Some thoughts on the HISTORY OF COUNSELING VIEWED LIVE BY THE PUBLIC WHICH LED TO THIS MOMENTOUS INTERNET EVENT-- THE LIVE COUNSELING EXPERIENCE (LCE1)1-800-THERAPIST
Some thoughts on the HISTORY OF COUNSELING VIEWED LIVE BY THE PUBLIC WHICH LED TO THIS MOMENTOUS INTERNET EVENT-- THE LIVE COUNSELING EXPERIENCE (LCE1)
On October 14th, 1900 Sigmund Freud wrote to a colleague and close friend that he was treating a patient that deserved to be described to the medical community. But as Freud was worried about the way in which his treatment of his patient, 18 year-old "Dora", would be received, he postponed the publication for over five years.
Freud stated, "I was accused of giving no information about my patients, now I shall be accused of giving information about my patients which ought not to be given. I can only hope that in both cases the critics will be the same, and that they will merely have shifted the pretext for their reproaches.." (Case of Dora, 1905)
RESULT: Many people view counseling as something that happens lying down on a black couch every week for many years with a cold, detached doctor "telling you how you are secretly lusting after your parents."
A major evolution in revealing what actually takes place "behind the closed doors" of a therapist's office, came when Carl Rogers began filming his live therapy sessions, the first of which was the Case of Herbert Bryan in 1942 (see the list of the many films that followed below).
RESULT: Many therapists viewed therapy in a new light, whereas the public held onto the old Freudian conceptions.
During that time (and even up to the present), the general media continued to portray counseling in a negative light and those who go to counseling as crazy. For example, consider how Jack Nicholson in "One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest" or Richard Dreyfus in "What about Bob?", or more recently Tracy Ullman's or Burce Willis' characters on "Ally McBeal". The psychiatrists on the popular TV series "Frasier" have yet to treat an emotional problem in a serious manner. The "Snake Pit" a movie of many years ago, continues to be a frightening reference point for many individuals' view of the mentally ill. The public has learned to fear the label of mental illness and the ridicule associated with asking for help with their problems. This is evidenced by the fact that only 1 in 5 Americans with a mental disorder seeks out any kind of counseling. And of this small portion only a few are receiving appropriate and adequate counseling or treatment.
RESULT: The public began to view therapy as "only for crazy people."
The fascination with this frightening and "taboo" subject of mental illness and other peoples' emotional problems has led to a variety of "Radio Psychologists" such as Dr. Toni Grant, Dr. Joyce Brothers and Dr. Sonya Freidman. The popularity of this type of show has increased to the point where "Dr. Laura" has the number two radio program in the USA.
RESULT: The public discovered "magical" experts who they thought could diagnose a problem in 10 seconds and provide a cure within a minute--whether or not the client was "smart enough" to understand the cure.
The public's interest in counseling has led to emotional problems being treated on daytime television. Therapists have appeared on the Montel Williams Show, The Oprah Winfrey Show, The Jenny Jones Show, The Sally Jessy Raphael Show, The Ricki Lake Show, The Maury Show and The Leeza Show.
RESULT: The public has been treated to experts who show that they can diagnose and solve a problem in SEVERAL MINUTES!
With the LIVE COUNSELING EXPERIENCE, we want to show that in REAL counseling, a
relationship develops over time within which emotional growth and healing can occur. THE RELATIONSHIP IS CENTRAL TO EMOTIONAL HEALING. We want to demonstrate that those in counseling are not crazy. These clients are people like you and me--struggling through the problems of everyday life. Except for the fact that when these people got stuck emotionally, they turned to an expert to help them grow.*** ***
In 1998 we saw the explosive growth of the Internet and such amazing events as a live birth which was watched by 1.4 million people. We were treated to other live events like the exploration of the Titanic. Utilizing this new technology, we are now able to offer to the public this unique LIVE COUNSELING EVENT (LCE1). NOW for the first time anywhere, the public can see for itself what actually happens behind a real counselors' doors--not the ones on radio or television who claim to solve a problem in a few minutes. Viewing real counseling will be beneficial for all people, not only those with identical problems. A variety of clients with different kinds of problems will be helped on our program.
FILMS:
THE CASE OF HERBERT BRYAN
Rogers, C.R. (1942). In C. Rogers, Counseling and psychotherapy (pp.261-437). Boston: Houghton Mifflin. This may be the first publication of a completed and transcribed case of individual psychotherapy that illustrates Rogers' new nondirective approach.
Three Sessions with Iris
Fagan, J. (1947). Three sessions with Iris. The Couseling Psychologist, 4, 42-59. Dr. Fagan describes her work with Iris. The patient was a volunteer for a doctoral dissertation. She had agreed to be videotaped and had no previous experience with Gestalt therapy.
The Rat Man
Freud, S. (1963). In S. Freud, Three case histories. The case of the "rat man" was a landmark in Freud's developing theory of psychoanalysis. In precise, clinical reporting, Freud outlined the role of key psychoanalytical techniques.
THREE APPROACHES TO PSYCHOTHERAPY I
PART 1: DR. CARL ROGERS 1965 ----- b & w ----- 48 min ----- 16 mm
Dr. Carl Rogers describes client centered psychotherapy; demonstrates its use by showing an actual case and follows with a discussion of the case.
PART 2: DR. FREDERICK PERLS
1965 ----- b & w ----- 32 min ----- 16 mm
Dr. Fritz Perls describes Gestalt psychotherapy, demonstrates its use by showing an actual case and then follows with a discussion of the case.
PART 3: DR. ALBERT ELLIS 1965 ----- b & w ----- 36 min ----- 16 mm Dr. Albert Ellis describes rational-emotive therapy, demonstrates its use by showing an actual case and then follows with a discussion of the case.
ALBERT ELLIS, A DEMONSTRATION: A WOMAN FEARFUL OF EXPRESSING EMOTION (no date) ----- color ----- 27 min ----- 16 mm A woman who becomes angry with herself when she can't be self-expressive has her illogical thinking unmasked by Ellis.
ALBERT ELLIS, A DEMONSTRATION: AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AGE CHILD (no date) ----- color ----- 29 min ----- 16 mm How will a nine-year-old boy respond to Rational Emotive Therapy (RET)? After a lively and colorful exchange between Ellis and the child, Ellis describes how he conceptualizes a problem, what he is accomplishing and how RET may be applied to children.
TRANSACTIONAL ANALYSIS: A DEMONSTRATION WITH ELAINE (no date) ----- color ----- 32 min ----- 16 mm
Emily Ruppert demonstrates TA with Elaine, a young woman who is engaging in self-defeating behavior which perpetuates her problems. In a commentary after the interview, Emily Ruppert discusses Elaine's playing of the game, "Why Don't You, Yes, But" and analyzes the therapeutic process.
REINFORCEMENT THERAPY 1966 ----- b & w ----- 45 min ----- 16 mm Presents three experimental programs that apply to learning theory or operant conditioning to the treatment of chronic schizophrenic patients. Based on work by Dr. Ivar Lovaas.
A SILENT YOUNG MAN
Rogers, C.R. (1967). In C.R. Rogers, G.T. Gendlin, D.V. Kiesler, & C. Traux (Eds.), The therapeutic relationship and its impact: A study of psychotherapy with schizophrenics (pp. 401-406) Madison, WI: University of Wisconsin Press.
This case consists of two transcribed interviews that were conducted by Rogers as a part of a year-long treatment of a very withdrawn schizophrenic patient.
Individual Gestalt therapy
Simkin, J.S. (1967). American Academy of Psychotherapists tape library (50 minutes). Tape of the 11th hour of therapy with a 34 year old actor demonstrates classic Gestalt therapy techniques.
PSYCHIATRIC INTERVIEW #18: EVALUATION FOR DIAGNOSIS
1968 ----- color ----- 11 min ----- 16 mm
A short interview with a young man, a student, who demonstrates negativism in a catatonic schizophrenic.
PSYCHIATRIC INTERVIEW #21: EVALUATION FOR DIAGNOSIS
1968 ----- color ----- 11 min ----- 16 mm
A brief interview with an extremely talkative and excited, hypomanic man who clearly demonstrates the denial of depression and the psychomotor activity typical of a manic patient.
HILLCREST FAMILY: STUDIES IN HUMAN COMMUNICATION--ASSESSMENT INTERVIEW 1
1968 ----- color ----- (time varies) min ----- 16 mm
The first part of a series which consists of four separate interviews of the Hillcrest family by four psychiatrists. Each psychiatrist then discusses his views of the dynamics of the family situation with a therapist who has been working with the family. The Hillcrest family comprises a husband, wife and four children. Husband and wife have been married previously, some of the children are from the two former marriages and one is from the present marriage. The family has sought psychiatric help because of problems. Nathan W.Ackerman, MD., interviewer.
Nathan W.Ackerman, MD., interviewer. Reviews his interview with the family.
C. A. Whitaker, MD., interviewer.
Don Jackson, MD., interviewer.
Murray Bowen, MD., interviewer.
Growth through reason: Verbatim cases in rational-emotive therapy
Maultsby, M.C., Jr. (1971). A releapsed client with severe phobic reactions. In A. Ellis, Growth throught reason: Verbatim cases in rational-emotive therapy 9pp. 179-222).Maultsby presents a verbatim first session and parts of subsequent sessions with a 24 year old undergraduate student who had been previously hospitalized for a psychotic episode.
THREE APPROACHES TO GROUP THERAPY
PART 1: EVERETT L. SHOSTROM 1974 ----- color ----- 38 min ----- 16 mm Working with a newly formed group of some experienced and some inexperienced members, Dr. Everett Shostrom uses his theories of actualization therapy to conduct the session.
PART 2: ALBERT ELLIS
1974 ----- color ----- 39 min ----- 16 mm
Working with the same group as Part One, Dr. Albert Ellis demonstrates his technique of rational-emotive therapy.
PART 3: HAROLD GREENWALD
1974 ----- color ----- 38 min ----- 16 mm
Dr. Harold Greenwald demonstrates his decision therapy on the same group of individuals.
THREE APPROACHES TO PSYCHOTHERAPY II, PART 3: MULTIMODAL BEHAVIOR THERAPY
1976 ----- color ----- 46 min ----- 16 mm
Kathy works with Dr. Arnold A. Lazarus, Professor, Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology, Rutgers University. When going through the "BASIC ID", she experiences Lazarus as employing a "doing" approach to therapy.
Overcoming Procrastination
Ellis, A. (1977). Verbatim psychotherapy session with a procrastinator. In A. Ellis & W.J. Knaus, Overcoming procrastination (pp. 152-167).
Ellis presents a single verbatim session with a procrastinator.
Family Therapy: Full Length Case Studies
(Papp, P. Ed) Videotape (1977). Presents cases of 12 therapists and their work with families in treatment.
The Case of Tim
Goulding, r.E., & Goulding, M. (1978). The case of Tim. The power is in the patient: A Transactional Analysis/Gestalt approach to psychotherapy (pp. 43-55).
The case of Tim, taken from a weekend marathon group therapy transcript illustrates TA and Gestalt techniques.
PSYCHOTHERAPY 1979 ----- color ----- 25 min ----- 16 mm Through a series of encounters between patients and their therapists, an overview of the basic process of psychotherapy is examined and the major elements common to all psychotherapeutic techniques are explained. Focuses on the three themes/stages and shows how they are dealt with in therapeutic encounters.
Interview with a depressed suicidal patient
Beck, A.T., Rush, J., Shaw, B., & Emery, G. (1979). In Cognitive therapy of depression (pp. 225-243). This interview with a suicidal patient features an outline of the types of assessment and interventions made by cognitive therapists in an initial session. Substantial change occurs in one session, as demonstrated in the verbatim transcript of the interview.
THREE APPROACHES TO PSYCHOTHERAPY III
PART 1: DR. HANS STRUPP--PSYCHODYNAMIC THERAPY 1986 ----- color ----- 45 min ----- 16 mm
Dr. Strupp believes it is useful to view a patient's problem as disturbances in interpersonal relationships.
PART 2: DR. DONALD MEICHENBAUM--COGNITIVE-BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION 1986 ----- color ----- 46 min ----- 16 mm Dr. Meichenbaum says that behavior, from a Cognitive-Behavioral perspective, is a reflection of several processes: the kinds of thoughts, beliefs, internal dialogues, images, feelings and the ways we appraise the environment.
PART 3: DR. AARON T. BECK--COGNITIVE THERAPY
1986 ----- color ----- 46 min ----- 16 mm
Dr. Beck is noted for his work with anxiety and depression. The therapist teaches the patient how to identify his own negative thoughts and to rebut them to help his anxiety, his anger and his depression.
DARK SECRETS, BRIGHT VICTORY: ONE WOMAN'S RECOVERY FROM BULIMIA
1986 ----- color ----- 13 min ----- 16 mm
Depicts the actual events in one family's battle against bulimia. Teenage Heidi is the one with "the problem," yet her eating disorder is an integral part of the overall family dynamic. She allowed her addictive behavior to provide a temporary release from what seemed otherwise overwhelming problems. In an emotionally charged family counseling session, the family pattern of deception emerges and the foundation for Heidi's hidden habits becomes clear.
The Case of George
Lazarus, A. A. (1989). The case of George. In D. wedding and R.J. Corsini (Eds.) Case studies in psychotherapy.
This case demonstrates multimodal therapy techniques used to treat a client who had been unresponsive to various previous treatment methods.
UNDERSTANDING GROUP THERAPY, VOLUME II: INPATIENT GROUP, TAPE A--ORIENTATION AND AGENDA FORMATION 1990 ----- color ----- 49 min ----- vhs Dr. Irvin D. Yalom demonstrates his here and now approach in a session conducted with a typical therapy group in an inpatient psychiatric ward of a general hospital. He presents the first part of the session.
If you know of other films or other significant events available in the public domain that show a counselor working with real clients, please let us know so that we can include them on this very rudimentary list. Email suggestions to grold@1-800-therapist.com