My Personal Theory of Counseling.docx

My Personal Theory of Counseling Corey (2017) describes an approach Which utilizes the combination of multiple theories as an integrative approach (p. 2). Being a counseling novice (in secular/psychological counseling), this at present is my over-all theoretical approach. It currently consists of combinations of Solution Focus Brief Therapy, Adlerian, Rogerian, and Existential approaches, albeit not necessarily in that order. These approaches will ensure that I consider the client’s behavioral, cognitive dimensions as well as their feelings (Corey, 2017), as each approach in some way help to form a shape or focus area. However, as I consider my approach, I cannot consider it outside of my Spiritual worldview and my life as a Bible counselor. I am comfortable in knowing and I believe, that regardless of how well I think that I will understand the spirit of an individual, only God our Creator, fully knows and understand the heart and mind of mankind. Just as God said to the prophet Jeremiah “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart;” (Jeremiah 1:5a, b.), I believe that his statement is true for every living being, so therefore every psychological theory that I might embrace is established upon this understanding. Component #1: Personal Belief About Human Nature Deterministic vs free will As the Adlerian thought of me dictates, I believe that people are self-determined, and it is our will that gives us the motivation to move forward (Feist, Feist and Roberts, 2013). This is supported by the Existential theory of Frankl, and May, and the concepts of Carl Rogers, (Corey, 2017). Unconscious (unaware) vs. conscious (aware) PERSONAL THEORY OF COUNSELING 4 I believe, as Corey (2017) postulates, the unconscious mind involves dreams, slips of the tongue, posthypnotic suggestions, material derived from free-association and projective techniques, and maintains the symbolic content of psychotic symptoms. Reactive vs Proactive I believe that a healthy mind can alternate between the reactive and proactive mode. In reactive mode, one solves matters as they arise, while in proactive mode one seeks to bring problems to a resolution before they become an issue. People are viewed as adopting a proactive, rather than a reactive, approach to their social environment (Corey, 2017). Subjective vs. Objective In the subjective interview, the counselo