Briones, Jesse Abegael M.

BS Psychology 3B

Processing of the Activity

1. How do you find the video you’ve watched?
Actually, while watching the video, I had some realizations. I thought I was the only one that
experiences anxiety when it comes to exams. Most of the times, students spend their last
minutes reviewing for their upcoming quiz or exams but for me, I spend it mostly at the
bathroom, throwing up because of my stomach feeling sick. My heart also races to its end when
I do anything that requires my confidence to be strong. My nervousness causes me to
sometimes fail and unable to concentrate. Counseling at universities has to be done more often.
People sometimes don’t realize that they need help because they are too occupied because of
their tasks. The video is very interesting for it shows care for students that seeks help.
2. What is the importance of openly discussing mental health and the need for counselling at
universities?
There are a lot of importance when counseling takes the spotlight. Some of these are:
a. Counseling helps people identify the main problem.
b. Counseling aids students in overcoming despair and anxiety.
c. Counseling boosts young people's self-esteem.
d. Counseling broadens their horizons, allowing them to consider and seize chances for
change.
e. Counseling allows people to perceive more possibilities and make better judgments based
on those possibilities.
f. Students increase their personal abilities as a result of consulting a counselor.
g. Another area where therapy might assist is with anxiety and stress management (especially
when there are school projects, deadlines, exams, and financial constraints)
3. How can you help change the negative image of mental health problems to sensitize
universities?
I think, there are a lot of people that are actually curious on how counseling can help them. With
that, there is a large possibility that they will be the ones to voluntarily join in counseling. If so,
there will be the first step of ending the stigma that when you seek help for your mental health,
you are mentally ill. Everyone may be mentally challenged but they just deny that they need
counseling to avoid misunderstandings from the community.

ASSESSMENT/ACTIVITY:
1. Existential psychotherapy is based upon the fundamental belief that all people experience
intrapsychic conflict due to their interaction with certain conditions inherent in human
existence, which are known as givens. The theories recognize at least four primaries existential
givens: Explain each.
Freedom and associated responsibility
- Existential therapy holds that we have the freedom to select among options, and that we are
thus accountable for our lives, actions, and failures to act. If clients blame others for their issues,
therapists trained in this method would assist them understand how they let others make
 decisions for them and the price they paid for it, as well as encourage them to consider other
possibilities.
Death
- Death is viewed as providing us with the urge to live our lives fully and to seize every
opportunity to achieve something worthwhile.
Isolation
- We are alone, according to existential therapy. As a result, we as humans must give life purpose,
choose how we will live, develop a connection with ourselves, and learn to listen to ourselves.
Humans require intimate interpersonal ties. Therapists may question clients about what they
get from their relationships, as well as how and why they avoid intimate connections.
Meaninglessness
- Existential therapists urge their clients to consider what they want out of life and where they
find value in it. Teaching clients to trust their own potential to find their way of being requires a
trustworthy therapist–client connection. Engagement, which is a commitment to creating, loving,
working, and constructing, is a by-product of finding significance in life. Meanwhile, meaninglessness in
existence leads to feelings of emptiness and hollowness (also described as a "existential vacuum").

2. How Can Existential Psychotherapy Help?

Existential psychotherapy can help people in treatment who are ready to investigate the causes
of their intrapsychic conflicts and the decisions that lead to their current situation. Many behavioral and
mental health issues, such as depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and posttraumatic stress disorder
(PTSD) caused by military combat, rape, childhood sexual abuse, interpersonal violence, or other life-
threatening experiences, may be successfully treated with this therapeutic approach.

Individuals who react to treatment frequently report increased self-awareness, self-

understanding, self-respect, and self-motivation, as well as a sense of meaning and purpose in their life.
People in treatment are more likely to see beyond the confines of a therapy session and regard healing
as a therapeutic process once they realize they are largely accountable for their own recovery.

3. What are the COMMON CONCERNS AND LIMITATIONS of existential Therapy?

The following are some common existential psychotherapy misconceptions:
a. All of the main assumptions of existential psychology are covered by a single, unifying
existential theory that is devoid of internal conflict. In reality, the technique is divided into at
least five categories, which most researchers see as a strength since it allows for more
consistent assessment of the approach's core assumptions and flexibility.
b. Existential psychology and existential philosophy are indistinguishable. There are areas of
agreement and differences between existential philosophy and existentialism psychology,
and the differing viewpoints of the two fields' main pioneers and experts contribute to the
growth of each method.
c. Existential psychology is anti-religious or anti-spiritual, doubting the existence of God, for
example. Though existential psychology is not inherently religious and discourages
individuals from blindly following one person or religion, it is not anti-religious, and many of
the founding professors and pioneers were Christian theologians.
 d. Humanistic and existential ideas are the same thing. Despite the fact that the two ideas are
similar, they are not identical. Disagreements between these two schools of thought, on the
other hand, tend to be fewer total divergences and more degrees of focus.
e. Existential psychotherapy is characterized by a gloomy, dismal, or negative outlook on life.
Because existential psychology works might be perceived as gloomy owing to their belief
that pain can be accepted as a natural aspect of life. This isn't meant to encourage pain;
rather, it's an acknowledgment that it's an unavoidable aspect of being human. Existential
therapy encourages people to accept the truth of suffering so that they may work through it
and learn from it.
f. Because the technique is mostly intellectual, it is only effective to those of high intelligence
who are not suffering from persistent behavioral or mental health issues. People of all
intellect levels are capable of recognizing their own humanity and making sense of their
feelings and fears. Existential therapy does not require a person to be a philosopher or
academic to benefit from its principles, and many people who are currently dealing with
mental health concerns can benefit from it.

4. Discuss the following key concepts of gestalt therapy such as: Wholeness and Integration,
Awareness, unfinished business, growth disorder, and energy and blocks to energy?
a. Wholeness and Integration - Wholeness refers to the mind and body of an individual as a
whole rather than as distinct components (Seligman, 2006). The individual's integration with
the environment and how these components fit together is referred to as integration.
Gestalt Treatment is about assisting clients in integrating themselves as entire beings and
helping restore equilibrium in their surroundings. Many people who come to therapy do not
have these components fitting together in their environment.

b. Awareness - One of the most significant aspects of Gestalt Therapy is awareness, which is
considered as a "hallmark of the healthy individual and a therapy aim" (Seligman, 2006).
Individuals who are "aware" are better able to self-regulate in their surroundings.
There are two key reasons for the lack of awareness:
1. Preoccupation with one's history, dreams, weaknesses, and talents to the point that the
person loses sight of the big picture
2. Low self-confidence.
Through treatment, persons can acquire consciousness in three ways:
i. Looking, hearing, touching, talking, moving, smelling, and tasting are all ways to interact
with the world. This allows the individual to change and grow in his or her surroundings
as a result of reacting to it.
ii. Individuals who live in and are cognizant of the current moment rather than worrying
about the past or future are said to be in the here and now.
iii. Individuals who take responsibility for their own lives rather than blaming others are
said to be responsible.

c. Unfinished business - refers to persons who do not complete tasks in their lives and is
sometimes associated with those who have a "growth problem" (Seligman, 2006). People
who have unfinished business typically detest the past and are reluctant to concentrate on
 the present. One of the main purposes of Gestalt Therapy is to assist people in completing
their unfinished business and bringing closure to their lives.

d. Growth disorders - are emotional difficulties created by persons who are unaware of their
surroundings and do not fully interact with them. People are unable to properly cope with
changes in their life as a result of this, and instead react with situations in a defensive
manner (Seligman, 2006).

e. Energy and blocks to energy - gestalt therapists frequently focus on where energy is located
in the body, how it is used, and how it may be generating a barrier (Corey, 2005). Blocked
energy is a sort of resistance, such as clenching a muscle, not inhaling deeply, or avoiding
eye contact. Gestalt therapy focuses on identifying and removing obstructions that may be
preventing consciousness.

5. Why Person-Centered Therapy called Humanistic Approach?

Because of the emphasis on the person's subjective perception of the world, Rogers
(1959) dubbed his therapeutic method client-centered or person-centered therapy.

6. What is the core purpose of person centered therapy?

Person-centered therapy's main goal is to aid our capacity to self-actualize, or the concept that
we can all grow and achieve our full potential. By helping a client to discover and use their own
talents and unique identity, this technique aids their personal growth and relationships. As the
client makes their way through this trip, the counsellor assists them by giving crucial support.

7. What is an important part of the self-actualizing theory?

Self-actualization is the highest-order incentive that drives us to become our 'ideal self' and
fulfill our ultimate potential.

8. What Is Behavior Therapy, and Why Is It Important?

Behavioral therapy is a catch-all phrase for several forms of therapy used to treat mental
illnesses. This type of treatment aims to detect and assist in the modification of potentially
harmful or unhealthy habits. It is based on the notion that all behaviors are taught and that
harmful behaviors may be modified.
The importance of Behavior therapy:
a. Rather of remaining inactive in the face of the world, we learn to ACT on it.
b. Brain physiology changes as a result of behavioral changes
c. We're pumped forward to keep pushing forward.
d. Progress against social anxiety is made more quickly.
e. We are no longer avoiding situations. Anxiety no longer limits our activities.

9. How Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Works?

Efforts to modify thought habits are frequently part of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy treatment.
Learning to understand one's thinking distortions that are causing issues and then reevaluating
 them in light of reality are examples of these tactics. Developing a deeper grasp of other
people's motivation and conduct.

10. CBT techniques incorporate many different therapeutic tools. These tools help people in
therapy evaluate their emotional patterns and states. Explains the CBT tools.
Many different treatment tools are used in CBT approaches. People in therapy can use these
techniques to assess their emotional patterns and moods. Common approaches used by CBT therapists
include:
a. Journaling - Breaking the vicious loop of negative self-talk with cognitive journaling is a powerful
technique. Including this strategy in your daily practice will help you restore your mental
wellness. It's critical to understand your thought patterns as a recovering addict so that toxic
ideas don't sabotage your progress.
b. Reframing or cognitive restructuring - this entails examining negative thinking patterns closely.
Perhaps you have a tendency to overgeneralize, to assume the worst, or to place much too
much emphasis on little things. This kind of thinking can influence your actions and possibly
become a self-fulfilling prophesy. In order to discover negative patterns, your therapist will ask
you about your mental process in certain scenarios. You may learn to reframe negative ideas
into more positive and productive ones if you're aware of them.
c. Exploration with a guide - the therapist will become acquainted with your point of view via
guided discovery. Then they'll ask you questions that will test your views and extend your
horizons. You may be asked to provide evidence that both supports and contradicts your
assumptions. You'll learn to see things from several angles, even ones you may not have
considered previously. This might assist you in choosing a more beneficial path.
d. Exposure therapy - is a technique for dealing with anxieties and phobias. The therapist will
gradually expose you to the things that make you feel afraid or anxious, while also giving you
advice on how to deal with them in the present. This may be accomplished in modest steps.
Exposure can eventually help you feel less vulnerable and more secure in your ability to cope.
e. Scheduled activities and behavior activation - putting an activity on your calendar might assist if
you tend to put it off or avoid it because of fear or worry. You may be more inclined to follow
through once the decision-making load has been lifted. Activity scheduling can help you form
excellent habits and provide you plenty of opportunities to apply what you've learned.
f. Experiments on behavior - behavioral trials are commonly utilized in the treatment of anxiety
disorders including catastrophic thinking. You'll be challenged to forecast what will happen
before starting an activity that generally makes you nervous. You'll discuss if the forecast came
true later. Over time, you may notice that the prophesied disaster is unlikely to occur. You'll
probably start with lower-anxiety chores and work your way up.
g. Techniques for stress reduction and relaxation - some progressive relaxation techniques, such as
deep breathing exercises, muscular relaxation, and visualization, may be taught in CBT. You'll
discover useful techniques for reducing stress and increasing your sense of control. This can
assist with phobias, social worries, and other types of stress.
h. Playing a role- Role playing can assist you in working through various actions in potentially
challenging circumstances. Playing out different scenarios can help to reduce anxiety and can be
used to improve problem-solving abilities, familiarity and confidence in particular circumstances,
social skills practice, assertiveness training, and communication skills.
i. Approximation after approximation - This entails breaking down seemingly insurmountable tasks
into smaller, more manageable chunks. Each subsequent step builds on the preceding one,
allowing you to gradually acquire confidence.