By CONSTANCE
PSTH 3724 FIRST SEMESTER TEST
four general categories
Psychodynamic Approaches
Psychoanalytic therapy- unconscious, personal development.
Adlerian therapy- goals, create purpose in life, create own’s destiny.
Experiential and Relationship-Oriented Therapies
Existential therapy-self-determination, freedom, life choices.
Person-centred therapy- the human experience.
Gestalt therapy- Functioning of the body and mind.
Cognitive Behavioural Approaches
Behaviour therapy- learning principles
Cognitive behaviour therapy-
Choice theory/Reality therapy- Through the therapeutic process, the client is
able to learn more effective ways of meeting her or his needs.
Systems and Postmodern Approaches
Feminist therapy- oppression of women- This approach explores women’s
identity development, self-concept, goals, aspirations, and emotional well-
being.
Postmodern approaches- Social constructionism, solution-focused brief therapy
and narrative therapy all assume that there is no single truth; rather, it is
believed that reality is socially constructed through human interaction.
Family systems therapy- This systemic approach assumes that the key to
changing the individual is understanding and working with the family.
basic components of the psychotherapy process. What are the key features?
What is the nature of the therapist-client relationship?
1. A positive, healthy relationship between a client or patient and a trained
psychotherapist
2. Recognizable mental health issues, whether diagnosable or not
3. Agreement on the basic goals of treatment
4. Working together as a team to achieve these goals
What is the value of personal therapy for the counsellor? How does this
process contribute to the professional development of counsellors? How do
most counsellors feel about this process?
As part of the therapist’s training, personal therapy offers a model of therapeutic
practice in which the trainee experiences the work of a more experienced therapist
and learns experientially what is helpful or not helpful.
A beneficial experience in personal therapy can further enhance a therapist’s
interpersonal skills which are essential to skilfully practising therapy.
Successful personal therapy can contribute to a therapist’s ability to deal with the
ongoing stresses associated with clinical work.
Benefits for therapists include ‘positive increments in self-awareness, self-
knowledge, self-understanding, self-care, and self-acceptance as well as a
reduction in symptoms and improved relationships and personal growth generally’.
Effective therapists: Authentic counsellor
➤ have an identity. They know who they are, what they are capable of becoming,
what they want out of life, and what is essential to them.
➤ respect and appreciate themselves. They can give and receive help and love
out of their own sense of self-worth and strength. They feel adequate with others and
allow others to feel powerful with them.
➤ are open to change. They exhibit a willingness and courage to leave the security
of the known if they are not satisfied with the way they are. They make decisions
about how they would like to change, and they work toward becoming the person
they want to become.
➤ make choices that are life oriented. They are aware of early decisions they
made about themselves, others and the world. They are not the victims of these early
decisions, and they are willing to revise them if necessary. They are committed to
living fully rather than settling for mere existence.
➤ are authentic, sincere and honest. They do not hide behind rigid roles or facades.
Who they are in their personal life and in their professional work is in harmony.
➤ have a sense of humour. They are able to put the events of life in perspective.
They have not forgotten how to laugh, especially at their own flaws and contradictions.
➤ make mistakes and are willing to admit them. They do not dismiss their
errors lightly, yet they do not choose to dwell on misery.
➤ generally live in the present. They are not stuck in the past, nor are they
fixated on the future. They are able to experience and be present with others in the
‘now’.
➤ appreciate the influence of culture. They are aware of the ways in which their
own culture affects them, and they respect the diversity of values seen in other
cultures. They are sensitive to the unique differences arising out of social class, race,
sexual orientation and gender.
➤ have a sincere interest in the welfare of others. This concern is based on
respect, care, trust and a real valuing of others.
➤ possess effective interpersonal skills. They are capable of entering the world
of others without getting lost in this world, and they strive to create collaborative
relationships with others. They readily entertain another person’s perspective and can
work together toward goals they have both agreed upon.
➤ become deeply involved in their work and find meaning in it. They can
accept the rewards flowing from their work, yet they are not slaves to their work.
➤ are passionate. They have the courage to pursue their dreams and passions.
➤ are able to maintain healthy boundaries. Although they strive to be fully
present for their clients, they don’t carry the problems of their clients around with
them during leisure hours. They know how to say no, which enables them to maintain
balance in their lives.
The Counsellor’s Values and the Therapeutic Process
Managing your personal values so that they do not contaminate the counselling
process is referred to as bracketing. Counsellors are expected to set aside their
personal beliefs and values when they are working with a wide range of clients.
Your core values may differ from the values of the client, and they can bring
the therapist more problems.
Client may feel rejected and discriminated by others.
Value imposition refers to counsellors directly attempting to define a client’s values,
attitudes, beliefs, and behaviours. It is unethical for counsellors to impose their values
on the therapeutic relationship.
Personal Values. Counsellors are aware of—and avoid imposing—their own values,
attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors. Counsellors respect the diversity of clients, trainees,
and research participants and seek training in areas in which they are at risk of
imposing their values onto clients, especially when the counsellor’s values are
inconsistent with the client’s goals or are discriminatory in nature.
Maintaining Your Vitality as a Person and as a Professional
Maintaining burnout
Physical Activity One key practice to promote general wellness is to establish
physical activity and regular exercise as a part of your daily life.
Diet and Nutrition By learning how to eat wisely and well, how to manage your
weight, and how to become physically fit, you will begin a lifelong process
toward wellness.
Being in Nature Spending time in nature enhances both physical and mental
health.
Recreation involves creating new interests that become your path to vitality.
Relationships Abundant research shows that good relationships are central to
both physical and psychological well-being.
Acquiring Competencies in Multicultural Counselling
Beliefs and Attitudes Effective counsellors are aware of their positive and negative
emotional reactions toward people from other racial and ethnic groups that may
negatively affect their relationships.
knowledge Culturally skilled counsellors understand that external socio-political forces
influence all people, and they know how these forces affect the treatment of
minorities.
Skills and Intervention Strategies Multicultural counselling is improved when
practitioners use methods and strategies and define goals that are consistent with the
life experiences and cultural values of their clients. These practitioners modify and
adapt their practice to accommodate cultural differences.
issues that beginning counsellors face.
Dealing with anxieties
Being oneself and self-disclosing
Avoiding perfectionism
Being honest about limitations
Avoid losing oneself in one’s clients.
Developing a sense of humour.
Sharing responsibility with the client
Declining to give advice.
