PLO 1 Artifact

Reflection on PLO 1

The assignment I chose to reflect on for my e-Portfolio is my Counseling Session Analysis Paper from APSY 417-01: Counseling Techniques. The paper discusses Existential Therapy (ET), focusing on the key concepts of ET in counseling sessions. I selected this assignment because it shows my understanding of counseling theories and techniques, particularly those used to address clients dealing with anxiety, fear, and existential crises. This paper closely observes the Program Learning Outcome (PLO) 1, which emphasizes the foundational knowledge of psychology. Specifically, PLO 1 relates to the comprehension and application of psychological principles, theories, and practices in real-world scenarios. This assignment allowed me to demonstrate how ET can be applied in counseling settings to address human experiences of anxiety, death, and the search for meaning.

The assignment primarily addresses the Counseling foundation domain. It examines the therapeutic process of Existential Therapy, which is used to help clients explore their lives and provoke their fears. The content of the paper includes psychological terminology such as anxiety, freedom, responsibility, existential crises, self-awareness, and personal identity. These terms are important in understanding the therapeutic interventions and the role of the therapist in guiding the client toward self-discovery. Through my analysis of Gareth’s therapy session in the video, I was able to apply theoretical knowledge of ET to assess its practical use in a real-world scenario. The paper also explores how therapists use techniques such as person-to-person dialogue to help clients face their struggles with existential concerns.

By working on this assignment, I deepened my understanding of how existential theory can be applied in clinical settings. I learned to identify the main concepts of ET and to evaluate its effectiveness in addressing existential issues such as death, anxiety and the search for meaning. One of the key skills I developed through this assignment is the ability to analyze a counseling session critically, identifying how various techniques are used. Additionally, I gained better understanding of the relationship between the therapist and the client, specifically the importance of creating an open environment that allows clients to explore their fears.

The most meaningful thing I learned from this assignment is the profound impact that existential therapy can have on individuals who are struggling with anxiety, fear, and feelings of meaninglessness. Through my reflection on Gareth’s case, I recognized the therapeutic value of helping clients confront their fears and accept the existential nature of life. Learning that anxiety and death are inevitable parts of life was inspirational. This realization has broadened my understanding of how to approach clients who are experiencing existential crises and how to help them explore their own values in the context of a supportive therapeutic relationship.

To compare the Personality Research Paper from APSY 414: Theories of Personality class with this paper, I would say that both papers focus on one specific counseling concept. This paper focuses and discusses on Existential Therapy extensively. The Personality Research paper focuses on Roger’s personality and self-actualization theory. However, the Personality Research paper discusses the limitations of Roger’s Theory while the Existential Theory paper discusses real-life cases when this theory is applied. Both papers discuss the limitations of the theories, but the Existential Theory paper goes further to discuss how real-life cases were affected with the Existential Theory. The format of both papers is different although both papers research the topic in great depth.

In conclusion, this assignment allowed me to produce my foundational knowledge of counseling psychology with real-world application. Through this reflection, I am better equipped to apply the knowledge I’ve gained to future counseling practice, ensuring that I can support individuals struggling with existential concerns. In terms of my career goals, the skills gained from studying Existential Therapy have broadened my understanding of how to approach clients in a way that improves their personal growth. The idea of supporting clients in exploring the meaning of their lives, especially during times of existential crisis, resonates with my goal of becoming a compassionate Christian counselor.