations Therapy The Individual, Family and the Collective Cultural Unconscious Taub-Bynum’s work discusses: v Family and Culture: The family unit is the bearer of the culture. Family and its function vary among different cultures. v The Family and the Collective Cultural Unconscious: The family unconscious is composed of emotional energy from earliest life. v Therapeutic Implications: Clients often act out the family and cultural unconscious.

Resources Ivey, A. E. , D’Andrea, M. , Ivey, M. B. and Morgan, L. S. (2002). Theories of counseling and psychotherapy: A multicultural perspective, 5 th ed. Boston, MA. : Allyn & Bacon. James, R. K. & Gilliland, B. E. (2003). Theories and strategies in counseling and psychotherapy, 5 th ed. Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon. Kottler, J. A. (2002). Theories in counseling and therapy: An experiential approach. Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon. “Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004”