Counseling Theories

1
Counseling Theories Techniques

• CG 501
• Introduction to the Profession of Counseling
• Chapter 6

2
The Purpose of Counseling Theory

• Psychological theories are based on how the
  theorist views human nature and the environment
• Theory components include assumptions about
• Unconscious and conscious processes
• Development
• Learning
• Socialization

3
The Purpose of Counseling Theory(contd)

• Theories related to counseling and therapy are
  based on the preceding psychological assumptions,
  and offer
• systematic ways of understanding a persons
  psychological framework
• a view of the way(s) that problems arise for the
  individual
• methods to help resolve those problems

4
Personal Value of Understanding Counseling Theory

• Both counselors-in-training and practicing
  counselors tend to experience personal growth
  when they explore and understand how their own
  experiences, beliefs and values relate to the
  assumptions contained in various counseling
  theories

5
Text Categorization of Theories

1. Psychoanalytic and psychodynamic
2. Humanistic / existential
3. Behavioral / cognitive / cognitive-behavioral
4. Constructivist and social constructionist
5. Creative / expressive arts and narrative
   therapies
6. Brief counseling / therapy

• 1-4 are based on theorists differing views about
  human nature and human behavior
• 5-6 are approaches or contexts in which
  perspectives 1-4 might also be used

6
Constructivist and Social Constructionist
Theories

• Constructivists (Kelly) innate capacity/tendency
  to make meaning by forming constructs, thus
  shaping experience and perception.
  Phenomenological in approach to counseling.
• Social Constructionists emphasis on social and
  cultural influence on self (personal
  constructions are constrained by the social
  milieu).

7
Psychoanalytic and Psychodynamic

• Theorists and practitioners in this category
  believe that intrapsychic / unconscious forces
  are central to human behavior and problems
• Freud focus on innate instincts (id, libido)
• Later psychoanalytic theorists more emphasis on
  psychosocial influences
• Feminist theory normal growth and development
  through mutual connections in relationships
• Archetypal (post-Jungian) psychology emphasis on
  developing sense of soul / moral commitment

8
Humanistic and Existential Theories

• All focus on human potential for positive growth
• Humanists (e.g., Rogers, Perls/Gestalt, Maslowe)
  human movement toward self-actualization produces
  self-awareness and development
• Existentialists (e.g., Frankl, May, Yalom)
  anxiety from freedom to choose potentially a
  growth force
• Holistic/transpersonal approach body, mind and
  spirit into counseling arena

9
Behavioral, Cognitive and Cognitive-Behavioral
Theories

• Learning is viewed as central to development
• Behavioral (e.g., Skinner, Wolpe) learning and
  behavior are shaped via reinforcement and
  imitation
• Cognitive and cognitive-behavioral (e.g., Ellis,
  Beck, Bandura) thinking/perception influence
  further thinking, feelings and behavior

10
Creative / Expressive Arts and Narrative Therapies

• Creative / expressive arts nonverbal expression
  (such as art, dance, music, drama) helps person
  express underlying feelings, get past blocks to
  awareness and growth
• Narrative therapy emphasis on idea that meaning
  is acquired and expressed uniquely in stories
  about the self. Therapists help people reclaim or
  re-envision their own stories.

11
Brief Counseling and Therapy

• Recent prominence related to world demands
  (managed care, available time in certain work
  contexts) as well as theoretical base
• Has long history of adherents, too, though
• Psychodynamic as well as cognitive and
  cognitive-behavioral theoretical approaches have
  been adapted to this framework
• Are acknowledged limitations to problems/clients
  for whom this beneficial

12
Integrative Theoretical Approaches

1. Transtheoretical goes beyond specific
   theoretical constructs, selects compatible
   concepts and techniques tied to client problem
2. Theoretical integration combination of
   personality/theoretical concepts from two or more
   theories into systematic theoretical whole (are
   they congruent in central assumptions?)
3. Technical eclecticism maintains one theoretical
   view of personality, but selects techniques from
   variety of theoretical orientations