Counseling Theories

Existential philosophy

• Approach to human relationship, not a set of techniques

• Stresses individual responsibility, choice, freedom

• Accept your aloneness and create meaning

• You’re the author of your life

Existential philosophy

• Self awareness

• No excuses blamed on environment

Existential

Goals• Help client make critical

choices• Accept

freedom/responsibility that accompany action

• Challenge client to recognize ways they aren’t authentic and make choices leading to showing what they’re capable of

Key concepts• Self awareness• Anxiety is inherent, but…• Death The Dash• Meaning of life• Good for those seeking

personal growth, especially at life transitions

Solution Focused Brief TherapyPhilosophy

• Clients are experts in their life

• Don’t let anxiety get in the way

Brief Therapy techniques

• Miracle ?-- How would life be different if you woke up tomorrow and you were “fixed”?

• Look for what’s working…When was the last time you remember getting along w/your father? ID exceptions

• scaling

Cognitive Theory (Philosophy)

• What area of your life do you want to improve?

• Change core beliefs

• Problem solving oriented

Cognitive Behavior Theory

Goals• modify beliefs• Id distorted beliefs so

client can relate to others differently

Key concepts• Self talk• Assertiveness training• Relaxation• Social skills training• Rate intensity of

feeling• Depression/suicidal

scale

Family Systems TherapyPhilosophy

• Impt to deal w/all parts of system if change is to take place

• Lots of stories and each is true, No absolute reality so we don’t judge

• Dysfunction is w/i the system

Family Systems therapytechniques

• Adlerian—birth order, unlock mistaken goals so they can get to effective parenting

• Bowen—myths , rules, multi-generational, therapist MUST stay neutral

Behavior therapyPhilosophy

Behavior is product of learning

• Classical conditioning

• Operant conditioning

• Social learning

• Cognitive behavior

Behavior therapy

Goals• Eliminating

maladaptive behavior and learning a more effective behavior

Key concepts• Specific treatment

goals• Any technique can be

incorporated (i.e. assertiveness training)

• Good for multi cultural• flooding

Multi-modal

• B ehavior• A ffect• S ensation• I magery—memories, dreams, fantasies• C ognition—insight ideas, self-talk, values,

judgments• I nterpersonal relationships• D rugs/Diet

Multi modal methods

• Design interventions

• Concrete/measurable goals

• Role play

• Data collection, feedback to change behavior

Reality Therapy

• We choose our behavior and how we 1. ACT 2. THINK3. FEEL irresponsible vs. responsible

• Behaviors aimed at satisfying needs ofSURVIVAL, LOVE, BELONGING, POWER,

FREEDOM• Accept personal responsibility

Reality therapy

Goals• Help people find better

ways (in other words not irresponsibly) to meet needs for survival, love, belonging, power, freedom, fun

• And accept responsibility• Making decisions, taking

action and control of one’s own life

• Key concepts

It’s confrontational! WDEP

W wants, exploring needs/perceptions

D direction, what r u doing, where is it leading

E valuation, challenge

P lanning

We only control our own behavior. 80/20

Reality Therapytechniques

• No excuses

• Brainstorm

• New plan

• Logical consequences

• So is it or did it work?

Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy

Goals• Challenge illogical

thinking• Re-education

Key concepts• + self talk• Overgeneralization• Distortions• Catastrophizing• Fortune telling• Misused words

(SHOULD, OUGHT, ALWAYS, NEVER)

• Don’t have to be loved/accepted

REBT techniques

• A actual event

• B belief system re: event

• C consequences for that belief

• D isputing the irrational belief

• E ffect of Self-Talk

• F eeling

Person Centered philosophy

• Belief that client can resolve their own problems

• NO ADVICE

Person Centered therapy

Goals• Have client teach us

about their life• Provide a safe climate

so they can drop pretenses

• Key concepts• Active listening• Empathy• Unconditional positive

regard for client• Non judgmental• Reflecting client’s

feelings• genuineness

Gestalt philosophy

• Here and now

• Ask WHAT/HOW---not WHY?’s

• Client is active in therapy as they come to grips with thoughts, feelings, & actions

• No interpretation, force awareness

Gestalt

Goals• Accept what we are

or are not and• Self awareness

Key concepts• Confront incongruent

behaviors, thoughts, actions

• Body lang, non-verbal cues are key in determining thoughts & feelings

• Unfinished business

Gestalt techniques

• Empty chair—role play

• Visualization• Fantasy • Projection

“I” not “you”

“won’t” not “can’t”

“how, what” not

“why”

Psycho-dynamic philosophy

• Humans can be understood by looking at where they are going and what they are striving toward

• YOU are in control• Get over inferiority; strive for S-U-C-C-E-S-S• + view of human nature

Psychodynamic (Adlerian)

Goals• Help clients

understand why they act like they do

• Challenge mistaken notions and faulty assumptions

• RCB stuff

Key concepts• Good listening

skills/reflection• Homework• Birth order• Thinking patterns

motivated by social interest

• Early recollections• Family constellation