Barak's Cognitive Approach

¶ … cognitive approach of Azy Barak In an era when technology has changed the way society functions psychologists are realizing that previous theories have become limited in their approach and conventional counseling methods need to be reassessed. The social dynamics are changing as are interpersonal relationships and direct communication is being reduced as virtual societies are being created. In this changing society vocational psychologists are realizing the need for a more innovative approach.

Previous theorists suggested that multiple roles created a stress that enhanced the lives of the people and this allowed a generalization of the vocational theories. Through understanding life roles, work satisfaction and motivation could be understood. (Yalom, 1995) Counseling was then given in group or individual basis which took place in an immediate physical environment. However, with the advent of the Internet the society no longer seeks traditional therapy. The new generation is so Internet savvy that solutions to problems are sought for online.

More recently Azy Barak, a new era psychologist has suggested that psychologists should join the technological age and create vocational assessment tests that can be taken online and allow the individual to be studied in context of the multiple roles that rule his or her life. The unique aspect of the cognitive approach of Barak lies in the fact that it perceives the individual as a part of the technological environment and allows for the assessment of his cognitive self through this perspective.

Building on previous cognitive counseling and therapy theories Barak allows the people of the 21st century to be seen in their environmental situation rather than applying past and invalidated.