The mind is complex, and even though most of us face similar battles, no one person is exactly the same. It’s not surprising to find out that when seeing a counsellor there are many different theories and techniques they may use to help. What are these different counselling theories and techniques and how does a counsellor go about choosing the right one to help their clients? Let’s take a look!
What is the significance of having different counselling theories?
Essentially counselling theories are a lens you’ll see your clients through when dealing with their situations. Through research, theory and practice there have been many different therapy theories to develop each with their own methods of approaching different situations and issues. Some may be short-term while others are more long-term. You’ll learn all about the different counselling theories when studying.
Edith Cowen University is one of the best online universities in Australia, and you’ll learn everything you need to know about advanced theories and techniques when you do a postgraduate certificate in counselling.
6 common types of counselling theories:
There are a lot of different counselling techniques that you’ll learn about, but here are six common ones you’ll find counsellors use:
Narrative therapy
The basis of narrative therapy is that what people tell themselves has a direct impact on how they perceive and react to the world around them — regardless of its positive or negative. Essentially, everyone’s life is a series of stories which shape their identity and the narrative theory focuses on guiding individuals to rewrite their life stories, as the expert of their lives, to rewrite their narrative to allow it to line up with their life goals. Narrative therapy allows counsellors to help their clients see their problems as separate to themselves and help them to feel empowered to rewrite their stories.
Narrative therapy emphasizes the importance of externalizing problems, a technique that helps individuals distinguish between their identity and the challenges they face. By viewing issues as separate entities, clients can reduce feelings of self-blame and instead approach their struggles with curiosity and resilience. This therapeutic approach also encourages identifying “unique outcomes” – moments when the problem didn’t dominate their life story. These moments serve as evidence of their strength and capability, paving the way for positive change. By exploring alternative narratives, people can redefine their relationships, values, and personal goals, creating a story that aligns more closely with their aspirations and sense of self.
Humanistic therapy
The humanistic therapy is a theory in counselling and psychology that is client-centred and focuses on the positive aspects of being human and an individual’s growth potential. According to the humanistic approach, it is believed that people are inherently motivated to fulfil their internal needs and find healing, growth, wisdom and ultimately fulfilment. As the counsellor you’ll encourage freedom of expression and demonstrate unconditional positive regard.
This therapy places a strong emphasis on fostering a genuine, empathetic, and non-judgmental therapeutic relationship, which serves as the foundation for personal growth. Central to this approach is the belief in self-actualization – the innate drive each person has to realize their full potential. Counsellors help clients explore their emotions and experiences without fear of criticism, creating a safe space to uncover deeper truths about themselves. Techniques such as active listening, reflective dialogue, and validation are used to enhance self-awareness and encourage self-acceptance. This empowers clients to embrace their unique qualities, overcome obstacles, and align their actions with their values and aspirations.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
Cognitive behavioural therapy focuses on helping individuals identify, question, and alter irrational beliefs and thoughts. According to this theory, how individuals think will ultimately impact their behaviour, and the goal of counsellors using behavioural therapy is to help their clients change the trajectory of their lives by helping them restructure their thought patterns and how they approach situations in their everyday lives. In the end, clients may be able to change the way they respond to difficulties and deal with them constructively.
In fact, CBT is highly structured and goal-oriented, often involving collaborative efforts between the therapist and client to develop practical strategies for managing challenges. Central to the process is identifying cognitive distortions and replacing them with more balanced and realistic perspectives. Therapists often use techniques like journaling, role-playing, and gradual exposure to fears to help clients build resilience and confidence. This evidence-based approach is widely effective for addressing a range of issues, including anxiety, depression, and stress. Over time, clients not only gain tools to navigate current struggles but also learn skills to maintain long-term mental well-being.
Attachment-based Therapy
The attachment theory is based on the idea that the attachments that people form with their parents early on in life impact the way people react to certain situations in adulthood, and certain behaviours and feelings may manifest. In this theory, there are four main attachment styles:
- Anxious
- Avoidant
- Disorganised
- Secure
When using attachment-based therapy, you’ll work with clients to identify key moments from their childhood and their relationships with their parents and caregivers to hopefully identify the source of attachment wounds. These attachment wounds influence how an individual thinks and behaves, and identifying these wounds helps them start the healing process and take control of their lives and relationships.
Psychoanalytic and Psychodynamic Therapy
With psychoanalytic and psychodynamic therapy, it’s believed that human behaviour is influenced by unconscious forces — which means that if internal conflict is not identified or dealt with, people will continually struggle with internal strife. This type of therapy focuses on bringing up unconscious thoughts by examining repressed feelings and experiences in order to facilitate healing. This is an approach that requires clients to be prepared for long-term therapy and willing to investigate their past and engage in self-reflection.
This counselling theory delve into the intricate layers of the mind, aiming to uncover patterns rooted in early life experiences and unresolved conflicts. By exploring recurring themes in relationships, dreams, and emotions, counsellors help clients gain insight into how these unconscious influences shape their present behaviour. Techniques such as free association, dream analysis, and transference interpretation are often employed to reveal hidden dynamics. This process fosters self-awareness, enabling clients to break free from maladaptive patterns and develop healthier ways of relating to themselves and others. While the journey can be lengthy, its profound impact often leads to deeper emotional resilience and lasting psychological growth.
Positive Psychology
As the name suggests, positive psychology focuses on the power of positivity. This approach is rooted in the belief that enhancing well-being is as important as addressing mental health issues. It allows clients to explore their strengths, virtues, positive patterns, and behaviours instead of their weaknesses and neurosis. While it may seem like this avoids negative experiences, this is not the case because counsellors and therapists will typically use this type of therapy in conjunction with others.
It focuses on cultivating positive emotions, engagement, relationships, meaning, and accomplishment – collectively known as the PERMA model. By building on what’s already working well in a person’s life, positive psychology aims to create lasting change and elevate overall happiness. While it doesn’t disregard challenges or negative emotions, it shifts the focus towards empowering clients to navigate life’s difficulties with a constructive and optimistic mindset. This approach can significantly improve self-esteem, motivation, and life satisfaction.
Final Thoughts
Understanding and selecting the right therapeutic techniques is crucial in providing effective support to individuals. Different counseling approaches – whether it’s cognitive-behavioral therapy, humanistic therapy, or psychodynamic therapy – require tailored interventions that align with the client’s needs and the nature of their struggles.
Knowing which techniques to use when counselling individuals is an important aspect of being able to help them through their issues. A good counselling course will equip you with the knowledge and skills to identify which techniques would best suit the area of counselling you are going into.
Reference:
Nelson-Jones, R. (2011) Theory and Practice of Counselling and Therapy. London: Sage.
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