Over the course of his psychotherapy, Jordan came to realize, with the help of his therapist, that his tendency to cut short and/or distance himself from several promising relationships was due to the sudden death of his younger sister years before, and his unconscious desire never to feel pain like that again. Following this realization, Jordan was able to initiate and maintain meaningful friendships. Psychoanalytic theorists would say that the therapy helped Jordan to
a. achieve insight.
b. experience catharsis.
c. interpret transference.
d. none of the above
Question 2
While they are discussing Bernie's recently deceased father, Bernie's psychodynamically oriented therapist encourages Bernie to compose a letter to his father, telling him everything he had wanted to tell him, but had failed to tell him, while he was alive. Bernie comes back the next week and tells his therapist that although writing the letter was an exhausting and very emotional exercise, he now feels much calmer than he did before. What term would Freud use to describe Bernie's experience?
a. working through
b. transference
c. insight
d. catharsis
Photograph of an occupational therapist assisting a patient with learning independence in activities
Physical therapist assisting a patient to walk in the parallel bars.
A physical therapist helping the patient on parallel bars.
A therapist assisting an amputee patient to regain mobility and strength after amputation.
Massage Therapist, c. 1985.
Client and therapist positioning for foot reflexology.