Topic X Behavioural
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6 Counselling
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Theory
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" LEARNING OUTCOMES
By the end of this topic, you should be able to:
1. Identify the principles of behaviourism theory;
2. Identify how behaviourism approaches are made into counselling
theories;
3. Describe which behaviours are known as maladaptive behaviours
and why they persist; and
4. Explain the strategies to help clients using behaviourism theory
approaches.
X" INTRODUCTION
This topic introduces the behaviourism counselling theory which is sometimes
referred to as behaviourism or conduct counselling. For students who have just
enrolled in the counselling course, they will need assistance in understanding
how an individual whom he wishes to help functions in his environment. They
must not make decisions just by relying on their own assumptions, without
thinking rationally on why an action must be taken. By using the chosen theory,
they will be able to understand why a behaviour happens the way it happens,
and what are the appropriate strategies to maintain or change the behaviour
according the theory. Most importantly, you will act more consistently towards
clients by thinking of the adopted theory.
Through this topic, you will be able to understand the functions of theories and
to follow the explanation of a theory which is widely used by professional
counsellors, which is the behaviourism theory. Firstly, you will comprehend the
Copyright © Open University Malaysia (OUM)
, TOPIC 6 BEHAVIOURAL COUNSELLING THEORY W 137
concepts and techniques which are used according to the behaviourism theory.
Further explanation will be given on how an individual continues his
maladaptive behaviour, which is the inappropriate behaviour among the society
and environment which he lives in. Several examples are provided to facilitate
your understanding on the implementation of behaviourism theory.
6.1 NEED FOR COUNSELLING THEORY
Theory is a presumption which consists of several ideas to explain an event or a
phenomenon. The purpose of a theory is to:
(a) Explain an event after making a few observations;
(b) Use the theory to overcome certain situations; and
(c) Use the theory to make predictions.
Whether theories are needed in counselling or not depends on the counselling
practitioner himself or herself. For example, Arnold Lazarus (1981) stated that
counselling or therapy does not need theories. There is also another view which
says that the idea in which counselling needs theory is given too much emphasis
(Smith & Glass, 1977). This view has a notion that all counsellors and therapists
do the same activities, achieve the same results and there are even those who use
the techniques which does not have any relation at all with the theory that it
supports. This means that the theory which a person supports or holds on to
does not bring any benefit.
Jerome Frank (1971) asserts that theory is very important to those who practice it.
In his opinion, theory is important because it gives meaning, confidence and
direction to the counsellors. Thus, we can conclude from FrankÊs statement that
theory gives focus to the counsellor on what he is doing to his client. Therefore,
the counsellor will be able to give full attention and energy on what he believes
to be the source of his clientÊs problem.
A counsellor who carries out his task according to theory will give him an
opportunity to make plans and preparation before he advises the client to plan
the strategies to make changes. This will indirectly increase the clientÊs trust
towards the counsellor because the counsellor is able to demonstrate his
professionalism.
Copyright © Open University Malaysia (OUM)
, 138 X TOPIC 6 BEHAVIOURAL COUNSELLING THEORY
"
ACTIVITY 6.1
1. State the three functions of theory and provide examples for each
theory.
2. Why are theories important to a counsellor?
6.2 BEHAVIOURISM COUNSELLING THEORY
The history of the behavioural approach in counselling begins with three
components: classical conditioning, operant conditioning and cognitive
behaviour therapy. We are going to discuss each component in the following
subsections.
6.2.1 Classical Conditioning Principle
This first component is taken from the classical conditioning principle,
sometimes referred to as respondent conditioning based on the study by Pavlov
(1960) and Hull (1943). In one study, John B. Watson (1920) (Figure 6.1) used
PavlovÊs principle, which is the classical conditioning principle, to train Little
Albert to be afraid of white mice, white cotton and WatsonÊs white hair!
Figure 6.1: John B. Watson
Copyright © Open University Malaysia (OUM)
" " "
"
"
"
"
6 Counselling
"
"
"
"
"
"
Theory
"
"
" LEARNING OUTCOMES
By the end of this topic, you should be able to:
1. Identify the principles of behaviourism theory;
2. Identify how behaviourism approaches are made into counselling
theories;
3. Describe which behaviours are known as maladaptive behaviours
and why they persist; and
4. Explain the strategies to help clients using behaviourism theory
approaches.
X" INTRODUCTION
This topic introduces the behaviourism counselling theory which is sometimes
referred to as behaviourism or conduct counselling. For students who have just
enrolled in the counselling course, they will need assistance in understanding
how an individual whom he wishes to help functions in his environment. They
must not make decisions just by relying on their own assumptions, without
thinking rationally on why an action must be taken. By using the chosen theory,
they will be able to understand why a behaviour happens the way it happens,
and what are the appropriate strategies to maintain or change the behaviour
according the theory. Most importantly, you will act more consistently towards
clients by thinking of the adopted theory.
Through this topic, you will be able to understand the functions of theories and
to follow the explanation of a theory which is widely used by professional
counsellors, which is the behaviourism theory. Firstly, you will comprehend the
Copyright © Open University Malaysia (OUM)
, TOPIC 6 BEHAVIOURAL COUNSELLING THEORY W 137
concepts and techniques which are used according to the behaviourism theory.
Further explanation will be given on how an individual continues his
maladaptive behaviour, which is the inappropriate behaviour among the society
and environment which he lives in. Several examples are provided to facilitate
your understanding on the implementation of behaviourism theory.
6.1 NEED FOR COUNSELLING THEORY
Theory is a presumption which consists of several ideas to explain an event or a
phenomenon. The purpose of a theory is to:
(a) Explain an event after making a few observations;
(b) Use the theory to overcome certain situations; and
(c) Use the theory to make predictions.
Whether theories are needed in counselling or not depends on the counselling
practitioner himself or herself. For example, Arnold Lazarus (1981) stated that
counselling or therapy does not need theories. There is also another view which
says that the idea in which counselling needs theory is given too much emphasis
(Smith & Glass, 1977). This view has a notion that all counsellors and therapists
do the same activities, achieve the same results and there are even those who use
the techniques which does not have any relation at all with the theory that it
supports. This means that the theory which a person supports or holds on to
does not bring any benefit.
Jerome Frank (1971) asserts that theory is very important to those who practice it.
In his opinion, theory is important because it gives meaning, confidence and
direction to the counsellors. Thus, we can conclude from FrankÊs statement that
theory gives focus to the counsellor on what he is doing to his client. Therefore,
the counsellor will be able to give full attention and energy on what he believes
to be the source of his clientÊs problem.
A counsellor who carries out his task according to theory will give him an
opportunity to make plans and preparation before he advises the client to plan
the strategies to make changes. This will indirectly increase the clientÊs trust
towards the counsellor because the counsellor is able to demonstrate his
professionalism.
Copyright © Open University Malaysia (OUM)
, 138 X TOPIC 6 BEHAVIOURAL COUNSELLING THEORY
"
ACTIVITY 6.1
1. State the three functions of theory and provide examples for each
theory.
2. Why are theories important to a counsellor?
6.2 BEHAVIOURISM COUNSELLING THEORY
The history of the behavioural approach in counselling begins with three
components: classical conditioning, operant conditioning and cognitive
behaviour therapy. We are going to discuss each component in the following
subsections.
6.2.1 Classical Conditioning Principle
This first component is taken from the classical conditioning principle,
sometimes referred to as respondent conditioning based on the study by Pavlov
(1960) and Hull (1943). In one study, John B. Watson (1920) (Figure 6.1) used
PavlovÊs principle, which is the classical conditioning principle, to train Little
Albert to be afraid of white mice, white cotton and WatsonÊs white hair!
Figure 6.1: John B. Watson
Copyright © Open University Malaysia (OUM)
