1. From Boring Theory to Exciting Practice
John Sommers-Flanagan
Rita Sommers-Flanagan
Department of Counselor Education
University of Montana
Johnsommersflanagan.com

2. Today’s Plan
Theories should be practical, relevant, exciting – and funny!
Look at Psychoanalytic, Existential, and Feminist theory and . . .
Identify listening focus linked to each theory
Watch video clip demo of specific skills
Offer in-vivo classroom demonstration

3. The Psychoanalytic Listening Focus
The counselor listens for repeating themes
Sexual/aggressive impulses/conflicts
Repeating unsatisfactory relationship patterns
Repeating defensive patterns

4. Psychoanalytic Demonstrations
You have 1 minute to prepare a 1 minute presentation

5. Psychoanalytic Video Clip
Sara and John
Free association
Interpretation
Collaborative exploration of the past*

6. Existential Demonstrations
Partner up: “What do you Want?”
And repeat

7. Existential Video Clip
Peggy and Nilda
Nilda is using topical focusing on something meaningful and joyful for Peggy

8. The Existential Listening Focus
We listen for awareness
We listen for meaning
We listen for the existential psychodynamics (meaning, isolation, death, freedom) and how people handle them
We listen for joy and awe and signs of being engaged with life

9. The Feminist Listening Focus
We listen for oppression
We listen for the gaining and losing of the self
We listen for self-esteem
We listen for and work with anger, sadness, and other emotions that should be honored

10. Feminist Demonstrations
You wake up in the morning and . . .

11. Feminist Video Clip Amanda and Rita
Listen for Rita pushing-guiding Amanda to focus on what she wants

12. Concluding Comments
Theories classes should always have practice components
You can access free materials at johnsommersflanagan.com
The DVD is now available through Wiley