Counseling Theories---- Introduction and Overview

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Counseling Theories---- Introduction and
Overview
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Introduction and overview

• No single model can explain all the facets of
  human experience
• Three big counseling theories (Psychodynamic,
  Humanistic, and Cognitive-Behavioral theories)
  will be discussed
• You can begin to acquire a counseling style
  tailored to their own personality
• The process will take years
• Different theories are not right or wrong

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Introduction and overview

• Is it enough to just learn the helping skills?
• Who we are as a therapist, is critical
• We need to think critically and scientifically
• Is it enough to only be a good person with good
  intentions?
• A knowledge of counseling theories and
  techniques, theories of personality, and
  supervised experiences are necessary
• We need to use counseling theories to
  conceptualize cases and develop hypotheses and
  treatment plans.

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Introduction and overview

• What is your role in the therapy process?
• The role of therapist is not to change the
  clients, to give them quick advice, or to solve
  their problems for them.
• YOU are your own very best technique.
• It is important to apply this material to
  yourself personally.

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Introduction and overview

• What are your attitudes toward learning theories
  of psychotherapy and counseling?
• Relate readings to your own experiences
• Reflect on your own needs, motivations, values,
  and life experiences
• Apply key concepts and techniques to your own
  personal growth
• Develop a personalized style of counseling that
  reflects your personality

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The criteria of theories of psychotherapy

• Precision and Clarity
• Should use optional definitions, which can be
  used to measure a variable (e.g., irrational
  beliefs, transference)?
• Comprehensiveness
• Are comprehensive across gender, age, or
  cultures?
• Testability
• Must be tested and confirmed?
• Usefulness
• Should be helpful to practitioners to understand
  clients and provide techniques to help clients
  function better?

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Theoretical Orientations of American
psychotherapists
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Does Psychotherapy Work?

• Empirically Supported Treatment (EST)
• Division 12 Clinical Psychology
• Empirically Supported Relationship (ESR)
• Division 29 Psychotherapy