Counseling Theories: Plan Treatment Process for Clients - Research Paper Example

Analysis of Counseling Theories Analysis of Counseling Theories Introduction Theories refer to creations of philosophersand academicians to provide anecdote as to the proper and viable procedure towards averring particular mystery or hidden information. Theories provide platform and basis from where an investigator or a researcher can begin thinking and analyzing situation to understand it significantly if not wholly. Counseling theories are strategies and techniques created and proposed by psychologists, philosophers and psychiatrists to help in shaping of a counseling process. There are many counseling theories that, however, apply and prove effective in different situations. Even though some might seem similar, all theories of counseling have particular differences that make each appear unique and useful in different situations. Counselors have unlimited discretions to select and apply more than none counseling theory in a single treatment situation. Counselors can also shift and change counseling theories randomly or systematically provided that their strategies are capable of producing the best results out of a given therapy session. Commonly used counseling theories include cognitive-behavior, solution-focused, integrated social ecology, postmodernism or social constructionist, systems, ecological and structural/feminist. Choice for Solution-focused Theory Even after extensive coverage of counseling theories, solution-focused therapy is the best and favorable therapeutic approach to most of the psychological discomforts affecting human beings. According Ungar (2011), solution-focused therapy focuses on finding solution to particular problems faced a client. In so doing, a counselor employing solution-focused therapy is likely to concentrate on positive and encouraging incidences and experiences that seemed to help a client evade problems. Solution-focused approach of counseling deters a counselor from seeking deep into the problems or bad experiences of a client that escalated the given problem. Instead, a counselor employing solution-focused therapy makes inquiry on the time that a client avoided involving in particular stressor condition. The role of a counselor should be investigation of things a client did or have ever done to avoid and overcome a particular problem or unwanted situation. A counselor should then acknowledge and appreciate the experiences of a client and be careful to make a client view a given problem as too big and recurrent to solve. Ungar (2011) reports that theorists of the solution-focused approach urge counselors to look at the good thing and efforts of a client towards avoiding a given situation. A counselor requires validating a client’s experience in solving a problem, and confirming that the efforts were effective and practical in solving the past problems. Solution-focused theorists argue that a despite the serious of a situation, a client must have had an opportunity to solve the particular problem. Investigating on the efforts and attempts to avoid the situation by a client is important in providing a lead towards probable strategies capable of making a therapy effective. Counselors need to concentrate on building and exploiting the achievements or attempts by a client to solve a given problem. Employing critical analysis and view of the solution-focused approach, one can understand its ability to shadow all other theories. All theories of counseling intend and put significant focus on finding solution to the problems faced by individual clients. Solution-focused theory serves the main purpose and intention of most of the theories. Approach and technique of execution of different theories to find solution is the only point of differences. Consider cognitive-behavior theory, a counselor employing the technique looks for strategies to change cognition or view of clients about themselves (Cox & Klinger, 2004). Precisely, cognitive-behavioral theory might be intending to reinforce individuals’ self-esteem and positive understanding. In the same manner, solution-focused approach intends to reinforce positive view of oneself by acknowledging experiences and encouraging efforts and attempts by a client to avoid a particular problematic situation. Just as cognitive-behavior approach concentrates on enforcing measures to ensure positive understanding of client’s self, solution-focused avoids the things that a client did wrongly to expose them to given problematic situations. Considering systems theory, proponents focus on the systems influencing a client to reduce or increase exposure to particular problems faced. The focus of this theory is to help individual clients avoid their problematic situations by regulating their exposure to influences of different systems (Ungar, 2011). In particular, the theory seems to be targeting systems believed to help in avoiding particular problematic situations. Little focus goes to the systems that increase exposure to particular problems since they are unwanted. The theory encourages investment of good time and resources to systems that discourage occurrence of a given problematic situation. For instance, a husband who succumbs to stress due to quarrels from the wife every time he returns home may decide to change system and return late when all people are sleep (Ungar, 2011). This is only practical if the change improves life conditions or suppresses a given problem. Solution-focused approach typically targets good things done a client to improve their conditions. With solution-focused approach, counselors do not interest in knowing issues or situations that expose clients to given problems, but rather on situations that help overcome the given problem. Just as solution-focused approach encourages positive efforts while acknowledging experiences, systems approach looks at and favors system changes that improve condition. Ecological theory proposes that counselors investigate interaction of clients with various levels of ecological settings with relation to a given problem (Ungar, 2011). Societies, families, communities and counselors have the ability to alter the arrangement of the different ecological levels to help clients overcome problems faced. With ecological approach, counselors are likely to focus on providing and increasing exposure to conditions that support encourage and support change. In the process, counselors struggle to suppress and discourage conditions that increase vulnerability of clients to problems faced. Precisely, ecological theorists focus on finding solutions to problems by encouraging positive efforts of clients to avoid the given problem. This perspective is similar and congruent with the final intention of solution-focused theorists. Integrated social ecology, postmodernism and structural theories also work in the same manner as other counseling theories. Irrespective of the implementation process, all counseling theories focus at finding solution to problems. All the theories seek to isolate conditions escalating a given problem from those suppressing the problem and encourage positive change instead. So all theories of counseling apply the particular principles of solution-focused approach that concentrates on improving and encouraging positive efforts or conditions to that proved capable of solving a given problem. Changes in the Choice of Theories With Regard To Various Populations There are many counseling theories that have proved effective in the treatment process of certain situations. Each theory is unique in itself and effectively applicable in different situations. Changes in theories applied have to conform to changes in populations of clients handled. For instance, cognitive-behavioral theory would be effective in handling or serving a small population of clients (Cox & Klinger, 2004). In fact, cognitive-behavior approach to counseling is more effective when handling one client. This is because the counseling process based on the theory demands extensive understanding of a client’s behaviors and conducts with regard to how they view themselves. Performing such tasks can be problematic and prove uphill task when handling large group of clients. Systems theory can also be effective in handling one client considering that a counselor requires scrutinizing and understanding systems and their effects on the health or condition of a client (Brooks & Good, 2001). Structural or postmodernism theory can be effective in handling large population of clients. This relates to the fact that the theories focus on social structures and their influences on the problems faced by clients. Most of the social structures investigated are constructions of cultural and traditional believes that the surrounding community ascribes. Importance of Consultation in the Counseling Process Counseling involves communication between counselors and clients who exchange information and instructions. Consultation is the basic communication technique through which counselors obtain relevant information about clients and appropriate counseling process. Through consultation, a counselor is able to trigger a client to speak about their experiences that lead them into particular problematic situations. Consultation also gives counselors opportunity to interrogate about efforts practiced by clients towards evading or reducing their exposure to particular problems. According to Brooks and Good (2001), effective consultation provides counselors with clue about a given problem faced and enable structuring and establishment of treatment process that is likely to prove effective in solving particular problem. Through consultation, counselors are able to establish good trust and understanding with clients to allow space for fearless and free interaction during treatment process. Consultation helps clients to open deeper into their lives and experiences to enable a counselor gain significant view and understanding of the situation faced by a client. Consultation during counseling process is also important in inclusion of clients in the structuring of the whole treatment process. Through consultation, counselors are able to gain understanding about the treatment process favored by a client. Negotiating treatment procedure with clients enables them exercise sense of control and authority over the treatment process, which is important in facilitating recovery. Brooks and Good (2001) urge that consulting with family and intimates of a client about the latter’s condition is important in helping counselors gain unbiased and diverse view of a given situation faced a client. Families and intimates are good sources of more information considering that they spend much time near a client. Consulting with other counselors and psychiatrists concerning a particular condition is also important in helping counselors gain expanded knowledge from experienced individuals. Gaining additional knowledge is important in facilitating counseling process, as a practicing counselor shall have gained additional technicalities to guarantee success in the treatment process. Conclusion Counseling theories are procedures and frameworks within which counselors initiate and plan treatment process for clients facing particular life challenges. Counseling theories provide lead to effective understanding of a client’s experiences to enable selection of effective and appropriate treatment process. Counseling theories have particular differences that stipulate their uniqueness and application in varied circumstances. However, solution-focused approach to counseling tends to encapsulate all other counseling theories. Solution-focused theory concentrates’ on encouraging change through support for positive behaviors deemed capable of assisting one avoid a given problem. Consultation is an important practice in counseling process considering that it helps in the establishment of proper ground for negotiation and understanding of various issues faced by clients and enabling choice of effective therapeutic procedures. References Brooks, G. R., & Good, G. E. (2001). The New Handbook of Psychotherapy and Counseling with Men : A Comprehensive Guide to Settings, Problems, and Treatment Approaches. San Francisco, Calif: Jossey-Bass. Carr, A. (2000). Family Therapy : Concepts, Process, and Practice. Chichester: Wiley. Cox, W., & Klinger, E. (2004). Handbook of Motivational Counseling : Concepts, Approaches, and Assessment. Chichester, West Sussex, England: J. Wiley. Ungar, M. (2011). Counseling in challenging contexts: Working with Individuals and Families across Clinical and Community Settings. Boston, MA: Cengage. Read More