Application: Analyzing Counseling Theories

Application: Analyzing Counseling Theories

This Application continues your side-by-side analysis of learning theories. Download the chart template, “Analyzing Counseling Theories,” from this week’s Learning Resources to continue your Assignment.

Part 1: Chart

· Use the chart template to analyze counseling theories.

· Select two theories from this week’s Learning Resources.

· Describe the background theory, human nature, major constructs, applications, and evaluations of each counseling theory.

Part 2: Reflection (1 page)

· Describe a specific population of clients with whom you hope to work in the future.

· Explain which of the two theories in your chart would be the most effective in working with this client population and explain why.

· Describe the interventions you would suggest from this theory and how these interventions would assist this client population in reaching counseling goals.

Submit your assignment by (Saturday) 1/16/16@ 6pm Eastern Standard Time

Application: Analyzing Counseling Theories

Week 7 Discussion

Theory in Action: Cognitive and Behavioral Approaches

Have you ever heard the term “positive addiction”? In general, this term is used to describe the act of replacing a negative addiction, like smoking, with a positive activity, like exercising. Both smoking and exercising can be perceived as a means to reduce stress; however the act of exercising is clearly the healthier option of the two. William Glasser, the founder of reality therapy was the first to introduce this term. Glasser believed that these positive addictions can increase the strength and motivation that people feel in their lives.

Have you ever stood on a crowded elevator and considered singing a song? Did you know that this could actually be an intervention used by a cognitive-behavioral counselor called a shame-attacking exercise? In shame-attacking exercises, clients engage in an activity that others around them might disapprove of, thus causing shame to the client. Experiencing the brief discomfort caused by these actions is thought to decrease feelings of social anxiety and self-consciousness.

For this week’s Discussion, you consider which theoretical approach most resonates with you: reality therapy or a generalized CBT approach. You then watch the media piece that translates this theory into practice. Specifically, you examine how the counselor depicted in the media used your selected theoretical approach to guide his or her interventions.

Note: When crafting your Discussion post, support your ideas by providing references to specific examples from the video. In addition, cite the video frame (e.g., 8.32 minutes) that the action or intervention occurred. You do not need to summarize the demonstration itself, as your Instructor and many of your colleagues have also viewed it. Instead, provide insight into the interventions used and major constructs of the theory.

Post by Day 3 a brief description of the video you selected and the theoretical approach used. Explain how this theory resonates with you. Then, describe the counselor’s specific interventions that would indicate his/her theoretical approach and explain how effectively the counselor demonstrated the approach. Finally, share one insight you gained from watching the counselor in the media.

Respond by 1/13/16@6pm Eastern Standard Time

Week 8: Family, Feminist, and Transpersonal Theories

Introduction

Humans naturally view the world through their own eyes. Their opinions, assumptions, and reactions hinge on how they personally perceive situations. In fact, it can be argued that humans are fairly self-obsessed. As a counselor, it is imperative to be cognizant of this natural tendency, and take strides to view the world through the eyes of others.

Postmodernism, a theoretical approach that is largely influenced by counselors’ ability to think like their clients, prompts counselors to enter their clients’ realities. From this vantage point, counselors can use the narratives of their clients to travel through perceptions of problems and life events. Side-by-side in this reality, counselors can work with clients to restructure their life-stories.

As a counselor, role-playing is one of the first activities in which you can engage to place yourself in clients’ reality. Role-playing allows you to experience the mixture of feelings that clients may experience when in the counseling environment. This week, you use the media to role-play three first-time visits with counselors from different postmodern theoretical approaches.

Objectives

Students will:

· Evaluate effectiveness of postmodern theories

· Apply knowledge of postmodern theories

Week 8 Learning Resources

This page contains the Learning Resources for this week. Be sure to scroll down the page to see all of this week’s assigned Learning Resources. To access select media resources, please use the media player below.

Application: Analyzing Counseling Theories

Required Resources

Readings

· Capuzzi, D., & Gross, D. R. (Ed.). (2011). Counseling and psychotherapy: Theories and interventions(5th ed.). Alexandria, VA: American Counseling Association.

o Chapter 13, “Family Theory” (pp. 287–311)

o Chapter 14, “Feminist Theory” (pp. 313–333)

o Chapter 15, “Transpersonal Theory” (pp. 335–353)

· Association for Spiritual, Ethical, and Religious Values in Counseling. (2009). Competencies for addressing spiritual and religious issues in counseling. Retrieved fromhttp://www.aservic.org/resources/spiritual-competencies/

Media

· Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2012). Ethics and Legal Issues counseling course preview [Video]. Baltimore, MD: Author.

Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 3 minutes.

PLEASE READ THIS “TRANSCRIPT” BELOW BRFORE YOU DO THE DISCUSSION

Postmodern Theories Program Transcript

Postmodern Theories Program Transcript Instructions: Watch the following introductions by the various counselors.

Post by Day 3 an explanation of which approach might be most effective and explain why. Then explain how this particular approach may help a client to achieve his or her goals. Finally, explain what it felt like to sit in the client’s seat.

Family Theory Counselor:

Hello, I’m Bob. It’s nice to meet you.

I’m a National Certified Counselor and a Licensed Professional Counselor in my state.

In my work with clients, I use a family therapy approach. Often when one individual in a family has a problem, it’s related to a problem in the family.

As we talk today, I may suggest that in the future you come in with your partner or your entire family to determine if there is a stressor that is not only affecting you but the entire family.

For example, sometimes if a couple is having marriage problems, one of the children begins misbehaving to take the focus off of the parents. The parents focus on the child which leads to a break in the arguments.

This is called triangulation. I usually ask my clients to develop a genogram or eco-map to help us better understand family development and how families interact with their communities.

If you like, I can tell you more about my specific family theory; however, what’s important to know now is that as a family counselor, I can work with individuals, couples, and/or families, although I generally work with couples or families.

Feminist Theory Counselor:

Hello, I’m Sue. It’s nice to meet you.

I’m a National Certified Counselor and a Licensed Professional Counselor in my state.

In my work with clients, I use a feminist theory approach.

You might think that means that I only work with women, but that’s actually not true. I work with both men and women; in fact, there are a few male counselors at my center who also integrate a feminist theory approach into their work with their clients.

As a feminist counselor, I’ll consider myself to be a partner with you in reaching your goals. I want to understand your experiences and views and the environment in which you have lived. I’ll be less interested in diagnosing you than in working with you to determine how you have been affected by any type of oppression or marginalization. I draw from a variety of approaches, depending on what works best for you.

For example, I’ve found bibliotherapy and assertiveness training to be helpful for many clients. If you have any other questions, feel free to ask me at any time.

Application: Analyzing Counseling Theories

Transpersonal Theory Counselor

Hello, I’m Cynthia. It’s nice to meet you.

I’m a National Certified Counselor and a Licensed Professional Counselor in my state.

In my work with clients, I use a transpersonal approach.

With a transpersonal approach, I want to work with you to help you overcome your difficulties so that you can ultimately focus on your spiritual development.

I draw from a variety of both Eastern and Western approaches in helping my clients overcome difficulties that may affect their potential.

For example, many of my clients have found meditation, mindfulness, yoga, and cognitive-behavioral interventions to be helpful for coping with anxiety which can ultimately block spiritual development.

Those are just a few examples of how I integrate a variety of approaches in my work with clients.

The main difference you’ll find in working with me compared to other counselors is that I believe there are stages of development beyond the ego.