Counselling and the Psychotherapy Theories - Essay Example

Core Conditions [Student’s Name] [Institution Affiliation] Core Conditions Individuals, couples, or people living together go through emotional, behavioural, and relationship difficulties. Counselling involves assisting such a person or group of people to manage or control their painful emotional, behavioural, or relationship difficulties. Counselling engages the knowledge of a counsellor, who helps the client to work through his or her difficulties (Rogers, 2005). When a counsellor to an individual conducts counselling, it is referred to us individual counselling whereas counselling conducted to more than one person is called group counselling. Counselling and the psychotherapy theories developed first in the early 20th century. It is however believed that the subject had existed long before the theories started being developed. Significant works on human mind by Sigmund Freud set the pace for later development of theories in the area of counselling and psychotherapy. Freud’s first theory was called the seduction theory, which tried to explain hysterical symptoms. Freud dropped this theory because it proved that it could not work on all cases. He later worked on hysterical patients using his psychoanalysis theory until early 1930’s when Franz Anton Mesmer discovered animal magnetism (Mesmerism). Mesmer’s ideas inspired James Braid who developed the theory of hypnotherapy. Hypnosis was a technique initially used by Freud, but he dropped it because it was only applicable in solving certain problems. It is imperative to note that Freud’s work remain one of the most significant. He proposed the separation of the human mind into ego, super ego, and the id. He also argued that children pass through stages during growth. He described the stages as oral, anal, and phallic stages, which children pass through. He continued to warn that if children would stagnate in one of the stages, it would result to future emotional and behavioural problems. Carl Jung worked with Freud, but they split later and he developed his own school of analytical psychology. Carl Jung and other believers of Freud’s theory directed their efforts to psychodynamic theories. During this period, other psychological therapies were also being pursued. Some of them include behaviourism theory, which was brought forward by B.F. Skinner. The theory focused on aspects, which could be seen rather than aspects of the mind, which could not be seen. Other contributors to the behaviourism theory include Ivan Pavlov who invented classical conditioning theory and Watson. Despite all the advances in the area of counselling and psychotherapy, the main milestone was made between 1940 and 1950 when the field of counselling was expanded. During this period, the U.S. based psychologist Carl Rogers developed the person-centred approach theory, which is used until today. The person-centered approach is termed as the humanistic approach branch of psychotherapy. The person-centred psychotherapy aims at developing a sense of self worth in patients (Rogers, 2005). Therapists who apply this theory make their patients realize how lack of the sense of self worth affects their attitudes, behaviours and feelings negatively (Sanders, 2006). The theory insists on techniques that will enable patients to realize their potential. It emphasizes on the relationship between individuals, which enhance the realization of self-actualization. Despite the various theories in counselling, the art of counselling and psychotherapy has been developing each day. This has been witnessed, especially with the advent of the computers in the 1950’s. Psychologists found computers to be very effective tools in their work. Computers have been used to analyze psychological processes, and to deduce theories. Computers have been used to perform tasks, which were previously done by human beings. Such tasks include proving mathematical theorems and playing chess (Chomsky, 2002). The advent of computers brought forward the issue of information processing. Psychologists could find that human minds process information. Use of technology has enabled the simulation of psychological issues using computers. Use of computers enabled the psychologists to formulate precisely some of the speculations made before in some of the theories. Another aspect, which became a contemporary issue in psychotherapy, was the expansion of the study of language, commonly known as linguistics. Linguistics was developed fully in the 1950’s, and this brought some changes in psychology. Linguistics started to shift from only studying language, but expanded to the study of mental structures needed to comprehend and speak a language. Because of this development, there was a link between psychology and linguistics (Chomsky, 2002). This led to the analysis of language in psychological field. Neuropsychology was another contemporary issue in the area of counselling and psychology. There were numerous studies on the brain and the nervous system, which showed a clear relationship between mental processes and the neurobiological occurrences. This was contrary to assertions by earlier behaviourists who believed psychology could be fully established without being associated with neurophysiology. There have been various debates in the area of counselling and psychotherapy. There have been debates on the how school counselling programs are administered to students. It is believed that school counselling is yet to enhance specialty in counselling. The program on school counselling was initially focusing on career and moral development. There are however, concerns today that school counselling should be comprehensive covering the academic, social, and career sectors of the students (Chomsky, 2002). School counselling can be administered to individual students, a group of students, or the whole class. In counselling, it is imperative to consider the relationship, which exists between the counsellor and the patient, as well as, the patient and the parents, peers, teachers, and the media. Carl Roger’s humanistic approach theory focuses on the importance of a relationship between the counsellor and the patient. The theory asserts that organisms are generally good and they strive for what is best for them. The relationship between organisms should enhance positive regard. For individuals to become what they should be, they require love, affection, attention, as well as care. In his theory, Rogers argues that a relationship between the counsellor and the client must exist, and the perception of each other is important. For the relationship to exist, the client or the patient must feel vulnerable to anxiety. This vulnerability ensures that the clients remain in the relationship (Rogers, 2005). The genuineness or congruence of the therapist is paramount to the relationship. It is necessary for the therapist to be genuinely involved in the relationship. Another core factor that safeguards the relationship is the regard that the therapist accords the client. It is paramount for the therapist to accept the client unconditionally, without judging, approving, or disapproving them. This relationship factor has been referred to us the unconditional positive regard (UPR). The objective of the therapist should be to improve self-regard in the individual client. Many clients will seek the help of therapists when they feel self-worthless. It is therefore imperative to create experiences, which will ensure the client regains his self worth. The counsellor should listen to the client without interrupting or giving advice (Rogers, 2005). They should relate freely with the clients. It is important to listen to the client first, and then give options available to the client. Clients who seek counselling services from professionals need to feel that they are appreciated and loved. This helps to enhance the relationship between the client and the therapist or the counsellor. The therapist or the counsellor should empathically understand their clients’ problems. This ensures that the clients feel an unconditional love from the counsellor. The counsellor should also appreciate the patient’s emotions and feelings during the therapy session. The perception of the client towards the counsellor determines the form of relationship, which will exist between them. It is paramount for the client to perceive the therapist’s regard and understanding positively. Rogers argues that the relationship between the client and the counsellor determines how effective the therapy will be. A freely interactive relationship between the two ensures that the client expresses his or her feelings without judgmental notions. Therapists should not try to influence the client’s way of thinking, but should allow clients express themselves freely (Sanders, 2006). A therapist can influence how a client thinks when he is trying to seek information he considers important to him (Rogers, 2005). Rogers believe that every organism struggles to achieve the best out of their existence. According to Rogers, an individual needs the services of other people to achieve the self-actualization. For an individual to acquire the condition of self-actualization, he or she needs to show that they are worth. The parents, school, peers, and the media will offer what individuals deserve if they demonstrate that they are worth. Counselling or mentoring requires that the involved parties be clearly aware of their duties and responsibilities. The mentor or the counsellor has a role to play, and the client has also his or her roles to play. The parent, schoolteachers, peers, and the media has specific roles to play to ensure an individual has attained his or her self-actualization. It is however, the role of the client in question to show sense of self worth in order to be offered what he or she deserves (Sanders, 2006). In counselling, the counsellor has a duty to ensure the client has realized his or her self worth. This is achieved through showing love and nurture to the client. There is a need to understand the client, and understand his or her feelings. In counselling relationship, unlike other forms of relationships, there are limits and boundaries set. There are boundaries, which are bound to be adhered to in a counselling relationship. Such boundaries include confidentiality, which must be upheld throughout the counselling relationship. It is worth to note that such boundaries do not exist in other types of relationships. Such boundaries on confidentiality of information between the help seeker and the counsellor, sets limits, on how far the relationship can go. In many cases, the counselling session has boundaries of how much time the session lasts (Rogers, 2005). It is recommended that counselling sessions should last for a period of 20 – 40 minutes. It is imperative for the counsellor to use this time well since he might not have another session with the client. When roles and boundaries are observed in a counselling conversation, the discussion is not frustrating, and the results are appealing. The counsellor should have listening skills, and should learn to listen to the client. He should not influence what the client says. He should show a genuine understanding of the client’s feelings (Rogers, 1980). In other words, the counsellor should feel what the client feels. The role of a counsellor should be to listen to the client and give advice accordingly. It is his role or responsibility to use his counselling skills to help the client. It is the duty of the counsellor to give the help seeker choices available to him or her rather than telling him what to do (Sanders, 2006). According to Rogers, the counsellor should not direct the client, but the client should set the direction of the therapy discussion. He believed that the clients are the ones who should say what is wrong, seek improvement, and conclude the therapy. It is the responsibility of the clients to learn by themselves rather than be dependent on the counsellor (Rogers, 1980). Therapists should let their clients achieve autonomy and self-responsibility by themselves without the assistance, and help of the caregiver. The process of counselling and mentoring is a collective responsibility, which involves all people interacting with a client. The achievement of self-actualization requires the input of parents, peers, teachers, and the media (Rogers, 1980). Individuals who suffer from lack of self worth seek the help of therapists. Rogers asserts that therapists should empathically understand the clients by feeling what the clients are feeling. They should help clients to regain their sense of self worth. It is necessary to accept clients unconditionally without judging them. This ensures that clients express their feelings and emotions freely. In conclusion, the counsellor should not direct what the client says or expresses. Clients should be left to express themselves, and direct the therapy session. By doing this, the client is able to acquire slowly self worth and autonomy. Many people continue to suffer silently under the pressures of life, especially the young people. Problems caused by the demands of life, render some people helpless. This makes such individuals to lose their self worth. It is therefore, necessary for the therapists to help such people to regain sense of self. References Rodgers, C. (1980). Way of being. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. Rogers, C. (2005). The Carl Rogers Reader edited by Kirschenbaum & Henderson. London: Constable & Robertson. Sanders, P. (2006). The person centered counseling primer. Trowbridge, UK: Cromwell Press. Chomsky, N. (2002). Syntactic structures. Walter de Gruyter. Read More