METHODS OF COUNSELING

I. CLASSIC THEORIES
a. Psychoanalytic Theory (Sigmund Freud)
b. Individual Psychology (Alfred Adler)
c. Analytic Psychology (Carl Jung)

II. EXPERIENTIAL THEORIES

a. Person-Centered Therapy (Carl Rogers)
b. Gestalt Therapy (Fritz Perls)

III. COGNITIVE-BEHAVIORAL THEORIES

a. Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (Ellis)
b. Beck’s Cognitive Therapy

CLASSIC THEORIES

 FREUD’S PSYCHOANALYTIC THEORY

 Popularly known as psychoanalysis which is an analysis of the mind.

 Its objective is to restructure the personality by resolution of intrapsychic conflict,
which focuses on the internal forces such as unconscious processes.
 It focuses on personal adjustment through reorganization of internal forces within
the person to help him/her become aware of the unconscious (ex: repressed
memories) aspects of his/her personality.
 Three Goals of Psychonanalysis: (a) to help clients gain insights about
themselves, (b) to help clients work unstuck issues, (c) to help clients cope with
the stresses of the society.
 According to Nystul (2003) a psychoanalytic counselor may utilize the following
methods/techniques:

1. Free Association – a method to encourage the patient to discuss whatever

comes to his mind in order to release suppressed emotions.
2. Dream Analysis – a method to explore unconscious processes using
dreams.
3. Confrontation and Clarification – a form of feedback procedure for patients
to become aware of what is happening to him/her and to determine areas for
further analysis.
4. Interpretation – a process of giving insights to the patients about their inner
conflicts which can be reflected in resistance, transference and other
processes.

 ADLER’S INDIVIDUAL PSYCHOLOGY

 Focuses on the role of cognition in psychological functioning.

 Its objective is to gain an understanding of the clients and assess why clients
behave and think in certain ways.
 Four goals of Adlerian counseling:
a. Establishment and maintenance of an egalitarian relationship
b. Analysis of client’s lifestyle
c. Interpretation of client’s lifestyle in a way that promotes insight
d. Reorientation and reeducation of the client with accompanying behavior
change
 Four Phases of the Adlerian Technique (Nystul 2003)
I. Establishing the Relationship
a. Use of Listening Skills
b. Winning respect and offering hope
c. Encouragement

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 II. Performing Analysis and Assessment
III. Promoting Insight
IV. Reorientation

 JUNG’S ANALYTIC PSYCHOLOGY

 This counseling and psychology approach of Jung is referred to as

psychotherapy.
 It highlights the task of the unconscious processes in “psychological functioning”.
 The approach applies dreams and other procedures to determine the
unconscious process to utilize the result to boost the functioning of personality
and to enhance mental health and wellness.
 Its over-all goal is to work for the client’s transcend and move towards self-
realization by helping the self emerge (Nystul, 2003).
 Jungian counseling believes that the method of treatment must be flexible and
has to be established by the character and persona of the clients.
 It applies a more practical approach that is appropriate to make the counseling
process succeed.

EXPERIENTIAL THEORIES

The experiential theories fall under the affective theories which are concerned about
generating impact on the emotions of clients to effect change.

 ROGER’S PERSON-CENTERED COUNSELING

 It has been described as “if-then” approach considers that if certain conditions

exists in the counseling relationship, then the client move toward self-
actualization.
 Tysul (2003) identified the said conditions which were formulated by Rogers:
a. Counselor Congruence- this implies that the counselors must be congruent
with what they experience and what they communicate.
b. Emphatic Understanding – this implies that the counselors must attempt to
understand the client from the client’s perspective or frame of reference.
c. Unconditional Positive Regard – this implies that it is vital for the
counselors to a sense of acceptance.
 The Person-Centered Psychology minimizes the use of techniques. Rogers
believes that the counseling relationship can form core conditions that are
necessary for self-actualization. Nevertheless, the approach utilizes listening to
communicate appreciation.

 PERL’S GESTALT THERAPY

 Focuses on the here and now. It refers to a dialogue between the therapist and
the client wherein the client experiences from the inside what the therapist
observes from the outside.
 The goal of the approach is awareness on the environment. Of responsibility of
choices, of self and self-acceptance.
 This approach is appropriate for people who lack awareness and have a feeling
of “out of touch.”
 Gestalt Techniques include:
a. Assuming Responsibility- this method requires the client to rephrase a
statement to assume a responsibility.
b. Using personal pronouns-this method encourages the clients to take
personal responsibility by saving “I” or “me” instead of stating in general
terms such as “we” or “us.
c. Now I am aware – the method is a means to assist the clients in getting in
touch with him/herself. The counselor may ask the clients to close their eyes
to get in touch with inner world and say, “Now I am aware…”

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 d. The empty chair technique- the method can help clients to work through
conflicting part of personality. The empty chair technique is done by putting
an empty chair in front of the client. The empty chair is the chair of the
personality that avoids to do what the client wants to do.

COGNITIVE-BEHAVIORAL THEORIES
The cognitive-behavioral theories highlight the task of cognition in psychological
functioning. Cognition are thoughts, beliefs and internal images about events in their lives.
Cognitive counseling theories underscore mental processes and their effects on mental health.

 ELLIS’S RATIONAL EMOTIVE BEHAVIOR THERAPY

 Highlights the role of cognitions on emotions with the assertion that persons can
be best appreciated in terms of internal cognitive dialogue or self-talk.
 REBT views that emotional disorder is associated with cognitive processes that
are not rational.
 The main goal of REBT is to reform the self-defeating cognition of the client and
assist him/her in obtaining a more reasonable viewpoint in life.
 The type of therapy is didactic and provoking. It educates the clients to argue
illogical thinking and if essential, challenge the client’s self-defeating idea or
principle.
 Techniques:
a. Cognitive – focuses on helping the client’s conquer “defeating cognitions.”
The method involves reforming ideas that are unreasonable and irrational.
Other techniques include reframing from an unconstructive stance to a more
positive viewpoint.
b. Emotive Techniques – focuses on the client’s “affective or emotional
domain.” This helps in assisting client’s to learn to acknowledge themselves.
c. Behavioral Techniques – focuses on the full array of behavioral methods
such as assertiveness training, relaxation therapy, self-management, self-
monitoring and homework assignments.

 BECK’S COGNITIVE THERAPY

 Highlights the vitality of cognitive thinking particularly dysfunctional thoughts.

 This counseling approach is appropriate for people suffering from depression and
anxiety.
 Clients are led to be more practical in their understanding and explanation of
events by “projecting less (anxiety) and generalizing less (depression).
 According to Beck, he does not try to invalidate “beliefs” but let his clients
investigate “beliefs functionality.”
 The approach utilizes explicit profile and treatment plans for disorders such as
depression, suicide and anxiety.
 Techniques:
a. Decatastrophizing – this method is referred to as “what if” and includes
priming clients for results that may strongly affect the client.
b. Redefining – this method assists clients to drum up a lost sense control on
an obstacle by rearticulating an obstacle to something that may be useful.
c. Decentering – this method comprise of instructing the clients to observe and
get a practical appreciation of other people’s response. This will help clients
apprehend that they are not the “center of attention.”
d. Behavioral Techniques – this method applies a broad selection of methods
to assist clients in obtaining “essential skills, relaxing, preparing for difficult
situations, and exposing them to feared situations.”

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  BERNE’S TRANSACTIONAL ANALYSIS

 The Transactional Analysis (TA) approach refers to examining and dissecting

transactions between people.
 It includes evaluating the “three ego state of parent, adult and child of each
person.” This is to detect if the transactions are balanced and harmonized.
 The fundamental goal is to assist clients to reach a stage of being “autonomous,
self-aware, spontaneous and have the capacity for intimacy.
 TA Techniques:
a. Structural Analysis – a method that assists clients be conscious of their
“three ego”
b. Transactional Analysis – a method that assists clients to “learn to
communicate with complementary transactions.
c. Script Analysis – a method that looks into the “type of life script the client
has developed and how it can be re-written.”
d. Analysis of Games – a method that comprise of determining “what games
the clients play and how the games interfere with interpersonal functioning.”

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