1. INTRODUCTION TO COUNSELING THEORIES

2. INTRODUCTION
Preliminary
Beginning

3. COUNSELING
a profession that uses a specific body of knowledge and skills to assist others to reach certain goals. counselors help clients mobilize resources to solve problems and modify attitudes and values. (wilson)

4. THEORY
a formulation of underlying principles of certain observed phenomena which has been verified to some degree. (webster)

5. WHY A THEORY OF COUNSELING IS IMPORTANT
provides the foundation or direction for the counseling/helping process
helps to shape the counseling/helping process (techniques/procedures used)
sets up the philosophical reasoning as to causes of problems and ultimately treatment planning

6. MAJOR CATEGORICAL APPROACHES

7. PSYCHODYNAMIC APPROACHES
Psychoanalysis
Adlerian
Stress insight
Stress past experiences and their influence on present experiences

8. EXPERENTIAL APPROACHES
Also known as relational approaches
Existential
Person- centered
Gestalt
Feminist
Stress feelings and subjective experiences (empathy)

9. COGNITIVE-BEHAVIORAL APPROACHES
Transactional analysis
Rational emotive behavior therapy
Cognitive therapy
Stresses reasoning/logic
Cognitive distortions

10. BEHAVIORAL APPROACHES
Behavioral therapy (multimodal therapy)
Reality therapy
Stress changing unhealthy behaviors by doing/acting

11. SYSTEMS APPROACHES Object relations theory Strategic family therapy
Structural family therapy
Stresses family interactions as an influence on individual behavior

12. INTEGRATIVE APPROACH Sometimes known as eclecticism
Stresses the need to have a theoretical foundation, but also a need to be able to integrate theories in meeting client’s needs

13. THERAPEUTIC COMMONALITIES
Positive expectations
Therapeutic relationship
Hawthorne effect
Emotional release (catharsis)
Interpretation
Reinforcement
Desensitization

14. COMMONALITIES
Problem solving/searching for solutions
Skill training