Counseling Theories Issues - Essay Example

? Counseling Theories The problematic nature of the world we live in extends significant levels of stress and discomfort to particular individuals when confronted with certain situations. People engaged or met with stress require certain levels of support probably in form of consolation, advice or even physical support most of which entails financial support. Some levels of stress require in depth consultation of the distressed person with health psychologists. It is also worth accrediting that certain levels of stress results into deprivation of health of the individual victims. Certain stress and depression may be serious and even result to death of the individual victim. With the serious nature of stress and associated mental despair, counseling professionalism is required to help in restoring wellbeing of an individual from stress. A professional guidance and counseling psychologist requires deep knowledge of scrutinizing the victims of depression and design appropriate approach for confronting the pending situation and address the situation amicably without creating further tensions to already deprived persons. Due to seriousness accorded to the counseling and mental depression, this paper will conduct explicit research on at least three practical theories that can be used by counseling psychologists in conducting successful counseling. Longitudinally, the paper will explore detailed literature review that explains the various views on the possible theories of counseling. Counseling Theories Introduction It is without compromise that counseling occupies a very critical part of the contemporary society. With globalization, diversity and technological advancement, there have arisen several issue that require great deal of counseling psychology to help rest various problems faced by people of different statures. Due to ranges that exist in the levels, causes and resultant effects of stress and mental depressions, various theories of counseling have emerged to help psychologists execute perfect counseling illuminated at restoring normalcy at different situations of mental depression. Among the theories of concentration in this research are the Existential, Psychoanalytic and Behavioral theories of counseling. Psychoanalytic Theory In the reports of Flanagan and Flanagan (2010), a psychoanalytic theory is at times referred to as psychodynamic or objects relations theories, developed by Sigmund Freud. In developing the theory, Feud appeared neutral or pessimistic about human condition and nature. Psychoanalytic theory has strong belief that human personality and behavior are strongly controlled by nature of an individual during his/her childhood. Psychoanalytic theorists believe that human personality compose of conscious mind, preconscious and unconscious mind. Conscious mind has knowledge of the happenings in the present environment (Marquis, Holden & Fall, 2010). Unconscious mind on the other hand has particular hidden of forgotten memories of and experience. Preconscious mind tend to exhibit features of both conscious and unconscious mind. Flanagan and Flanagan (2010) report that psychoanalysts believe that humans have typical love for pleasure and overridden by great sexual desires and lusts. According to the report of Flanagan and Flanagan (2010), psychoanalytic theorists hold that human beings are greatly driven by human relationships and longitudinal needs instead of instinctual desires. In the views of Quigley (1998) under the psychoanalytic theory, human beings are made of three personalities mainly the id, the ego and superego. The id site of the psychoanalytic theory composes the unconscious mind and determines the likelihood of an individual to run from pain into pleasure. The site does not recognize right or wrong but is powerful on subject. The id site of the psychoanalytic theory is usually driven by human instincts and dominant genes. Ego site is a component of the conscious and preconscious mind and serves as a moderator between the id and the superego by balancing wishes and desires of an individual (Cherry, 2011). Ego site identifies the ability of an individual to interact with the outside world with appropriate goals and activities. Superego site determines the ideal standards and moral principles. The psychoanalytic theory integrates development of human sexual pleasure in various consecutive stages that involve the oral, phallic, latency and genital stages. The oral stage of sexual development relies on the mouth as the main source of sexual pleasure while the anal stage relies on the anus as the main source of pleasure. The phallic stage of sexual pleasure centers on the genitals and sexual identification as the major source of pleasure for individuals (Quigley, 1998). The psychoanalytic theory interprets latency stage as a period of less sexual desires with much concentration on peer activities, academic and social education of developing physical skills. The genital stage of the psychoanalytic theory begins at the start of puberty, which provides way for development of interest in sexual relationship in young persons. Psychoanalytic theory recognizes the anxieties that may at some times develop among individuals especially at the ego site. In order to defend the ego site of individuals from the threats of anxieties, psychoanalytic theorists developed particular defense mechanisms that involve the repression, projection, reaction formation, displacement, sublimation, rationalization, regression, denial and identification (Quigley, 2009). Depression that needs rectification by psychoanalytic theorists develops from the maladaptive, conflicted or inadequate interaction between child and parent. The most important borne of contention of psychoanalytic theorist is to transform the maladaptive unconscious relationships to conscious and adaptive relationship. Counselors have to motivate the transference and give the client a sense of safety and acceptance. Psychoanalytic theory assumes that the counselor is an expert who can explore and excavate hidden materials and information thereby gaining an insight to work through unresolved matters. Psychoanalytic theory proposes a number of goals that an experienced counselor needs to focus on when carrying out therapy. Among the goals is to help the client transform from unconsciousness to consciousness (Quigley, 2009). The therapy also has to help the client work through a development stage that was not possibly taken. In addition, the therapy process has to assist victim adjust to the demands of work, friendship and society. The therapy process in under this theory encompasses critical exploration of past relationships, gathering of insight information on the current dynamic relationship and finally application of the gathered insights in the existing relationship (Flanagan & Flanagan, 2010). Psychoanalytic theory enables therapists to make accurate interpretations of the standing situation and make develop viable feedback over the conflicted issues outside client’s awareness and the relationship patterns of the client. Psychoanalytic theorists employ range of counseling techniques that flip from free association, dream analysis, transference analysis, resistance analysis and interpretation analysis. Free association intrigues the client to speak off his/her thoughts willfully without necessarily imposed to censorship. According to Quigley (1998), dream analysis techniques enables the clients relate their dreams to those of the counselor. Dream analysis enables counselor to interpret the obvious and hidden meanings behind the client’s despair. Analyses of transference enable the counselor motivate the client to disclose issues that cause difficulties in the positive progress (Quigley, 1998). Resistance analysis provides the counselor with techniques of helping the client gain insight of factors that causes hesitation and delay on the process of therapy. Interpretation is a technique that employed to help the client in gaining insight into past and present events. Existential Counseling Theory Existential Theory of Counseling Existential theory was developed by Rollo May and Viktor Frankl to scrutinize the most viable and appropriate principles of counseling. Existential theorists have strong beliefs that individuals write their own life story by the choices they deem to be right. Mental depression under the existential theory results by individuals’ negligence to make appropriate choices that proves ones capabilities and efforts. Existentialists hold that anxieties are basic motivational factors that assists individuals acclaim their ultimate potential (Crowell, 2010). Existential theory reads that without awareness, the anxieties may act as heralding forces that hinder the clients from reaching the apex of their capabilities (Malchiodi, 2012). The Existentialists insists that each individual looks for a ceaseless meaning in life. Existential counseling theory indicates that the meaning of life can be obtained in three major ways that involve accomplishment of a certain task, experiencing of particular values like love, beauty and nature. The meaning of life can also be discovered through suffering and reconciliation with the society. The roles of counselors under the existential theory involve demonstration of counselor’s authenticity to the client in order to get into in depth sharing of critical information. The counselors under the existential theory have the task of remodeling themselves in order to realize the ultimate personal potential and decide upon the emphasis of mutuality and growth. The goals of existential therapy involve empowerment of the clients to take responsibilities over the decisions they make. Existentialists also work towards helping the client develop self-awareness and realize their potential and commitment to better life decisions (Malchiodi, 2012). Existential theory highlights development and construction of concrete relationship as the appropriate technique for counseling of the depressed individuals. In addition, existential theorists propose for amicable confrontation of the clients as among the appropriate techniques to be used by counselors in challenging the perception of clients with their lives (Hoffman, 2009). Behavioral Counseling theory Behaviorist theory holds that human nature can be determined through simple observation of individuals’ behavior. The basic view point of behaviorists is that all the individuals’ behaviors and conducts can be learned despite of the adaptive or maladaptive nature of the individual. Behavioral theory claims that a person can be subjected to intensive learning in order to transform from maladaptive to adaptive conditions (Camerer, 2003). Behavioral theorists offer therapy in two major independent systems. One system involves the respondent learning where the learner does not need to be a very active participant. The outcomes of such kind of counseling are the conditioning of involuntary responses. Another therapeutic system that can be employed by the existentialists is the operant conditioning that requires active participation of the victims. In this kind of learning as proposed by the existential theorists involves impacting of desired behaviors or punishing of the undesired behaviors until the client realizes how to exhibit the commendable behaviors that calls for reward (Schultz, 2006). Another practical therapy of the existential theory is the social modeling whereby the client is exposed to learn new and desirable behaviors from watching other people and occurrences without necessarily participating in the event. In the behavioral theory, counselors play the responsibilities of a consultant and facilitator. The counselor under the behavioral theory plays the role of a supervisor who attracts other people in the environment to come and initiate with the client (Schultz, 2006). The respondent and operant conditioning counselors under the behavioral theory tend to play the roles of director and prescriber during the therapy (Cherry, 2011). Under the behavioral theory, counselor sets goals of improving client’s life through positive transformation. The behavioral therapists need to define the actual problems by answering particular questions like when, where, how, and with whom the problem under determination exists. In order for the behavioral therapists to achieve the designated goals, developmental history to the building of the problems resulting into the conditions responsible for the beginning of the problem and attempted solutions. Under the behavioral theory, therapists have to abide by certain critical techniques that include cherishing of the desired behaviors (Schultz, 2006). The therapists can also use shaping technique by moving the client through small steps, which have successive approximations towards the desired behaviors. A behavioral therapist shall as well apply the generalization technique where the inducted behaviors are carried from the learning room to the outside world (Schultz, 2005). Behavioral therapists can also involve maintenance technique to encourage consistent application of the learned behavior without support from outside sources (Schultz, 2005). In some cases, the therapist may use punishment to suppress and eliminate defective behaviors from the client. In addition, therapists under the behavioral theory need to apply behavioral rehearsal by repeating and improving the desired behavior until the client accomplishes and meet the actual orientations. Literature Review of the Counseling Theories According to Haggerty (2011), psychodynamic therapy concentrates on the unconscious processes as they appear in a person’s current behavior. In the views of Haggerty (2011), the goals of psychodynamic therapy are the client’s self-awareness and understanding of his past and present behaviors. In the views of Haggerty (2009), psychodynamic therapy provides the client with specific opportunity to scrutinize u unsettled impasse that arose from past relationship and manifest themselves in the need to indulge in unethical directions. Haggerty (2009) observes that in the psychoanalytic theory, there are four schools of psychodynamic therapy among which are the Freudian, Ego, Psychology, Object relation and Self psychology. According to Haggerty (2009), a Freudian psychology base on the theories invented by Sigmund Freud and is sometimes referred to as structural model. Haggerty (2009) confirms that sexual and aggressive energies arising in the id results from the ego of an individual. Defense mechanisms in psychoanalytic theory form through ego, which operates towards minimization of pain and maintenance of equilibrium (Haggerty, 2009). Superego gained during puberty works to control id drives through guilt. According to Haggerty (2009), psychoanalytic theorists hold that their work is to maintain the functions of ego in accordance to the reality in the environment. Psychoanalytic theorists insist that egoism cherishes individuals’ capacity for self-defense, adaptation and testing of the reality. Sharf (2008) asserts that the essentials of existential theory are to help the clients develop understanding their through a search for authenticity. Sharf (2008) confirms that stresses that befall individuals are the best avenues that enable individuals enhance their awareness and actualize their potentials. In the views Sharf (2008), human beings are responsible for determining their fates in life. Existential therapists have greater concerns of how individuals relate to their immediate environment and their own self-understanding. Marquis, Holden and Fall (2010) disclose that existential theory portrays human beings as sharing a lot of common bond of humanness as reflected from the common struggles. According to Marquis, Holden and Fall (2010), Existentialists main function is establish an understanding of the client’s unique way of living in the world. Marquis, Holden and Fall (2010) reveal that sexual orientation is one of the precepts upon which individuals derive the meaning of their lives. In that stance, Marquis, Holden and Fall (2010) report that the main areas of concern basic to existentialists should cover the sexual orientation of the client as expressed by his/her life. Existential therapists have definite mandate of assisting individuals understand their personal meaning of identification of one’s sexual orientation. Marquis, Holden and Fall (2010), disclose that in the past certain existentialists based their core arguments on the biblical narration of sin, suffering and encouragement of individuals to develop faith and loyalty in God to define their true meaning. According to Camerer (2003), behavioral theory applies the game experiment to determine what happens when genes, people and nations interact among themselves. According to Camerer (2003), behavior in games is greatly sensitive to issues of the environment. Cherry (2011) views behavioral theory as the learning based upon the idea that all behaviors can be gained through conditioning. According to Cherry (2011), behaviorists propose that behaviors can be studied through systematic and observable way without open consideration of internal mental make-up. Cherry (2011) says that conditioning under the behavioral theory assumes two forms that include classical conditioning and operant conditioning. In the views of Cherry (2011), classical conditioning is an educational technique employed to help in pairing of naturally occurring stimulus with response. Operant conditioning of the behavioral theory on the other hand is a learning method that takes place through rewards and punishments over undesired behavior. Cherry (2011) says that operant conditioning enables for establishment of association between behavior and the consequences of the behaviors. Conclusion The field of counseling has a lot of critical issues to be handled with great care and sensitivity. It is worth acknowledging the great works accomplished by the professional counselors and researchers by establishing special theories that can be used as framework for analyzing different situations psychological situation. Psychoanalytic theory explores that human personality and behaviors are strongly affected by the way an individual was bred in his/her childhood. Existential theory exemplifies that individuals are the key writers of their own life that they do in a way they feel right. Behavioral theory demonstrates that human nature can be determined through simple observation oaf individuals’ behavior. Fundamental to note is the main similarity between the psychoanalytic and behavioral theories. Both the psychoanalytic and the behavioral theories certain individuals have vested mandate of directing and governing the victim. In psychoanalytic theory, parents and guardians need to show the children the right way of life and nay failure to correspond to the corrections may invite punishment or reward in case of positive response. Just as behavioral counseling looks for good behavior from the environment and society, so is the case with existential theory that explores the adaptive meaning of life. Worthy to note is the difference that exists between existential and psychoanalytic theories. While psychoanalytic theorists believe that mental depression results from the individuals’ failure to reply to certain sexual desires during growth, the existential theory attributes depression and psychopathology as results of anxieties faced by individuals. References Camerer, C. (2003). Behavioral Game Theory: Experiments in Strategic Interaction. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. Cherry, K. (2011). The Conscious and Unconscious Mind. Retrieved November 6, 2011 from http://psychology.about.com/od/theoriesofpersonality/a/consciousuncon.htm Cherry, K. (2011). What Is Behaviorism? Retrieved November 6, 2011 from http://psychology.about.com/od/behavioralpsychology/f/behaviorism.htm Crowell, S. (2010). Existentialism. Retrieved November 6, 2011 from http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/existentialism/ Flanagan, R. & Flanagan, J. (2004). Counseling and psychotherapy theories in context and practice: skills, strategies, and techniques. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley and Sons. Haggerty, J. (2006). Psychodynamic Therapy. Retrieved November 6, 2011 from http://psychcentral.com/lib/2006/psychodynamic-therapy/ Hoffman, L. (2009). Existential Psychotherapy - A General Overview. Retrieved November 6, 2011 from http://www.existential-therapy.com/General_Overview.htm. Malchiodi, C. (2012). Handbook of Art Therapy, 2nd. Spring Street, NY: Guilford Press. Marquis, A., Holden, J. & Fall, K. (2010). Theoretical Models of Counseling and Psychotherapy, 2nd.Madison, NY: Taylor and Francis Group. Quigley, T. (1998). A Brief Outline of Psychoanalysis. Retrieved November 6, 2011 from http://www.panix.com/~squigle/at/psycho.html Quigley, T. (2009). A Brief Outline of Psychoanalytic Theory. Retrieved November 6, 2011 from http://homepage.newschool.edu/~quigleyt/vcs/psychoanalysis-intro.pdf Schultz, W. (2005). Behavioral Theories and the Neurophysiology of Reward. Retrieved November 6, 2011 from http://neuroeconomics.stanford.edu/pdfs/ws06arp.pdf Sharf, R. (2008).Theories of Psychotherapy & Counseling: Concepts and Cases. Belmont, CA: Cengage Learning Publishing. Read More