Counseling Approaches Evaluation - Essay Example

Counseling Approaches Over the years, counseling is fast becoming a well-sought after profession. The selection of an appropriate psychotherapist or counselor requires careful considerations in understanding the diverse therapies used in the process. Even though most approaches are deemed effective, the affected parties may find ideal techniques to be more appealing as compared to others. This paper seeks to evaluate the suitability of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Solution Focused (brief) therapies as approaches used in counseling and psychotherapy on patients. On the other hand, the solution-focused therapy is one of the goal-directed collaborative approaches used in psychotherapeutic changes. The approach is conducted under direct observation of responses of clients against a series of constructed questions. The social constructionist is thinking as well as SFBT focus on addressing the elements that clients seek to attain through exploration of provenance and history of the problem (Levers, 2012). The treatment therapy sessions have a typical focus towards future and present engaged to the degree necessary in the communication of accurate understanding and empathy to the clients’ concerns. Cognitive behavioral therapy takes the structure of short-term as well as present-oriented psychotherapy in addressing depression. The health care intervention is directed towards addressing current problems through modification of dysfunctional thinking, as well as inaccurate and unhelpful behavior. The concept makes reference to behavior, cognitive, and other forms of therapy based on various combinations of basic cognitive and behavioral principles. The therapists, who work with patients in dealing with depression and anxiety, utilize a combined cognitive and behavioral approach in therapy (Greggo & Sisemore, 2012). The technique appreciates that there are various behaviors that are not controllable based on rational thought. Rather, the elements emerge on the basis of prior conditioning for their environments among other internal and external stimuli. CBT offers a problem focused approach undertaken to address specific problems together with action-oriented designs where therapists assist clients with the selection of specific strategies. The variation also helps in addressing various problems and directives in the therapeutic approaches. On the other hand, the solution-focused approach takes inductive techniques above a deductive concept where medical teams spend hours observing live and recording sequential therapy sessions. The words or behaviors on the therapist’s part are reliably led to positive therapeutic changes regarding various forms of clients with painstaking notes as incorporated into diverse SFBT approaches. The traditional psychotherapeutic techniques allow practitioners to assume the necessity of making extensive analysis for history (McMinn, 2012). The implication includes causal effects of clients problems prior attempting developing further solutions. The solution-focused therapists perceive therapeutic change processes in a different manner. The issues are informed by observations that recognize the causal elements of problems as extremely complex issues, and their solutions are not expected to be. The mainstream behavioral therapy on the cognitive basis takes the assumption that the change in maladaptive thinking amounts to a sequential change in behavior and affect. However, recent variants make emphasis on changes in the relationship of an individual to the development of maladaptive thinking as compared to changes in salt-thought (Walsh & Osipow, 2014). Computer-based programs or therapists utile CBT techniques in helping individuals address the beliefs and patterns involved in replacing errors in developing over-generalization and magnification of negatives. The alternative includes minimization of positives and catastrophes through effective and realistic thoughts. The approach differs to SBT as compliments and questions are perceived as primary tools involved in substantiating solution-focused approaches. The counselors and therapists using the technique have deliberate absence from engaging interpretations or confronting their individual clients. Further, focus shifts to the identification of clients goals and generation of detailed descriptions (Miller, 2011). The caregivers get to know the kind of life and diversion of goals as accomplished through problem-solving coped with satisfactory technology. The issues of developing effective solutions are based on the diligent search of through clients life experiences to identify exceptions such as times when various goal aspects of the client are already happening. The variations are attributed to co-construction of unique and appropriate solutions. The thinking errors are popular as cognitive distortions. All cognitive distortions are either pseudo- discrimination beliefs or over-generalizations of different things. CBT approaches are used in helping individuals while making open and mindful postures to each technique. The conviction diminishes the impacts. The mainstream CBT allows for individuals to replace more maladaptive coping skills with abilities of cognitions, behaviors and emotions. The adaptive techniques challenge an individuals thinking as well as ways in which they react to different habits and behaviors. However, controversy exists on the levels at which the traditional cognitive elements engage the effects perceived with CBT against earlier behavioral elements of skills training and exposure. Therefore, a decrease in self-defeating behavior and emotional distress is addressed immediately (McMinn, 2012). SF counselors start therapeutic processes through joining client competencies and skills. The initial devotions of interviews are based on mutual respect and therapists and counselors invite clients to appreciate the preferred the future through a description of the kinds of lifestyles they take. Problem-solving is limited to coping with satisfactory constitution of a problem. Therapists and clients pay attention towards behaviors on the part of the client while contributing to the movement of directional client goals (Levers, 2012). Irrespective of smaller increments and larger changes, the approach offers sufficiently to the approach. Application of detailed questions is used in establishing the client approach to managing and achieving current progress levels. However, recent changes coupled with how clients develop existing and new resources, strengths, and positive traits are focused on exceptions of client-perceived problems. CBT is applied in non-clinical and clinical environments for purposes of treating disorders of behavioral problems and personality conditions. Systematic CBT reviews for anxiety and depression disorders are concluded through CBT delivery of primary care for computer-based programs on a self-help basis. The sequence poses potentially for effective above usual care techniques in the delivery of effective primary care therapy (Miller, 2011). However, the main criticism built against CBT efficacy is that absence of double-blind does not allow for subjects and therapists of psychotherapy studies to identify single-blind treatment diagnosis. Solution focused therapy is based on personal change as a constant. Offering help to people in the identification of directions allows for changing life aspects while attending to changes in process. Continuing SFBT therapists facilitate clients in the construction of concrete vision for the preferred future. The SFBT therapists allow for supportive clientele while identifying events in their lives where their expectations matched with future preferences (McMinn, 2012). Similarities and differences of the occasions are evaluated to bring conceptual successes to the levels of awareness, as well as support for clients while repeating their choices and behaviors. CBT is studied in support of aiding anxiety treatment and stuttering. Cognitive behavioral therapy is developed to appropriate situations where time constraints are automatic implications of therapy sessions. The variation over-values various sessions in which the accumulated hours are used in designing the treatment technique. The orientation stage involves assessment of survival kit, lessons learned, commitment to treatment, reasons for living card, means restriction, treatment journal, model of suicidality, as well as safety planning and crisis response. Skill focus evaluates demonstration, skill refinement, practice, coping cards and skill development worksheets (Greggo & Sisemore, 2012). Relapse prevention allows the therapy approach to engaging skill generalization and skill refinement. The variables are problematic as therapy facilitates client movement to goals as well as preferred futures as identified. Solution focused therapy talks about all irrelevant and relevant life experiences including leisure activities, meeting friends, managing conflict and relaxing. The practice uncovers values, strengths and beliefs of a client. The discussions allow therapists to use the strengths as well as resources for moving therapy forward (Walsh & Osipow, 2014). In conclusion, solution focused therapy aims at creating judgment-free zone where clients identify what works for them and life areas that are problem-free. Problem-free forums are useful in uncovering more hidden resources while helping person relax and become naturally pro-active. The emergence of evidence in roles for CBT treatment impacts on the patient’s levels of attention and hyperactivity. Other triggers include hypochondriasis that allow for coping with multiple sclerosis impacts for sleep disturbances with respect to aging and dysmenorrheal. However, there are studies required in substantiating results that are interpreted with similar caution. References Greggo, S. P., Sisemore, T. A. (2012). Counseling and Christianity: Five Approaches. New York: InterVarsity Press. Levers, L. L. (2012). Trauma Counseling: Theories and Interventions. New York: Springer Publishing Company. McMinn, M. R. (2012). Psychology, Theology, and Spirituality in Christian Counseling. New York: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. Miller, G. (2011). Learning the Language of Addiction Counseling. New York: John Wiley & Sons, Walsh, W. B., & Osipow, S. H. (2014). Career Counseling: Contemporary Topics in Vocational Psychology. New York: Routledge. Read More