Table 1 Overview of Contemporary Counseling Models
Psychodynamic Approaches
Psychoanalytic Therapy Founder: Sigmund Freud.
A theory of personality development, a philosophy
of human nature, and a method of psychotherapy
that focuses on unconscious factors that motivate
behavior.
Attention is given to the events of the first 6 years of
life as determinants of the later development of
personality.
Adlerian / Individual Therapy Founder: Alfred Adler.
Key Figure: Following Adler, Rudolf Dreikurs is
credited with popularizing this approach in the
United States.
This is a growth model that stresses assuming
responsibility, creating one’s own destiny, and
finding meaning and goals to create a purposeful
life.
Key concepts are used in most other current
therapies.
Experiential and Relationship-Oriented Therapies
Existential Therapy Key figures: Viktor Frankl, Rollo May, and Irvin
Yalom.
Reacting against the tendency to view therapy as a
system of well-defined techniques, this model
stresses building therapy on the basic conditions of
human existence, such as choice, the freedom and
responsibility to shape one’s life, and self-
determination.
It focuses on the quality of the person-to-person
therapeutic relationship.
Person-Centered Therapy Founder: Carl Rogers.
Key figure: Natalie Rogers.
This approach was developed during the 1940s as a
nondirective reaction against psychoanalysis.
, Based on a subjective view of human experiencing,
it places faith in and gives responsibility to the client
in dealing with problems and concerns.
Gestalt Therapy Founders: Fritz and Laura Perls.
Key figures: Miriam and Erving Polster.
An experiential therapy stressing awareness and
integration; it grew as a reaction against analytic
therapy.
It integrates the functioning of body and mind.
Cognitive Behavioral Approaches
Behavior Therapy Key figures: B. F. Skinner, Arnold Lazarus, and
Albert Bandura.
This approach applies the principles of learning to
the resolution of specific behavioral problems.
Results are subject to continual experimentation.
The methods of this approach are always in the
process of refinement.
Cognitive Behavior Therapy Key figure: A. T. Beck founded cognitive therapy.
Gives a primary role to thinking as it influences
behavior.
Judith Beck continues to develop CBT.
Donald Meichenbaum is a prominent contributor to
the development of cognitive behavior therapy.
Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy Key figure: Albert Ellis founded rational emotive
behavior therapy.
A highly didactic, cognitive, action-oriented model
of therapy that stresses the role of thinking and
belief systems as the root of personal problems.
Reality Therapy Founder: William Glasser.
Key figure: Robert Wubbolding.
This short-term approach is based on choice theory
and focuses on the client assuming responsibility in
the present.
, Through the therapeutic process, the client is able to
learn more effective ways of meeting her or his
needs.
Systems and Postmodern Approaches
Feminist Therapy This approach grew out of the efforts of many
women, a few of whom are Jean Baker Miller,
Carolyn Zerbe Enns, Oliva Espin, and Laura Brown.
A central concept is the concern for the
psychological oppression of women.
Focusing on the constraints imposed by the
sociopolitical status to which women have been
relegated, this approach explores women’s identity
development, self-concept, goals and aspirations,
and emotional well-being.
Postmodern Approaches A number of key figures are associated with the
development of these various approaches to therapy.
Steve de Shazer and Insoo Kim Berg are the co-
founders of solution-focused brief therapy. Michael
White and David Epston are the major figures
associated with narrative therapy.
Social constructionism, solution-focused brief
therapy, and narrative therapy all assume that there
is no single truth; rather, it is believed that reality is
socially constructed through human interaction.
These approaches maintain that the client is an
expert in his or her own life.
Family Systems Therapy A number of significant figures have been pioneers
of the family systems approach, including Alfred
Adler, Murray Bowen, Virginia Satir, Carl
Whitaker, Salvador Minuchin, Jay Haley, and Cloé
Madanes.
This systemic approach is based
on the assumption that the key to changing the
individual is understanding and working with the
family.
, Table 2 The Basic Philosophies
Psychodynamic Approaches
Psychoanalytic Therapy Human beings are basically determined by psychic
energy and by early experiences. Unconscious
motives and conflicts are central in present behavior.
Early development is of critical importance because
later personality problems have their roots in
repressed childhood conflicts.
Adlerian / Individual Therapy Humans are motivated by social interest, by striving
toward goals, by inferiority and superiority, and by
dealing with the tasks of life. Emphasis is on the
individual’s positive capacities to live in society
cooperatively. People have the capacity to interpret,
influence, and create events. Each person at an
early age creates a unique style of life, which tends
to remain relatively constant throughout life.
Experiential and Relationship-Oriented Therapies
Existential Therapy The central focus is on the nature of the human
condition, which includes a capacity for self-
awareness, freedom of choice to decide one’s fate,
responsibility, anxiety, the search for meaning,
being alone and being in relation with others,
striving for authenticity, and facing living and dying.
Person-Centered Therapy Positive view of people; we have an inclination
toward becoming fully functioning.
In the context of the therapeutic relationship, the
client experiences feelings that were previously
denied to awareness.
The client moves toward increased awareness,
spontaneity, trust in self, and innerdirectedness.
Gestalt Therapy The person strives for wholeness and integration of
thinking, feeling, and behaving.
Psychodynamic Approaches
Psychoanalytic Therapy Founder: Sigmund Freud.
A theory of personality development, a philosophy
of human nature, and a method of psychotherapy
that focuses on unconscious factors that motivate
behavior.
Attention is given to the events of the first 6 years of
life as determinants of the later development of
personality.
Adlerian / Individual Therapy Founder: Alfred Adler.
Key Figure: Following Adler, Rudolf Dreikurs is
credited with popularizing this approach in the
United States.
This is a growth model that stresses assuming
responsibility, creating one’s own destiny, and
finding meaning and goals to create a purposeful
life.
Key concepts are used in most other current
therapies.
Experiential and Relationship-Oriented Therapies
Existential Therapy Key figures: Viktor Frankl, Rollo May, and Irvin
Yalom.
Reacting against the tendency to view therapy as a
system of well-defined techniques, this model
stresses building therapy on the basic conditions of
human existence, such as choice, the freedom and
responsibility to shape one’s life, and self-
determination.
It focuses on the quality of the person-to-person
therapeutic relationship.
Person-Centered Therapy Founder: Carl Rogers.
Key figure: Natalie Rogers.
This approach was developed during the 1940s as a
nondirective reaction against psychoanalysis.
, Based on a subjective view of human experiencing,
it places faith in and gives responsibility to the client
in dealing with problems and concerns.
Gestalt Therapy Founders: Fritz and Laura Perls.
Key figures: Miriam and Erving Polster.
An experiential therapy stressing awareness and
integration; it grew as a reaction against analytic
therapy.
It integrates the functioning of body and mind.
Cognitive Behavioral Approaches
Behavior Therapy Key figures: B. F. Skinner, Arnold Lazarus, and
Albert Bandura.
This approach applies the principles of learning to
the resolution of specific behavioral problems.
Results are subject to continual experimentation.
The methods of this approach are always in the
process of refinement.
Cognitive Behavior Therapy Key figure: A. T. Beck founded cognitive therapy.
Gives a primary role to thinking as it influences
behavior.
Judith Beck continues to develop CBT.
Donald Meichenbaum is a prominent contributor to
the development of cognitive behavior therapy.
Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy Key figure: Albert Ellis founded rational emotive
behavior therapy.
A highly didactic, cognitive, action-oriented model
of therapy that stresses the role of thinking and
belief systems as the root of personal problems.
Reality Therapy Founder: William Glasser.
Key figure: Robert Wubbolding.
This short-term approach is based on choice theory
and focuses on the client assuming responsibility in
the present.
, Through the therapeutic process, the client is able to
learn more effective ways of meeting her or his
needs.
Systems and Postmodern Approaches
Feminist Therapy This approach grew out of the efforts of many
women, a few of whom are Jean Baker Miller,
Carolyn Zerbe Enns, Oliva Espin, and Laura Brown.
A central concept is the concern for the
psychological oppression of women.
Focusing on the constraints imposed by the
sociopolitical status to which women have been
relegated, this approach explores women’s identity
development, self-concept, goals and aspirations,
and emotional well-being.
Postmodern Approaches A number of key figures are associated with the
development of these various approaches to therapy.
Steve de Shazer and Insoo Kim Berg are the co-
founders of solution-focused brief therapy. Michael
White and David Epston are the major figures
associated with narrative therapy.
Social constructionism, solution-focused brief
therapy, and narrative therapy all assume that there
is no single truth; rather, it is believed that reality is
socially constructed through human interaction.
These approaches maintain that the client is an
expert in his or her own life.
Family Systems Therapy A number of significant figures have been pioneers
of the family systems approach, including Alfred
Adler, Murray Bowen, Virginia Satir, Carl
Whitaker, Salvador Minuchin, Jay Haley, and Cloé
Madanes.
This systemic approach is based
on the assumption that the key to changing the
individual is understanding and working with the
family.
, Table 2 The Basic Philosophies
Psychodynamic Approaches
Psychoanalytic Therapy Human beings are basically determined by psychic
energy and by early experiences. Unconscious
motives and conflicts are central in present behavior.
Early development is of critical importance because
later personality problems have their roots in
repressed childhood conflicts.
Adlerian / Individual Therapy Humans are motivated by social interest, by striving
toward goals, by inferiority and superiority, and by
dealing with the tasks of life. Emphasis is on the
individual’s positive capacities to live in society
cooperatively. People have the capacity to interpret,
influence, and create events. Each person at an
early age creates a unique style of life, which tends
to remain relatively constant throughout life.
Experiential and Relationship-Oriented Therapies
Existential Therapy The central focus is on the nature of the human
condition, which includes a capacity for self-
awareness, freedom of choice to decide one’s fate,
responsibility, anxiety, the search for meaning,
being alone and being in relation with others,
striving for authenticity, and facing living and dying.
Person-Centered Therapy Positive view of people; we have an inclination
toward becoming fully functioning.
In the context of the therapeutic relationship, the
client experiences feelings that were previously
denied to awareness.
The client moves toward increased awareness,
spontaneity, trust in self, and innerdirectedness.
Gestalt Therapy The person strives for wholeness and integration of
thinking, feeling, and behaving.
