Counseling Theory and Practice in the TC

Scope of Counseling and Psychotherapy

From: Brammer, L. M., Abrego, P. J., and Shostrom, E. L. (1993). Therapeutic counseling and psychotherapy, (3rd
Edition). New Jersey: Prentice Hall
Counseling

Educational
Supportive
Situational & developmental
Problem-solving
Conscious awareness
Emphasis on normals
Focus on present

Psychotherapy

Reconstructive
Supportive (more focused)
Depth emphasis
Analytic
Unconscious dynamics
Emphasis on dysfunction or severe emotional problems
Focus on past patterns

Counseling Theories

Psychoanalytic Approach
Phenomenological Approaches

Carl Rogers Person-Centered Therapy

Gestalt Therapy
Behavioral and Cognitive-Behavioral Approaches
Systems Approaches

Some Helpful Concepts

Resistance (Denial)
Confrontation
Identification
Projection
Projective Identification
Transference
Counter-transference
Corrective Emotional Experience

Counseling Issues in the T. C.

Individual counseling within the context of community as method

Confidentiality issues in counseling within the TC

individual needs vs. community needs

Adolescent issues, family, developmental issues, etc.

taboo behaviors and confidentiality

ethical issues
Integrating other therapeutic approaches into the TC
Gender Issues
Counselors unresolved issues
Transference and counter-transference issues

Keeping It Simple--individual counseling is provided in the TC to:

Ensure a constant source of client information and accountability.

Provide a constant source of guidance and support to the client.
Help surface complicated and troubled feelings.
Provide direction and assist in problem solving.
Address issues that need special attention i.e. learning problems, family issues, etc.
The Goals Of Counseling Are:

Establish rapport
Elicit information
Provide feedback
To implement interventions that promote insight, build self-esteem, provide support, increase self-help
behavior, explore new behaviors or responses.
Experience intimacy through therapeutic relationship.
Coordinate treatment around unique client needs.

Basic Counseling Skills

Establishing Rapport
Facilitating Insight
Increasing Motivation

Establishing Rapport
The three conditions counselor must establish:

Accurate Empathy

Warmth

Genuineness
Accurate Empathy
1.
2.

Non-confrontational (personal attack)

Skillful reflective listening

Warmth
1.
2.

Non-possessive warmth
Unconditional positive regard

Genuineness
1.
2.

Honest feelings
Authentic responses

Facilitating Insight

Establish trust
Reinforce self-disclosing behavior
Provide emotional support
Provide information

Increase Motivation

Bolster self-esteem
Create dissonance
Get commitment to try new behavior

Bolster Self-Esteem

Acknowledge past successes

Recognize strength
Challenge erroneous beliefs about lack of abilities or capacity to do better.

Create Dissonance

Contrast between verbalized goal and current behavior.

Realistic and unrealistic expectations of self and others.

Get Commitment to Try New Behaviors

Confrontation (resolving discrepancy between expectation and actual behavior) and holding a person
accountable.
Create scenarios or images of possible outcome for a series of alternative behaviors.
Provide feedback on how well the person is doing.
Get commitment on what he/she will do different.