Comparison of Major Counselling Approaches

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Comparison of Major Counselling Approaches

• Yvette Zuppiger
• 2nd Sem MSc Cli. Psychology

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Major Counselling Approaches

• Affective approaches
• Client Centered Therapy
• Gestalt Therapy
• Existential Therapy
• Cognitive Approaches
• Rational Emotive Therapy
• Transactional Analysis
• Trait-Factor Counselling
• Behaviouristic Approaches
• Behavioural Counselling
• Reality Therapy

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View of Human Nature

• Similarities
• The individual is capable of changing or being
  changed
• Conflicts or unsolved problems are undesirable
• Influence of future on present behaviour
• Differences
• Client Centered Therapy individuals are
  basically good, rational and self actualizing
• Behaviouristic Therapy Humans are neither good
  nor bad. Behaviour is a result of environmental
  reinforcement

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Key Concepts

• Affective approaches Emphasize internal focus
  of the individual
• Client centered therapy views individuals as
  positive
• Gestalt therapy focuses on need to strive for
  wholeness (integration of thinking, feeling and
  behaving). Key concept is awareness
• Existential therapy focuses on nature of human
  condition (capacity for self awareness, freedom
  of choice to decide own fate etc)

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• Cognitive approaches emphasize thinking process
  rather than feeling and experiencing
• Rational Emotive Therapy emphasizes that emotions
  are products of human thinking.
• Transactional Analysis emphasizes utilization of
  three distinct pattern of ego states Parent,
  Adult and Child.
• Behavioural approaches emphasize socio-cultural
  conditioning process
• Behavioural counselling is characterized by
• Focus on overt behaviour
• Precision and spelling out of treatment goals
• Objective assessment of outcome of therapy

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Process And Goals

• Affective approaches
• In Client Centered Therapy, Process involves
  counsellor establishing therapeutic relationship
  with client. Goals include client becoming more
  mature
• Gestalt Therapy focuses on clients feelings.
  Counsellors role is to challenge clients to use
  all their senses fully
• Existential Therapy involves counsellors attempt
  to understand the client as a being. Emphasis is
  on counsellors ability to expose himself and to
  be human

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• Cognitive Approaches
• Rational Emotive Therapy Helping clients avoid
  most emotional disturbances by learning to think
  rationally. Results in clients attaining rational
  behaviour, happiness and self actualization
• Transactional Analysis Goal is to help clients
  reconsider past decisions and make new decisions
  about present behaviour and life direction.
  Developing an autonomous lifestyle characterized
  by awareness, spontaneity and intimacy.

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• Behavioural Approaches
• Reality Therapy involvement of the client is
  important. Client has to assume responsibility
  over his own behaviour. Final goal is to attain
  autonomy and to develop responsible and realistic
  plans

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Counselling Techniques

• Affective Approaches
• Client Centered Therapy places little stress on
  technique. Importance is for expressing and
  communicating understanding, acceptance and
  respect. Emphasis is on the here and now
• Gestalt Therapy uses confrontation techniques
  (provokes clients to confront and acknowledge
  their feelings)
• Existential Therapy places little importance on
  technique. Increases clients capacity to
  experience life more fully.

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• Cognitive Approaches
• Rational Emotive Therapy , counsellor assumes
  active teaching role to re-educate clients.
  Counsellor continually unmasks past and present
  illogical thinking and self defeating
  verbalizations
• Reality Therapy involves teaching clients the
  meaning of reality and showing them how to act
  responsibly within the context of that reality
• Transactional Analysis use interrogation,
  specification, confrontation and explanation

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• Behavioural Approaches
• Use very specific techniques based on learning
  theory, incl. systematic desensitization,
  behaviour contracts, assertion training and
  social modelling.

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Role of Therapist

• Behaviour Therapy Therapist is a trainer,
  helping patient unlearn old behaviours and/or
  learn new ones. Control of reinforcement is
  important. Interpersonal relationships is a minor
  concern.
• Humanistic Existential Therapy Therapist is an
  authentic person, sharing experiences
• with the client. Facilitates potential
• growth.

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Necessary Skills of Therapist

• Behaviour Therapy Knowledge of learning
  principles is primary. Understanding personality
  theory and psychopathology are secondary. Actual
  interventions can even be done by
  non-professional assistant.
• Humanistic Existential Therapy Personal
  integrity and empathy valued over professional
  training and formal knowledge

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Psychological Realm Emphasized

• Behaviour Therapy Emphasis is on behaviour and
  observable feelings and actions
• Humanistic Existential Therapy Emphasis on
  perceptions, meanings and values

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