Early Recollections Therapy

According to Adler’s Individual Psychology perspective, individual behaviour coincides with a desire for success or superiority (Adler, 1958). This desire for success or goodness manifests in a client’s early recollections, powerful memories shaping and guiding their lifestyle. According to Mosak and Di Pietro (2006), early recollections (ERs) are narratives a client presents to a counsellor regarding specific events in the individual’s youth before ten—the age at which a child develops the ability to record events chronologically. These recollections have projective value, allowing a therapist to predict an individual’s style of life, behaviours, and reactions to particular events relative to their personalities. This essay intends to outline ER therapy’s usefulness. Examining early recollections’ uses is pertinent to understanding their therapeutic advantages. Secondly, describing the methods used to administer ER therapy will be essential. Thirdly, a discussion of ER research reliability and validity is a helpful way to review the research aims and pitfalls of this type of cognitive therapy. An example of ER therapy will be discussed, particularly its use in predicting vocational goals.‍

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Uses and Advantages of Early Recollection Therapy

Early recollections allow a therapist to predict a client’s lifestyle in the future based on their earliest recollections, a collection of memories that shape how a client thinks and responds to events (Clark, 1998). Lifestyle can be understood as an individual’s attitudinal set, that is, convictions about life (Binder & Smokler, 1980). By examining a client’s earliest recollections, a therapist can assess their lifestyle and, thereby, their personality. There are several advantages to conducting ER therapy: counselling relationship, counselling integration, response distortion, and therapeutic progress.

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‍Counselling and Relationships

Early Recollections is an attractive therapeutic strategy because of its open-ended procedural approach that involves the client more than the therapist. It can enhance the relationship between therapist and client to develop trust and relaxation. (Clark, 2002) Unravelling a client’s early memories becomes fascinating. According to Jane & Jane (1979) and Korner (1965), relatively ubiquitous and excessive childhood recall envelops individuals to the point where they become absorbed in their self-narratives. The result is reduced client defensiveness due to ER therapy’s hidden nature. Clark (1998) says ERs serve as an immediate counselling activity that allows resistant clients, children and others to disclose their earliest recollections spontaneously. Furthermore, a counsellor can relate to clients by offering their earliest recollections as procedure examples. In addition, the client can efficiently perform ERs due to its lack of meticulous procedural steps (Mosak & Di Pietro, 2006).

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‍Counselling and Integration

According to Hood and Johnson (2002) and Pepinsky (1947), ER projective techniques of ERs may be integrated into the counselling process without the client perceiving the procedure as an interruption. There is a strong connection between ERs and the counselling process, as they collaborate to find a resolution (Korner, 1965).

‍Response distortion

As a projective technique, clients are interested in unravelling their ERs through symbolism and intend to speak about their ERs. Clients are unaware of the hidden meanings within their ERs and are uninhibited to revealing details about their early memories (Adler, 1958). Clients’ ERs are filtered through their personalities and are unconsciously expressed, suggesting they are less likely to offer socially acceptable responses that fit their pre-determined self-images (Clark, 2002; Mosak & Di Pietro, 2006; Adler, 1958). Unlike questionnaires or self-report scales, clients evoke more defensive responses and may even fake or lie to maintain their façade (Clark, 2002).

Therapeutic progress

Therapeutic progress may be complicated and time-consuming. However, enduring client perspectives may strengthen therapeutic planning and speed up counselling (Clark, 2002). Binder and Smokler (1980) found that clarifying significant issues at the beginning of the counselling process is vital—it gives the counsellor time to review more pertinent issues that may otherwise take many sessions to uncover, hence, the benefit of ERs. Progress can happen as early as the first appointment with the client because the counsellor can rapidly determine initial hypotheses to develop the counselling focus through corroboration or modification throughout the counselling process (Mosak & Di Pietro, 2006; Clark, 2002).

ER Therapy Administration

ER therapy is administered in a non-judgmental, supportive climate that nurtures an emotionally receptive client. ER treatment must follow the transcribed format of a therapist’s choosing but remain consistent, clear and specific. This specificity ensures no confusion between the early memories and other important issues the client may have. According to Clark (2002), early recollections concerning specific events must be distinguished from those that are “reports of experiences told to a person or those occurring over an extended period” (Clark, 2002: p. 92). More examples and details will be uncovered regarding the distinction between memory reporting and early recollections.

Establishing rapport

Early recollection therapy begins with rapport. Counsellors often utilize ER therapy as part of their initial counselling process (Borden, 1982). Before any ER transcription can be done, discussing the purposes and procedures of a counsellor’s evaluation is crucial because it allows the counsellor to review their evaluative policies with their client. Establishing rapport is a considerable advantage because it allows a therapist to engage the client in a one-to-one relationship full of empathy and exchange evaluations of early recollections and other administration appraisals—this enhances counselling quality (Borden, 1982). Furthermore, establishing rapport ensures accuracy in early memory interpretation (Clark, 2002).

Transcription Process

Once rapport is established and the direction of the counselling sessions is clear, the next critical administrative stage of ER therapy concerns the transcription process. The transcribing process entails a complete verbatim record of written information concerning the client’s exact way and word choice of describing their earliest recollections (Clark, 2002). Verbatim documentation is used to ensure maximum accuracy during interpretation. The therapist may use shorthand to quickly document what their client reveals about their ERs (Clark, 2002). Once the client has finished their recollection, they may add extraneous and often tangential add-ons to their recollections, which will prove very helpful in the overall interpretation of that ER. Clients may proceed with this tangential information, but it should never be considered an invitation to the therapist to ask questions about their ERs—the client may process its meaning prematurely (Mosak & Di Pietro, 2006).

Early Recollections Versus Memory Report

Mosak (1958) says distinguishing between an early recollection and a memory report is vital for scoring and interpretive purposes. Early recollections represent projective value; they can be analyzed thoroughly and scored to provide analytical data that describes client personality characteristics (Mosak & Di Pietro, 2006). A report is either a single or repeated event that exists outside of a client’s recollection (Clark, 2002); for example, a client who states, “I remember going out for ice cream with my parents every Sunday.” These reports provide only a vague amount of detail. The most crucial difference is whether the client remembers or knows. To place an event entails “an awareness of the experience within one’s personal history” (Clark, 2002; p. 95). Learning involves gaining knowledge beyond the client’s awareness. Although reports may be valuable for understanding a client, they are neither critical criteria nor possess projective data that may help interpret ERs.

How Many ERs Are Enough?

ER therapy attracts clients. This entirely depends on the ability of the clients to recall their own ERs; it may prove to be highly complicated; some clients may remember two or three ERs in one session, while others need help remembering (Clark, 2002). Therapists caution clients about putting their early recollections at risk of turning their positive relationship into a negative one. Attempting to understand the client’s ERs may reach a point where they cannot express themselves or have no desire to express themselves. In these scenarios, the most effective solution is patience.

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Created Versus Real Recollections

In certain situations, the client may show uncertainty about their feelings, reluctantly reveal recollections, or there is a problematic line of interpretation concerning real versus fabricated memories (Hafner & Fakouri, 1984). Firstly, suppose a client is uncertain about their feelings due to an inability to express follow-up questions about a vivid part of their ER. In that case, telling the client to consider waiting for the opportune moment for that expression is recommended. If the client is experiencing a grave inability to express the details of their ERs, the therapist must use reflective counselling techniques that encourage clients to share their feelings (Clark, 2002; Mosak & Di Pietro, 2006; Hafner & Fakouri, 1984). If a client persists, it is recommended to note and conclude the inquiry about that particular memory (Clark, 2002). Secondly, if a client is reluctant to share any information concerning their ERs, according to Clark (2002), “therapeutically it is more productive to acknowledge this claim than to intrusively probe for a reflection” (p. 97). Lastly, it is well documented in counselling psychology that an individual’s memory may be a part of the fabrication process rather than a more precise, accurate recording of facts (Adler, 1964; Papanek, 1972; Schrecker, 1973). It is imperative to recognize that these altered or newly created memories should not be considered useless because they reflect a person’s lifestyle (Mosak, 1958). In a study involving clinical and graduate students, Buchanan, Kern, and Bell-Dumas (1991) analyzed three variables: themes, affect and an active/passive dimension in their patients’ ERs or create memories. Thematic aspects of their actual or created memories were evident in many issues. These memories served as a therapeutic alternative, according to the study. Administering ER therapy is a susceptible and incredibly time-consuming task that relies significantly on establishing rapport, ensuring a solid relationship with a client, differentiating actual versus fabricated memories, distinguishing memory reporting and ER, and many other factors. ER therapy is very client-centred

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ER Reliability and Validity

According to the American Psychological Association (1999), psychological instrumentation and assessment must meet two criteria: reliability and the instrumentation must be valid. For ER therapy to act as a projective technique, it must be reliable and accurate. Reliability means the ability of an assessment to reach the same conclusions repeatedly or tests to repeat the same results consistently. When a study is said to have valid results, it can conclusively go a strong result through reliable data and accurate instrumentation. Reliability in ER therapy concerns how early childhood memories retain their consistencies over time and the attitudes that represent those memories (Mosak & Di Pietro, 2006). Before any therapeutic intervention, a person’s earliest memories must be determined reliably based on two ways to describe the same ER. In a study concerning ER reliability of ERs, Winthrop (1958) collected the ERs of sixty-nine subjects and found that 68% recalled their ERs twice at eight-week intervals. Another study by Hedvig (1963) found that the stability of ERs over time is stable and maintains their central themes, signifying parallel views of self, others, and the world, as well as people’s ethical beliefs. In a study concerning the effect of LSD on an individual’s ability to recall their earliest memories before and after, Langs (1967) found that individuals with stable and “relatively stable ego organization” (p. 182) are capable of recalling their ERs poignantly even under the influence of LSD. These studies suggest ERs function as a terrific projective technique, are unaffected by environmental impacts, and function as beautiful tools for psychopathological diagnosis. ERs retain their validity as well.
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A wealth of research indicates that ER results from ERs relate to clinical data found in a patient’s psychotherapy. One of the strengths of ER therapy is its ability to maintain low face validity; consequently, clients need to be made aware of their easy expressions of their ERs. ER is advantageous simply because it lends significant credibility to ER therapy for its innocuousness. Lieberman (1957) found that ER therapy, as a projective technique, produces relatively the same information, although less detailed, than a whole test battery of other measurements such as the ones Lieberman (1957) used: Wechsler-Bellevue Intelligence Scale, Rorschach, Bender-Gestalt Test, and House-Tree-Person Projective Technique. In this way, ER therapy retains a significant degree of validity. It is also a less expensive procedure compared to these tests, and a client’s ERs can be gathered much quicker than the results. ER therapy is clinically helpful in several ways. For example, it can provide accurate personality assessments and act as a projective technique to situate an individual’s earliest recollections with their current attitude and predict future responses to specific events. ER therapy is much less expensive than those studies conducted by Lieberman (1957) and yields relatively the same results, except without the extensive detail of those standardized tests from Lieberman’s (1957) study. Furthermore, ER therapy is highly reliable and unaffected by environmental factors. The themes that resonate in ERs are stable and consistent over time and in differing conditions.‍

Example Use of ER Therapy: Vocational Goals

ER therapy helps predict and advise clients on a potential lifestyle-fulfilling career that may significantly enhance a client’s experience of the world. Individuals who enjoy their work have personalities that match job requirements. The client’s lifestyle influences their vocational choice. According to Orgler’s (1963) study of ERs and vocational preferences, a successful vocational career must be synchronous with an individual’s earliest recollections. For example, Alfred Adler’s daughter, Alexandra Adler (1959), insisted that individuals can still perform their work in an environment that does not aggravate their lives.

Support for ER therapy in career counselling is tremendous. Studies have shown that people’s recollections reveal parallels to their work choices (Hafner & Fakouri, 1984; Clark, 2002; Adler, 1958; Mosak & Di Pietro, 2006). ER, therapy can indicate which vocations one should avoid or pursue, as they are closely considered personality assessments with a solid projective value. For example, Hafner and Fakouri (1984) found that accounting students’ ERs showed significant internal control and attention to detail and often refrained from discussing people or animals compared to students in other majors. Their study also found that psychology students’ ERs were concerned with frequent episodes of fear-inducing trauma that required thorough explanation or cure, much like Alfred Adler’s ER interpretation. Education students’ ERs revealed references to schools or teachers. Hafner and Fakouri (1984) also found that nursing students and those in similar disciplines indicated in their ERs a desire for more mastery and more energetic physical movements. ERs can screen out those unqualified for potential careers like emergency medical technicians (EMTs). Vettor and Kosinski (2000) say ERs have tremendous value in predicting personalities that may result in more incredible burnout than EMTs. ER therapy should not be considered lightly as one of the most prominent research and counselling methods. As a tremendous projective tool, ERs can provide the blueprint that clients may be interested in, particularly concerning a direction in life since people often describe their lifestyles based on their work. In this way, ERs are a terrific resource that must be noticed. ‍

Conclusion

Adler’s Individual Psychology approach influences therapy. Early recollections therapy is considered one of the most exciting counselling strategies today. Although the procedure is laborious (i.e. administration), interpreting a client’s ERs can reveal much about their personalities. Adler (1984) says the first memories come from a person’s lifestyle. In this way, early recollection therapy has a solid value in terms of its projections.ER treatment has several advantages, such as a solid client-counsellor relationship likely to reduce client defensiveness. The counsellor is highly integrated throughout the process. There is little response distortion because clients need to be made aware of the meanings and interpretations behind their ERs; therapeutic progress is inevitable as clients share their information and the counsellor pinpoints the relevancies of those concerning their current style of life. Administering ER therapy is complicated by several hurdles throughout the interpretation process. An incredibly attuned counsellor can often make significantly difficult decisions regarding actual versus created recollections. He can even distinguish memory reporting from accurate recollection. Throughout ER therapy, the counsellor must establish rapport, transcribe verbatim the exact recollections of the client (shorthand is often necessary to keep up with the client), and make judgments on the concerns mentioned above.

Following that line of reasoning, describing ER reliability and validity was essential. Researchers are sceptical about ER reliability. In the studies above, ERs kept the same themes and references to things and individuals, even with LSD (Langs, 1967). Furthermore, ER interpretation yielded relatively less detailed results than those conducted in standardized procedures using a whole battery of tests (Lieberman, 1957). These studies lend significant credibility to ER counselling. Lastly, an example of ER counselling was described: career guidance. Adler believed that work was an essential aspect of lifestyle. ER therapy can have a significant impact on individuals and their vocational goals. ER therapy can be administered to those unsure about their vocational goals, thus clarifying many things a client may not have known. Essentially, ER therapy is an excellent resource for counsellors to assess personality traits and uncover hidden memories and meanings. It can help clients reflect on their complex histories and guide individuals to vocations that suit their lifestyles.

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