Case Study 3: Person-Centered Therapy: A Client With Postpar

Case Study 3: Person-Centered Therapy: A Client with Postpartum Depression

reviewed in Chapter 3 Person-Centered Therapy: A Client with Postpartum Depression DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1.Would you be able to be present with Rivka without being more directive or active in your techniques? 2.What do you mainly hear Rivka saying throughout the sessions? 3.Are you able to empathize with Rivka and enter her experiential world? 4.What are your personal reactions to Rivka? 5.Are you able to accept the decisions that Rivka has chosen for her son Zvi? Do you accept her decision of doing nothing to avoid pregnancy? COURSE: PMHN Across the Lifespan. Individual/Family Therapy: Psychopathology/DSM V-HFN-HY01 PLEASE ANSWER THE 5 QUESTIONS IN ONE PAGE, DONT MAKE MORE 10% PLAGIARISM PLEASE NEED IT IN 24 HOURS DUE DATE JUNE 17, 2023

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The case study involving Rivka, a client experiencing postpartum depression, presents an opportunity to explore the principles of person-centered therapy and their application in sensitive situations. The core of person-centered therapy emphasizes unconditional positive regard, empathic understanding, and congruence. As a therapist practicing this approach, maintaining presence without being directive or overly active is paramount. This entails being fully attentive to Rivka’s verbal and non-verbal cues, allowing her to express herself freely without imposing guiding techniques or interpretations. Such an approach fosters a safe environment where Rivka can explore her feelings and thoughts without fear of judgment, thereby promoting healing and self-acceptance.

Throughout the sessions, Rivka primarily articulates feelings of despair, guilt, and confusion, often expressing her struggles with postpartum depression and her feelings about her decisions concerning her pregnancy and her son Zvi. She appears to seek understanding and validation more than advice, signaling her need for an empathetic ear that respects her emotional world. Many of her statements reflect her internal conflict and desire for acceptance of her feelings, highlighting the importance of empathic listening which validates her experiences and encourages her to access her own inner resources.

Empathizing with Rivka and entering her experiential world involves active listening and reflecting her feelings without judgment or interruption. It requires the therapist to suspend personal reactions and assumptions, allowing Rivka to feel truly heard and understood. This empathic stance can help Rivka explore her identity and emotions more deeply, facilitating self-awareness and growth. It also involves recognizing the subtleties of her expressions—whether anxiety, shame, or hope—and responding in a manner that affirms her worth and agency.

My personal reactions to Rivka include feelings of compassion and a desire to provide her with the support she needs to navigate her postpartum depression. I find myself empathetic toward her distress, recognizing the complexity of her situation as a new mother facing mental health challenges. It can be emotionally taxing to witness her vulnerability, yet it reinforces the importance of providing a non-judgmental and accepting therapeutic environment. Maintaining my own emotional neutrality is essential to avoid inadvertently influencing her decisions.

Regarding Rivka’s decisions for her son Zvi, such as her choice to do nothing to avoid pregnancy, it’s critical to accept her autonomy and her right to make personal choices within her value system. As a person-centered therapist, respecting her decision without imposing my own moral judgments is essential. It’s important to validate her feelings and acknowledge her context, understanding that her decision may be rooted in her circumstances, feelings of powerlessness, or cultural beliefs. Supporting her in exploring her feelings about such decisions can facilitate her acceptance and ultimately empower her to find her own path.

References

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