THEORIES IN PRACTICE

 

 

 

THEORIES IN PRACTICE

EVALUATION OF TOM WINGO, FROM THE PRINCE OF TIDES

PSY476 COUNSELING

Instructor: Lynn Soots

 

 

THEORIES IN PRACTICE

PSYCHOLOGY: EVALUATION OF TOM WINGO, FROM THE PRINCE OF TIDES

1) Assessment on Tom Wingo

Introduction

Psychology is the study of mind and behavior that embraces all aspects of conscious and

unconscious experience in addition to thought. Tom Wingo is a character in the movie “The

Prince of Tides” who has psychological issues including depression and trauma which he tries as

much as possible to hide. In the movie, Tom sees a psychiatrist who is a medical doctor who

specializes in mental health. This paper will assess the character’s condition and identify relevant

therapy models that apply in his case and their professional and ethical usage.

Demographic description, Problem presentation & Appearance, Behavior, and Mental

Status

Understanding demography is critical in a counseling practice as it can affect the way in

which therapy progresses since cultural differences affect how a therapist might interpret an

individual’s communications, openness, avoidance tendencies, value systems, social constructs

and a multitude of other aspects (Kaplan & Sadock., 2007).  In this analysis, we will evaluate the

character, Tom Wingo, who is a Southern Gentleman possibly in his mid-forties.  He is married

and has three young girls.  He is also a football coach and appears to live a middle-class life. 

Tom’s Southern upbringing has shaped him into a gentleman who is extremely polite and well

mannered, who does not talk back, and is very respectful of women. He is also a family man who

abides by his word and is well dressed. In the movie, he temporarily moves to New York City to

assist with his sister’s recovery from attempted suicide. A multicultural issue arises from a

cultural aspect of a Southern Gentleman in that they avoid showing their feelings.  In fact, Tom

uses the tactic of laughing about everything as “the Southern way” to avoid his negative feelings

and to deflect conversations away from topics he’d prefer to avoid. 

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At the onset of the movie, it is revealed that Tom recently quit his job and his marriage is

struggling due to emotional distance.  He clearly loves his children as well as his wife though he

is not currently showing intimate affection towards his wife. In his childhood, his family was

very poor and his father was abusive while his mother was overly proud and status-hungry.

Tom’s twin sister has just attempted suicide and he is traveling to New York to see her

psychiatrist, Susan Lowenstein. The psychiatrist asks him to share his childhood history with her

in attempt to better understand the issues with his sister.  He attends counseling sessions only to

benefit his sister since, from his perspective, he does not need therapy.  Out of obedience to his

mother, Tom avoids discussing an event that is discovered later to be the reason his twin sister

attempted suicide. During sessions with Lowenstein, he shares that he, his sister and his mother

were once raped. (Conroy, 1:24; 10-1; 29:00).

Important psychiatric information can be obtained from an individual through

appearance, behavior and mannerisms (Semple, & Smyth, 2013).  Due to Tom’s Southern

background, he tends to dress in a suit or casual business attire unless he is relaxing or coaching

football.  This reinforces his Southern ties to presentation.  He also maintains a cheerful and

friendly presentation as a gentleman and would not bring others down by sharing personal

concerns.

The history of a patient is important in understanding how one’s childhood could impact

an adult. Childhood experiences are very influential in their psychology even in adulthood

(Leavitt & Fox, 2014). For example, when Tom was a child, he experienced ongoing violence in

his home between his father and mother. The movie provides one instance when Tom is scolded

by his father during supper as the latter aggressively asks for a better meal (Conroy, 24:00-

25:00). Sexual violence has also been found to cause trauma in children which can lead to

suicide and low self-esteem (Leavitt & Fox, 2014). Tom reveals that he experienced significant

childhood trauma when he was 13 years old when three escaped convicts broke into his home

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and raped him, as well as his mother and sister (Conroy, 1:24:10- 1: 29:00). Additionally, forty

percent of clients in mental clinics admitted that marital problems were a core part of their

mental instability (O'Leary, 2013). It is evident in the movie that Tom Wingo and his wife, Sally,

are presently experiencing marital problems. They also have not been intimate for months. Sally

does not understand his behavior and he is also in conflict with his dominant mother which is

another factor influencing Tom mental instability. (Conroy, 6:10-9:30)

Since family plays an important role in psychology, a psychiatrist often works to

construct a thorough description of a patient’s family interactions and history in order to

understand their current relations. (Kaplan & Sadock., 2007). The Wingo family is comprised of

two parents and three siblings. The oldest child is Lucas, who acts as the protector of his younger

twin siblings, Tom, and Savannah (Conroy, 1:24:10- 1:29:00). Henry was a distant and abusive

father while Lila was a self-centered mother who was mainly concerned with appearances and

striving for social standing. Savannah becomes a poet; Tom starts teaching and coaching, jobs he

takes a break from after Luke dies. Lila, their mother, divorces and marries a wealthy and

socially elite man as was her main goal in life.

Tom has had no prior counseling history. Sexual assault victims generally feel

dehumanized and develop low self-esteem (Leavitt & Fox, 2014). The therapy he undertakes

with Susan Lowenstein is voluntary but he is only doing it for his sister benefit since she recently

attempted suicide. He is also suspicious about counseling and it appears his is apprehensive since

sessions may uncover aspects of his past that he has tried all through his life to hide and even

sworn to do so.

2) A summary of current counseling methods that address the client’s specific issues.

Psychoanalytic therapy

Psychoanalytic therapy is a kind of treatment grounded upon the theories of Sigmund

Freud. Freud is considered the founder of psychoanalysis and one of the founding fathers of

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psychology as we view it today. The psychoanalytic therapy explores how the unconscious mind

influences thoughts and behaviors. It has the aim of offering insight and resolution to the patient

seeking therapy. This is important for Tom Wingo since his problems are influenced by his

unconscious mind whereby he is unwilling or unable to talk about his past due to fear or buried

memories. Psychoanalytic therapy focuses on experiences from early childhood. It evaluates

whether the childhood events have affected the patient’s adult life. It also involves evaluating

whether the events have contributed to current anxiety levels in the individual. Since most of

Tom’s problems originate from his painful childhood, this therapy is very important. This type of

therapy is traditionally a long-term option. It can progress for weeks, months or even years

(Corey, 2015). The time is dependent on the depth of the concern being explored. One of the

goals of Freud’s theory is to bring forward unconscious memories to the conscious surface so a

client can move past a specific event.  The visual concept is an iceberg. This suggests that a

larger unconscious memory sits below the smaller conscious awareness. The therapist helps to

bring forward suppressed memories so the client can move past the unresolved trauma and

anxiety to live a fulfilling life.

Additionally, the theory applies to his case since the therapeutic sessions include

transference whereby the client’s unconscious feelings are shifting to the therapist. Tom has

negative transference when he is angry at the psychiatrist when he is asked to reveal experiences

about his family which he considers being disloyal. On the other hand, he has positive

transference which is evident when he falls in love with the therapist, Susan Lowenstein.

The therapy model also involves counter-transference in which the therapists own

unresolved conflicts are triggered. During the sessions it surfaces that the psychiatrist also has

marital issues with her husband. This is reflected in her increased affection for Tom.

Additionally, the method involves an analysis of resistance. In the movie, Tom has a behavior of

joking that is a tactic used by Tom to avoid uncovering conscious or unconscious information

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such as the traumatic suppressed memories. Based on this information, the psychoanalytic

method is relevant to this case.

Person-centered therapy

Person-centered therapy also known as person-centered counseling or client-centered

counseling is a humanistic perspective that deals with the conscious self-perception of people

rather than how a counselor can interpret the individual’s unconscious thoughts or ideas. The

form of therapy was formed by American psychologist, Carl Rogers, in the 1950s. The person-

centered perspective sees human beings as having an intrinsic tendency to develop towards their

potential. This ability or drive can be blocked or distorted by traumatic life experiences,

particularly those that affect people’s sense of value.

Tom’s case is a bit different from a typical person-centered case since Tom, does not

know what makes him unhappy. However, the method still fits into his case since the

methodology is driven by the notion that the quality of a therapeutic relation is the primary agent

of growth in a client. Growth has exponentially taken place in the movie. The methodology also

stresses attributes of genuineness, warmth, accurate empathy, respect, and nonjudgmentalness.

The psychiatrist reflects these trust building traits which allows Tom to open up about his

incredibly sensitive past. The therapist is also willing to be real in the relationship to the point

that it moves beyond professional bounds.

Gestalt therapy

Gestalt therapy is a category of psychotherapy that originated in the late 1940s by Fritz

Perls. It is controlled by the relational theory principle that every individual is a whole self which

includes body, mind and soul and that they are best understood in relation to their current

situation as he or she experiences it (Savard, 2008).

The approach integrates this relational theory with the modern state, focusing strongly on

self-awareness and the 'here and now' which refers to what is happening from one moment to the

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next. In Gestalt therapy, self-awareness is key to individual growth and development of one‘s

full potential. The approach recognizes this self-awareness can become blocked by negative

thought patterns and behavior that can leave people feeling unsatisfied and unhappy (Savard,

2008).

In this methodology, the past is dealt with in a lively or upbeat manner when bringing

relevant aspects into the present. For instance, one flashback in the movie is very upbeat when

Tom and the Susan joke about Tom’s father being fed dog food. The method also involves an

emphasis on the “what” and “how” of experience in the “here” and “now”. This aspect is

reflected when his relationship with his wife improves after Tom’s therapy. Finally, the method

involves the suggestions of experiments during the movie and a high level of personal

development. Though the movie does not show that any experiments or specific exercises

occurred, it employs a high level of personal development. It also involves re-identification with

part of his “self” that were previously alienated.

Existential therapy method

Existential therapy model suggests that human beings are faced with the anxiety of

choosing to create an identity in a world that lacks an intrinsic meaning. This is relevant to

Tom’s case since he says that he no longer knows what he feels about anything. This is an

indication that he has lost the meaning of the world around him. The basic dimensions of the

method are also what Tom is experiencing including existential vacuum and existential guilt.

Existential vacuum is the feeling of meaninglessness in life while existential guilt is the

realization that we are not what we might have wanted to become.

The therapeutic relationship in Existential therapy focuses on the quality of the person to

person association. The therapists should develop an intuitive understanding of the clients

“being” in his world and establish an authentic encounter with him. Additionally, through this

method, both the client and the therapist experience a change as depicted by the transformative

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events in which Tom returns to his home as a healed individual and Lowenstein separates from

her unsuitable husband.

3) Three different theoretical models that apply to the presenting problem.

Psychoanalytic method

Psychoanalysis therapy assumes that one’s psychological problems are rooted in the

unconscious mind and they manifest in symptoms that are caused by hidden disturbances. Often,

they are caused by problems during development that have not yet been resolved including

hidden trauma. In this treatment, the therapist aims on surfacing the repressed disturbances to the

client’s consciousness which is a level in which one can handle their problems (Sharf, 2015).

This therapeutic method focuses mainly on the childhood experiences which are discussed,

reconstructed, interpreted, and analyzed. Since the client has a painfully buried past, the therapist

should take time to explore the childhood of the client. Its main goal is to help the therapist delve

into the past experiences and analyze how they affect the life of the victim. It requires that the

psychiatrist understands how the experiences affect the behavior of the patient. The strength of

this procedure is that it can help the patient live a more fulfilling life as it heals an individual by

bringing conscious, painful memories hidden in their subconscious mind. Psychoanalytic

therapy, however, often takes a significant amount of time and critics of this process feel the time

is a limitation due to controlling healthcare requirements. (Corey & California State University,

2013).

Person-centered therapy

   Person-centered therapy requires the therapist to view the client from a humanistic

point of view and embrace a set of person centered principles. According to Carl Rogers, for

there to be a person centered therapy, there must be a psychological contact between the therapist

and the counsellor which is present between Tom and Lowenstein. Additionally, the client

should be upset emotionally and from the movie, Tom proves to be emotionally upset due to his

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failing marriage and depressed sister. The counsellor should also be nonjudgmental and

Lowenstein has proved to be empathetic, genuine and aware of Tom’s feelings. These conditions

ensure that effective counselling can take place (Wilkins, 2015). 

This has the strengths of enabling the client to move past their guilt and to accept their

imperfections. This is important in Tom’s situation since he feels tremendous guilt for not

helping his sister and mother when the convicts broke into their house and raped them. Success

with this theoretical process will reduce or remove his guilt by healing him to understand and

accept that he was just a child and being unarmed, was unable to prevent the traumatic rape.

Successful therapy may help Tom realize his innate abilities and develop to his full potential.

This theory has a strength especially in multicultural cases as in this one. It has been

practiced in places that have a large number of diversified communities and ethnicities. It

enables the reduction of tension that are associated with racial, ethnic and political tensions.

However, the theory has a shortcoming in that it becomes difficult to translate the core

therapeutics conditions into actual practice in certain cultures. This is because the counselor has

to express their expressions of empathy and have self-disclosure (Corey & California State

University, 2013).

Existential therapy

Existential therapy is an approach in therapy that does not place its focus on past events

but its application can enable a therapist to understand the implications of past events in the life

of an individual. The therapy is based on the inevitability of death, freedom, and its

accompanying responsibility (Spinelli, 2014). Existential therapy concerns itself with the issues

of existence. It hence deals with the issues of existence that underpin the problem of living.

In Tom’s treatment, the existential theoretical method can also be a good choice. For

instance, the model has a core significance of stressing a concern for what is meant to be fully

human. It also has dimensions for human conditions that apply to the case. For instance, it

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employs the capacity for self-awareness that people have and also their potential in creating their

identity and establishing a meaningful relationship with others. This model has the several

strengths including that it focuses on the person with a unique and deep existential perspective,

emphasizing the individual’s self-awareness, freedom to choose, and responsibility to live an

authentic life with meaning.  The model also has several weaknesses. They include the therapists

being more confrontational than is appropriate or helpful for certain vulnerable clients who may

not be able to manage such confrontations even if they are authentic (Tan, 2011). 

4) Effective therapeutic alliance.

Effective therapy is initiated by the establishment of an effective therapeutic alliance with

special characteristics that suit a particular client. An effective therapeutic alliance will also

increase the therapeutic results. The collaboration of different techniques with different mutual

goals can be successful in a common factor approach. (Sperry, 2010).

The client experienced a negative, life altering trauma at a young age creating

psychological issues into his adulthood. He has lost meaning of the world and has resorted to

addictive behaviors such as drinking, and smoking which are usually tied to an inability to cope

with current issues. As a counsellor, it is appropriate for me to use several theoretical models to

address Tom’s problems adequately. For instance, Tom will require psychoanalytic therapy to

assist bringing forward traumatic repressed memories. To gain self-identity and regain the

meaning of the things surrounding him, I will have to employ the existential therapy model. Due

to the nature and sensitivity of the factors that have led to his psychological problems, I will also

integrate person centered therapy.

The psychoanalytic theoretical model has been selected because it is based on the search

for the truth. It is hence a model that will allow me to delve into a client’s past and help the client

to identify the childhood events that scarred his adult life. (McWilliams, 2004). To maintain an

ethical and professional environment in the usage of psychoanalytical theory, I will ensure that

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the individual is not harmed mentally during the process. My attitude and ability must count

more than the techniques used.

The Existential therapy model has been selected to address the clients issues of despair

and defeatism. Existential therapy model suggests that at times, individuals are faced with the

disillusion of viewing the world as not having intrinsic meaning. Tom has lost the meaning in his

life and does not understand why he feels the way he does. In this therapy, a counsellor should

focus on person to person relationship, and a mutual intuitive understanding to motivate Tom

towards realizing his intrinsic potential. (Spinelli, 2014). Ethically, I will restrain from judging

the client but instead interpret his problems and look for ways of treating them so I will address

his challenges from the mindset of helping him to again find meaning in his life.

Person-centered therapy has been selected since it emphasizes the need for humanity in a

client’s case (Frew & Spiegler, 2012). Person centered therapy emphasizes the growth of an

individual which will be very applicable in Tom’s case. As explained earlier, Tom has blocked

the events of his painful past. Since he has not expressed them for years, they have troubled him

and prevented him to becoming a better self. In the integration of this model, I will have to

acquire psychological contact with the client and provide a nonjudgmental atmosphere in which I

will try to work from the perspective of the client. Ethically I will establish a relationship with

the client to ensure trust. I will also ensure that my attitude is accommodative, and have his

decisions undisclosed.

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References

Corey, G., & California State University. (2013). Theory and practice of counseling and

psychotherapy. Belmont, Calif: Wadsworth.

Corey, G. (2015). Theory and practice of counselling and psychotherapy. Nelson Education.

Conroy, P. (1991). The Prince of Tides. Beaufort, South Carolina, USA.

Frew, J., & Spiegler, M. D. (Eds.). (2012). Contemporary psychotherapies for a diverse world.

Routledge.

Leavitt, L. A., & Fox, N. A. (2014). The psychological effects of war and violence on children.

Psychology Press.

McWilliams, N. (2004). Psychoanalytic psychotherapy: A practitioner's guide. New York:

Guilford Press.

Kaplan, H. I., & Sadock, B. J. (2007). Synopsis of psychiatry: Behavioral sciences clinical

psychiatry. Williams & Wilkins Co.

O'Leary, K. D. (2013). Assessment of Marital Discord (Psychology Revivals): An Integration for

Research and Clinical Practice. Routledge.

Savard, M. (2008). Critical Collaboration: Adlerian Therapy and Gestalt Therapy. ProQuest.

Semple, D., & Smyth, R. (2013). Oxford handbook of psychiatry. Oxford: Oxford University

Press.

Sharf, R. S. (2015). Theories of psychotherapy & counseling: Concepts and cases. Cengage

Learning.

Spiegler, M. (2015). Contemporary behavior therapy. Nelson Education.

Spinelli, E. (2014). Practicing existential therapy: The relational world. Los Angeles: SAGE

Tan, S.-Y. (2011). Counseling and psychotherapy: A Christian perspective. Grand Rapids, MI:

Baker Academic.

Wilkins, P. (2015). Person-centred therapy: 100 key points. Routledge.

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