Counseling Teenagers

Chapter 4
Perspective on counselling

Pollie Harahap

* Prov 15:22

Believing that all truth is from God,we’ll

consult with psychoterapist and
counselors who write both from a
Christian context and from other view
points
 Learning from our teachers
• There are > 250 psychotherapist methods in use
• The chart below includes some of the most common forms of
therapeutic interventions.These therapies have been grouped
under 4 headings :

• 1.Psychodynamic
• 2.Existential/experiental
• 3.Cognitive (mental process to understand) and
• 4.Learning/behavioral

• The theories within each category share many similar

propositions (dalil or idea) regarding ; the natute of humanity
and of dysfunctional behaviour,.the therapy goals,the
counsellor’s role,the treatment techniques and components
and the nature of psychological wellness.
Common forms therapeutic intervention
Psychodynam Essential/exp Cognitive Learning/beh
ic erience
avioral

Psychoanaly Client Trait & factor Reciprocal

sis centered (Parsons cs) inhibation
(Freud) (Rogers) (Wolpe)

Analytical Gestalt (Peris) Rational Reinforcemen

psychotherap (Set of things) emotive t counseling
y(Jung) (Elllis) (Dollard cs)

Psychoanality Logotheraphy Individual Biofeedback

c (Frankl) psychotherap (Green)
psychotherap y (Adler)
y (Fromm cs)

Egoanalysys Existencial Reality Behavioural

 Comparison of counseling models
Characteristic Psychodynamic Existential Cognitive Learning

1.Nature of People are People are People are People are

humanity both animals n primaliry rational beings primaly
human good,rational a mechanistic
trustworthy creative
2.Nature of Result from a Result when Result of Mal adjustive
dysfunctional breaking down external force irrational behavior that
behavior of ego function or internal thinking and has been
tension incomplete learned
knowledge
3Therapy Partial or Increased self Alleviation(too Eliminates mal
complete awareness n much) of pain adaptive
personality self acceptance n anxiety by behavior n
reorientation increasing learn adaptive
awareness of behavior;chang
reality es in
developing perception
 Comparison of counseling models
Psychodynamic orientation (S Freud),
• His structural theory esteblished the roles of id,superego n ego.His
dynamic theory explained the psychic energy process that occurred
within n between these 3 structures.
• His presentation of eros as the basic generative,constructive life force
and thanatos the central degenative,destructive death force also had
lasting impact on the development of psychotherapeutic and counseling
thought.

Adler rejected the sexual etiology (penyebab utama) of neurosis n

suggested that feelings of inferiority n inadequacy were the central
cause.He also stressed the impact of the social environment on the
psyche n de-emphasized the force of sociological instinct

C Jung,libido was primarily sexual but that it had become,through the

process of evolution,a more undifferentiated or universal life drive.Being
expanded the concept of heredity to include inheritance of not only
biological attributes but also of the experience of our ancestors.
 Comparison of counseling models

Existential/experiential orientation,

R May,Viktor F cs have been involved in translating existential physophy into the

clinical practice of psychotheraphy n
counseling.Depersonalization,alienation,loss of direction n meaning and the
inability to make commitment are important treatment issues.
V Frankl states there are 3 kinds of values to be found ; Creative,Experience and
Attitudinal. Some of them must be realized in every life situation in order for
life to maintain its meaning

Carl Rogers,his theory of counseling has progressed through 3 stages; the non
directive,the client centered and the active counselor involvement.
Essentially,Rogers believes that if the therapist possesess and adequately
express 3 qualities : genuiness/congruence,unconditional and non possesive
love,warmth and positive regard and accurate understanding, then, the the
conselee will grow.
 Comparison of counseling models
Frederick Peris,sees human nature from a wholistic perspective.As a
person goes through life,parts of the self are lost and splits (to divide)
develop in the psyche.The active and directive nature of gestalt therapy
refocuses the patient on the” HERE AND NOW” in order to restore the
split of parts of the person back into the whole.Powerfull treatment
expriences are hall mark of gestalt therapy which include empty chair
technique,split self dialogue and acting out dream work
Eric Berne,developed the transactional analysis.He postulates (give an
idea) that there are 3 ego states : child,parent and adult.Transactional
analysis and structural analysis are designed to help counselees stop
playing games and tracker and start moving toward a more self
directed,autimous life pattern
A Lowen, founded the bioenergetic analysis,emphasizes the interacting
role of the body in the development of the psyche,the etiology of
psychological dysfunction and in the psychotherapieutic treatment of
psychogical disorders.importance is placed on the mind/body response
to stress and conflict which produces several different character
structures
 Comparison of counseling models
• Cognitive orientation,
• This approach minimizes the impotance of unconscious processess
and de-emphasizes the need to work with the person’s emotions.It’s
place more emphasis on supplying needed information and
correcting inaccurate perceptual and though patterns.These
therapies more brief and cognitively oriented
• A Ellis, developed rational emotive therapy which is very
active,directive type of short term.The fundamental of his theory is
the proposition that psychological dysfunction is created by the
internalization of incorrect beliefs that lead to ineffective and self
defeating behavior.There are irrational statements that people often
tell themselves (self talk) that become intricately involved in
disstresed,unhealthy living.
• W Glasser, developed another short term therapy.The theory holds
that one’s identity can change if behavior changes.Therefore,therapy
focus upon altering the person’s behavior to contructive and
adaptive pattern,thus leading to a more constructive and adequate
identity
 Comparison of counseling models

• Learning/behavioral orientation,
• These therapies can be divided into 2 groups : operant conditioning
techniques and classical conditioning theory and procedure
• B F Skinner,who research included rats and pigeons in an
experimental chamber that has been become as the Skinners box.By
providing certain positive (food) or negative(electric shock) stimuli
immediately after the occurance of a spesific target behavior.He was
able to cause that behavior either increase or decrease in frequency.
• J Dollard & N Miller,their theory represents a collaberative effort
between an experimental psychologist and a cultural anthropologist
who formulated their theory from psychoanalityc works of Freud,the
learning theory of Hull and the writings of several anthropologist
• J Krumboltz,operant conditioning based therapies have been very
effective approaches with autistic children,stuttering (gagap)
problems,depression,inpatient,aggressive behavior and fear
speaking in front of group.
• A Salter,believes that the cause of emotional illness is
inhibition.His therapeutic goal is to recondition his patient to
become excited rather than inhibited,He helps them think less and
act more spontaneously upon their emotions,He coaches his
patients to say what they feel
J Wolpe, has been sucessfull in treating phobic patients with his
reciprocal inhibitation (larangan) psychotherapy.He introduce an
alternate response that opposes the anxiety response.If the alternate
response replaces the anxiety response then the latter is said to be
either partially or completely inhibited. Assertive (expressing idea)
and relaxation responses are the most commonly used replacement
Systematic desensitization is a particular form of reciprocal
inhibition.Phobic patients are tauhgt to be more aware of their level
of body tension.Patients are taught to deep muscle relaxation
whenever they feel tension in their bodies
A Bandura, found that people who had phobic fears of snakes
could be encouraged to sit still while a snake crawled around
them after watching a person model fearless snake handling
An Overview of Christian aproaches to counseling
• Many efforts toward integration of psychogical thought and
Christian faith have come from a variety of sectors in many different
forms.Ministers and lay people have been reading both secular and
Christian “pop” psychology.The following charts will give us a broad
picture of various ways that Christian formulate counseling

Approaches to relating Christianity with psychology

Compartmentalization Psychological Basis Theological basis Spiritual reduction

Psychological theory Integration - singular Integration - singular All truth is revealed in

and theology theory theory the Bible.Psychology is
understanding with 2 opposition to
different and distinct A specific Theological beliefs Christiananity and all
issues.Though they psychological theory is based on scripture counseling phylosophy
may interrelate in the basis for the provide the basis for and methods must be
some instances,they counseling counseling,which found in and based
are best dealt with approach.Compatible integrates compatible upon scriptures
separetely. sccriptural principles psychogical theory
are integrated

Integration – eclectism Integration – ecletism

A variety of Theological beliefs
psychological theories based on scripture
and methods provide provide the basis for
• When problem occurs,decisions are made about that is fits best,who
is best qualified to deal with that category and what should be done
about it. Example Karla’s case
• The compartmentalist sees Karla’s problem from his /her
perspective and approaches the situation from a singular point of
view.In our example,all 3 orientations have strong value.but the
compartementalist counselor would counsel only from 1 of the 3
perspectives,believing that the other 2 fell outside of his/her
domain.
• Spiritual reductionism, the materialistic reductionism believes
that concept like “mind” “ thought” etc can be explained as having
certain physical or material properties that can be
observed,measured and experimentally manipulated.On the other
side of the reductionistic coin are the spiritual
reductionists.Spiritual reductionism believes that all of reality is
ultimately explained and caused by spritual properties.
• B Gothard & T La Haye, states the belief that all psychological
problems are spiritual in their genesis.Psychogical well being is
attained through applying spiritual cures. They express very strong
opinions about the genesis,nature and treatment of mental and
emotional problems.
• Skinner’s materialistic reductionism is unaccetable because it
denies people’s ability to think creatively and even more because it
denies as well the existence of spiritual reality. In similar
fashion,Gothard’s spiritual reductionism is unacceptable because it
denies the importance of the mental.emotional and psychological
aspect of humanity

• La Haye starts with a psychologically based theory of behavior and

finishes with spiritualistic answers for behaviour problems
• J Adams, he presents”nouthetic counseling”.This approach
represents a strong negative reaction to the bulk of non Christian
psychotherapeutic work.But like so many reactions,Adam nouthetic
counseling seems to be an over reaction.His basis for truth is the
Bible.If there is no bible reference that supports the use of a certain
technique then it’s to be discarded us unbiblical.
• Therefore, Bible is our most solid basis for truth,but our
intepretation,understanding and application are always subject to
criticism,alteration and addfitional insightso when people limit their
knowledge to only one source,even when that source is the
Bible,they place themselves on a very precarious epistemological
base.

• Another difficulty with reductionistic approach is their characteristic

intolerace for the abstract and for “not knowing”. In contrast to R
May,there is little or no art in their counseling.It’s a concrete
process of confrontation,exhortation (moving adead body),teaching
and holding the counselee accountable.Not knowing and ambiguity
are viewed as negative states that serves no positive purpose.
 Integration

• Compartmentalist don’t want integration of psychology and theology

because they believe that 2 disciplines deal with totally different and
separate areas of human function
• Spiritual reductionist allude to psychologist but usully in disparaging
terms,viewing that discipline as having gone astray from truth and a
threat to spiritual well being.Since the reductionist believe all the
truth we need to know is in the Bible,they recommend only
theologians and pastors who are intentionally ignorant of psychology
to counsel
• True integrationists express an honest valuing of both the
psychological and thelogical perspective of human
behavior.Further,they perceive that 2 disciplines are focused on
areas of human functioning and are overlapping.They seek the truth
that is discovered from both approaches in order to enrich their
understanding and to increase their counseling effectiveness
 Integration
• There are 4 different types of counselors who seek integration
• 1.Counselors who work primarily from a psychologist basis
according to one theory
• 2.Counselors who work primarily from a theological basis
according to one theory
• 3.Counselors who work primarily from a psychogical basis
with an eclectic (to elect some choices) system,and
• 4.Counselors who work primarily from a theological basis
with an eclectic system

The thesis in this book is that best counselling approach

integrates psychological theory with theological
understanding. Several factors will influence the specific
manner in which an integration counselor approaches this
difficult task
 Integration
• 1.The counselors educational background
• 2.The setting in which a person works also has an effect
upon counseling style
• 3.The nature of a counselors continuing education
• 4.Both the style and the quality of the counselors’s spiritual
life
• 5.The counselors personality structure
• 6.Whether or not the counselors has been through any
significant personal therapy or counseling
 Integration
• 4 approaches to integration ;

1.Primarily focus on psychology: singular theory,counselors in this

category have been trained primarily from a psychological orientation
with little formal theological training.They have developed a strong
thrust and appreciation for their psychological heritage and have
particularly adept in the counseling application of one particular
theoretical position.they concerned about the theological compatibility of
their approach and are willing to alter their therapeutic formulations in
order to integrate their theological beliefs

2.Primarily focus on theology: singular theory,Counselors in this

category often have a strong background in theological training and may
or may not have done extensive work in psychology.Their theorical
structures fits comfortably with scripture and finds its genesis in
scripture.They also require that their approach be consistent with
certain psychological orientation,whether it’s from the
psychodynamic,existential,cognitive or learning orientation.
The prominent counselor for this type is L Crabb who wrote “ Effective
Biblical counseling”.His approach to counseling is clearly biblical and
singular theorist because he delinates 7 specific stages through which
effective counseling should progress
 Integration

• 3. Primarily focus on psychology:eclectic,counselors in this

category tend to have strong psychological background.They may or
may not have nay formal theological training and though they are
interested in compatibility between both doctrines.The primary
genenis of their counseling approach comes from studies in
psychology.they have not been sufficiently impressed with any one
therapeutic elements.Rather,their counseling is based on the
particular elements in each individual case.
• R Koteskey starts with a summary of psychogicsal research and
theory.His goal is to pull out the truth tha thas been discovered
through the study of psychology and then refine or reinterpret this
truth from a Christian perspective.He defines healthy adjusment as
“ being like God” and mal adjusment is “being unlike God”
• G Collins,he displays his strong eclectic foundation in psychological
training.No singular theoretical frame work unifies his
methodology.His counseling goals and methods are specifically
oriented to the problem for which the counselee request assistance
 Integration

• 4.Primarily focus on theology: eclectic, Counselors in this

last variety are integrationists typically well-trained in
theology and they feel the need on base their counseling
aproach in scripture.They formulate their ideas about
psychologicsl dysfunction,counseling goals and treatment
methods primarily on Christian beliefs.

• F Minirth & P Meier, suggest a “Christian eclectic

approach”.The eclectic nature and scriptural preeminance
over psychology are emphasized in their approach.The Bible
is central to their counseling techniques.not only is the word
of God to be used in conjuncjuntion wuthy thev therapies of
the secular schools, it is to be the overriding factor