COUNSELLING AND PSYCHOTHERAPY

Counselling and Psychotherapy Theory and Process

Counselling and Psychotherapy Theory and Process

Introduction

This assignment will discuss and contrast three distinctive approaches to counselling and psychotherapy including Psychodynamic Counselling (PSC), Person-Centred Counselling (PCC) and Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT). It will explain the theory underpinning these approaches, and critically evaluate their assumptions. The paper will outline the core features of the therapeutic process and critically reflect on their impact regarding individual change inherent within the approach. With each approach, the assignment will consider the ways in which the therapist and the client might experience the therapeutic encounter, and on the nature of counselling and Psychotherapy process.

As part of this assessment, reference design is according to the ethical and professional concerns relating to each approach whilst identifying their possible strengths or limitations including the use of case work study. In reference to the PCC approach, the focus will have its basis on the thesis of Carl Rogers, rather than any further additions to PCC which have evolved.

Counselling and Psychotherapy Theory

Psychodynamic Counselling Approaches (PSC)

Looking at the theory underpinning PSC, it becomes clear that Freud the founding father of psychoanalysis continues to have a significant influence in the practice of PSC, (Jacobs,2004) unlike those who have stated that “psychoanalysis has become irrelevant in contemporary psychology” (Bornstien cited by Huprich, 2009,p29). There are of course controversial issues relating to the theory of personality development or development of self that shall get addressed; however, these have all contributed to the unceasing evolution of PSC that inform its current practice. Common terms synonymous with PSC are unconscious, transference, defence mechanisms, id ego super-ego and psychosexual stages.

Freud first discovered the unconscious as a process of the mental psychic, which develops in a baby and child, and is the cause for later psychopathology in adults. Contributing to these mental processes is the id, ego and super ego commonly known as the 'structural model'. The id has recognition as the sexual 'pleasure seeking' drive that is innate. In contrast, the super ego is the domineering and very demanding, based on 'introjected values' for “socially appropriate behaviour” (Huprich, 2009,p20). This Huprich (2009) highlights got evaluated by Freud as psychosis “ a product of the unsuccessful management of primary process thinking and its corresponding drives and impulses” (Huprich, 2009, p 20). This conflict is managed by the ego/self that looks to create an outlet or object to satisfy the id, and at the same time keep the super ego at bay. Thus, an important component of the ego is the defence mechanisms such as repression, projection and many others (Appendix A) that have its usage to reduce the level of tension felt. (Charman, 2004)

Another explanation for psychopathology that develops in adults, is the unsuccessful completion or in other terms 'fixation' of the Psycho-sexual stages, which have common recognition as oral, anal, latent, phallic and genital. Usually there are three causes for unsuccessful completion of these stages, either the child “has not had sufficient, appropriate satisfaction of its libidinous needs” (Klien, 2006, p32) ...