The Theories about Counseling with the Role of Personal Values - Research Paper Example

? My Thoughts on Counseling This paper integrates the learned theories about counseling with the role of personal values in shaping the course of counseling practice, thereby, indicating that personal inclinations and values are important determinants of counseling practice. The practice of psychoanalytical and psychodynamic theories of counseling is also discussed with an examination of the implementation of counseling techniques such as P-technique analysis, transference analysis and action-oriented techniques in the treatment of clients. Furthermore the paper also considers the characteristics of helping relationships, key elements of initial counseling sessions and the development of counseling over the years. In conclusion, the application of personal values in counseling and the treatment of clients is discussed. My Thoughts on Counseling A Definition of Counseling and the Most Essential Characteristics of a Helping Relationship According to Oetting (1967) counseling, in the academic sphere of psychology is described as the study or assessment of the mental and psychological health of an individual who is participating in procedures of development, such that the psychological state of a person is understood as his/her capacity to utilize development techniques and tasks for the purposes of enhancing personal growth and aiding individual progress. This comprehension of counseling with regards to the discipline of psychology assists the role of counseling psychologists by creating a framework that is based on instructions, procedures and functions in association with the attainment of the objectives and mission of counseling in psychological practice (Oetting 1967). On a personal level, I hold the belief that counseling is greatly dependent upon our specific behaviors, actions, characteristics and traits as individuals that are born with us and eventually grow with us. This view essentially postulates that an individual’s counseling is not only derived from inclinations that are hereditary but is also a combination of predispositions that are gathered from the environment whereby we learn through our communications and interactions with other people regarding right and wrong, good and evil and acceptable and unacceptable behavior. The roots of counseling psychology have been developed by extensive research into the essential characteristics and fundamentals of what constitutes a helping relationship with primary focus on psychotherapy and its widely acknowledged benefits. In examining the primary aspects of an effective and successful helping relationship, Rogers (1958) asserts the need of having at least one active participant in the process, where active essentially describes a participant’s willingness, motivation and intention in advancing factors related to the development and maturity of either an individual or several members of a grouping. Empirical evidence and research based data into the assessments of effective helping relationships is reflective of the immense significance of a helping person’s attitude in delivering the aims and objectives behind the establishment of a helping relationship. For Carl (1958) this notion is most vivid in the displays of parent-child relationships where the adoption of an “acceptant-democratic” attitude by the parent appears to be directly correlated with the positive behavior and characteristics of the child, to explain further and in specificity, these changes are witnessed in terms of enhanced intellectual, emotional and psychological progress. Even though, the aforementioned aspects are not observable in the social development of early stages of childhood, there emergence and existence becomes persistent once a child is sent to school. Furthermore, the findings of the research into the attitudes of parents in the relationship with their children also conclude that the adoption of an “actively rejectant” stance in the selected approach towards the helping relationship is associated with the emergence of characteristics such as neuroticism, lack of creativity and stunted intellectual in children which mirrors the essentialness of attitudes in a helping relationship (Carl 1958). Moreover, it should also be stated that the perception of individuals who are being assisted in a helping relationship and the prevalence of crucial factors such as trust, confidence and belief in the expertise and efforts of the helper are fundamental elements of a helping relationship (Carl 1958). A Detailed Explanation of the Key Elements That Must Be Covered In the First Session with a New Client and Why They Must Be Covered Assessments into the key elements that must be addressed in the first session with a new client essentially desire to establish a relationship of confidence, trust and faith between the client and the counselor. For the purposes of creating this association, initial sessions must be crafted after keeping in view the essential elements that can contribute towards the institution of an ideal helping relationship. Kokotovic and Tracey (1990) highlight the need of creating a working alliance in the initial stages of counseling by assessing the foundations of the notion of a therapeutic alliance, for this purpose the researcher gathered a sample size of 142 counselors and 98 clients who were asked to complete the Working Alliance Inventory (WAI) following the initial counseling session. The conclusions of the findings were based on the evaluation of key considerations of the client-counselor relationship on the basis of factors such as perception formation, satisfaction, elements contributing towards the achievement of counseling objectives and the association of alliance between the respective participants. Kokotovic and Tracey (1990) established that the examinations of the working alliance were dependent upon specific considerations namely the quality of interpersonal associations, the existence of resentment between the parties, on the whole psychological and mental state and the ranking or evaluation of the client with regards to hostility prior to the commencement of therapy. The results showed that client evaluations after the end of the first session did not dictate a relationship between client and counselor alliance nor did they reflect any amendments in the client’s level of satisfaction. For Kokotovic and Tracey (1990) the implications of these findings in establishing the course of the first session between the client and the counselor is such that they identify the necessity of marking the commencement of a positive relationship and alliance from the first session of counseling. I believe, that respecting these key considerations from the first session and onwards with a new client would greatly enhance the overall satisfaction levels of the client and also create a sense of understanding, faith and trust to reduce any measures of dissatisfaction, hostility, resentment and disagreements whose probability of occurrence would be high if the key elements highlighted by Kokotovic and Tracey (1990) are ignored by the counselor. Furthermore, it is significant to state the factors that would have to be taken under consideration with regards to the new client in establishing an effective working alliance for the successful achievement of desired counseling outcomes and objectives, for example, Wei and Heppner (2005) state that in cross-cultural counseling clients seek instantaneous and undeviating results such as the resolution of issues as soon as the end of the first session of counseling. In this case, consideration of factors highlighted by Kokotovic and Tracey (1990) in directing the course of the first counseling session would be futile and lead to undesirable outcomes. Thus, by taking into account cultural differences in designing counseling sessions, counselors can direct their sessions towards the attainment of outcomes by either thoroughly covering the aspects related to the resolution of problems as suggested by Wei and Heppner (2005) or maintaining an approach which intends to build an amicable and positive client-counselor relationship as recommended by Kokotovic and Tracey (1990). This would abide by psychological research findings that indicate differences and variations in individual perceptions, behaviors and characteristics by taking into account the special needs and expectations of each and every new client from counseling. The Theory or Theories of Counseling Which I Will Seek To Learn More About and Use in My Own Practice Without a doubt, psychoanalytical and psychodynamic theories of counseling have intrigued me the most for they encompass an understanding of the individual that surpasses general considerations and beliefs by laying emphasis on thoughts that cannot be tamed by conscious control. By taking into account the critical and profound role of childhood experiences in shaping an individual’s entire life, psychoanalysis establishes the foundations of a deep and insightful understanding of the client’s mind, life experiences and past to unlock the answers to numerous questions that a counselor may have in resolving the problems and issues of the client. Psychoanalysis is absolutely imperative to the creation of a sense of freedom, trust and faith in the client-counselor relationship thereby aiding honest and open communication which I think is the key to achieving the objectives of counseling. It is the abstract nature and complexity of Freud’s ideas that is most appealing and mysterious. From what I have observed, assessments into the role of childhood in our development as adults and even the progression of problems that become evident later in life are precise in not only explaining the issues faced by individuals but also assisting their resolution. Additionally, the application of this theory via specific techniques and procedures is an enlightening experience into the understanding of complex and abstract mental processes. In my own practice I would wish to explore processes such as ‘transference’ to explore the thoughts of the clients and interpret them according to my knowledge and with the help of my expertise. The life altering and multidimensional impact of psychoanalytical therapy can be a source of liberation and independence for a client from the most disturbing and distressing elements of their life while, also acting as a source of effective conflict resolution. As Kottler and Montgomery (2010) believe psychodynamic approaches aim to “look to the past to set you free”, I wish to apply the experiences of a client’s past for the betterment of their future and promotion of overall wellbeing. At Least Two Techniques from this Theory and an Explanation of How and for What Client Issues I Will Use them for Clients in Treatment In my practice I would wish to integrate the understandings of various counseling theories and approaches with psychoanalytic theory for creating a framework of treatment that is comprehensive. According to Frank (1992) the similarities between psychoanalysis and cognitive-behavior therapy have become more evident than ever, this view postulates that the integration of action-oriented techniques is indeed possible and can be performed for supplementing the techniques of psychoanalytic theory such as transference analysis by opting for an interactional standpoint. Once the application of action-oriented techniques with transference analysis is thoroughly understood, I would prefer to adopt this course of action for treating clients who are suitable candidates for the implementation of transference analysis such as those who have been physically and emotionally abused by a parent or close relative as a child or clients who may wish to reveal their feelings regarding their family members that could have translated into issues and problems during adulthood. Transference analysis acts as a bridge between the feelings, thoughts and emotions of the client and the counselor. Successful insight into the client’s mind is essential for the identification of inner conflicts that can be interpreted by the counselor for recommending appropriate solutions and establishing a relationship of trust. Clients who have faced problems with significant figures of authority that acted as a source of conflict and guilt can also benefit from the application of this technique. Patton et al.’s (1997) research into the application of psychoanalytic technique drew important conclusions indicating that P-technique analysis is of great benefit in enhancing the working alliance between the client and the counselor while, progressively diminishing any indications of client resentment, hostility and resistance. P-technique would therefore, be of significant assistance for treating patients who are likely to drop out of counseling sessions due to a variety of reasons such as mistrust, hostility and dissatisfaction. By enhancing trust relations, better insights into the nature of the patient’s conflicts can be attained which may be a difficult task to achieve with regards to clients who display asocial, suspicious and apprehensive tendencies due to prior experiences in which their trust was broken. Life experience(s) that will help you as a counselor work effectively with a wide range of clients My life experiences have taught me to empathize with individuals rather than sympathizing with them, I believe that this is an important trait to have if one wishes to adopt a role as a counselor because you must be able to understand where the client is coming from. While, sympathy is appreciated by some it is also misunderstood by many who might consider that sympathetic words do not hold real meaning but are a mere formality. Each and every client coming into counseling wants to be heard, my friends have also been appreciative of me by saying that I am a good listener and most people also come to me to seek advice. Perhaps, this is because they see me as someone who would listen to them rather than judging their actions. I think that my experiences in treating my friends circle the way I have done would be of great benefit in helping me gain the trust of my clients and establishing a relationship based on mutual understanding. Some limitations in my own life experience that might hinder my ability to understand and relate to certain clients Even though, my inclinations rest towards applying the psychodynamic and psychoanalytic theories of counseling in my practice which seek to explore the impact of childhood experiences as a means of explaining the problems and issues of adulthood, I think I would experience hindrances in understanding and relating to clients who have experienced sexual abuse during their childhood. While, I am greatly thankful for the stability of my familial environment it often becomes difficult for me to comprehend the experiences of innocent children who became the victims of physical abuse by a parent or close relative. Perhaps, this is because I am usually trusting of others which is a product of positive interpersonal and familial relationships, the agony of distressing childhood experiences that are inflicted by a parent or close relation is something which is difficult for me to comprehend, my anonymity from this shade of life is partly responsible for my interest in the impact of childhood experiences on the conflicts faced in adulthood. Therefore, I acknowledge that my ability to understand cases of childhood sexual abuse may be hindered. Client populations I do not believe that I would be able to work with and why The dimensions of client populations in counseling psychology are divisible into three distinct groups that are individuals, groups and organizations. I believe that my counseling focus would impair my ability to work effectively in resolving the issues and problems faced by organizations. Issues related to increasing productivity and consultation with clients regarding the aspects that are related to the workplace environment require a special focus in understanding the functioning of an organization as a structure and analyzing the factors contributing to employee dissatisfaction and motivation. Examinations of the role of hierarchal structures, management and bureaucratic setups is a field that must be managed by specific techniques and processes that are not relevant to the approach to counseling that I wish to undertake and advance. Counseling for groups also requires specific expertise that may not be relevant to the problems faced by groups such as couples who are facing marital difficulties. I believe I would not be able to resolve problems pertaining to marital issues and incompatibility because I wish to direct my practice in another direction. Furthermore, the emotions, feelings and thoughts communicated by an individual client carry a meaning that is more profound in nature thereby, leading to the identification of inner conflicts, guilt and perceptions that can aid the course of treatment and liberate the individual from persisting issues. I believe that the role of a counselor should be that of an analyst, an interpreter and a helper and this role can be fulfilled by one-on-one communication and interaction to resolves issues in a manner that is most successful. Client populations I do believe that I would be able to work with and why I believe that I would be able to work in the most effective manner in the area of individual counseling as I aim to apply counseling theories for analyzing the past experiences of people for addressing conflicts of adulthood. My personal observations and that of several renowned psychologists postulate that much of the underlying conflicts and issues of later life stem from the experiences of childhood and how the process of primary socialization of an individual was conducted. While, a support system of family, relative and friends is also necessary most clients need a platform where they can express their innermost feelings and express their greatest fears. If a working alliance in a client-counselor relationship is created successfully and a relationship of trust is built then as an analyst, interpreter and helper, a counselor can work to resolve the problems of the client and fulfill counseling objectives. Conclusions The fundamental role of counseling in aiding personal development, resolving problems, addressing conflicts and supervising client outcomes for the achievement of desired objectives and aims is agreed upon on a universal scale. While, the notions of helping relationships and counseling have steadily progressed in recent times, the scope of counseling has also become vast such that it also extends to varying dimensions of client populations that are individuals, groups and structure. As an account of the learned theories of counseling and my personal values, this paper aimed to explain the various components of counseling such as characteristics of helping relationships, counseling theories, techniques and personal considerations which necessarily indicates that the importance of personal inclinations and values in shaping the course of counseling practice is a notion that cannot be ignored. References Frank, K. A. (1992). Combining action techniques with psychoanalytic therapy. The International Journal of Psychoanalysis. 19, 57-79 Kokotovic, A. M., & Tracey, T. J. (1990). Working alliance in the early phase of counseling. Journal of counseling psychology, 37(1), 16-21. Top of Form Kottler, J. A., & Montgomery, M. J. (2011). Theories in counseling and therapy: An experiential approach. Thousand Oaks, Calif: SAGE. Bottom of Form Oetting, E. R. (1967). Developmental definition of counseling psychology. Journal of counseling psychology, 14(4), 382. Patton, M. J., Kivlighan, D. M., & Multon, K. D. (1997). The missouri psychoanalytic counseling research project: relation of changes in counseling process to client outcomes. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 44, 189-208. Rogers, C. R. (1958). The characteristics of a helping relationship. The Personnel and Guidance Journal, 37(1), 6-16. Wei, M., & Heppner, P. P. (2005). Counselor and client predictors of the initial working alliance: A replication and extension to Taiwanese client–counselor dyads. The Counseling Psychologist, 33(1), 51-71. ***This grading rubric must be included as that last page of your paper*** ?list PSYC371 Final Paper Grading Scale (include as the last page of your paper) Possible Points Points Received Content & Directions Content: Does the paper cover the subject as thoroughly as possible? Does it demonstrate a thorough personal understanding of the subject? 50 Introduction: Does the paper have an abstract? 10 Topics: Are all the topics included and shown? 20 Guidelines: Did student stay within the guidelines given? 20 Conclusion: Does the paper have a concluding paragraph? 10 Spelling/Grammar: Minus 2 points per mistake (30 point max) - Directions: Is this page provided as the last page of the paper? 10 APA format 120 Cover Page: Title of paper, student name, running head, page number 20 Headings: correct level - title, all topics, references 20 Margins/Spacing: 1” margins, & everything double-spaced 10 Header: ­Each page has the running head. The correct page Number is ?” from edge, top right corner 10 References: 5 References shown, citations match, correct format 20 80 Total Score 200 Read More