COUNSELING

Counseling

Counseling

Question 1

The three approaches selected for the purpose of this assignment are person centered approach, psychoanalysis and cognitive behaviour therapy.

Cognitive behavior therapy can be defined as any therapy that is based on the belief that our thoughts are directly connected to how we feel. The cognitive therapies include Rational-Emotive, Cognitive-Behavioral, Reality, and Transactional Analysis. Therapists in the cognitive field work with clients to solve present day problems by helping them to identify distorted thinking that causes emotional discomfort. These therapies are best known for treating mild depression, anxiety, and anger problems. This is based on the premise that primary learning comes from experience. The initial concern in therapy is to help the client analyze behavior, define problems, and select goals. Therapy often includes homework, behavioral experiments, role-playing, assertiveness training, and self management training. Like its cognitive therapy cousins it utilizes collaboration between client and therapist, and is usually of short duration. (Westman 1992)

Psychoanalytic therapy is one of the most well-known treatment modalities, but it is also one of the most misunderstood by mental health consumers. This type of therapy is based upon the theories and work of Sigmund Freud, who founded the school of psychology known as psychoanalysis. Psychoanalytic therapy looks at how the unconscious mind influences thoughts and behaviors. Psychoanalysis frequently involves looking at early childhood experiences in order to discover how these events might have shaped the individual and how they contribute to current actions. People undergoing psychoanalytic therapy often meet with their therapist at least once a week and may remain in therapy for a number of weeks, months or years. (Kendall & Southam 1996)

Each of us has the innate ability to reach our full potential. As infants we are born with it, but because of early experiences, we may lose our connection to it. The self concept we develop in response to our early experiences may tend to alienate us from our true self. In this theory there is no such thing as mental illness. It is just a matter of being disconnected from our self-potential. This therapy is often considered the most optimistic approach to human potential.

One thing they all have in common is that they deal with unconscious motivation. Usually the duration of therapy is lengthy; however, many modern therapists use psychoanalytic techniques for short term therapies.

Question 2

Person-Centered approach is a lengthy therapy is based on developing the client-therapist relationship. The therapist ...