Chapter 16 Existential, Gestalt, RationalEmotive Behavior Therapy, and Psychodrama Groups Prepared by: Nathaniel N Ivers, Wake Forest University Groups: A Counseling Specialty, 7e © 2016 Pearson Education, Inc All rights reserved Roadmap     Existentialism Gestalt Rational-Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) Psychodrama Groups: A Counseling Specialty, 7e Samuel Gladding 16-2 © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc All rights reserved Existentialism     Addresses what it means to be human Stresses the importance of beliefs, such as values, freedom, and responsibility Emphasis placed on discovering meaning in the midst of everyday life as well as in absurd and tragic events Highlights the paradox of living fully in life and increasing awareness of death Groups: A Counseling Specialty, 7e Samuel Gladding 16-3 © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc All rights reserved Premises of Existential Groups     People form their lives by their choices Human beings are aware of their existence and their own mortality Human beings have freedom to make choices and the freedom of responsibility for what they (Frankl, 1997) People are the authors of their lives and make their own lives meaningful Groups: A Counseling Specialty, 7e Samuel Gladding 16-4 © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc All rights reserved Premises of Existential Groups  People make meaning in their lives in three ways:    Doing a deed, or achieving or accomplishing something Experiencing a value, such as the intrinsic worth of a work of nature, culture, or love Suffering, by finding a proper attitude toward unalterable fate (Frankl, 2000) Groups: A Counseling Specialty, 7e Samuel Gladding 16-5 © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc All rights reserved Premises of Existential Groups  People who not actively seek meaning in life choose despair or psychopathology  Existentialism is the process of evaluating and simultaneously releasing and incorporating objects and events in life’s quest for meaning Groups: A Counseling Specialty, 7e Samuel Gladding 16-6 © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc All rights reserved Practice of Existential Theory in Group   Usually conducted with an emphasis on psychotherapy, counseling, and psychoeducation During the group process, it is crucial that group members come to realize their potential and their responsibilities for making healthy and self-directed choices (May, 1983) Groups: A Counseling Specialty, 7e Samuel Gladding 16-7 © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc All rights reserved Practice of Existential Theory in Group  Goals of Existential Theory in a Group     Increase self-awareness Increase personal responsibility Enhance ability to handle anxiety Increase ability to search for meaning Groups: A Counseling Specialty, 7e Samuel Gladding 16-8 © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc All rights reserved Role of the Existential Group Leader      Develop close relationships with all group members Point out discrepancies between what group members say they want and what they are doing Use themselves in as a source of knowledge and a model in regard to human experience Are calm in the presence of turmoil Discuss the meaning they have experienced and how they have overcome obstacles Groups: A Counseling Specialty, 7e Samuel Gladding 16-9 © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc All rights reserved Desired Outcomes of Existential Groups  Members will      Become more aware of themselves and the choices they have Realize that their feelings, even painful ones, can be motivational (Greenstein & Breitbart, 2000) Find new meaning in all aspects of their lives Become more authentic Increase interpersonal responsibility (Yalom & Josselson, 2011) Groups: A Counseling Specialty, 7e Samuel Gladding 16-10 © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc All rights reserved Premises of Psychodrama Groups  Situation  Emphasis on the present, where “natural barriers of time, space, and states of existence are obliterated” (Greenberg, 1974, pp 1617)  Under these circumstances, clients are able to work on past problems, future fears, and current difficulties in the hereand-now atmosphere Groups: A Counseling Specialty, 7e Samuel Gladding 16-41 © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc All rights reserved Premises of Psychodrama Groups  Tele     Total communication f feelings between people Occurs most often when it is between two people Can involve complete interpersonal and reciprocal empathy Catharsis and insight    End products of spontaneity and tele (Greenberg, 1974) Catharsis is an emotional purging Insight is immediate new perception and understanding about one’s problem Groups: A Counseling Specialty, 7e Samuel Gladding 16-42 © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc All rights reserved Practice of Psychodrama in a Group Physical and personal factors must be considered (e.g., stage, actors, protagonist) Techniques must be employed in a methodical manner (Holmes & Karp, 1991; Moreno & Moreno, 1959) Groups: A Counseling Specialty, 7e Samuel Gladding 16-43 © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc All rights reserved Practice of Psychodrama in a Group  Stage    Protagonist   Area where the action takes place May be a platform or simply part of a room Person who is the subject of the psychodrama enactment (Blatner, 2005) Actors  those who play the parts of other important people or objects in the play Groups: A Counseling Specialty, 7e Samuel Gladding 16-44 © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc All rights reserved Practice of Psychodrama in a Group   Director – person who guides the protagonist in the use of psychodramatic methods to help that person explore his or her problem (Blatner, 1996) Audience  Others who may be present during the psychodrama Groups: A Counseling Specialty, 7e Samuel Gladding 16-45 © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc All rights reserved Practice of Psychodrama in a Group  The psychodrama process generally goes through three phases:    Warm up Action Integration Groups: A Counseling Specialty, 7e Samuel Gladding 16-46 © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc All rights reserved Practice of Psychodrama in a Group  Warm up phase   Characterized by the director making sure he or she is ready to lead the group and that members are ready to be led May involve both verbal and nonverbal activities designed to put everyone in the right frame of mind to conduct the psychodrama and to establish trust and an atmosphere of spontaneity (Blatner, 2005; Moreno, 1940)   Include the engagement of action exercises Allows members to process some of the technical procedures of the psychodrama (Leveton, 2001) Groups: A Counseling Specialty, 7e Samuel Gladding 16-47 © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc All rights reserved Practice of Psychodrama in a Group  Action phase      Involves the enactment of protagonists’ concerns The director helps each protagonist “set the stage” for a specific scene in the here and now Group participants are assigned auxiliary ego roles of significant others or things in the protagonist’s life After the opening scene is portrayed, the protagonist and auxiliary egos are given an opportunity to refine their roles and gear their interaction from the surface to significant events The protagonist is helped to work through the situation Groups: A Counseling Specialty, 7e Samuel Gladding 16-48 © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc All rights reserved Practice of Psychodrama in Groups  Integration phase    Director encourages the group to give the protagonist as much personal, supportive, and constructive feedback as possible during this time Feedback focuses initially on the affective, rather than the intellectual aspects of the enactment At the completion of this phase, emphasis is placed on understanding and integration Groups: A Counseling Specialty, 7e Samuel Gladding 16-49 © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc All rights reserved Practice of Psychodrama in a Group  A few of the many psychodrama techniques         Creative imagery The magic shop Sculpting Soliloquy Monodrama or autodrama Double and multiple double Role reversal Mirror Groups: A Counseling Specialty, 7e Samuel Gladding 16-50 © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc All rights reserved Role of the Psychodrama Group Leader   The director of a psychodrama The director wears many hats (Moreno, 1953, 1964)      Producer Facilitator Observer Analyzer The director sets norms and models skills that ensure safety and personal control (Brown-Shaw et al., 1999) Groups: A Counseling Specialty, 7e Samuel Gladding 16-51 © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc All rights reserved Role of the Psychodrama Leader  The director builds his or her skills in areas:    Knowledge of methods, principles, and techniques Understanding of personality theory and its relationship to developing and evolving philosophy of life His or her own personality development and maturity (Blatner, 1996) Groups: A Counseling Specialty, 7e Samuel Gladding 16-52 © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc All rights reserved Desired Outcome of Psychodrama Groups  Creation of catharsis, insight, and emotional resolution (Horvatin & Screiber, 1996; Moreno, 1964)  Development of “a ‘theatrical cathedral’ for the release of the natural human spontaneity and creativity that he [Moreno] believed existed naturally in everyone” (Yablonsky, 1976, p 274)  Experiencing and working through past, present, or anticipated events Emotional and cognitive insight Renewed self-awareness, readjustment, integration, acceptance, control, and prevention   Groups: A Counseling Specialty, 7e Samuel Gladding 16-53 © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc All rights reserved Strengths of Psychodrama Groups      Its diversity of use Its teaching potential Its fostering of creativity and spontaneity within leaders and members (Coven et al., 1997) Its integrative and vicarious effect The input and feedback it provides the protagonist and others through the actors and audience (Moreno, 1964) Groups: A Counseling Specialty, 7e Samuel Gladding 16-54 © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc All rights reserved Limitations of Psychodrama Groups     The danger of overexposing the protagonist to him- or herself as well as to the audience The quantity and quality of research underlying psychodrama Availability of training Its potential overemphasis on expression of feelings rather than change in behavior Groups: A Counseling Specialty, 7e Samuel Gladding 16-55 © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc All rights reserved ... locate their impasses and work through tem to awareness and growth  Create an atmosphere that promotes growth within the group Groups: A Counseling Specialty, 7e Samuel Gladding 16- 21 © 2012 Pearson. .. cognitive side of human nature Gestalt groups may not be able to help the group work through impasses Gestalt approach may create potential danger of abusing techniques and people Gestalt groups are...Roadmap     Existentialism Gestalt Rational-Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) Psychodrama Groups: A Counseling Specialty, 7e Samuel Gladding 16- 2 © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc All rights reserved