psychology 632
Make up a couple. Analysis of a Therapy Session. You will interview a couple you know who volunteer to meet with you. You are also welcome to have more than one session, but this is not expected or required. The session should be at least 40 minutes in length. Please keep the session focused on the dynamics within the couple. This will give you one more opportunity to practice being a solo therapist in addition to the practice we get during class.
Pick one of the theories that we studied in the course and write your paper based on that theory.
After selecting your chosen theory, write an academic-style paper using the following questions as guidelines for analysis of the therapy session.
- Reflections about the couple
- Write a brief introductory paragraph about the couple. Please include identifying information (age, gender, ethnicity, etc.) on each partner.
- Describe the strengths of the couple and how you might highlight those strengths. How would you create an alliance with each of them?
- Reflection on theoretical integration
- According to your chosen theory, describe the presenting problem and the goals of therapy. Do not use individual diagnoses.
- Describe your “formulation,” or “case conceptualization,” where you describe to the couple your theoretical view of the problem and how change happens.
- How would you help them work collaboratively?
- What do you notice in the way the couple engages or avoids engaging?
- How would you bring up and address gender, culture, and social justice issues during therapy?
- If you were to continue working with this couple, what goals would you set if you designed a treatment plan, and what interventions would you use to realize those goals? Choose goals and interventions that are consistent with your chosen theory.
- Reflection on the impact of the therapy on the therapist
- What would be the potential therapeutic challenges this couple might present if you were to continue therapy with them, and how might you address those challenges?
- How might your personal strengths and qualities contribute to the success of therapy? How might you deal with your personal challenges, such as your reactivity, biases, favoring one partner over the other, and your own attachment style?
- Please Note:
- For all papers assigned in this class, you are expected to follow the APA publication style.
- The length of the assignment will be given as a minimum and maximum of FULL pages. General APA Guidelines suggest your essay should be typed, double-spaced on standard-sized paper (8.5" x 11") with 1" margins on all sides. National University requires papers to utilize 12 pt. Times New Roman font. Include a page number in a header. To create a page header, insert page numbers flush right. Uncheck widow/orphan control.
- Everything in an APA paper is only double-spaced, so ensure that you have put that in the formatting
- Include at least three references from journal articles or books (excluding your textbook). Internet writings from websites will not be accepted as valid references unless they are from a scholarly website with a reference page, works cited, or bibliography. References must be cited in the body of the paper and on the reference page. The paper is due on Sunday at 11:59 P.M. PT of Module 4.
- Length: This assignment must be 4 – 6 pages (excluding the title and reference pages).