Counseling Theories

Counseling Theories

Counseling Theories

Introduction

I still don't fully understand how people use counseling to solve their personal problems. My guess is the doubt holed up in their minds is removed by a second opinion. My ignorance probably affects my choices as well. I wouldn't choose just one school of counseling instead I would take parts from two of the schools and make my own biased form of counseling. I say biased, for the reason of not having any experience in the field whatsoever. (With the exception of this class) Also its not really my opinion because I happen to agree with the self help concept and the anti-psychiatry stance taken by William Glasser.

Discussion

The theory I like the most is out of Carl Jung's Philosophy, “If it works use it.” Although the previous statement leaves little to work with at least it's a start. That statement would be the founding principle of my school of counseling. I was particularly fond of the transactional analysis theory but, if someone knew the ins and outs of TA I feel they would be able to be rather manipulative. So instead of creating someone like that I will go with Gestalts and Glasser's therapy methods.

The actual process would be taken from the experimental chapters of the book using the main idea from Gestalts practice in therapy. Move from dependence to independence. Gestalt uses techniques that seem to make the client realize the error of his or her own ways and come up with a conclusion based on what they learned. In my opinion its best described in the Chinese Fish Proverb (You all know the one).This method ties in with my belief that we should all help ourselves to shape our personality in our own ways. It also concentrates on the here and now which makes me like this method of counseling even more.

The techniques are simple too. Such as Assuming Responsibility; by simply rearranging statements clients take responsibility for their actions. A client may say, “I want to get better grades but I don't study enough.” This is where the counselor would step in and replace. Making the statement the clients own responsibility Placing the blame directly where it needs to be. Personal thoughts are also expressed by using broad generalizations to explain personal desires. Instead of the usual me, myself, and I statements, the client may use we, their, or the broadest generalization of all people. For example; People never behave that way. As opposed to I never behave that way.

Another method used to help clients become aware of themselves in more of a speech and cognitive thinking sense would be the Now I'm Aware Technique. It's pretty much a personal monologue where you repeat “now I'm aware” with pretty much just about anything and everything that you think of. This would help the client slow down a bit and become aware of what they are thinking.

The next technique is the empty chair technique. The client will talk to himself in the ...