Kinds of Counselling and Psychotherapy
The most common question I am asked by men and women about counselling making a first enquiry is 'What kind of counselling do you need to do?'
What exactly is usually meant by this is, 'What sorts of trouble would you offer counselling for?' Most counsellors and psychotherapists, myself included, don't specialise in one kind of problem, as all problems or difficulties affecting feelings and thinking have similarities, and mainly respond to therapy in ways that are similar.
So that the answer to the question 'What sorts of trouble would you offer counselling for?' would be something like 'Difficulties with feelings and thinking', rather than unique single issues like, say, 'low self esteem', or 'fear of failure'. Most counselling and psychotherapy doesn't ordinarily separate one thing they're thinking or feeling or doing off, and deals with the complete individual.
That is only a rule of thumb, nevertheless. There are some treatments which do specialise in particular types of dilemma, often ones which employ a certain alternative-based approach. Counselling for habits is an obvious example, a specialism which usually involves a progressive, guided programme. Others might be bereavement or eating difficulties. Special section of the population, for example women or young people, might also be identified as groups needing a specialist approach to some extent, but on the whole these use exactly the same techniques as another emotional counselling. The primary difference may be that the agency has received funding for it has been set up to deal with that particular issue or group, and so focuses it's resources because place. Someone counsellor or psychothearpist may deal in a particlar place as they have been especially interested by it, or they've done extra training in it, or perhaps had particular experience of the issue themselves.
There are a number or appraoches, broadly divisible to the three aspects of Humanistic, Psychodynamic and Cognitve-Behavioural. A short description of each and every form of approach and the subdivisions of it's is beyond the scope of this post.
At the centre of the Person Centred approach is the idea the Counsellor is a 'guest' in the universe of the client's experience, with all that this implies regarding respect and trust.
The customer is regarded as essentially trustworthy, that he/she understands somewhere, somehow, that they have a desire for growth, and what they require. The counsellor might help bring these into awareness and help the customer to utilise them.
Another essential concept is 'states of worth'. States are imposed early in life where a person quantifies their very own value, how unacceptable or acceptable they are. A simple example might be' Don't ever be angry, or you'll be an awful, black individual, and you'll not be adored.' The message this takes might be something like 'If I am angry it means I am not valuable, hence I must never be angry.' The person conclude from this that they must consequently not be valuable, ugly, black, and will inevitably feel angry, perhaps often. Another might be 'If you don't do well academically, it means you're stupid and you'll be a failure in life'. This type of state will have a tendency to keep with the person forever, and she or he might happen to be struggling for many years to live up to what might be impossible states of worth. Whether this type of internal certainty is brought to light, and it's origins comprehended fully, it may be the person has the capability to observe that it's actually false, it's been set there by others, and my be able to move away from it.
The Person Centred Counsellor attempts to be 'with' the customer as a type of company. The Counsellor respecting and accepting the individual, whatever they're like, will cause the individual him or herself coming to believe he or she actually is satisfactory, and coming into contact with a more true, 'organismic' self that has consistently been there in some way, but been hidden. They could then become more real, less preoccupied with appearances and facades, or living up to the expectations of others. They may value their own feelings more, positive or negative. They may start to relish their experience of the instant. They may value others more, and enjoy relating to them, rather than feeling oppressed, shy, junior-grade.
This is achieved by the Counsellor by creating a climate of approval within which the customer can find him or herself. Specific states that are therapeutic facilitate states laid down from the creator of this approach, this, Carl Rogers. Included in these are:
The therapist's authenticity, or genuineness. This can not be merely acted, it must be real or it'll be worthless.
Absolute acceptance of the customer, and positive regard for them, no matter how they seem to be.
'Empathic understanding', the therapist showing the customer that their feelings have been comprehended, and, further, really comprehending exactly what the customer is saying.
Psychodynamic, or Psychoanalytic, therapy attempts to foster an interaction including unconscious aspects of the customer. A complete life's expertise, most powerfully what the individual has learned from her or his first associations in early childhood, will determine the way the customer relates to others. This can come out in some form in the healing relationship too, as well as the therapist should be aware of what influences and powers may be at work in the customer.
This approach will not include that idea of 'free will'. It does not see our thinking, feeling and decision making as the effect of conscious awareness, but as the outcomes of numerous forces which are functioning beneath conscious awareness. The person is acting and relating largely as the result of the instincts they're born with, together with what they've learned about themselves, mainly in early life through the character of the close relationships.
The special 'disposition' is formed in the crucible of this early encounter. This can be laid down in as a stress if, for instance, the main carer of the child hasn't fed her properly. This might be only about being fed, about getting enough to eat, or it may be extended by the baby into associated matters, like trust (they've learned never to trust that food, or the carer, will be there when needed), or insecurity about life in general, or a sense of there always being something lacking. A result might be overeating, say, or greed in other means, for goods, or neediness, nervous dependence on the presence of others, or one other. This really is one example. There are myriad sorts of operations with a myriad of variations and subtleties in the psyche, forming from arrival, of this kind. They are nearly all laid down in a level of the individual which is not accessible to the conscious mind, and are acted out automatically.
The therapist has to be familiar with the type of those unconscious networks, and how they're working in the session as well as in the person's life. Feelings and activities and the customer's thoughts may be 'interpreted' from the therapist, in terms of their unconscious might be directing them. Or, perhaps less controversially, how early encounter may have resulted in the way she or he is now. In discussing this, the customer may obtain acceptance, self knowledge and more charge of their life.
Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy
An integrative approach attempts to incorporate one or even more theories into one unified procedure, as the name implies.
I believe it is not easy to incorporate Person Psychodynamic and Centred orientations into one, as they are in many ways antithetical. The belief of the 'expert' for example. Person Centred Counselling tries to avoid a situation where one person is in the function of 'pro' as well as the other is the passive receiver of wisdom. The professional is the holder of what can seem to be an arcane knowledge, mostly of the workings of the unconscious, knowledge that is transmitted in interpretations of exactly what the customer says. This compares using an easy but 'prized' acceptance of the customer as is the case with all the Person Centred approach, and whatever they might say, without interpretation.
In spite of this type of issue, yet, I do consider it is possible to incorporate elements of both in a fashion that is more efficient than either alone. That it's possible yet, and to operate in a mostly person centred way, accepting and valuing the individual and whatever they say be aware of previous influences on the way someone has become. Including the therapist being aware of the psychodynamic chances underlying the interaction between therapist as well as the customer. I believe that there will inevitably be some 'transference', and some anticipation the therapist holds abilities and knowledge that the customer will not have, which will cause certain feelings in the customer. Transference is often viewed in Person Centred Counselling as an impediment to be overcome as soon as possible, and while I agree that it should be be brought into awareness, I consider that it could be a valuable tool, not to be ignored too soon, and never to be undervalued.
The counsellor must strive to be conscious of all elements which may be functioning in the partnership anytime, and how these might change at different times, and manage to choose which of these ought to be shared with all the customer for their gain. I believe it is possible to share, tentatively, some 'psychodynamic' chances without losing the fundamental 'Person Centred' states of genuineness and admiration.
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