Patsy and Josh are a volunteer couple, already in Emotionally Focused Therapy. They are further helped through an EFT session with Sue Johnson. Patsy, suffering from deep wounds of the past, is vulnerable and fearful, and often shuts down—even though she knows her actions prevent connection with Josh. Her husband tries to be caretaker and nurturer. Johnson helps them stay with emotion, expand their connection and shapes their interaction bringing both to a safer, more loving place.
Marsha Linehan (2009) provides dynamic, engaging demonstrations with two separate volunteers using nonjudgmental “chain analysis” to identify their problem behavior and look for controlling variables. Rather than using self-discipline, she suggests practical methods such as listing pros and cons and setting up consequences if the behavior continues. Both volunteers reported great satisfaction with the process.
Michael Yapko (2009) works with a volunteer, a medical student, who feels “frozen” to advance professionally. Fearing public speaking and feeling blocked in writing she wants to feel centered and motivated. Yapko uses hypnosis –what he calls, “the original positive psychology”— to free her from feeling stuck and to help her take risks to move forward.
Cloé Madanes (2009) Strategic Therapy with a Couple demonstrates with a young couple who is conflicted about holiday celebrations and vacations. The husband has wounds from his past that resonate with family holidays. He also wants to be more a part of his wife “inner circle” with her son from a previous marriage and vacations challenge him in this area. Madanes uses humor, insight and emotional connection to guide the couple to an accepting compromise.
Daniel Siegel (2009) Mindsight and Integration in the Cultivation of Well-Being demonstrates interpersonal neurobiology therapy with a volunteer studying to be a therapist. She has experienced fear in one clinical setting and has also been “the glue,” holding together her family since she was young. Siegel uses the triangle of relationship/ mind/brain to help the volunteer experience her fear of responsibility by allowing images and body sensations to flow to “soften the mind.”
James Hillman (2009) Hillman reveals how to bring “soul talk” back into modern psychotherapy. The case history of a client is the diagnosis, present complaint, family history, employment history, but nothing of the “soul” of the person. Dr. Hillman assures us that we can almost ignore the case history. Using “soul” talk (Longings, dreams, secrets, how a client accepts joy and sorrow) takes the session out of the box and returns a resonance to psychotherapy that it has lost.
Stephen Gilligan (2008) demonstrates the induction of a trance with a volunteer who wants to “feel at home” with herself, but often feels disconnected and scattered. He invites intention and uses mindfulness and body movement to release the weight of fear and disconnection. Afterward, the volunteer claims the experience was “intense,” and “beautiful.”
John Gottman and Julie Gottman (2005) demonstrate through role-playing the ways therapists can break a couples’ gridlock due to conflict. Through an intervention of “dreams within the conflict,” therapists are shown how to help couples be more open for dialogue in order to successfully compromise on unresolvable issues.
Eugene Gendlin (2000) demonstrates with two volunteers. The first is guided through feelings of tension in her shoulders and shakiness in her stomach. Gendlin conducts a second demonstration. The next volunteer presents the trauma of a hysterectomy due to cancer. Gendlin concludes with an explanation of his method.
James Bugental (2000) explains the importance of focusing on immediate subjective experiences. Bugental works with Glenda who is experiencing deep guilt about an upcoming divorce. Bugental addresses questions from the audience. A second volunteer explores issues surrounding her recent career change. Bugental explains his approach and answers questions.
Albert Ellis (2000) demonstrates with two volunteers. The first volunteer is angry and intimidated by her supervisors. Humor and imagery are incorporated. The second volunteer feels a need to control others and is angry when she can’t. Ellis uses imagery to correct cognitive patterns and produce an emotional shift.
Alexander Lowen (2000) demonstrates with Ann, who he used as a ten years earlier. She reports that since that first session she has been free of severe asthma attacks. She is now troubled by the death of her father and mother, abuse from her brother, excessive weight gain and the onset of menopause. Lowen guides her through a series of movement exercises.
William Glasser (2000) uses role-play with Marie who is simulating Paul, a male client from her place of employment. Paul has marriage problems. Marie, as Paul, is asked to role-play his wife. Glasser highlights choices, examines the client’s thinking, and focuses on responsible behavior. After the demonstration Glasser explains his work.
Zerka Moreno (2000) emphasizes the importance of spontaneity and creativity while demonstrating with Christi, who is asked to see her family photo and then construct it on stage using volunteers from the audience. These volunteers act as “auxiliary egos.” Following this demonstration Moreno plays all of the characters in a rolereversal she did with her 3 year-old son.
Miriam Polster (2000) demonstrates supervision with Wendy, a clinical social worker who conducts therapy in the home. Polster’s supervision focuses on finding Wendy’s unique gifts and how these can be integrated into therapy. Next, Steve is working with a woman who has a history of bulimia and has threatened suicide. Polster follows this demonstration by explaining her work.
Mary Goulding (1995) demonstrates with three volunteer clients. The first is disturbed because his mother did not spend much time with him during childhood. Next Dave is concerned about his distant relationship with his son. The third, Diane describes problems with her mother who is now a widow and overly critical. Goulding explains her work.
William Glasser (1995) demonstrates with a simulated client who is in an emotionally abusive relationship. This client is depressed and unhappy with her life. The goal of the first session is to focus on a behavioral change that can be accomplished as a first step. Glasser concludes with an explanation of the demonstration and of control theory.
Alexander Lowen (1995) demonstrates with John who is dissatisfied with his body. Through exercises, Lowen helps John use his body to express his full range of feelings. Lowen explains that he does not rely on the mind to change behavior because of its lack of power. Lowen expects the body to free itself. The demonstration concludes with Lowen’s elaboration on his work.
Ellis and Wolfe (1995) demonstrate with several volunteers. Beth, is troubled by her dominating mother. Ellis assigns a homework task. Next, Wolfe works with a volunteer who feels betrayed by her husband and brother. Ellis works with a second volunteer, Megan, who is ending a relationship with her boyfriend. Ellis uses imagery, confrontation and humor.
Aaron Beck (1995) selects a clinician to role-play a male client. The client, Mike, was abandoned by his wife after she had multiple affairs. Mike is a recovering alcoholic with a sexually transmitted disease who suffers from dating anxiety, childhood trauma, and feelings of inferiority. Beck demonstrates how to establish a collaborative relationship with the patient.
Erving Polster (1995) demonstrates with Delisa, who is troubled by her work with geriatric patients. Polster leads Delisa quickly and deeply into her own fears of death and loss. Polster jokes, confronts, and directs Delisa into a greater self-awareness. Following the demonstration Polster explains his work and addresses questions.
Zeig (1995) demonstrates the Ericksonian approach to psychotherapy while working with Carol, a woman whose nail-biting habit is rooted in anxiety. After gathering information on her personal history, Zeig helps Carol utilize her values and history to affect change. The process is both humorous and dramatic. After working to change associations linked to the problem behavior, Zeig offers Carol an ordeal that will produce a "guaranteed cure." Hypnosis is offered as the "dessert", rather than the main course. Ericksonian approach to psychotherapy.
Otto Kernberg (1995) demonstrates a supervision session with a therapist who presents a case of a 42-year-old male with a narcissistic personality and self-destructive tendencies. This male therapist feels as though the therapy has reached a stalemate. Kernberg suggests various hypotheses about the case. The volunteer then describes his reaction to the supervision.
Rossi (1992) demonstrates his approach to mind-body healing while working with a volunteer, Jennifer, who has rheumatoid arthristis in her hands, which have become distorted and painful. Rossi explains that mind-body healing follows a predictable pattern. During the final phase of this approach, Jennifer begins to experience automatic movement in her hands. She exclaims that her hands are moving more freely than they have in the last five years. Rossi attributes the success to "a genuine moment of self-empowerment."
Carl Whitaker (1990) demonstrates consultation and therapy with a therapist who has brought a bilingual family with a mother who experiences anxiety attacks. The maternal grandmother, mother, father, and two children are engaged by Whitaker as he sits on the floor and experiments with different types of play and fantasy.
Joseph Wolpe (1990) interviews police officer Tom, who has problems resulting from a traumatic event: he had been confronted by a violent man whom he shot and killed. Later it became evident that the man had an empty gun and was mentally ill. Following a thorough interview, Wolpe uses eye movement and systematic desensitization to diminish the established fear hierarchy.
Judd Marmor (1990) outlines the history of brief dynamic psychotherapy by outlining the psychotherapy beginning with Freud and psychoanalysis. He profiles patients he believes will benefit from short-term therapy. He then conducts supervision with two volunteers. Following the demonstration Marmor discusses his technique.
Bugental (1990) provides two demonstrations. First, Bugental works with Molly, an associate who is familiar with this approach at an advanced level. Next he works with a naïve client, demonstrating what therapy might look like on the first visit. After each session, Bugental and his client reflect upon his methods.
Viktor Frankl (1990) shares his experiences living in a WW-II concentration camp. He teaches the importance of creating meaning in one’s life and the application of ethics in daily choices. He emphasizes the importance of reconciliation in contrast to collective guilt and the importance of finding meaningful responses to all forms of tragedy.
Robert and Mary Goulding (1985), working as cotherapists, demonstrate using five volunteer clients. The concerns of each individual are addressed during the therapy session. The Gouldings help define each person’s goals and establish a contract for change. The session includes role-play, fantasy, confrontation and the use of humor.
Ronald Laing (1985) interviews a home-less woman diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. Her presenting complaint is that her brain does not work right and that people are out to get her. Laing relates to the client and explores her theories of human conspiracy, the power of the mind and mind reading, issues of Christianity, and how these concepts relate to her.
Zerka Moreno (1985) explains the importance of role reversal. She demonstrates with Lori who discusses concerns related to her marriage. She examines her relationship with her father. Lori is asked to create a family structure using members from the audience. Moreno ends by sharing information about her own experiences in Psychodrama.
May emphasizes the importance of availability to the client; Rogers, that the therapist serves a function rather than a role. Satir examines client expectations, and how the therapist can be a leader while still maintaining a relationship based on equality. Szasz describes concrete economic factors, social and psychological factors that motivate the therapist. The panel also responds to questions from the audience.
Joseph Wolpe (1985) begins with Santiago who has a history of experiencing strong feelings of anxiety and discomfort during social situations. Questioning reveals that these problems are most intense when he is in situations in which he experiences a loss of control. Wolpe uses imagery and desensitization to diminish feelings of anxiety.
Carl Rogers (1985) demonstrates with Ann, who describes herself as suffering guilt and sadness after having put off becoming a mother to pursue her career. After deciding to have children, she miscarried twins and has since been unable to become pregnant. Rogers helps her access her own potential to experience herself more positively.