1. Theory Applied to Practice
Chapter 6

2. Five Contemporary Theoretical Orientations
1) The psychodynamic approaches 2) The experiential and relationship-oriented approaches 3) The cognitive behavioral approaches 4) The postmodern approaches 4) The family systems approaches
©2011, Brooks/ Cole Publishing, A Division of Cengage Learning, Inc.
Becoming A Helper - Chapter 6 (1)

3. Psychoanalytic Approach
Longer-term exploration of personality
Main goal: The restructuring of personality
Emphasis on transference and countertransference
Major techniques: Maintaining the analytic framework
free association, interpretation, dream analysis, analysis of resistance, and analysis of transference
Many other theoretical models have developed as reactions against psychoanalytic approach
©2011, Brooks/ Cole Publishing, A Division of Cengage Learning, Inc.
Becoming A Helper - Chapter 6(2)

4. Adlerian Approach
Clients are viewed as creative, active, and decisional
Stresses the individual’s positive capacities to live fully in society
Therapeutic relationship is a collaborative partnership
Social interest: A sense of identification with humanity, a feeling of belonging, and a concern with bettering society
©2011, Brooks/ Cole Publishing, A Division of Cengage Learning, Inc.
Becoming A Helper - Chapter 6(3)

5. Adlerian Approach
Inferiority feelings, the wellspring of creativity, often motivate people to strive for mastery, superiority, and perfection
Focus on challenging clients’ mistaken notions and faulty assumptions
Emphasis on examining lifestyle and clients’ functioning in the life tasks
Cognitive, behavioral, and experiential techniques are used (e.g., encouragement, early recollections, homework)
©2011, Brooks/ Cole Publishing, A Division of Cengage Learning, Inc.
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6. Existential Approach We define ourselves by our choices
Freedom and responsibility go together
Anxiety is part of the human condition
Death gives significance to life
Emphasis is on understanding the world of the client
©2011, Brooks/ Cole Publishing, A Division of Cengage Learning, Inc.
Becoming A Helper - Chapter 6(5)

7. Person-Centered Approach
Clients are at the center of the helping process
Clients are able to change without a high degree of structure and direction from the therapist
The aim of counseling is to assist clients’ growth process
Effective helping is based on the quality of the helping relationship
Techniques are secondary to the counselor’s attitudes
©2011, Brooks/ Cole Publishing, A Division of Cengage Learning, Inc.
Becoming A Helper - Chapter 6 (5)

8. Gestalt Approach
Focuses on here-and-now experiencing and present awareness
With awareness, clients are able to change
Counselors suggest experiments that are done by clients (e.g., symbolic dialogues, exaggerating a gesture)
The approach emphasizes the I/Thou dialogue
The focus is on doing rather than “talking about”
©2011, Brooks/ Cole Publishing, A Division of Cengage Learning, Inc.
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9. Cognitive Behavioral Approaches
Cognitive behavioral approaches share these attributes:
a collaborative relationship between client and therapist
psychological distress: the result of faulty cognitive processes
a focus on changing cognitions to produce desired changes in affect and behavior
a time-limited and educational treatment
©2011, Brooks/ Cole Publishing, A Division of Cengage Learning, Inc.
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10. Behavior Therapy The focus of this approach is on: observable behavior
current determinants of behavior
learning experiences to promote change
rigorous assessment and evaluation
©2011, Brooks/ Cole Publishing, A Division of Cengage Learning, Inc.
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11. Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy
Emotional problems are the result of one’s beliefs, not events
The aim: to change disturbances in thinking, feeling, and behaving
Cognitive techniques: teaching clients coping statements, disputing faulty beliefs, psychoeducation methods
Emotive techniques: rational emotive imagery, humor, shame-attacking exercises, role playing, unconditional acceptance
Behavioral techniques: self-management strategies and carrying out homework in daily life
©2011, Brooks/ Cole Publishing, A Division of Cengage Learning, Inc.
Becoming A Helper - Chapter 6(9)

12. Cognitive Therapy
Changing how people think tends to result in changing feeling and behaving (schema restructuring)
Clients are encouraged to weigh the evidence in support of their beliefs
This approach emphasizes a collaboration between counselor and client
Counselors guide clients to discover the connection between thinking, feeling, and behaving
©2011, Brooks/ Cole Publishing, A Division of Cengage Learning, Inc.
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13. Reality Therapy
Based on choice theory, reality therapy is active, directive, and didactic
Emphasis is on total behavior: acting, thinking, feeling, and physiology
Wubbolding (2000) summarizes the procedures for reality therapy through the WDEP model:
W= wants, needs, and perceptions
D= direction and doing
E= evaluation of total behavior
P= planning and commitment
©2011, Brooks/ Cole Publishing, A Division of Cengage Learning, Inc.
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14. Solution-Focused Brief Therapy
Techniques focus on the future and how best to solve problems rather than on understanding the cause of problems
Exception questions ask clients to identify times when their problems did not exist
The miracle question allows clients to think of their life without their problem
Scaling questions require clients to rate their improvement on a scale of zero to 10
The approach tends to be brief and collaborative
©2011, Brooks/ Cole Publishing, A Division of Cengage Learning, Inc.
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15. Narrative Therapy
Examines people’s stories and the meaning of their stories
Based on assumption that there is no absolute reality
Clients are invited to view their stories from different perspectives and co-create an alternative life story
Process involves identifying how societal standards are internalized by the client in a limiting manner
Therapist collaborates with client and avoids predicting, interpreting, or pathologizing
Therapist and client engage in externalizing conversations
©2011, Brooks/ Cole Publishing, A Division of Cengage Learning, Inc.
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16. Family Systems Approaches
Individuals are best understood through assessing interactions within the entire family
A client’s problematic behavior may serve a purpose for the family
Problems are often passed on over many generations
Actions by any individual in the family influence other family members
This approach focuses on here-and-now interactions in the family system
©2011, Brooks/ Cole Publishing, A Division of Cengage Learning, Inc.
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17. An Integrative Approach to the Helping Process
Each theory has something unique to contribute to a counselor’s style
Remain open to the value inherent in each of the theories of counseling
It is possible to draw techniques from most of the contemporary theoretical models
Developing an integrative perspective takes much study and clinical practice
©2011, Brooks/ Cole Publishing, A Division of Cengage Learning, Inc.
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18. Important Terms to Know
Adlerian approach
Behavior therapy
Choice theory
Cognitive behavioral approaches
Cognitive therapy
Cycle of counseling
Exception questions
Existential perspective
Experiential approaches
Family systems perspective
Family therapy
Gestalt therapy
Inferiority feelings
Integrative model
Life tasks
Lifestyle
Miracle question
Narrative therapy
Person-centered approach
Post modern approaches
Pre-therapy change
Psychoanalytic approach
Psychodynamic approaches
Rational emotive behavior therapy
Reality therapy
Relationship oriented approaches
Restricted existence
Scaling questions
Social interest
Solution-focused brief therapy
Summary feedback
Total behavior
WDEP model