Overview of Counseling Theories

Presented by AllCEUs.com

Understanding Distress

• Counseling Theories: Suggest problems stem from ineffective relationships or thoughts in adulthood.
• Personality Theories: Speculate distress originates from innate long-standing issues, often from childhood.
• Learning Theories: Focus on behavior and distress as learned through rewards and punishments.

Counseling Theories

Person-Centered Counseling

• Core Belief: Humans are naturally good and grow unless blocked by lack of unconditional positive regard.
• Blockages Lead to: Low self-esteem and low self-efficacy.
• Six Necessary Conditions for Change:
  1. Psychological contact between therapist and client.
  2. Client incongruence/vulnerability.
  3. Therapist congruence/genuineness.
  4. Unconditional positive regard.
  5. Empathic understanding.
  6. Client perception of empathy and unconditional regard.

Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) & Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT)

• Focus: Change evaluations of situations and reactions.
• ABC Model:
  • A: Activating event.
  • B: Beliefs about the event.
  • C: Consequences.
• Process: Dispute irrational beliefs and evaluate reactions.
• Common Irrational Beliefs:
  • Necessity of universal approval.
  • Need to be competent in all respects.
  • Belief that bad people should be punished.
  • Catastrophizing when things don't go as planned.
  • Belief that happiness is externally caused.
  • Dwelling on dangers or fears.
  • Avoidance of responsibilities.
  • Overemphasizing the past's impact.
  • Desire for immediate change.
  • Belief in happiness through inaction.
  • Emotional perfectionism.

Reality Therapy

• Dr. Phil-like Approach: Focus on present behaviors and if they achieve desired outcomes.
• Emphasizes: Patient support, connection, and workable plans.

Psychoanalysis

• Freudian Concepts: Id, Ego, Superego.
• Conscious Mind Levels:
  • Conscious - aware thoughts and perceptions.
  • Preconscious - available memories.
  • Unconscious - drives and instincts.
• Defense Mechanisms:
  • Denial, Sublimation, Displacement, Humor, Reaction formation.

Developmental and Personality Theories

Erikson’s Psychosocial Stages

• Stages:
  1. Trust vs. Mistrust
  2. Autonomy vs. Shame/Doubt
  3. Initiative vs. Guilt
  4. Industry vs. Inferiority
  5. Identity vs. Role Confusion
  6. Intimacy vs. Isolation
  7. Generativity vs. Stagnation
  8. Ego Integrity vs. Despair

Adlerian Theory

• Focus: Overcoming feelings of inferiority.
• Key Factors: Childhood disabilities, pampering, and neglect.

Learning Theories

Classical Conditioning

• Concept: Neutral stimulus becomes associated with a meaningful stimulus.

Operant Conditioning

• Concept: Use of rewards/punishments to strengthen desired behaviors.

Social Learning Theories

• Key Elements: Observational learning, imitation, modeling.
• Conditions for Learning: Attention, Retention, Reproduction, Motivation.
• Self-regulation: Goal setting, self-monitoring, feedback.

Conclusion

• Multiple theories address human behavior and motivation.
• Emphasize increasing self-confidence and motivation for change.
• Identify obstacles to change and potential benefits or drawbacks.

Further Reading

• Explore additional resources on personality theories.