1. Theories and Disability Counseling
Individual Approach:
Psychoanalytic Approach:
Concepts- inferiority feelings, compensation, striving for superiority and lifestyle.
Intervention strategies- develop lifestyle and help a client move from non-coping to coping
Adaptations- Adlerian concept is well suited to helping clients with disabilities via adaptation, acknowledgment, adjustment and developing sense of social usefulness.
Concepts- defense mechanism, body image, mourning and depression (melancholia) and early developmental stage.
Intervention strategies- (not much,) may help a counselor appreciate “the complexity of the personality, especially as it strives to adjust to the real and symbolic losses of…function,” conflicts with body image
Adaptations- best for clients who have come to terms with their disabilities gain better self understanding

2. Theories and Disability Counseling
Person-Centered:
Gestalt:
Concepts- phenomenological field (or subjective perception), self- concept (incongruence), denial and distortion of threatening experiences.
Intervention strategies- limitations, need for more active and directive approach, best for early encounters.
Adaptations- attend the client’s fears, better understand “the positive inner resources” to move towards coping and acceptance.
Concepts- holistic view of the individual, awareness of the present, personal responsibility, polarities and closure.
Intervention strategies- one of the more “rich” theories to use: game of unfinished business, game of dialogue, game of exaggeration, taking responsibility and personalizing pronouns, reversals.
Adaptations- great for persons feeling “stuck,” “increasing self- awareness…assume responsibility for self…deal with impasse and reach closure,” and group work

3. Theories and Disability Counseling
Reality Therapy Approach:
Rational-Emotive/Cognitive Approach:
Concepts- behaviors are largely determined by cognitive perceptions, A-B-C theory of personality.
Intervention strategies- minimize misconceptions, maximize coping skills by disputing irrational beliefs and replacing them with rational ones, short-term specific goals.
Adaptations- interrupt “client’s unrealistic and negative beliefs…concerning the disability and its implications.”
Concepts- success identity or failure identity and social responsibility.
Intervention strategies- “Disabilities are not allowed to be used as excuses for personal failures and dependency,” goals are to accept reality, assume responsibility, develop a positive plan and behaviors to achieve a success identity.
Adaptations- clients are not penalized for their failures but given a new plan, use of sarcasm, practice, and best used during final phases of adapting to disability.

4. Theories and Disability Counseling
Somatopsychological Approach:
Behavioral Approach:
Concepts- operant conditioning (positive and negative reinforcement), classical conditioning, modeling and social-cognitive approaches.
Interventions- define behavior goals, reinforce targeted behaviors, teach clients skills for self monitoring and self-reinforcement, using time-out, overcorrection, biofeedback, standup for themselves.
Adaptations- best during final phases of adapting to disability, incompatible with denial, teaching relaxation techniques.
Concepts- behavior is the result of interaction between intrapsychic (mental) and external (environmental) conditions. Essentially developed for rehabilitation.
Interventions- start during depressive reactions and continue until full adjustment. “Concentrate on preventing the generalization of disability associated limitation to other non-affected life areas.” Taught to take pride on personal achievement without comparison.
Adaptations- no longer “hung up” on loss or disability, greater pride in non-disabled abilities, disability is only limited to that which it directly pertains to, upholds asset evaluation and focuses on strengths and continued progress.

5. Areas for future study:
Comparative study between theories and interventions- study which ones hold stronger long-term results and are most efficient.
Study which theories work better with specific disabilities- eg. physical disabilities, mental/cognitive disabilities, invisible disabilities.
Theories and their interaction/positive influence on the development of “disability identity” (Atkinson, Morten, & Sue, 1993 model) both with the individual directly affected and those who are not disabled.

6. References:
Kim, J., McMahon, B., Hawley, C., Brickham, D., Gonzalez, R., & Lee, D. (2016). Psychosocial Adaptions to Chronic Illness and Disability: A Virtue Based Model. Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation. 26. p
Livneh, H., & Sherwood, A. (1991). Application of Personality Theories and Counseling Strategies to Clients With Physical Disabilities. Journal of Counseling & Development. 69. p
Meyer, J., Hinton, V., & Derzis, N. (2015). Emerging Adults with Disabilities: Theory, Trends, and Implications. Journal of Applied Rehabilitation Counseling. 46(4) p
Murdock, N. (2013). Theories of Counseling and Psychotherapy: A Case Approach. [3rd Ed.] Pearson. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey.
Smart, J. & Smart, D. (2006). Models of Disability: Implications for the Counseling Profession. Journal of Counseling and Development. 84. p