Fall 2024 SOWK 581 Week 09 - Relational Theory

Slide 1
A presentation slide displays 'RELATIONAL THEORY' in bold with 'Week 09 for SOWK 581' below. Jacob Campbell, Ph.D., and course details are at the top left, against a simple background.

Fall 2024 SOWK 581 Week 09 - Relational Theory

title: Fall 2024 SOWK 581 Week 09 - Relational Theory date: 2024-10-19 11:50:00 location: Heritage University tags:

  • Heritage University
  • MSW Program
  • SOWK 581

presentation_video: >

description: >

Week nine is a synchronous week, with class on 10/19. The readings will be about relational theory. I might also have a discussion related to behavioral therapy (which is the content of week 10).

Slide 2
The slide displays an agenda with a plain white background. It includes bullet points: 'The third space and relational theory in general,' 'Self-disclosure,' and 'Teaching mindfulness.'

Agenda

  • The third space and relational theory in general
  • Self-disclosure
  • Teaching mindfulness
Slide 3
A pie chart displaying feedback completion status; 54% completed and 46% need to complete. Text states 'MIDCOURSE FEEDBACK' and color-coded legend indicates 'Need to Complete' and 'Completed.'

Mid-course feedback

Slide 4
The image is a presentation slide featuring a quote. It states, 'Relational theory and practice is a postmodern psychodynamic perspective that calls for active engagement between client and clinician. The therapeutic relationship is an interactive, alive process—empathic, authentic, and mutually growth enhancing.' Citation: Cooper and Granucci Lesser, 2022, p. 132. The text emphasizes engagement and interaction.

Relational Theory

Relational theory and practice is a postmodern psychodynamic perspective that calls for active engagement between client and clinician. The therapeutic relationship is an interactive, alive process— empathic, authentic, and mutually growth enhancing. (Cooper and Granucci Lesser, 2022, p. 132)

Slide 5
The image shows two labeled circles, 'Client' (brown) and 'Clinician' (light blue), connected by a wavy line. Title: 'THE THIRD SPACE.' Text: 'The interactional field created when the subjectivities of the therapist and the client come together. The entire range of racial, sociocultural, and political identities become topics for therapeutic conversation. (Cooper & Granucci Lesser, 2022).'

The Third Space

The concept of third space describes the interactional field created when the subjectivities of the therapist and the patient come together. The entire range of racial, sociocultural, and political identities become topics for therapeutic conversation.

Space between client and Clinician (Cooper & Granucci Lesser, 2022)

Slide 6
Diagram illustrates 'Therapeutic Tripartite Awareness' by Cooper & Granucci Lesser (2022). Arrows indicate 'Flow of Relationship' between 'Self' (Clinician) and 'Other' (Client). Text: 'Mindful practitioners listen deeply, attentively, and empathically.'

Therapeutic tripartite awareness

Intersubjectivity relates to the connection in mindfulness-based relationship therapy. Mindful practitioners listen deeply, attentively, and empathically. Therapeutic tripartite awareness (self, other, flow of relationship) allows a patient to remain emotionally present with difficult feelings.

  • Allows a patient to remain emotionally present with difficult feelings.
  • Mindful practitioners listen deeply, attentively, and empathically.

Flow of the relationship between client (other) and clinician (self)

(Cooper & Granucci Lesser, 2022)

Slide 7
The slide titled 'Function of Self-Disclosure' lists four actions for therapists in early treatment: transparency, engaging clients, cross-cultural counseling, and creating spaces for mutual growth. (Cooper & Granucci Lesser, 2022).

Function of Self-Disclosure

Developing a therapeutic relationship with the client especially in the early stages of treatment

  • Conveying the therapist’s presence and empathy through transparency, attentiveness, and responsiveness to the client
  • Engaging the client in meaningful therapeutic work
  • Cross-cultural and cross-racial counseling to establish trust
  • Creating a third space for conversations that provide mutual exchange and growth.

Functions of therapist self-disclosure include developing a therapeutic relationship with the client especially in the early stages of treatment; conveying the therapist’s presence and empathy through transparency, attentiveness, and responsiveness to the client; and engaging the client in meaningful therapeutic work Therapist self-disclosure can also be useful in cross-cultural and cross-racial counseling to establish trust and create third space conversations that provide mutual exchange and growth. The relational approach to psychotherapy needs to be honest, fluid, and mutually engaging, qualities that lead to genuine connection and safety. (Cooper & Granucci Lesser, 2022, p. 124)

Slide 8
Silhouette figure with heart symbol displays a speech bubble: 'Personal self-disclosure messages.' Accompanying text advises purposeful, limited self-disclosure for client connection, focusing on authenticity. Source: Cooper & Granucci Lesser, 2022.

Personal self-disclosure messages

The use of self-disclosure can be a meaningful and useful tool that we use as social workers. I also want to provide caution to you. First, let me tell you about my experience and then a couple of things I have found that you should consider.

  • Tell story of my dad
  • Tell story of starting our in social work and self-disclosure
  • Talk about the three things that are important.
  • Done for the client, purposefully
  • Enough details to provide connection and understanding, but limited
  • Focus on other forms to demonstrating authenticity, use sparingly
Slide 9
A diagram shows a person with a heart, labeling 'Beliefs, Memories, Values, Ideas, Expectations.' Descriptive words include 'Honest,' 'Fluid,' and 'Genuine connection.' Text highlights social worker disclosure decisions, listing actions like 'Providing Feedback' and 'Sharing feelings.' (Key sources: Cooper & Granucci Lesser, 2022; Hepworth, et al., 2022)

Intersubjective Self-Disclosure

Clinician sharing:

  • Beliefs
  • Memories
  • Values
  • Ideas
  • Expectations

In a way that is

  • Honest
  • Fluid
  • Mutually engaging
  • Genuine connection and safety

(Cooper & Granucci Lesser, 2022)

Social Workers Decision to Share Perceptions and Reactions They Believe will be Helpful

  • Requests for social worker’s opinions, views, and feelings
  • Disclosing personal past experiences
  • Providing Feedback
  • Experiencing discomfort in session
  • Shareing feelings of frustration, anger, and hurt
  • Responding to positive feedback
  • Giving positive feedback
  • Saying no and setting limits

(Hepworth, et al. 2022)

Slide 10
Slide titled 'Brief Relational Theory' outlines steps: collaboration in setting goals, developing rationale, mindfulness exercises, clarifying expectations. Includes note on 'Countertransference and disclosure' facilitating 'third space' exploration. (Cooper & Granucci Lesser, 2022).

Brief Relational Theory

Countertransference and disclosure which facilitates exploration of third space

  • Beginning collaboration with setting structure and identifying goals for treatment
  • Developing a mutual rationale for treatment tasks
  • Different exercises demonstrating mindfulness
  • Clarifying goals and expectations
Slide 11
A line graph illustrates emotional states fluctuating between 'Heightened Emotional State' and 'Apathy,' with labels indicating 'Danger Zone' levels at the extremes. Header: 'Times to Consider Using Grounding.'

Times to Consider Using Grounding

Slide 12
Tree roots extend across an earthen bank, showcasing erosion. Text overlay reads: 'Grounding Techniques: Accessibility, Broad, Present focused, Scaling, Focused outward, Stay neutral, Not relaxation training.'

Grounding Techniques

I want to share with all of you a tool that that I have often taught to clients. Grounding is a set of simple strategies to detach from emotional pain. To be grounding, it should fall under the following guidelines…

  • Accessibility: do it at any time, any place, anywhere, and no one has to know.
  • Broad: put a healthy distance between you and negative feelings (useful for when faced with a trigger, enraged, dissociating, having a substance craving).
  • Present Focused: keep your eyes open, scan the room, and turn the lights on to stay in touch with the present. Do not focus on the past or the future.
  • Scaling: scale your emotions when using grounding. Rate at your emotion (craving, impulse… etc) on a scale from 0-10 before beginning grounding. After implementing your grounding technique, rate your emotion again.
  • Focus Outward: Do not talk, think, or journal about your feelings. The purpose of grounding is to distract away from negative feelings, not get in touch with them.
  • Stay Neutral: avoid judgments of good and bad.
  • Not Relaxation Training: note that grounding is not the same as relaxation training. Grounding is more active, focuses on distraction strategies, and is intended to help extreme negative feelings.

[Whole Class Activity] Review the sheet. Practice some of the skills / discuss them. Talk about how it can be implemented in a group format (in part or whole)

[ ] Print 24 copy of Using Grounding To Detach From Emotional Pain handout

Slide 13
Slide titled 'Brief Relational Theory' lists steps for collaboration and goal setting in treatment, with emphasis on mindfulness exercises. A highlighted point encourages working with a partner. (Cooper & Granucci Lesser, 2022)

Brief Relational Theory

[Small Group Activity] Work with a partner to demonstrate and teach them to use some of the mindefulness exersizes, or grounding techniques.