Greater Valley Behavioral Health by Justin Biske

Question: Freud’s radical idea that an individual’s physical problems might be best alleviated by a “talking cure” served as the foundation for many more theoretical approaches over the past 100 years.  Even today, at the beginning of the 21 st century, the many forms of psychodynamic therapy are used by mental health professionals worldwide.  In your opinion, why has Freud’s theory had such enduring and “staying” power for so many years? Answer: I think the simple reason that psychodynamic/ "talk therapy" has had such staying power is because it works. As Breuer helped to discover with Anna O., psychological trauma can manifest itself with somatic symptoms. Personally I don't think I've had any psychosomatic issues due to trauma, or certainly none serious enough that I've taken notice. I have had two friends that had serious back problems due to psychological trauma. Both ended up having several back surgeries, and had to go through the long arduous p...

Question: There is an ongoing debate about whether counseling/psychotherapy is an art or a science. Michael Mahoney wrote in 1991 "the  person'  of the therapist is at least eight times more influential than his or her theoretical orientation and/or use of specific therapeutic techniques”.  What does Mahoney’s conclusion mean to you?  What implications might it have for your development as a professional counselor?  I think the debate of art vs. science in any field is really a debate about  the convergence of  creativity and fundamentals. When beginning to take on the task of learning any subject whether it be psychotherapy, cooking, or the guitar we usually start with the basics. Answer:  An aspiring chef’s first year in culinary school is spent making stocks and bases.   When a child starts guitar lessons, they spend the majority of their time learning finger placement, scales, and rudimentary songs such as “Row, R...

Each theoretical perspective makes particular assumptions about how people change. Theorists and practitioners make certain assertions about such questions as (a) what external conditions are needed for an individual to change? (b) What internal conditions need to exist? (c) What counselor/therapist characteristics encourage change? (d) What Client characteristics promote change? (e) What kind of interpersonal dynamic between the counselor and the client produce change? I think change for better or worse is born out of conflict. Personally, I’m drawn to stories. Whether it be television, movies, or literature I always find the best stories involve the growth of a character while struggling against an internal or external force. In sixth grade I remember learning about the 7 conflicts in literature (Individual vs. Self, Individual vs. Individual, Individual vs. God, Individual vs. Nature, Individual vs. Society, Individual vs. Technology, and Individual vs. Fate) and feel that these con...