Therapy

The feminist theory application on Stan’s case is not okay. It does not fit to the situations that Stan is encountering. For instance, Stan is experiencing reduced rates of self-esteem and has been seeing himself as being less of a man. He keeps complaining that his father does not award him the attention that he requires. Stan is an individual who requires more attention and advice regarding building his manhood. He does not require the feminist theory that would propel him to suck it up and be a man (Brown & American Psychological Association, 2010). That would sound too harsh, insensitive and would distraught Stan.

The therapist used the exception technique whereby Stan was asked to identify at least one situation when did not experience hopelessness (Dr. Corey, 2014). This technique was used to help Stan realize the he is not entirely hopeless and that a single instance, which he was involved in and the outcome was positive, proves it. This technique was very influential on Stan’s attitude towards himself. He realized that he has been trying to do things, that is, he has been making small steps towards pulling himself out of hopelessness. This technique provided Stan with an opportunity to know that he is not useless and unhopeful  (Ivey, D’Andrea, & Ivey, 2012).  I would say this technique worked more than any other technique employed since it even made him more enthusiastic.

In Stan’s case ‘Externalization’ can be utilized by referring to his hopelessness as a physical obstacle that prevents an individual from going through it to meet his future on the other side. Hopelessness is the obstacle whilst a separate individual refers to Stan. Stan would be asked what that individual would to do in order to overcome the barrier to enable him access his future on the other side of the obstacle.

References

Brown, L. S., & American Psychological Association. (2010). Feminist therapy. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

Dr. Corey. (2014). Cengage Learning Custom Solutions. Retrieved September 3, from http://www.cengage.com/custom/Liberty/index.html

Ivey, A. E., D’Andrea, M., & Ivey, M. B. (2012). Theories of counseling and psychotherapy: A multicultural perspective. Los Angeles: SAGE Publications.