Information for Midterm Exam Preparation

1. Overview: The exam will cover all readings and class material from the beginning of class to the present.  I am planning to divide the exam into two sections: (a) identifications (short essays), requesting application of important concepts to specific cases, and (b) long essays, inviting comparison and contrast among different systems of psychotherapy.

2. Identifications/short essays (10 points each, 60 points total): In most cases, I will give you a concept, and ask you to apply it to a specific case, e.g., "Describe the concept of splitting and give an example from the case of Ann."  However, for information from the first section of the course (helping profession careers, clinical and counseling psychology, Boulder model), application isn't possible; if I ask you about concepts from this material, I will likely focus on comparisons or contrasts (e.g., "Describe 4 differences between clinical and counseling psychology.")  The concepts and cases with which you should be familiar are listed below:

• Counseling, social work, clinical psychology, counseling psychology (similarities, differences)
• Boulder model (strengths, weaknesses)
• Psychoanalytic techniques (listening, interpretation, resistance, dream analysis, transference, countertransference
• Object relations concepts (good-enough mothering, holding environment, central themes, separation-individuation, splitting)
• Self-psychology concepts (mirroring, idealization, twinship, transmuting internalization
• Rogers' ideas about client-centered vs. psychodynamic therapies
• Rogers' 3 conditions
• Existential therapy: 4 limits (dilemma and interventions for each)
• Viktor Frankl
• Gestalt concepts (awareness, unfinished business)
• Gestalt techniques
• 5 Cases: Solitaire (Laura); Ann; Naomi, The dancer from the dance; If rape were legal (Carlos); Mary, Beware what you desire

3. Long essays (20 points each, 40 points total): Here are 4 possible essays.  I will choose 2 on the day of the exam.  I strongly suggest that you write out, or at least outline, your ideas in advance so that you can make the best use of time on the day of the exam.  I'm estimating that you would write a full page or more for each.

• Describe 4 differences between psychoanalysis and object relations psychotherapy.  How would Laura's therapy have been different if her therapist had had an object relations orientation?  (Give specific examples.)
• Describe 4 behavioral differences between a psychoanalyst and a client-centered therapist (i.e., differences that would be noticeable in how they do therapy).  Was Naomi's treatment more psychoanalytic or client-centered in nature?  Support your answer with examples.
• Pick any case except the case of Carlos and describe 2 existential limits (Yalom's givens) you see in the case.  How would Yalom's treatment differ from the approach of the actual therapist in the case?
• Consider the following 4 therapy orientations we have studied so far: psychoanalysis, object relations/self psychology, client-centered, existential.  Describe two characteristics that seem to be present in all of the therapies that seem to you to facilitate a client's recovery.  For either one of those characteristics, show how it was helpful in at least 3 of the cases we read.