Counselling Theories

Counselling Theories

Introduction

A theory is a systematic collection of concepts and ideas on an area of particular knowledge that can help in understanding relationships with others and with the rest of creation. A counseling theory provides an outline of the existence, development and human behavior that must be taken to address the complexity of life. A counseling theory posits hypotheses about the growth, development, of psycho-social conflicts of the individual, the roots of certain behavior, of how changes occur, and the various alternatives to treat psychosocial and spiritual problems of people. Each of us has a pattern or way of seeing the world, life, people, to explain human actions and human interactions. This scheme largely dictates how an individual's choices and how it relate to our neighbors and the rest of creation. In order to assist others with professional counseling need be aware of this scheme that dominates and influences relationships with human.

Most scientific disciplines have a body of theory, a collection of wise assumptions inherited from the ancestors, a toolbox experiential, and a protocol of action based on research that guide the work and professional clinical practice. In there is not a professional counseling theory, but many theories that try to understand the phenomenon of existential postulate an organized way to help human beings to reach its potential and stay as healthy as possible. This paper will be an attempt in order to become familiar with the theories of counseling most popular professionally and accepted by the scientific community and are invited to begin to develop a comprehensive theory that fits their way on life and the needs of those seeking help. It studies the concepts, principles, origins, evolution and relevance of counseling and psychotherapy.

Section-I: Theoretical Framework

Origin of the theory

The terms “counselling,” “therapy” used interchangeably to describe that specific therapeutic relationship entered into by a professional counsellor and a client. The term “person centred” as opposed to some of the earlier names applied to Roger's approach Nondirective, Rogerian, and Client Centred intended by Rogers, to encompass all aspects of the varied relationships to which the approach applied (Bell, 1996).

These include counselling, teaching and learning, group work, friendship, as well as workshops and international relations (Rogers, 1990). The actual term Person Centred describes the emphasis of the approach. It is the person (client, student, group, group member etc) who is in control of her own life, and ultimately the counselling (Klausner, 1998). Consequently, counselling geared to responding to the client's needs. For the duration of this, term person centred used when alluding to Rogers' approach except when the historical context requires the use of a more antiquated term. The paper will discuss the brief history of Person Centred Counselling, and from where it came. The paper will also highlight the benefits and risks for the therapist of experiencing and expressing congruence in the person centred process, in terms of strengths and weaknesses. In the last paper will conclude the general discussions.

Basic philosophies of the theory

Carl Roger's (1961, 19) person-centred theory maintains that all humans want to be fully functional and strive to reach their full ...