Question

Clay is in a therapy session. The therapist asks him to relax and say whatever comes to his mind at the moment. This therapist is using _______ which is a technique of _______. a. active listening; client-centered therapy b. systematic desensitization; behavior therapy c. transference; psychoanalysis d. free association; psychoanalysis.

Short answer

The correct answer is option d. free association; psychoanalysis.

Step-by-step solution

Understand the Situation

The therapist asks Clay to relax and say whatever comes to his mind at the moment. This is a technique where the individual's spontaneous, uncensored thoughts are encouraged.

Match the Technique to Therapies

Look through the options and find out which option mentions a technique where spontaneous expression of thoughts is involved.

Choose the Correct Answer

Option d mentions 'free association', which involves the individual to freely share thoughts, words, and anything else that comes to mind. This is a technique typically used in psychoanalysis. So, option d. free association; psychoanalysis is the right answer.

Key concepts

Free Association

Free association is a fundamental technique within psychoanalytic therapy that involves patients expressing their thoughts as freely as possible, sharing any words, ideas, images, or memories that come to mind. This process is meant to bypass the conscious mind’s tendency to censor or restrain certain thoughts due to social norms or personal fears.

By encouraging a stream of consciousness, therapists aim to uncover the unconscious thoughts and feelings that could be contributing to a person's current issues. This can lead to a better understanding of inner conflicts, repressed memories, or unresolved trauma that might be influencing an individual's mental health.

In the context of an educational exercise, understanding free association helps students grasp the roots of psychoanalysis and aids in recognizing how early mental health professionals like Sigmund Freud developed techniques to plumb the depths of the unconscious mind.

Therapy Techniques

Therapy techniques are the specific methods or strategies used by therapists during a session to help the client achieve their goals and work through issues. While free association is specific to psychoanalytic therapy, there are many other techniques used across various types of therapy.

For example, active listening is a cornerstone of client-centered therapy, where the therapist reflects and clarifies what the client says without judgment, allowing clients to feel heard and understood. Similarly, systematic desensitization is used in behavior therapy to gradually expose individuals to anxiety-producing stimuli to decrease their sensitivity over time.

Each therapy technique has specific purposes and is chosen based on the therapist's approach and the needs of the client. When studying therapy techniques, it's essential for students to understand the diversity of methods available and how they align with differing theoretical orientations within the field of psychology.

Psychoanalytic Therapy

Psychoanalytic therapy is a therapeutic approach that draws on the principles of psychoanalysis, a theory of personality developed by Sigmund Freud. This type of therapy delves into how unconscious forces, such as unresolved conflicts and impactful experiences from childhood, shape current behavior and thought patterns.

Key Components of Psychoanalytic Therapy

The process of psychoanalytic therapy often includes the use of techniques like free association, dream analysis, and the examination of transference and resistance within the therapeutic relationship. The goal is to help individuals gain insight into their unconscious and thus increase their self-awareness to resolve internal conflicts and improve psychological wellbeing.

This form of therapy can be particularly helpful for individuals dealing with complex, deep-seated, and often long-term psychological problems, although it requires a considerable time commitment and is an intensive process. Its theories contribute extensively to the development of many other therapeutic modalities and underscore the importance of early experiences and internal processes in shaping a person's life.