Summary: <p>Walking the Middle Path<br> Locus of Control and Attributions<br> Instructor: Dr. Dawn-Elise Snipes PhD, LPC-MHSP, LMHC<br> Executive Director: AllCEUs Counseling CEUs and Specialty Certificates<br> Podcast Host: Counselor Toolbox, Happiness Isn’t Brain Surgery</p> <p>Counseling CEUs can be earned for this presentation at <a href="https://www.allceus.com/member/cart/index/product/id/715/c/2">https://www.allceus.com/member/cart/index/product/id/715/c/2</a></p> <p>Objectives<br> ~ Define Locus of Control (Empowerment vs. Powerlessness)<br> ~ Explore how both an extreme internal or external locus of control can increase stress, anxiety, anger and/or depression.<br> ~ Learn how basic fears and past trauma may contribute to use of an extreme locus of control<br> ~ Define/review attributions<br> ~ Explore how extreme attributions can increase stress, anxiety, anger and/or depression.<br> ~ Learn Individual and group activities that can help clients walk the middle path in terms of attributions and locus of control.</p> <p>Locus of Control<br> ~ Internal (empowerment) vs. External (powerlessness)<br> ~ Internal Locus: I am fully in charge of my destiny and everything that happens.<br> ~ External Locus: My destiny lies fully in the hands of fate.<br> ~ Extreme locus of control can increase stress, anxiety, anger and depression<br> ~ Middle Path<br> ~ Although some things are out of my control, I have the ability to control many things in my life and my reactions to things.<br> Locus of Control– Activity<br> ~ Depression<br> ~ Depression is often the result of disempowerment, a sense of helplessness and hopelessness and/or exhaustion from trying to control the uncontrollable.<br> ~ What caused you to be depressed this week?<br> ~ What things were out of your control?<br> ~ What things were within your control?<br> ~ (Facilitator prompt) Situations including prevention<br> ~ (Facilitator prompt) Reactions to/thoughts about situations</p> <p>~ Past trauma can lead to an extreme locus of control<br> ~ External—Nothing I do will change anything<br> ~ Helplessness of trauma generalized<br> ~ Internal – It was my fault and I must control everything to prevent bad things from happening.<br> ~ Middle Path<br> ~ I cannot change what happened, but I can take steps to protect myself in the future. (Fire, rape, hurricane/tornado)<br> Trauma Activity<br> ~ How does your past trauma affect how you react to failure and setbacks today?<br> ~ (Facilitator prompt) Rekindle a sense of helplessness? Create a burning determination?<br> ~ How does your past trauma impact the way you live your life and your relationships today?<br> ~ (Facilitator prompt) Overprotective and controlling or disengaged and overly permissive?<br> ~ (Facilitator prompt) Are you constantly on the lookout for others to hurt you?</p> <p>Basic Fears<br> ~ Basic Fears<br> ~ Rejection/Isolation<br> ~ I get rejected because I am unlovable<br> ~ I am rejected because others are jealous or stupid.<br> ~ Failure<br> ~ I fail because I am stupid<br> ~ I failed because the team/equipment didn’t function properly<br> ~ Loss of Control/Unknown<br> ~ Life and happiness is a crap shoot<br> ~ It is vital to my survival that I know what is going on at all times.<br> Fears Activity<br> ~ For each category below, identify 3 examples of when you have experienced them.<br> ~ Rejection<br> ~ Failure<br> ~ Unknown/Loss of Control<br> ~ For each example, identify 3 reasons each happened.<br> ~ Examine the reasons and look for examples of extreme locus of control<br> Fears Activity<br> ~ Walk the middle path<br> ~ How can you be both rejected and accepted<br> ~ How can you both fail and succeed<br> ~ How can you both be in control and out of control<br> Attributions<br> ~ Global or Specific<br> ~ Global: It applies to everything all the time<br> ~ Too general can cause failure</p>
