Counselling Skills – Level 2 week 11 Counselling Theories and Psychodynamic Counselling

Aims and Objectives Aim: To consider the nature and importance of theories in counselling To explore the psychodynamic approach

Session Objectives Participate and reflect upon a group check-in Recognise the nature and importance of counselling theories. Explore some of the key features of Psychodynamic Counselling Participate in an experiential exercise relating to dreams Consider the role of “defence mechanisms” or “ego defence mechanisms” in our own lives Recognise some key features of psychodynamic counselling described on a contemporary counselling web-site.

Counselling Theories What is a counselling theory? Why are theories important in counselling?

Counselling Theories “All people who counsel operate from theoretical frameworks about how clients become the way they are, how they maintain their problems and how they are helped to change” Richard Nelson-Jones Theory and Practise of Counselling

Four Main Elements of Theories A statement of basic assumptions underlying the theory An explanation of the aquisition of helpful and unhelpful behaviour An explanation of the maintenance of unhelpful behaviour An explanation of how to help clients to change their behaviour and consolidate their gains when counselling ends. (ibid:7)

Counselling theories and approaches. All approaches are guided by theories There are many different counselling approaches (350? 650?) Most can be categorised under one of five headings: Psychodynamic, Cognitive Behavioural, Humanist, Integrative, Eclectic.

What is Psychodynamic Counselling? Psychodynamic counselling is derived from the psychoanalytic tradition which has its origins in the work of Sigmund Freud, born in Austria in 1856. The word “psychodynamic” is now commonly used to describe models of therapy which have evolved from classical psychoanalysis. These models have retained many of the skills and techniques which Freud pioneered, as well as many of the concepts which derive from his original work.

Key Movements and Contributors Classical psychoanalysis: Freud (1856 – 1939) Analytical Psychology: Jung (1875 – 1939) Individual psychology: Adler (1870 – 1937) Ego Psychology: Hartman (1894 – 1970), Anna Freud (1895 – 1932), Erikson (1902 – 1994) Object Relations Theory or Neo Freudians: Klein (1882 – 1960), Horney (1885 – 1952), Winnicott (1896 - 1971), Fairbairn (1899 - 1990), Bowlby (1907 – 1990) Transactional Analysis: Berne (1910 – 1970)

Some Key ideas and Concepts Relating to Psychodynamic Counselling

Some Key ideas and Concepts Relating to Psychodynamic Counselling Unconscious motivation Id ego and super-ego Psycho-sexual stages of development (and other stages) Significance of childhood experience (including Attachment Theory) Connecting Past and Present Anxiety and defence Mechanisms

Some Key ideas and Concepts Relating to Psychodynamic Counselling Transference and counter-transference Working with dreams and symbols Free Association Interpretation.

Psychodynamic Counselling Today Although the techniques of Freud’s original model have been modified in contemporary psychodynamic therapy, there is still an emphasis on working through unconscious motives to uncover emotional problems and achieve insight” (ibid)

Psychodynamic Counselling Today Read what a contemporary practising counsellor says about the way in which she works List or highlight any features which you recognise as typical of a “psychodynamic” approach.