PCN 500 – Application of Psychoanalytic Theory to the Case of Ana

PCN 500 – Application of Psychoanalytic Theory to the Case of Ana

PCN 500 – Application of Psychoanalytic Theory to the Case of Ana

Read the “Case Study Analysis.”

Write a 750-1,000-word analysis of the case study using a psychoanalytic theory approach. Include the following in your analysis.

1. What will be the goals of counseling and what intervention strategies are used to accomplish those goals?
2. Is your theory designed for short- or long-term counseling?
3. What will be the counselor’s role with this client?
4. What is the client’s role in counseling?
5. For what population(s) is this theory most appropriate? How does this theory address the social and cultural needs of the client?
6. What additional information might be helpful to know about this case?
7. What may be a risk in using this approach
8. Ps. I have attached a copy of an example of the case study and example of how the paper should look as well

Besides the course textbook, include at least three scholarly references in your paper.

Each response to the assignment prompts should be addressed under a separate heading in your paper. Refer to “APA Headings and Seriation,” located on the Purdue Owl website for help in formatting the headings.

Running head: PSYCHOANALYTIC THEORY 1

PSYCHOANALYTIC THEORY 6

The Application of Psychoanalytic Theory to the Case of Ana

Example

Grand Canyon University: PCN-500

The Application of Psychoanalytic Theory to the Case of Ana

Psychoanalytic Theory Overview

Psychoanalytic Theory, though adapted from its roots to suit modern-day counseling necessities and policies, is a widely used treatment technique. Concepts we commonly see in modern counseling whose roots trace back to Freud’s Psychoanalytic Theory are transference, defense mechanisms, and free-association. Transference, in the realm of Psychoanalytic Theory, is the unconscious redirection of feelings regarding an event or person onto an unrelated object or person; in counseling it is common to see transference when the client places feelings regarding something towards their counselor. Defense mechanisms are the ways a client’s mind subconsciously protects the individual from the trauma of an event. Free-association is when a client is asked to relate whatever immediately comes to mind when prompted to recall events, people, or objects which relate to their overall reason for attending counseling (Jacobson, 2013).

Goals and Interventions

The overall goal of the application of Psychoanalytic Theory to counseling is to help the client, in this instance Ana, to discover, understand, and process their unconscious conflicts. As her counselor, one must aid her in understanding the underlying cause of these feelings of hopelessness, anxiety, and depression and aiding her in finding a way to overcome these feelings and persevere. One specific intervention of psychoanalysis, the overarching therapy associated with Psychoanalytic Theory, which could aid in the treatment of Ana is dream analysis. Ana’s subconscious may be protecting her from the roots of her hopeless, anxious, and depressed feelings but her dreams may be able to help in revealing the true cause of these feelings. Analyzing dreams could help not only Ana to understand what specific aspects of her life are causing these negative emotions, but also help her counselor to understand what aspects of her life should be focused on to bring her the highest level of understanding and relief from these feelings (Murdock, 2013).

PCN 500 – Application of Psychoanalytic Theory to the Case of Ana

Theory Duration

Psychoanalysis is considered to be a long-term treatment process. The process of psychoanalysis begins with an evaluation during which specific goals for treatment are established. The length of treatment is determined not only by these goals but also the client’s true progress in working towards and achieving these goals. In modern psychoanalytic therapy settings, it is not uncommon for the therapy process to last a year or longer (Schoenewolf, 2014). As a result of the amount of time needed to work through her various goals, the utilization of psychoanalysis would not meet Ana’s insurance restriction. As a result of this, Ana would need to pay out of pocket for a majority of the treatment course which can be very costly.

Counselor’s Role

As a result of Freud’s original beliefs, a counselor is expected to take on the role of a doctor. The counselor is charged with the task of determining what different pieces of information revealed by the client truly mean, and what is significant and insignificant. The counselor must also remain as disconnected in the client-counselor relationship as possible. In the case of Ana, the counselor would be responsible for determining what the information she provides means in relation to her emotions and the underlying causes of these emotions and how to combat them. The counselor would then be responsible for developing and guiding Ana through a plan to alter or eliminate these underlying causes (Murdock, 2013).