COUNSELING AND PSYCHOTHERAPY

Counseling and psychotherapy

Counseling and Psychotherapy

Introduction

“Theory And Practice Of Counseling And Psychotherapy” helped me develop my own counseling style. With this text, I gained a firm foundation in the major counseling theories (psychoanalytic, Adlerian, existential, person-centered, Gestalt, reality, behavior, cognitive-behavior, family systems, feminist, and postmodern approaches) as they are used in practice. By means of the case of "Stan," I can see how the theory presented in each text chapter informs therapeutic decision making. "At a Glance" charts pinpoint the major differences between theories in areas such as multicultural focus, basic philosophies, and limitations.

Comprehensively analyzing the book I understood that Counseling psychology is a psychological specialization that alleviates people's personal and social performance in their lives. This field of psychology focuses on the social, emotional, professional, developmental, health-related and organizational interests for people. I think, the book integrates theory, research, and practice, with sensitiveness to multiculturalism, and covers a wide range of practices that assist people to assure their well-being, relieve distress, combat personality disorders, settle unforeseen situations, and gain their power to change their life and make it highly functional. Counseling psychology is unparalleled in its attention to both conventional developments of people as well as troubles related to physical, emotional, and mental disorders (Corey, 2004).

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) approaches, which are based on social learning and behavior theories, have received a great deal of attention in research on psychotherapy outcomes, partly due to their clearly defined focus on identifying problems, setting clear goals, and employing sets of strategies in the change process. In my point of view, these strategies include, behavioral, contracting, developing, problem-solving skills, and changing internal, cognitive patterns and, self-statements. From a cognitive-behavioral perspective, learning is the key mechanism of change. A client's difficulties are believed to be rooted in maladaptive thought and behavior patterns, and the therapist assists the client with changing these through goal setting, education, modeling, and conditioning.

While going through book, I understood that counseling relationships hold for the development of a variety of new skills and ways of viewing oneself and the world, counseling researchers and practitioners may benefit from lessons learned from CBT research and practice. I think, another set of approaches with a long history and ardent supporters, but less empirical study of effectiveness, is based on systems theory. Although most often associated with family therapy, systems theory in its many forms also can be applied when working with individuals and groups. That is, we are continuously engaged in interactions with multiple interpersonal, institutional, and societal forces, all of which may be contributing in some way to the difficulties an individual may be experiencing. No one person is considered to be the locus of a problem, and, therefore, all participants in a system and even the system itself may at any time become the focus of treatment (Corey, 2004).

Structural Supports for Psychotherapy Relationships

What I learned is that training in psychotherapy is broadly conceived as consisting of two major and essential components: didactic classroom teaching and supervision ...