COUNSELING APPROACHES

Counseling Approaches

Counseling Approaches

Introduction

Psychotherapy is in a period of great flowering, marked by the emergence of new paradigms within the field. One important new wave of psychotherapeutic practice is nourished by wisdom from the great philosophical traditions of the East, building upon and extending the clinical experience of previous eras - psychoanalytic, cognitive/behavioral, and humanistic/existential psychology. I will explore some of the basic philosophical premises that lay the essential groundwork for these two approaches.

Cognitive Therapy

CBT is based on the idea that how we think (cognition), how we feel (emotion) and how we act (behavior) all interact together. Specifically, our thoughts influence our feelings and our behavior follows. Clinical sessions focus on modifying everyday thoughts with the aim of positively influencing emotions and behaviors (Coco, E. L., & Courtney, L. J. 1998). The particular therapeutic techniques vary according to the client or particular kind of issue, but commonly include keeping a diary of significant events and associated feelings, thoughts and behaviors; questioning and testing assumptions or habits of thoughts that might be unhelpful and unrealistic; gradually facing activities which may have been avoided; and trying out new ways of behaving and responding. Relaxation techniques are also commonly included. CBT is widely accepted as an evidence-based, effective short term or brief therapy (Roemer, L. & Orsillo, S. M. 2002).

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is evidence based; research has proven that the approach is effective in assisting individuals in making long-term changes in emotions and behavior. The first traces of the philosophy of CBT can be found in the early writings of Marcus Aurelius and Epictetus. Epictetus pointed out that people were disturbed more by their view of events than by the events themselves. The first documented case of the history of CBT is found in the workings of Albert Ellis a holder of a PhD in the 1950s who designed the concept of Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy (REBT). REBT is used in family and individual therapy to try to re-train the clients to learn to discover the roots of problems and find ways in which to alter behavior and attitudes to improve outlook on life (Greenberg PE, Sisitsky T, Kessler RC, et al. 1999).

Mindfulness and psychotherapy

'Mindfulness' is a common translation of a term from Buddhist psychology that means 'awareness' or 'bare attention'. It is frequently used to refer to a way of paying attention that is sensitive, accepting and independent of any ...