Counseling Theories

Abstract

The need of counseling is increasing with the passage of time. Different therapies have evolved for practitioners on the bases of numerous counseling theories. These different theories often overlap each other at various levels. This overlapping of counseling theories is discussed in this paper along with the evaluation of their common factors. The paper further discusses the integration of counseling theories. Literature view concludes that clinicians called themselves eclectic who may use any trait from several theories in order to treat their patients. The paper also examines Lazarus' theory of eclecticism which is also called multi model theory which integrates other counseling theories. Study and evaluation of different theories, their over lapping and integration show that practitioners work upon different theories according to the respective era. It is, therefore, concluded in the paper that clinicians have to gather and apply those theories which may compete with the challenges of contemporary society.

Counseling Theories

Introduction

Once considered the exclusive province of the very rich and the very disturbed, psychotherapy now reaches throngs of people who are not only afflicted with severe mental illness but everyday people who suffer from the problems associated with “normal” living. The demand for therapy has increased 400 percent in the last three decades, and over 80 million people, at a cost of over $4 billion annually, seek psychotherapy.

The wide variety of counseling options has become such an establishment in contemporary society, it's easy to forget that it was not always so. In 1920 there was one basic theory of psychotherapy, Sigmund Freud's psychoanalysis. Over the next two decades, several versions of neo-psychoanalytic theory emerged and began competing for dominance. Today, literally dozens, if not hundreds, of therapies are striving for recognition. Some say there are almost as many styles to counseling as there are counselors. It is even possible to buy consumers' guides to today's myriad of therapies. In this paper, we have examined the most well-known, most documented, and most reputable styles: Adlerian, psychoanalytic, behavioral, existential, Gestalt, person-centered, rational-emotive, reality therapy and transactional analysis. And we have seen that each theory provides a structure or framework from which counselors could work in a systematic fashion. This paper integrates counseling theories with my personal values.

Discussion

A well-known study conducted in 1950 found that experienced helpers of various hypothetical persuasions tended to have more in common than inexperienced helpers of the same persuasion. These common elements included the relationship dimensions of genuineness, empathic understanding, respect, and acceptance of the user. More recently, other studies have described the same phenomenon after comparing counselors using various styles. (Corey, 2008)

Practitioners have sought commonalties and have found much overlap among the various theories. For example, many of the terms used in transactional analysis stem from psychoanalytic thinking. Gestalt therapy and person-centered therapy both focus on the present and emphasize positive directions and goals of living. One could find many, many similarities between theories. Some have even argued that the various styles might be emphasizing various aspects of the same process (Betz, ...