Levi is a 35-year old unmarried man who is HIV positive and works as an auto mechanic. Due to his compliance with appropriate medication, he has managed to prevent the virus from progressing to AIDs, thus making him reasonably healthy. Despite not feeling ill, Levi has struggled to control his emotions since learning of his health status. He fears to share HIV status to anyone in the family as well as his friends. As a result, Levi has since withdrawn from interacting with people. In recent times, he has started using an array of medications to manage his anxiety, but he frequently consumes more than the prescribed dosage. Besides, he has resorted to utilizing cocaine, mostly during weekends. Nonetheless, he has realized that his life is not headed in the right direction due to his emotional problems and the inability to address them appropriately. Therefore, Levi is seeking a counselor to advise him on the best way forward. The application of psychodynamic theory can provide a framework for a counselor to help Levi cope with his HIV status and enable him to resume his former mental and social states.
Key Components of the Psychodynamic Theory
Psychodynamic theory is proposed as the most feasible model to address the issues affecting Levi. The approach is founded on four critical premises that will prove critical in the diagnosis and treating of Levi’s issues. Firstly, the model presupposes that every human action is triggered by some underlying forces. According to this view, all human behaviors have an explanation that is intertwined with unconscious needs and desires (Fulmer, 2018). The second component holds that people are not always aware of what they are doing. In particular, this proposition implies that even the most rational individuals have blind spots, which make them behave in certain abnormal ways (Fulmer, 2018). From a broader perspective, this view underlines the need for a critical reflection of past events that could be influencing people’s present behavioral patterns.
The third premise holds that way people express and regulates emotions is central to defining their characters. The degree to which individuals handle emotions determines the way they make choices and how they respond to the surrounding environment (Fulmer, 2018). In this regard, this premise suggests that emotions paint human experiences with positive and negative connotations. The fourth component underlying the psychodynamic theory holds that human growth is an inter-and intrapersonal process. All individuals’ current personality traits are products of their past experiences (Fulmer, 2018). Therefore, the proposition implies people’s behaviors are mediated by past events.
Theory Evaluation
Psychodynamic theory is preferred in intervening Levi’s behavioral problems due to its efficacy as a philological approach. Depressive disorders or challenges are more likely to alter people’s personality traits. Without appropriate intervention, the affected individuals may have their behaviors worsen, thus making it difficult to socialize normally. According to Redekop, Luke, and Malone (2017), the psychodynamic approach is a platform for client development, a vehicle for treatment interventions, and an effective therapeutic methodology in and of itself. Thus, the theory provides vital insights that modern practicing counselors can utilize to modify clients’ behaviors. Given this attribute, the theory seems the most appropriate framework for counselors to address the issues affecting Levi.
Strengths And Weaknesses Of Psychodynamic Theory
While the psychodynamic theory is the preferred approach in Levi’s case, it should be viewed from the associated strengths and weaknesses. The model is reputed for its holistic approach of taking into account both nature and nurture (Blossom, 2017). In other words, the theory emphasizes the importance of evaluating the impact of both attributes on a person’s problems. The model does not require any scientific machinery like an MRI scan to diagnose an individual’s mental illness (Blossom, 2017). Therefore, counselors do not require the use of expensive diagnosis procedures in their practice. Additionally, the theory promotes more optimism concerning mental problems and encouraging the patients to speak up about their psychological distress (Blossom, 2017). By making people optimistic, the theory, thus, empowers them to manage their mental challenges.
Strengths notwithstanding, psychodynamic theory is also associated with some criticisms. The theory is widely criticized for its unscientific approach to analyzing human behavior (Blossom, 2017). In other words, critics view the model as less convincing in its diagnosis procedure. Additionally, the theory is criticized for its inability to be evaluated empirically (Blossom, 2017). Effectively, the model cannot be measured or depended upon by repeated testing. Despite these limitations, the associated strengths make the theory an effective approach for intervening in the issues affecting Levi.
Application of Cultural Competence In Psychodynamic Theory
Psychodynamic theory recognizes the importance of cultural competence when addressing psychological problems. While the model is firmly founded on an etic viewpoint, it also integrates the emic perspective. In other words, the theory recognizes objectivity as well as the value of a client’s perceptions (Fulmer, 2018). Apparently, the framework merges elements of universality with the culturally specific. On one hand, psychodynamic theory all people to be neurologically similar despite their cultural differences. In essence, everyone, regardless of cultural orientation, is influenced by past events. On the other, it suggests that individuals pass through specific cultural experiences that influence their patterns of behaviors. Guided by this viewpoint, the theory recognizes the importance of taking into account one’s unique culture into perspective when offering counseling therapy. Overall, the theory’s broad and versatile approach lends itself perfectly suited for multicultural counseling sessions.
Implications of Psychodynamic Theory In The Levi Case
The usage of psychodynamic theory to treat Levi has some implications for the counseling process. Firstly, the counselor will be required to determine the underlying forces that are influencing Levi’s behaviors. While it may be significantly difficult to untangle this puzzle, it is going to be critical to developing a bigger picture of what is affecting the client. Secondly, the counselor will need to ascertain the correlation between Levi’s personality and behavioral patterns. As early observed, the theory perceives personality as having a role in shaping people’s experiences. With this fact in mind, the counselor will be forced to take enough time to learn Levi’s specific personality to understand its mediating role in his recent behaviors and actions. Thirdly, the counselor will be required to determine Levi’s past experiences to comprehend their possible influence in his tribulations. In this sense, psychodynamic theory needs counselors to judge the past to ascertain their role in shaping people’s current behavioral patterns. Everyone has a unique past that sometimes may have long-lasting effects on mental health, hence the need to incorporate it into the diagnosis and intervention processes. Overall, the application of the model in addressing Levi’s problems exerts at least the above-outlined implications for counselors.