Importance of Thorough Knowledge of Counseling Theories to a Practicing Psychotherapist - Coursework Example

Importance of Thorough Knowledge of Counseling Theories To a Practicing Psychotherapist Grade Importance of thorough knowledge of counseling theories to a practicing psychotherapist Introduction Counseling theories’ knowledge is gained by therapists with an aim of helping individuals solve difficult situations affecting their lives. Knowledge of counseling theories is important to psychotherapists because it helps them identify the client’s problem. They are also able to draw the knowledge that is required in each situation. The psychotherapists are able to understand the resources from which counseling knowledge is obtained from. Maura (2014) states that by using counseling theories knowledge, the psychotherapists are able to realize when a certain client’s need is met satisfactorily. In doing this, practicing psychotherapists enhance their effectiveness, skills and procedures used in evaluating certain events. Counseling theories’ knowledge provides a base for research and development. Counseling as a service is the only opportunity for providing solutions to many claims presented by managers and the citizens. This is usually done as they look for assistance from counselors (Maura, 2014). As a result of this, research is done through active filtering and repackaging information in a smart way, according to each client needs. This also serves as a good chance to test various theories, principles and developing new theories (Maura, 2014). Jones (2010) explains the counseling theories as principles formed by psychotherapists about certain observed phenomena. Meticulous knowledge of counseling theories is imperative for a practicing psychotherapist. Through theories, psychotherapists are able to define human behavior and determine the abilities of certain people. Examples of these theories include the Trait-factor theory and Freud’s psychoanalytic theory of personality. Psychotherapists also use counseling theories to understand the human mind as well as understanding people’s personality. Theories also give conceptual frameworks to psychotherapists on how they will communicate with the clients. Theories are presented as languages and as a means through which psychotherapists form various hypotheses. This paper will cover examples of various counseling theories and how they are used by psychotherapists to understand the counseling process. Trait –Factor counseling/ person x Environment Fit (Existential) This is a directive, decisional and differential theory. Trait factor counseling theory assists psychotherapists to define human behavior as per specific traits that may include achievements, interests and aptitudes. These traits are combined together to form people’s characteristics referred to as factors. Trait-factor counseling theory is used by psychotherapists to measure the abilities of the unemployed people, while staffing in diagnosis and also in prognosis. It is also used in providing vocational training and placement of people in jobs. McLeod (2013) explains that it is commonly used in the military and when developing personnel services for students in colleges and campuses. Many of its techniques are used in schools. The main aim of this theory is to assist the clients to think productively and use rational problem solving skills to make good decisions. This theory is mostly applied in career counseling sessions. Freud’s Psychoanalytic Theory of Personality This theory argues that human behaviors are as a result of the combination of the id, ego and super-ego parts of the brain. Psychological conflicts shape somebody’s behavior and personality. McLeod (2013) postulates that Sigmund Freud used this theory to explore human mind, explain human behavior and treat most mental illnesses. The mind Maida (2012) defines the mind as “intelligence guided by the will using memory and imagination assisted by intuition.” The intelligence part of the mind enables human beings to gain knowledge and skills and provides them with the ability to acquire them. Will is a desire to obtain something which is initiated by the mind. The memory assists human beings to store and remember information. Imagination faculty of the mind forms new ideas and images of anything that is not internally in the brain senses. This demonstrates the creativity and resourceful nature of the mind. Imaginative part of the mind has no limitation to any ideas. It contains information that the owner can use to assist him. Intuition assists a person to understand anything without reasoning. The body thinks and leads the mind to do a certain action. Henriques (2011) defines the mind as the place where the conscious nature of human beings originate. The place that thoughts come from. Conscious nature involves feeling angry, scared or transmission of color through light. Parts of the mind Psychotherapists are able to understand that there are three parts of the brain these are Id, Ego and Superego. McLeod (2008) postulates that the human mind has many aspects. The id The id defines the biological components of people. This include their inherited characteristics. The desire to be loved and appreciated originates from the id. Human beings also desire to know what happens after death. The id responds to the instincts of people immediately and directly. This acts as the unconscious part of the psyche. Infants have the id part of the mind, which later develops into ego and super-ego. The id requires to be satisfied immediately and when the satisfaction is denied, the individual is not pleased or suffers from pain. Id excerts pressure on the person indicating that the owner needs must be satisfied immediately regardless of the consequences. Most of this part operates on fantasy and it is illogical. The Ego (or I) Modified Id parts are referred as the Ego. The influence is mostly from the outside world. Unlike the Id, the Ego works with reasons that involve making decisions. Ego uses the reality principle; this is specially meant to determine when Id demands will be satisfied even if they may be postponed. This area looks for pressure as it avoids pain. The Ego thinks rationally, realistically and avoids causing any harm to the owner. Its main aim is to solve problems. The Super Ego (or above I) Values and morals learnt from somebody’s parents are incorporated in the super-ego. Mostly, at the age of 3-5 years. This is called the phallic stage of psychosexual development. The superego controls impulses from id section. These may include sex and aggressiveness. It assists the ego to make moralistic goals other than just realistic ones. This happens in the conscience and the ideal self (systems of the superego). These parts are responsible for making the owner guilty or sad over a bad action. The ideal self gives the owner a picture of who he is supposed to be and how he should treat other people in the society. Psychotherapists use these theories to make certain assumptions about the present conditions of their clients. They are able to understand the various characteristics of living things. As defined by Westbroek (2000), living things are made up of cells (this is the basic unit of structure and of any function in living things). They grow and develop. They reproduce so that they can continue living on the earth. They respond to the environment they are in. They react to any changes. They adapt to the environment to help them survive in their surroundings. They also use energy so that they can do the work. They use sunlight as a source of energy. Counseling and therapy theories provide conceptual frameworks to psychotherapists, as well as provide languages to be used when interacting with clients. Psychotherapists are able to distinguish the difference between communication and conversation. Communication is a process where information moves from the input to the output whereby the latter process is an inverse of the input process. A good example is that people hear from what has been spoken. This means that communication has taken place (Losee, 1999). A conversation takes place when participant A sends an initial message, which can be comprehended by participant B. Participant B pays attention and agrees with the sent message. Through conversation, participant B is able to draw meaning. New ideas are then drawn from this conversation where they come to an agreement; hence, the two participants are able to respond to this conversation through an action. This is referred to as effective communication. Conversation enhances learning, coordination and collaboration. A conversation may take place in groups and can be internal, such as a conversation with ourselves. Communication has limits while conversations do not have (Dubberly & Pangaro, 2009). Theories as Conceptual Frameworks Since therapists are decision makers, counseling theories assist them in making choices when they are dealing with certain behaviors from certain clients. From these theories, they will know how to treat them and how to give suggestions when in session. Therapists are able to think about human development through concepts from these theories. They are also able to know therapeutic processes. Theoretical approaches consist of four dimensions. These are assumptions or concepts underlying the theories statement, explanation of how a helpful behavior has been acquired, an explanation about how the helpful behavior should be maintained or not maintained, and an explanation of how clients should be helped in changing their behavior and think about how to maintain what they have gained from therapy sessions. Theories as Languages Through theories, therapists are able to use the appropriate language to each client. This is because each client suffers from different stressing conditions from the other. Therapists understand that languages can divide, unite, encourage or discourage others. Each theory describes diverse situations differently. The process of giving adequate advice to people is a therapeutic process and it requires conversation using different languages. There are four different kinds of communications, namely; therapist, client, inner speech and outer speech. Therapists use cognitive therapy to make the language used for the clients simple and clear. This is because the purpose of the therapist is to help other than to harm. Theories as a Set of Research Hypothesis Theories stimulate research about the way people think and behave. These behaviors differentiate them from animals. Therapists also predict outcomes of various actions through the use of theories. Theories assist therapists to make frameworks, which are meant to assist them in making hypotheses. Hypotheses are made any time therapists are working with clients to help them respond to various questions. Using counseling theories, therapists predict the results of certain behaviors noted with a certain client and hence help them in changing their lives. They are also able to control their lives through learning these theories. Steps Followed in Counseling Counseling undergoes various stages, which are interview stage, working stage and the termination stage. Therapists are able to understand the counseling process through following the already established progression. The following are the stages; Interview stage Any counseling process starts with an interview. At this point, the counselor and the client familiarize with each other as they introduce themselves. The counselor then confirms to the client that whatever they will discuss will be confidential. Working stage The working stage involves stating the problems that have brought the client as the counselor asks for clarification over any point. In this stage, the counselor explains the needs of having radio, video and tape recorder in the discussion. The numbers of sessions to be covered are also disclosed at this stage. Termination stage/phase At this phase, counseling comes to an end probably after meeting the goals. The counselor may be having an un-cooperative attitude from the client. The client may decide not to continue with the discussion and may be referred to an expert or a specialist. Therapists learn the art of active listening. Counselors ought to listen to their clients attentively so that they can understand and interpret the information given by their clients. This is referred as active listening, that is, listening to understand. Counselors should be attentive to the clients since their eyes determine their current status in life. After listening, the counselor must approve that he has understood by communicating the information provided with clarity. By doing this, the client builds trust with the counselor. Evocative empathy involves asking questions from the client and digging deep the information conveyed. The counselor has the responsibility of being ahead of the client. Acceptance involves making the client understand the situation and accept even if it is painful. The counselor should, however, remain supportive to the clients. Limitations of Counseling Theories All theories used in counseling are supposed to have equal health warnings. Jones (2010) has identified various disadvantages of these theories; Restriction of Focus Counseling theories are limited in their focus in that they have partial truths about certain life situations. Therapists Rigidity Therapists allow theories in counseling to interfere with what they give their clients. Thus, they lack certainty and accuracy when addressing their clients. Though providing therapists with confidence, it is sometimes misplaced. Rigidity allows therapists to assist those who share their language; thus, the rest do not share in the same knowledge and experiences. Depowering Clients Most theories tend to concentrate with what is wrong with the clients other than what is right with them. Sometimes, they exaggerate the problems of the clients. Languages used in theories may create imbalance of power among therapists and their clients. Clients benefit from counseling sessions if they are able to interpret clearly what they have been taught. Supporting the Status Quo Theories supports the situations that are generally accepted by many people, and people who are in the authority. Sometimes, these theories do not help in understanding poverty and racial discrimination as bad behaviours. Behaviour Versus Attitude In Counseling Attitudes influence behaviors. A person’s attitude has the possibility of influencing his behaviors. Attitudes deal with people’s feelings while behaviors come as a result of certain attitudes towards some feelings. Positive work environments influence the employees to engage in the behavior of meeting their goals so as to obtain rewards. There are different types of attitudes, which are; utilitarian, knowledge, ego-defensive and value expressive. Utilitarian involves a situation where attitudes are derived from personal interest, community interest, or self. Knowledge type explains that people form attitudes from their logical point of view. Ego-defensive type argues that people use their attitudes to protect their ego. Value-expressive postulates that people develop certain attitudes over certain situations with time. Major Philosophies Underlying All Counseling Theories Determinism: this philosophy explains that what is bigger than an individual controls him. The subconscious part of the mind controls the person’s desire, urges, and emotions among others. For example, a person never chooses his parents. The person is sum total of all that controls him. Existentialism: a person is evaluated according to the choices that he makes. This is with the exception of the places that one is born. Humanism: this philosophy explains that human beings have all what it takes to be who they want to be. The work of the counselor is to explain these chances to the clients, which will give him the ability to prosper provided that the counselor does not judge him. Behaviorism philosophy explains that human beings’ self esteem depends on the parents who brought them up and the community that they grew up in. Peoples’ behaviors determine what they are raised to do. Anti-determinism philosophy is concerned with the messages that people get from others to uplift their morale. Conclusion In conclusion, a practicing psychotherapist learns that clients request for assistance from them because they desire to change. This can be done through adding force, which involves suggesting various ways that can be followed by the clients. Reducing force is whereby the clients are allowed to come up with answers. Psychotherapists must ensure that clients do not need them anymore. This can be done through exhausting all information that they have. The major function of the counselors is to communicate with the clients. The clients should be made to reflect on what was discussed at the counseling session. The counselors should cultivate a relationship with the clients. All these these becomes very important to a practicing psychotherapist. References Dubberly, H., & Pangaro, P. (2009).What is conversation? How can we design for effective conversation journal? Interactions, 16(4), 1-9. Henriques, G. (2011).What is the mind?Understanding mind and consciousness via the unified theory. Retrieved from https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/theory- knowledge/201112/what-is-the-mind Jones, N. (2010). Theory and practice of counseling and therapy, 5th ed. London: Sage publications. Losee, R. M.(1999). Communication defined as complementary information processes. Journal of Information, Communication and Library Science, 5(3), 1-15. Maida , A. (2012). The five parts of the mind. Retrieved from http://pilatesology.com/2012/05/the-5-parts-of-the-mind/ McLeod, S.(2008). Id, ego and superego. Retrived from http://www.simplypsychology.org/psyche.html Maura, M. (2014). Knowledge counseling revisited: an alternative for personalized information services. Retrieved from http://web.simmons.edu/~chen/nit/NIT%2793/93-217-maura.html Westbroek (2000). Characteristics of living things. Retrieved from http://utahscience.oremjr.alpine.k12.ut.us/sciber00/7th/classify/living/2.htm Read More