Counselling Theories and Approaches

Theories utilised will be determined by your needs as a client, you are the most informed about your situation, your strengths and challenges and I am there to help support you in your journey of self-discovery and progress towards any goals you choose to set in our sessions.

Person Centred-Therapy

I am a firm believer first and foremost in establishing a strong relationship with my clients, research has shown that building this effective counsellor client therapeutic relationship accounts for at least 30% of the success in the counselling process, (the Encyclopaedia of Counselling 3rd edition, Howard Rosenthal, 2008).

This links into person centred-therapy which is a humanistic approach to counselling.

Created in the 1950s by Carl Rogers, the person-centred approach centres around human beings as having an innate tendency to develop towards their full potential. However, this ability can become blocked or distorted by certain life experiences, particularly those experiences which affect our sense of value.

What is person-centred counselling?

The core purpose of person-centred therapy is to facilitate our ability to self-actualise – the belief that all of us will grow and fulfil our potential. This approach facilitates the personal growth and relationships of a client by allowing them to explore and utilise their own strengths and personal identity. The counsellor aids this process, providing vital support to the client and they make their way through this journey.

The Key Features of the Person-Centred Approach

Empathy (the counsellor trying to understand the client’s point of view)
Congruence (the counsellor being a genuine person)
Unconditional positive regard (the counsellor being non-judgemental)

I believe that the features listed above are the key elements of helping establish that therapeutic relationship between myself as the counsellor and you as my client.

Another humanistic approach to counselling that I have a lot of experience with is solution-focused brief therapy.

Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)

Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) is a talk therapy which can help you manage your problems by changing the maladaptive pattern of thinking with positive way of thinking and behaviour.

It is most commonly used to treat depression and anxiety, but it can be useful for many other mental and physical health problems.

CBT is helpful for following situation/conditions.

Depression
Anxiety
Panic attacks
Phobias
Relationship stress
Post-traumatic stress disorder
Obsessive compulsive disorder
Sleep problems
Problem related to alcohol misuse

CBT is based on the concept that your perception, feelings, thoughts, emotions leads to behaviour and hence the consequences. Every time this cycle is completed it affects you with positive or negative outcome.

It helps you deal with current problems with positive approach and overcome stressful situations or challenges.

Further Information:
https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/talking-therapies-medicine-treatments/talking-therapies-and-counselling/cognitive-behavioural-therapy-cbt/overview/

https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/cognitive-behaviour-therapy

Solution-focused Brief Therapy

What is solution-focused therapy?

This technique was developed in the1980s by husband and wife team Steve de Shazer and Insoo Kim Berg and is founded on seven basic philosophies and assumptions.

These concepts are key building blocks in the formation of the solution-focused approach:

Change is both constant and certain.
Clients must want to change.
Clients are the experts and outline their own goals.
Clients have resources and their own strengths to solve and overcome their problems.
Therapy is short-term.
Emphasis is on what is changeable and possible.
Focus on the future – history is not essential.

How does SFBT work?

Solution-focused therapy concentrates solely on an individual’s strengths and possibilities to help them move forward. It works by helping them overcome problems without tackling them directly – using the solution-building concept to foster change and help individuals to develop a set of clear, concise and realistic goals.

It is the role of a solution-focused therapist to help elicit and implement these solutions via a series of discussions.

In these discussions, the therapist will help individuals to envisage a clear and detailed picture of how they see their future – and how things will be better once changes are made. They will also encourage them to explore past experiences and times when they were as happy as they see themselves in their future vision. These processes aim to evoke a sense of hope and expectation and make a future solution seem possible.

Who can benefit?

Solution-focused therapy has been found successful in helping a wide range of people, including couples, families and children.

Further Information:

https://www.psychologytoday.com/au/therapy-types/solution-focused-brief-therapy

Positive Parenting

Positive parenting is a parenting approach that notices and responds to positive behaviour in children and adolescents, instead of focusing on negative problematic behaviours.

The following are five key components of the positive parenting approach:

Encouraging the Child

Rather than praising the child, which often just applauds the end result and not effort, encouraging the child helps a child learn to focus on the process of what they’re doing, rather than worrying about achieving perfection. Over time, encouraging a child grows their self-esteem.

Productive discipline

Rather than punishing a child for wrongdoings, the adult is kind but firm with the child. If a child does something they shouldn’t have, the parent teaches the child how to avoid making the same mistake. When a child is taught to look for solutions rather than punishments, they have the opportunity to become accountable and learn to behave differently next time.

This approach fosters self-awareness and accountability in children, letting them know that they have choices.

Communication

As with any relationship in life, communication is key. Remember that children talk through their actions, as well as their words.

Understanding Causes of Behaviour

Often it is not enough to try and change the behaviour, as it simply repeats itself. As adults we have a responsibility to play detective and see if we can uncover why a child is acting a certain way.

Respect

The adult shows the child the appropriate way to act, demonstrating kindness towards the child but also respecting the need to correct behaviour. Through showing respect, a child’s sense of self-worth is not undermined.

Further Information:
https://www.ahaparenting.com/parenting-tools/positive-discipline/use-positive-discipline