A counselor’s theoretical orientation serves as a guidebook both within and outside of session; supporting treatment planning, the establishment of goals, and informs client conceptualization (Fall et al., 2010).
Full Answer
What are theoretical orientations in therapy?
Here are some of the more common theoretical orientations which you are likely to encounter, along with descriptions of how they may influence the therapy. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (or CBT) posits that behaviors and beliefs are responsible for the development of a client’s presenting problem.
What are the theoretical orientations of Environmental Science?
Theoretical orientations included the Boserupian perspective, political ecology, political economy, post-colonialism, post-structural, feminist perspectives, sustainable–green development approaches, globalization, disease ecology, and location–allocation models. From: International Encyclopedia of the Social & Behavioral Sciences, 2001
Who are the authors of the study of therapeutic orientation?
Hannah Boettcher; Stefan G. Hofmann; Q. Jade Wu; Alexis Bridley & Lee W. Daffin Jr.; Carrie Cuttler; and Jorden A. Cummings Describe the similarities and differences between theoretical orientations and therapeutic orientations
What is the theoretical orientation of motivational interviewing?
A final theoretical orientation I relate with is motivational interviewing (MI). MI is considered to be in the same category as other person-centered therapies. It is based on skills related to empathy and warmth, while focusing on working with clients who often are resistant to treatment.
What is theoretical orientation in therapy?
Theoretical orientation in counseling essentially refers to what concepts or perspectives a mental health professional uses to assess, understand, and treat their clients. Any theory that a mental health provider uses to guide their practice is their theoretical orientation.
Why are theoretical orientations important?
Theoretical orientation is important for both the counselor and the client. Every mind is different, and everyone responds differently to different forms of therapy. A counselor may be good with one form of therapy but not so great with the other.
What is an example of theoretical orientation?
These orientations include person-centered therapy, cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), brief psychodynamic therapy and motivational interviewing. Theoretical orientation was originally formed by my life experiences.
How does theoretical orientation influence case conceptualization?
A strong case conceptualization is guided by the utilization of a theoretical orientation that provides a framework for the clinician from which to condense and synthesize multiple pieces of information into a coherent and well-developed narrative.
What are all the theoretical orientations?
Most forms of psychotherapy can be associated with four major theoretical orientations: cognitive-behavioral, humanistic, psychodynamic, and systemic.
Why is theory important in therapy?
Theories help counselors understand the dynamics of human behavior and choose therapeutic approaches appropriate to specific clients and situations. Psychological theories come alive in the counselor's mind if they are seen as extensions of life experiences of various theorists.
What is the most common theoretical orientation?
The most commonly used psychotherapies were cognitive therapy (59.2%), behavioral therapy (38.1%) and the psychoanalytic/psychodynamic model (29.4%). The primary orientations were cognitive therapy (41.6%), the psychoanalytic/psychodynamic model (15.7%) and cognitive-behavioral therapy (10.3%).
What are the five theoretical orientations to development?
The five key aspects of theoretical orientation to development include: psychoanalytic, cognitive, behavior and social cognitive, ethological, and ecological.
Which theoretical orientation do you think offers the best hope for understanding and treating psychological disorders?
The most effective modern approach is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). We also discuss psychoanalytic therapy, person-centered therapy, and mindfulness-based approaches. Drug therapy and emerging new treatment strategies will also be briefly explored.
What is the theoretical orientation of CBT?
CBT is based on the theory that the way individuals perceive a situation is more closely connected to their reaction than the situation itself. Individuals' perceptions are often distorted and unhelpful, particularly when they are distressed.
How does case conceptualization impact therapeutic process?
When done well, case conceptualization can provide a useful framework for the therapeutic process; it allows the therapist to develop an effective treatment plan, speak intelligently about their client in supervision and consultation, and collaborate with other professionals.
What is theoretical conceptualization?
Conceptualization is the process involving conceiving, developing and clarifying concepts whereas a theoretical framework is a blueprint or guide or a map or a plan for a research activity that describes the concepts, models or specific theories, providing the theoretical underpinning for the research study.
What is the goal of a therapist?
The goal is to bring self-awareness and understanding to a person, helping them understand how unresolved conflicts from the past may be influencing them in the present, replicating unwanted patterns in current relationships. Often these patterns may even be replicated and explored in the actual therapy relationship.
What is feminist therapy?
Feminist therapists are less focused on particular therapeutic techniques and are more focused upon connection between sex, gender, sexuality, race, ethnicity, religion, age and other categories which may influence a person’s experience in the world. Therapists who practice feminist therapy will try to create an egalitarian ...
What is cognitive behavioral therapy?
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (or CBT) posits that behaviors and beliefs are responsible for the development of a client’s presenting problem. A CBT therapist will usually help their client to identify, challenge, and adjust maladaptive beliefs and behaviors.
What is the goal of family therapy?
The goal of treatment is to decrease distress in the overall family system and improve relationships. Therapists who practice family therapy are likely to examine different patterns of interaction and invite family members to try new behaviors in order to alter the system.
What is the treatment for borderline personality disorder?
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy. Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (or DBT) was originally pioneered by Marsha Linehan as a treatment for Borderline Personality Disorder, but it has also proven effective for a range of other problems. It is not a theoretical orientation, but a treatment approach that you may hear about.
Who developed narrative therapy?
Narrative therapy was developed by Michael White and David Epston and it examines the “storying,” of people’s lives. A Narrative therapist understands a person’s problems as the consequence of their getting stuck in “a problem-saturated story,” and only attending to the details that confirm this story.
What is the goal of self-actualization?
the goal is to help patients self-actualize through self-examination, self-mastery, and creative expression. Freedom of choice or “self determination,” is a core value of the treatment.
Why do not all theoretical orientations have ESTs?
Not all theoretical orientations have ESTs because it is easier to conduct EST research for behavioral and cognitive treatments than it is for psychodynamic, family, and existential therapies. This is said to give behavioral and cognitive therapies an unfair advantage over more difficult-to-study therapies.
How does the theoretical orientation of researchers influence the type of instruments used to measure client change?
For example, due to the influence of Freudian dynamic psychology, early measures such as the Thematic Apperception Test and the Rorschach Ink Blot Test attempted to measure changes in unconscious processes as a result of participation in psychotherapy Later, measures such as the Q-Sort Technique were used because of their congruence with client-centered theory. Such procedures are no longer used due to poor psychometric qualities, dependence on inference, and the amount of time and cost required to administer and score them. Measures consistent with behavioral theory (behavioral monitoring) and cognitive theories (e.g., Irrational Beliefs Inventory) have also been used with interventions consistent with those theories.
Why are newer orientations often developed specifically?
As Beutler (1983) noted, newer orientations are often developed specifically because the earlier ones are viewed as inadequate. In addition, no individual theoretical approach has become dominant, not even an eclectic or integrative one.
How do animals help in therapy?
In a practical sense, animals can assist the clinician in promoting unconditional acceptance. The animal's presence in therapy (as discussed previously) may assist a child in learning to trust. Furthermore, the animal may also help the clinician demonstrate to the child that he is worth loving. Suggestion 2.
How does social influence metacognitive development?
Regardless of theoretical orientation, researchers agree that social influences are central to metacognitive development . However, the most explicit theoretical formulation is derived from Vygotsky's (1978) notion that children develop the capacity for self-regulation through interaction with more knowledgeable others who initially assume responsibility for monitoring progress, setting goals, planning activities, allocating attention, and so on. Gradually, responsibility for these executive processes is given over to the child, who becomes increasingly capable of regulating his or her own cognitive activities. This view, articulated by Wertsch (1978), has stimulated a great deal of interest in the social origins of cognitive and metacognitive development. As will be discussed in section III, evidence that adults do often assume the regulatory responsibilities for the child is available (e.g., Freund, 1990; Wertsch, McNamee, McLane, & Budwig, 1980 ), but there is relatively little evidence that the child has appropriated the regulatory behaviors. Such evidence would require longitudinal or at least microgenetic investigations of changes in the nature of adult–child interaction and changes in the child's independent behaviors.
How long do you see a client in a theoretical orientation?
Typically, clients are seen for about 1 hour each week.
What is homework therapy?
Homework is used in the treatment of a wide variety of disorders, which, along with factors such as therapist orientation and client commitment, may dictate the type of homework assigned.
What is the purpose of theoretical orientation?
The purpose of a theoretical orientation is to present a framework through which to understand, organize, and predict human behaviour. Theoretical orientations explain, from that orientation’s perspective, why humans act the way they do.
What is the role of a therapist in psychotherapy?
It is the therapist’s job to help discover the latent content underlying one’s manifest content through dream analysis. In psychoanalytic and psychodynamic therapy, the therapist plays a receptive role—interpreting the patient’s thoughts and behavior based on clinical experience and psychoanalytic theory.
What is behavioral psychology?
Behaviorism said psychology was to be the study of observable behavior, and any reference to cognitive processes was dismissed as this was not overt, but covert according to Watson and later Skinner. Of course, removing cognition from the study of psychology ignored an important part of what makes us human and separates us from the rest of the animal kingdom. Fortunately, the work of George Miller, Albert Ellis, Aaron Beck, and Ulrich Neisser demonstrated the importance of cognitive abilities in understanding thoughts, behaviors, and emotions, and in the case of psychopathology, they helped to show that people can create their own problems by how they come to interpret events experienced in the world around them. How so? According to the cognitive model, irrational or dysfunctional thought patterns can be the basis of psychopathology. Throughout this book, we will discuss several treatment strategies that are used to change unwanted, maladaptive cognitions, whether they are present as an excess such as with paranoia, suicidal ideation, or feelings of worthlessness; or as a deficit such as with self-confidence and self-efficacy. More specifically, cognitive distortions/maladaptive cognitions can take the following forms:
What is the technique used to explore unconscious thoughts?
Psychoanalysts and psychodynamic therapists employ several techniques to explore patients’ unconscious mind. One common technique is called free association. Here, the patient shares any and all thoughts that come to mind, without attempting to organize or censor them in any way.
What is the earliest form of psychotherapy?
Psychoanalysis and Psychodynamic Therapy. The earliest organized therapy for mental disorders was psychoanalysis. Made famous in the early 20th century by one of the best-known clinicians of all time, Sigmund Freud, this approach sees mental health problems as rooted in unconscious conflicts and desires.
How does psychoanalysis help with mental illness?
Psychoanalysis often does this through exploring one’s early childhood experiences that may have continuing repercussions on one’s mental health in the present and later in life.
Why is psychoanalysis so expensive?
Further, psychoanalysis is often expensive because treatment usually lasts many years. Still, some patients and therapists find the prolonged and detailed analysis very rewarding. Perhaps the greatest disadvantage of psychoanalysis and related approaches is the lack of empirical support for their effectiveness.
Why is theoretical orientation important in counseling?
This is common knowledge in the field because any well-grounded professional needs a basis by which to operate.
What is MI in psychodynamic therapy?
A final theoretical orientation I relate with is motivational interviewing (MI). MI is considered to be in the same category as other person-centered therapies.
What is CBT in psychology?
CBT posits that one’s emotions and behaviors are often caused or derived by one’s thoughts. In other words, if a person is depressed or anxious, then that person has certain cognitive errors or distortions that cause that person to be depressed or anxious.
Is a counselor incompetent?
Actually, the counselor may be incompetent regarding that particular issue. Most theories propose that counselors are competent to address most of the major life issues that clients present within the therapeutic relationship, however.
Cognitive Behavioral Theory
- The cognitive-behavioral theory operates under the idea that how a person thinks, feels, and acts all interact in tandem. Providers that use CBT as theoretical orientation in counseling treat clients under the assumption that thoughts determine feelings and behavior and that negative thoughts and feelings can cause problems. An example of CBT as a ...
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy
- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is a subcategory of CBT that is more niche in its approach. This theoretical orientation is geared toward the regulation of strong emotions as they relate to the concept of self and relationships with others with a heavy focus on mindfulness. An example of a DBT theoretical orientation might look like a client coming to the provider for help with severe an…
Gestalt
- Gestalt therapy revolves around the phenomenological method of awareness. This client-centered psychotherapy aims to help bring clients in full focus with the present moment rather than dwelling too long on the past or anxiously dreading the future. This theory believes that individuals have control over their emotions and behaviors and need to take responsibility for them if they h…
Attachment Theory
- Attachment theory is centered on the idea that an individual’s attachments or relationships to their caregivers play a critical role in future attachments. There are several types of attachments including secure, anxious, disorganized, and avoidant. This theory operates under the assumption that each attachment style will stay with the individual through development and find the conseq…
What Are Theoretical Orientations?
Psychoanalysis and Psychodynamic Therapy
Humanistic and Person-Centered Therapy
The Behavioural Model
- The Behaviourists believed that how we act is learned – we continue to act in the ways that we are reinforced and we avoid acting in ways that result in us being punished. Likewise, they believed that abnormal behaviour resulted from learning and could be treated by learning via new reinforcements and punishments. Early behaviourists identified a n...
The Cognitive Model
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Acceptance and Mindfulness-Based Approaches
Emerging Treatment Strategies
Conclusion