Strength-Based Approach to Counseling - Coursework Example

Introduction The field of counseling has a long history of focusing on individuals’ deficit, pathologies and problem behavior. However, within the recent decades practitioners and researchers within this field, have began to question on this deficit-based approach and have moved to a holistic model that basically focuses on individual strength. Since its introduction, strength-based approach has contributed greatly in the area of counseling. This is mainly attributed to the fact that individuals have unique skills, life events and talents, in addition to particular unmet needs. This approach has been applied in various areas of counseling, for instance, mental health. A strength based approach is described as a constructive psychology perspective that does emphasize the strengths and capabilities of individuals. These approaches are process-oriented and developmental. They simply identify and disclose internal and resiliencies (resources) that exist within a group, family, individual as they do occur in precise problems contexts. The basic principle of these approaches is based on the fact people do possess inherent assets or strengths that are assist them to cope with trauma and stress. Strength-based therapists assist their clients to identify and work on their capacities rather than diagnosing deficits and thereafter, describing treatment. Indeed, every individual, family or group has strengths. A counselor has to be genuinely interested in the clients’ accounts, narratives and stories in order to detect the strength. Applying strengths based approach to help in recovery, requires that the counselor should look at an individual with mental health issues with fresh eyes and noticing qualities that are essential in the journey to recovery. There are various strength-based approach models including solution focused therapy, narrative therapy and motivational interviewing. These models are used to address various problems such as depression, eating disorder and domestic violence, for instance. Solution-focused therapy and substance abuse among young people Solution focused therapy has several uses in addressing mental health problems. It has been used in assisting young people who are involved in substance abuse. Various methods and models were earlier on applied to address substance abuse related problems. However, most models have failed in assisting young people prone to drugs. Solution focused therapy is a concise therapy approach that has been developing for the past 20 years. This model has continued to evolve and embraced by many therapists. It applies specialized interview process that leads to treatment. The solution focused therapy proposes that the solutions to the problems presented by the client may not be fully influenced by the problems they are facing. This is true in the treatment of substance abuse among the young people, where any of the several actions or life experiences on the client’s part, that may have little or basically nothing to do with the abuse of substance, may bring in solution to the problem. Indeed, one may argue that the number of possible solutions is limitless. For instance, an individual may stop using drugs as a result of problems, when she or he; relocates, get new friends, begins or ends a relationship or obtain employment (De Jong & Berg 2002: 65). Various authors concur with this by concluding that treatment does not need make drug intake the main focus to resolve the problem of abusing drug. Rather, the main focus does return to helping a young person achieve personal goals (O’Hanlon & Weiner-Davis 2003: 24). According to Hoyt (2000: 17) the solution focused therapy techniques can be incorporated with other treatment models. Corey et al (2007: 72) sees it as an excellent idea as it allows the clients to maximize his or her talent by utilizing the unique strengths and resources within a given treatment. Of important to note is the fact that the approach is describe as a ‘brief treatment model’. Typically, the treatment sessions take 2 to 4 month period. This basically means that the average figure of client-counselor contact is 4.7 with range of sessions between 1 and 10. The brevity comes from the fact that a counselor will mostly focus on assisting the drug addict in setting the goals and developing positive strategies to reach the goals (De Jong & Berg 2002: 82). It is argued that focusing on these goals and concreting steps that are needed to achieve them do take less time compared to other model for instance, the traditional therapy, whereby the clients take time to talk about the past and continues to explore feelings and reasoning. It is therefore, undisputable that this approach equips a therapist with guided aims to provide a client with excellent treatment in an efficient way so as to help the client overcome substance abuse and achieve the set goals. De Jong and Berg (2002: 68) sums this advantage by stating that the treatment is open minded with the client bearing in mind the fact that they may be a return in the future. Denborough (2002:80) asserts that the approach allows the client to do most talking. This is an advantage over some models where the views of the clients are not considered during counseling or treatment. This leads to a relationship that is characterized as a collaborative in nature which is created between the counselor and the client. De Jong and (2002:71) argue that the client is able to appreciate the solutions that are built as he or she is the main contributor to these solutions. The therapist is describe as a tool used in encouraging and helping the client in identifying and does more than is already being done. In addition, he or she guides the client in focusing on the basics an important work that will assist in getting rid of abusing drugs. Brown and Augusta-Scott (2007: 93) add that a therapist assist the client to identify basic elements of a desired solution to drug abuse. These elements are said to be present in the life of a client. Essentially, the elements are building blocks for the ongoing changes. One important fact about this approach is that it creates a meticulous picture of how life will be when a feeling of hope making the solution possible. A drug addict is assisted to focus on the future and how it will be excellent if things changes (Brown & Augusta-Scott 2007:80) The fact that this approach concentrates more in constructing solutions rather than maximizing on the problems, positive change has been observed in most drug users. Bertolino and O’Hanlon (2002: 102) observe that young people are very impatient and this approach is best suited to them as it is a short-term therapy. However, there are challenges that are associated with solution-focused therapy approach. Morgan (2000:48) observes that the approach assumes that a client, a drug addict, in this case, should identify solutions and options to this challenging solution. A young individual involved in drug may not have the need knowledge required to create and come up with solutions that is accordance to his or her needs. Brown and Augusta-Scott (2007:75) argue that despite this weakness a therapist may assist such a client and provide guidance that are necessary for the client to identify solutions. Still, one may argue that it is impossible for the therapist to provide information without assuming the role of an expert which is not so in this approach. Another limitation associated with this approach is that it assumes that a client has the ability of moving without addressing the past events. Still, a client may be pushed forward and they may not be ready to deal with the future issues. According to Sue and Sue (2003:68) the therapist does not take credit of solutions made. If the therapy goes well and a young individual let go substance abuse, the client is credited for his or her efforts. On the other hand, if the sessions fail, the counselor may be blamed by the client. The therapist cannot blame the client. The therapist may not argue that the client lacks sufficient tools or motivation to create solutions for his drug addiction. This means that the therapist has to face the situation and acknowledge the fact that however hard the counselor tried, he or she cannot get the client to change the drug addiction issue. Conclusion Solution focus therapy has widely spread in the area of substance abuse especially among the young people. In the area of drug counseling, the approach has continue to achieve tremendous support as a result of the positive impact it has created among the young people. Indeed, young people need to identify their goals in life so that they are able to concentrate in cementing the strategies that have created in achieving the desired goals. This will assist them in establishing the need to quit substance abuse and concentrate on important things. Despite the limitations associated with this approach, one cannot rule out the fact that benefits of the approach outrun the disadvantages. References Bertolino, B & O’Hanlon, B 2002, Collaborative, competency-based counseling and therapy, Boston: Allyn and Bacon Brown, C & Augusta-Scott, T 2007, Narrative therapy: making meaning, making lives, London: Sage Corey, G, Corey, M & Callanan, P 2007, Issues and ethics in the helping professions, 7th edn, CA: Brooks/Coles, Pacific Grove,. De Jong, P & Berg, I. 2002, Instructor’s resource manual for interviewing for solutions, CA: Brooks/Cole, Pacific Grove De Jong, P & Berg, I. 2002, Learner’s workbook for interviewing for solutions, 2nd edn, CA: Brooks/Cole, PacificGrove De Jong, P. & Berg, I 2002, Interviewing for solutions, 2nd edn, Brooks/Cole, CA: Pacific Grove Denborough, D 2002, Queer counselling and narrative practice, South Australia: Dulwich Centre Publications Hoyt, M. 2000, Some stories are better than others. Doing what works best in brief therapy and managedcare, Philadelphia: Brunner Mazel Morgan, A. 2000, What is narrative therapy: An easy to read introduction. South Australia: Dulwich Centre Publications O’Hanlon, W. & Weiner-Davis, M. 2003, In Search of solutions: a new direction in psychotherapy, Norton, NY. Ridley, C. 2005, Overcoming unintentional racism in counselling and therapy: a practitioner’s guide to intentional intervention, London: Sage Publications Robinson, B. 2009, When therapist variables and the client’s theory of change meet, Psychotherapy in Australia, 15(4), 60-65. Sue, D. & Sue, D. 2003, Counselling the culturally diverse: Theory and practice, 4th edn, New York: Wiley Read More