The role of Therapeutic Frame in Psychotherapy Process of a Client with Depressive Features

Abstract

Constituting the main framework and structural features of psychotherapy, therapeutic frame is studied from various perspectives in terms of its different aspects and functions. This case study aimed both to illustrate the practices of therapeutic frame and to discuss the role of therapeutic frame in understanding the emotional needs and internal representations of a depressive client. The case was presenting with depressive mood and a number of relationship conflicts. Psychotherapy process was conducted during clinical psychology education of the therapist in accordance with object relations theory framework. Concepts of transference and countertransference were also integrated in this context in order to examine the relational patterns and developmental characteristics. The effects of possible cultural factors on therapeutic frame’s functions and transference-countertransference dynamics were also discussed. All in all, the assessment of interpersonal and intrapersonal boundaries, planning the interventions, and elaborating on the presenting problems in psychotherapy are concluded to be closely related to the therapeutic frame’s functions of containment and external reality for this case example.

Keywords

• case study,therapeutic frame,object relations theory,transference-countertransference

Depresif Özellikler Taşıyan Bir Danışanın Psikoterapi Sürecinde Terapötik Çerçevenin Rolü

Abstract

Psikoterapi uygulamasının genel iskeleti ve yapısal özelliklerini oluşturan terapötik çerçevenin farklı yönlerine ve kendine özgü işlevlerine yönelik çeşitli bakış açıları mevcuttur. Bu olgu çalışması, hem terapötik çerçevenin uygulamadaki görüngülerine dair bir örnek sunmayı, hem de kavramın depresif özellikler taşıyan bir danışanın psikoterapi süreci boyunca duygusal ihtiyaçları ve zihinsel temsillerinin anlaşılmasındaki rolünü ele almayı amaçlamaktadır. Danışan, depresif duygulanım ve ilişkisel çatışma sorunları ile psikoterapiye başvurmuştur. Psikoterapi süreci terapistin klinik psikoloji lisansüstü eğitimi kapsamında yürütülmüş, genel olarak nesne ilişkileri kuramı doğrultusunda ve özel olarak terapötik çerçeve kavramı açısından detaylı olarak kavramsallaştırılmıştır. Bu bağlamda, ilişkisel çatışmaları devam ettiren mekanizmaların ve gelişimsel özelliklerin psikoterapi ilişkisi içinde aktarım ve karşı aktarım yoluyla anlaşılması önemli bulunmuştur. Ayrıca kültürel etmenlerin gerek terapötik çerçevenin işlevleri, gerekse aktarım-karşı aktarım ilişkisi üzerindeki olası etkileri tartışılmıştır. Sonuç olarak bu olgu örneğinde içsel ve kişilerarası sınırların değerlendirilmesi, uygun müdahale yollarının planlanması ve danışanın şikâyetleriyle ilişkili ilişkisel zorlukların anlaşılmasında terapötik çerçevenin özellikle kapsayıcılık ve dış gerçeklik işlevlerinin ön plana çıktığı görülmüştür. 

Keywords

• olgu çalışması,terapötik çerçeve,nesne ilişkileri teorisi,aktarım-karşı aktarım

Thanks

Bu çalışmanın bir kısmı “19th Ulusal Psikoloji Kongresi: Barış ve Psikoloji” adlı kongrede poster bildiri olarak sunulmuştur. Sunulan olgu ile yürütülen psikoterapi çalışması için süpervizyon aldığım Dr. Canan Büyükaşık Çolak, Doç. Dr. Deniz Canel Çınarbaş ve Prof. Dr. Faruk Gençöz’e teşekkür ederim.

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