Integrating counseling theories with personal values in practice

Counseling and Personal Values

Integrating Learned Theories about Counseling with Your Personal Values

As the world has modernized, people have started experiencing more psychological problems and other problems than ever. Despite the normal behavior that most of the people depict, they are a victim of psychological disturbances which ultimately makes them sick. Therefore counseling was introduces as a means to address various kinds of problem that people find difficult to tackle. There are many theories of counseling that help us deal with the problems but it is important to know how these theories integrate with our personal values. The impact that these theories have on the personal values of each person will be different due to the fact that personal values are different for each person.

Introduction

Definition of Counseling

Ever since counseling has emerged has a professional field, the need for a definition has been increasing. However, it is extremely difficult to devise a scientific definition of counseling. There have been various attempts at developing a definition in a systematic manner. One of these attempts defines counseling as a relationship that is portrayed through the application of communication skills along with the psychological theories. The relationship aims to improve the problems that the client is facing by addressing his intimate concerns and feelings. The definition defines facilitation and the client's welfare as the aim of counseling. Counseling session can be carried out in any professional or personal setting depending upon the client's comfort (Feltham & Dryden, 2005).

Now that a systemized definition of counseling is known, it is important to know what the concept of counseling is in our understanding. The concept of counseling in mind emerges from the word relationship. Counseling is understood to have developed into a professional field that deals with all the professional and personal problems related to relationships and career. Counseling was developed to solve problems of the people that were never taken seriously and had a very strong negative impact on a person's life.

Key Elements of Counseling for the First Session

The first counseling session can be very challenging, both for the client and the counselor. The first counseling session acts as the foundation of a developing relationship between the counselor and the client. There are many things to take care of before having that first session of counseling because if that goes bad, it is going to have a very negative impact on the client. Broadly, there are two key elements to be considered for the first counseling session as explained below.

Behavioral & Environmental Elements

Behavioral elements consist of all the elements related to the nature and attitude of both the client and the counselor. These elements include the above mentioned helping characteristics of the relationship along with the characteristic of emotional safety.

The environmental elements are different than the behavioral elements. The environmental elements include the following:

Professional Environment -- The first and foremost environmental element required in the first counseling session is the professional environment. The need for professionalism is important in the counseling environment because otherwise the client might develop a person relationship with the counselor with ruins the counseling therapy (Gladding, 2012).

Comfortable Environment -- Along with the professional environment, a need for comfort in the counseling environment also prevails. If the client or the counselor do not feel comfortable in the counseling environment, the counseling will not be beneficial (Gladding, 2012).

Systematic Elements

The systematic elements of the first counseling session include all the elements that are required by the counselor to keep a track of the client in his professional records. The systematic elements include the registration forms that are required to be filled by the clients, the consent authorization that the client provides to the counselor for getting the counseling treatment, expressive client analysis that includes assessment of the story that the client is explaining to the counselor, identifying the problem and assessment of the severity of the problem. The last systematic element needed in the first counseling session is that of the summarized wrap up that provides the client in the understanding of counseling development for the day and also informs him about the counseling plan for the coming weeks (Gladding, 2012).

Theories of Counseling

The theories of counseling that I'd like to seek to learn more about and practice in my counseling career or anywhere in my personal life are briefly explained below.

Psychoanalytical Theory -- The theory was given by Sigmund Freud and focuses on giving the client a sense of acceptance. The concepts applied in this theory are that of conscious and unconscious, dream analysis, resistance analysis, interpretation and etc. (Safran, 2012).

Individual Psychology Theory -- This theory was given by Alfred Adler and focuses on the development of a healthy and social lifestyle. The concepts applied in this theory are that of therapeutic processes to help the client with the development of a healthy relationship (Sweeney, 2009).

Person Centered Theory -- This theory is Carl Roger's theory that is basically centered on the individual himself. The theory focuses on helping the client with developing a realistic self-perception, learning to cope with stress of various levels and developing an adaptive and mature behavior.

Existential Counseling Theory -- This theory was given by Viktor Frankl and Rollo May and basically focuses on increasing the sense of accountability in the client's life and the self-awareness level.

Gestalt Theory -- Gestalt theory is Fritz Perls's theory that focuses on the current experiences of the client. The theory basically includes various exercises and experiments consisting of methods to increase a client's interaction (Wollants, 2012).

Rational Emotive Theory -- This theory was given by Albert Ellis and consists of a counseling therapy that focuses on help the clients with developing a productive and rational life style.

Transactional Analysis Theory -- This theory was given by Eric Berne. This therapy not only focuses on development of a productive life but also focuses on attaining health and independence.

Other Behavioral Theories -- The behavioral theories were mostly given by B.F. Skinner. These theories basically focus on making the clients emotionally and psychologically strong and rational.

We are familiar with all these theories, but each theory is a subject within itself. Therefore, to understand the practical approach towards this theory it is important to develop a thorough understanding of the theory.

Techniques of Counseling

Although there are different techniques of counseling available, the techniques chosen for further discussion are explained below.

Adlerian Technique

Adlerian technique had been devised from the Adlerian theory given by Alfred Adler. The theory basically believes that social interest is a great motivator for humans. If a person is assigned certain directions and goals, he or she will be motivated intrinsically. The technique carries out the counseling therapy via challenging the client on the personal logics and beliefs that he or she has developed in order to help them with determining a direction of their lives by assignment of certain goals leading towards development of sense of belongingness towards his or her surroundings. I will mainly use this technique for clients who have problem with adjusting in their surroundings i.e. The problem of maladjustment and clients who have a low self-esteem i.e. The problem of having degrading self impression (Sweeney, 2009).

I will use the Adlerian techniques through confrontation that actually challenges the personal logic the client has formed in his or her mind and by asking questions to the client. Along with the challenge and interrogation, I will also use encouragement to help client deal with the challenge previously provided. To have an effective implication of the therapy I will also indulge in an acting exercise with the client to provide an understanding to the client that how his/her life will be different by being who he/she wants to be. Last but not the least, I will then point out client's problem and make him aware of his destructive behavior. I will also provide the client with short-term goals as a prescription for him to be treated psychologically (Sweeney, 2009).

Gestalt Technique

The Gestalt technique has been derived from the Gestalt theory that was given by Fritz Perls. The theory basically believes that the focus of counseling should be on the client having a complete life by living productively. The technique carries out a Gestalt counseling therapy by helping the client gain intellectual maturity. I will use this technique with clients who have an incomplete life due to the lack of productive efforts on the client's end (Wollants, 2012).

I will basically use the Gestalt therapy through two Gestalt techniques which are exercises and experimentation. The exercise technique of Gestalt therapy include exercise activities of psycho drama, fantasy and fantasy related role playing, and actions of frustration that will be used according to whatever is suitable to the client. The experimental technique includes creative interventions. I will also use the techniques of empty chair i.e. giving the client a feeling of a separate entity and helping him uncover various parts of his personality. I will also prefer using dream work which would include the client's self-interpretation and understanding on the dream (Wollants, 2012).

Personal Life Experiences

Life experiences that will help me as counselor to deal with a large variety of clients include my academic and professional along with the personal experiences. I have travelled a lot in my life due to which I was exposed to dealing with different kinds of people. I have had the experience of having colleagues of difference races, ethnicities and cultures, therefore I have sufficient understanding of how specific ethnicities, cultures, and races affect the mental well being of the people at large. For a counselor, the most important thing is to understand how socio cultural aspects affect the client's mental well being. Therefore my vast experience with dealing people of different kinds is going to be an extremely beneficial factor in my counseling career.

Personal Limitations

Since I am a human being, I also have certain limitations that hinder my ability to deal with a certain set of clients. These limitations include a suppressed fear. During my early years of teenage, I had a teacher who was extremely aggressive. He reacted severely to little things that hardly mattered. As a result, I developed a fear of aggression due to which I find it difficult to deal with people who are aggressive in nature. Clients who delineate aggression in their nature will be the most challenging clients for me. I'll not only have to act as a counselor for my client, but also for myself to address the suppressed fear of aggression that has been embedded within for a very long time now.

Client Segment Analysis

There are certain kinds of clients that I would be able to work with effectively as well as clients that I would not be able to work with. Both these client populations are explained below.

Clients that I would be able to work with Generally I will be able to work with clients who are willing to solve the problem that they have. Even if they are not willing as long as I am respected as a counselor, I'd be able to work with such clients. My personal experiences have made me capable to work with clients of all cultures, ethnicities and races. Therefore, it is difficult to categorize the client population that I would be able to work with. However, it would not be wrong to say that I would be able to work with almost all kinds of client population. It is important to keep certain factors in mind, one of the most important factors for example is that the client should communicate in a language that I can understand.

Clients that I would not be able to work with As mentioned above, there are no obvious types of clients that I would not be able to work with. However, a few client populations might make it difficult for me to work with them. These are the client populations who do not want a solution to their problems, despite admitting that they need treatment do not respect me as a counselor are aggressive in nature

have a different language of communication than I do

Apart from the client populations who depict the behavior mentioned above, I would be able to work with everyone.

Conclusion

Counseling serves as therapy to address whatever problems a person may have in his or her professional or personal life. It is important to understand the role of lifestyle in the mental health and the physical health of a person. In order to have a healthy lifestyle, you need to have an understanding of the problems that you are facing emotionally and otherwise. You need to be strong as a counselor as well as a client to deal with these problems. These therapeutic techniques act as psychological change agents for the clients as they alter the complete approach that the client has towards his or her life to a positive one. Hence it wouldn't be wrong to say that by integrating counseling with personal values, the counseling can be more effective.