LECTURE 3: COUNSELING APPROACHES
Learning Objectives
By the end of the lecture the student should be able to discuss the techniques and efficacy of
•Psychodynamic Therapy
•Behavior Therapy
•Cognitive and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapies
•Humanistic Therapy
INTRODUCTION
Prior to the 19th century, people had little understanding of emotional difficulties and mental
disorders.
Many people with severe symptoms were forcibly confined in institutions and exposed to largely
ineffective treatments while those with mild or moderate difficulties typically received no
professional help.
The development of psychodynamic approaches to psychotherapy, spearheaded by the work of
Sigmund Freud led to the emergence of what has been called the first force of psychotherapy.
Viewing peoples’ past experiences as the source of peoples’ present emotional difficulties and
emphasizing unconscious processes and long term treatment, psychodynamic approaches
provided a solid foundation for the field of psychotherapy, but that approach had clear
limitations.
The research and practice of B.F. Skinner as well as more modern theorists such as Albert Ellis,
Aaron Beck, William Glasser and Donald Meichenbaum led to the emergence of the second forc;
behavioural and cognitive theories and interventions.
Behavioural treatment approaches widely used in the 1970s have been integrated with cognitive
approaches, developed primarily in the 1980s, leading to the cognitive-behavioural approaches
that received considerable attention and considerable support in the 1990s.
Cognitive and behavioural treatment systems emphasize the influence of thoughts and actions on
emotions.
They use interventions that focus on the present and seek to minimize dysfunctional cognitions
and behaviours while replacing them with more helpful and positive thoughts and actions.
Carl Rogers’s innovative work emerged in the 1960s and led to the development of the third
force, existential humanistic psychotherapy.
The work of Fritzperls, Victor Frankl and others contributed to this force, which emphasizes the
importance of emotions and sensations and of people taking charge of and finding meaning in
their own lives.
1
, These approaches also drew attention to the importance of therapeutic alliance.
Now, at the beginning of the 21st century clinicians are entering the era of the fourth force.
Elements of first, second and third force treatment approaches are integrated into a
comprehensive and holistic effort to understand people as fully.
Clinician’s awareness and understanding of components of individual identity such as gender,
culture, age, race and sexual orientation facilitate development of positive therapeutic
relationships and effective treatment plans.
Becoming culturally competent, being an ally with clients and being open to their multiple
perspectives of themselves and their world are essential to today’s clinicians.
Networking and collaboration with other mental health professionals, providers of community
resources and important people in client’s lives are now viewed as integral to treatment.
Theories of counseling and psychotherapy as well as their implementation have changed in
response to the fourth force.
New approaches such as narrative therapy, dialectics and therapies that incorporate Eastern
thought and philosophy provide powerful ways to understand peoples’ experiences more fully
and empower people to take an active role in changing their emotions perceptions and behavior.
The main aim of any therapy is to uncover the unconscious content of a client’s psyche in order
to alleviate psychic tension.
PSYCHODYNAMIC APPROACH TO COUNSELING
Introduction
Psychoanalysis was developed by Sigmund Freud (1856-1939) and concentrated on the
unconscious mind.
Freud’s early work focused on the study of neurology.
His research on the brain and spinal cord was his first notable contribution to the field of
psychoanalysis (psychoanalysis refers both to a theory of how the mind works and a treatment
modality)
Psychodynamic therapy is similar to psychoanalytic therapy ( Psychoanalysis )since it attempts
to uncover repressed childhood experiences which are thought to explain an individual’s current
difficulties.
Psychoanalytic therapy is grounded on the ideas that a person’s development is mostly
determined by forgotten events in early childhood and that human behavior and dysfunction are
entirely influenced by irrational drives which are rooted in the unconscious.
2
Learning Objectives
By the end of the lecture the student should be able to discuss the techniques and efficacy of
•Psychodynamic Therapy
•Behavior Therapy
•Cognitive and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapies
•Humanistic Therapy
INTRODUCTION
Prior to the 19th century, people had little understanding of emotional difficulties and mental
disorders.
Many people with severe symptoms were forcibly confined in institutions and exposed to largely
ineffective treatments while those with mild or moderate difficulties typically received no
professional help.
The development of psychodynamic approaches to psychotherapy, spearheaded by the work of
Sigmund Freud led to the emergence of what has been called the first force of psychotherapy.
Viewing peoples’ past experiences as the source of peoples’ present emotional difficulties and
emphasizing unconscious processes and long term treatment, psychodynamic approaches
provided a solid foundation for the field of psychotherapy, but that approach had clear
limitations.
The research and practice of B.F. Skinner as well as more modern theorists such as Albert Ellis,
Aaron Beck, William Glasser and Donald Meichenbaum led to the emergence of the second forc;
behavioural and cognitive theories and interventions.
Behavioural treatment approaches widely used in the 1970s have been integrated with cognitive
approaches, developed primarily in the 1980s, leading to the cognitive-behavioural approaches
that received considerable attention and considerable support in the 1990s.
Cognitive and behavioural treatment systems emphasize the influence of thoughts and actions on
emotions.
They use interventions that focus on the present and seek to minimize dysfunctional cognitions
and behaviours while replacing them with more helpful and positive thoughts and actions.
Carl Rogers’s innovative work emerged in the 1960s and led to the development of the third
force, existential humanistic psychotherapy.
The work of Fritzperls, Victor Frankl and others contributed to this force, which emphasizes the
importance of emotions and sensations and of people taking charge of and finding meaning in
their own lives.
1
, These approaches also drew attention to the importance of therapeutic alliance.
Now, at the beginning of the 21st century clinicians are entering the era of the fourth force.
Elements of first, second and third force treatment approaches are integrated into a
comprehensive and holistic effort to understand people as fully.
Clinician’s awareness and understanding of components of individual identity such as gender,
culture, age, race and sexual orientation facilitate development of positive therapeutic
relationships and effective treatment plans.
Becoming culturally competent, being an ally with clients and being open to their multiple
perspectives of themselves and their world are essential to today’s clinicians.
Networking and collaboration with other mental health professionals, providers of community
resources and important people in client’s lives are now viewed as integral to treatment.
Theories of counseling and psychotherapy as well as their implementation have changed in
response to the fourth force.
New approaches such as narrative therapy, dialectics and therapies that incorporate Eastern
thought and philosophy provide powerful ways to understand peoples’ experiences more fully
and empower people to take an active role in changing their emotions perceptions and behavior.
The main aim of any therapy is to uncover the unconscious content of a client’s psyche in order
to alleviate psychic tension.
PSYCHODYNAMIC APPROACH TO COUNSELING
Introduction
Psychoanalysis was developed by Sigmund Freud (1856-1939) and concentrated on the
unconscious mind.
Freud’s early work focused on the study of neurology.
His research on the brain and spinal cord was his first notable contribution to the field of
psychoanalysis (psychoanalysis refers both to a theory of how the mind works and a treatment
modality)
Psychodynamic therapy is similar to psychoanalytic therapy ( Psychoanalysis )since it attempts
to uncover repressed childhood experiences which are thought to explain an individual’s current
difficulties.
Psychoanalytic therapy is grounded on the ideas that a person’s development is mostly
determined by forgotten events in early childhood and that human behavior and dysfunction are
entirely influenced by irrational drives which are rooted in the unconscious.
2
