counselling and psychotherapy theories and techniques · counselling and psychotherapy theories are...

Omondi O. Omondi

(Christian Youth Counselling Psychologist/ Freelance Academic Researcher and Writer)

A Presentation for

The National Youth Guidance and Counselling Association

(University of Nairobi Chapter)

VENUE: University of Nairobi, ADD Building

ORIGINALLY PRESENTED: 15/9/2016 @ 5.00pm

Counselling and psychotherapy theories are unique based on the following:

History

Focus

Strategy

Techniques

Psychoanalytic (or psychodynamic) therapy

Adlerian therapy

Existential therapy

Person-centered therapy

Gestalt therapy

Behavior therapy

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)

Reality therapy

Feminist therapy

Solution-focused therapy

Family counseling (systems) therapy

Developed by Singmund Freud.

Focuses on identifying emotional issues and conflicts that affect clients’ ability to cope.

Attention is paid to:

Unconsciousness

Transference (client/counselor relationship)

Childhood Experiences

Dreams

Personality Conflicts (id, ego, superego)

Focuses on the clients’ environment.

Assumes that clients are simply discouraged rather than sick.

Aims to facilitate growth.

The therapist:

Emphasizes on Birth order

family relationships

early memories

lifestyle.

Begins with an interview to identify family patterns.

Identifies and discloses mistaken goals.

Focuses on meaning.

The therapist:

Listens to identify what is important to the client

Support their development of self-awareness

Remains respectful, genuine, and spontaneous

Assist clients to make independent choices.

Pioneered by Carl Rogers

Effective on on:

Positive talk

Congruence

unconditional positive regard, and

empathy.

Introduced in the 1940s. Focuses on elaboration and instruction to: Create awareness and Direct client experiences The therapist: Asks a question: “What are you aware of (experiencing) now?” Instructs the client: “Try this experiment and see what you

become aware of (experience) or learn.”

Techniques : Awareness report, Enactments, Exaggerations, The Empty Chair

technique, Body and contact boundary awareness, Self disclosure.

Focuses on behavior modification because behavior is learned and unlearned.

Pioneers: B.F. Skinner, Joseph Wolpe, Hans Eysenck, Ivan Pavlov

Pavlov’s Approach was Classical Conditioning

Skinner’s Approach was Operant Conditioning: Reinforcement – Rewards (+ve) and Punishment (-ve)

Therapist role:

Use interviews, Objective psychological tests, Rating forms.

Monitors environmental factors causing distress

Identifies the potential behavioral techniques to be used

Monitors client progress

Centers on the Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy developed by Albert Ellis.

Used for treating depression.

Techniques the counsellor uses:

Cognitive structuring

stress inoculation training

problem solving

skills training

relaxation training e.g. breathing

three-column and double-standard techniques

chasing cognitive distortions

Developed by William Glasser, a physician.

Robert Wubbolding also introduced the model WEDP (Want, Doing, Evaluation, Plan)

Therapist:

Remain nonjudgmental

Encouraging

directive

Best applied in couples, school, and family counselling.

Developed in the 1960

Focuses on criticizing power and oppression.

Therapist instills values in the client.

Applicable for both men and women.

For:

Self-esteem

Empowerment

Pioneer: Insoo Kim Berg

Focuses on client’s solutions to their problems.

Therapists guide clients to identify innate strengths and resources.

Requires active listening:

Track client’s words

Mirroring with the abilities they have

Effective for one-time sessions.

Note: CLIENT IS THE EXPERT

Pioneers: Nathan Ackerman, Virginia Satir, and Salvador Minuchin

Focuses on a problem as family- rather than individual-related.

Therapist:

Identifies the client’s relationships with the world (family, institutions, and society).

Identifies who is connected to the client’s issues

Explore the larger family and cultural systems

Therapy focuses on making changes and meaning to human life.

The concepts can be used singly or in an eclectic manner.

Class Questions

1.

2.

Facilitator Question

Which technique would you use and why?

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