Presenter: |
Jill R. Gardner, PhD |
Chair: |
Linda A. Chernus, MSW |
Self Psychology Page | 22nd Conference Program
Summary
The conceptual framework provided by self psychology is ideally suited to facilitate treatment of any duration, no matter how brief. This workshop will review a series of organizing questions and frameworks, intended to facilitate the clinician’s capacity to apply a self psychological point of view to the understanding and conduct of brief treatment. The model described is less a particular technique than a series of components, whose combined use can make treatment more efficient. These components include: 1) Eliciting patient expectations and active collaboration in defining the goals of treatment, reinforcing the patient as a center of initiative; 2) Emphasizing and using the patient’s strengths; 3) Illuminating and addressing underlying vulnerabilities which are exposed when usual defenses and solutions are overwhelmed; 4) Using an empathic mode of observation to focus on the selfobject dimension (internal meaning) of precipitating events; and 5) Using empathic interpretations to clarify and validate subjective experience, needs, and frustrated longings. When translated from theory to practice, this framework provides a roadmap which can help us use whatever time we have to maximally help our patients.