Bcu g87 Magc 205 Finals Lesson I

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BCU MAGC 205 – COUNSELING THEORIES, TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES LESSON I
EVALUATION OF THEORIES
CLASSIC THEORIES
Freud’s Psychoanalytic Theory
Strengths
- most remarkable achievements include the concept of defense mechanisms as a means of coping
with anxiety, the mapping of the conscious-unconscious continuum, and his methods for exploring
unconscious processes in psychoanalysis
Weaknesses
- overemphasis of the role of sexuality in personality development and the excessive length of time
required to achieve the aims of psychoanalysis
Adler’s Individual Psychology

Strengths
- psychological insights stressed the importance of phenomenology, holism and social interest
- perhaps best known for concepts that can be used to understand individual differences such as
lifestyle, family dynamics, birth order and sibling rivalry
- influence on programs such as systematic training for effective parenting (STEP) and other
guidance programs
Weakness
- narrow focus and use of the concept of basic mistakes --- focuses on cognitions rather than
behaviors, emotions and cognitions; it would seem that a more comprehensive treatment program
would focus on all three of these domains of psychological functioning
Jung’s Analytic Psychology

Strengths
- major influence on many aspects of contemporary thought such as religion, art, music, literature
and drama, for example, Jung’s theories and interests in Eastern philosophy and spirituality such
as yoga and mediation appear to be playing a key role in the emerging interest in holistic health
- also played a role in the evolution of psychological theories, for example, Jung’s notion of
individualization over the life span have been incorporated into life-span theories; and his deep
caring for his patients and sense of hope and optimism have also laid the foundation for the
humanistic theories
- also played a role in counseling procedures, especially the creative arts such as art therapy,
dance therapy and sand-tray therapy
Weakness
- existence of a collective unconscious has been challenged more than any other; that the concept is
metaphysical and incapable of proof and that Jung’s theory lacks development concepts to explain
the growth of the mind
 These classic theories share some elements.

o Freud and Adler both noted the importance of early life experiences on adult personality
formation. Freud and Jung both emphasized the role of unconscious forces in personality
functioning.
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o The three classic schools of psychology continue to evolve in terms of theory, research and
practice. Most contemporary counseling theories have incorporated psychological constructs
from Freud, Adler and Jung. Most noticeable is the wide recognition of the importance of
early life experiences and the existence of unconscious processes.
EXPERIENTIAL THEORIES
Person-Centered Therapy (Carl Rogers)
Strengths
- many of its principles have been incorporated into other current psychotherapies, for example:
listening skills are frequently used to help establish a positive relationship, obtain a phenomenological
understanding of the client, and promote the core conditions identified by Rogers
Weaknesses
- counseling goals are unclear, creating ambiguity in the counseling process
- research suggests that Rogers’s core conditions are not necessary and sufficient but can more
accurately be viewed as facilitative for personality change
Gestalt Therapy (Fritz Perls)

Strengths
- can be particularly appropriate for clients who lack self-awareness and feel “out of touch”
with themselves
- several research studies provide some support for the efficacy of this therapy, like:
-- clients have increased self-actualization and self-concepts after the therapy;
-- the empty chair technique was found to be more effective than problem-solving
techniques in resolving decisional conflict and also effective in resolving “unfinished”
emotional issues clients have toward others
Weaknesses
- it lacks a strong theoretical base --- it appears to emphasize techniques of therapy rather than
providing an in-depth theoretical foundation for understanding human behaviour or providing
a comprehensive approach to psychotherapy
Existential Therapy (Victor Frankl, Rollo May & James Bugental)

Strengths
- focuses on issues such as individuality and searching for meaning in life; these issues become
increasingly important especially in light of advances in cloning; it will play a key role in helping
people define themselves as unique individuals in an ever-changing world
Weaknesses
- lack of a well-formulated theoretical foundation
- there are few, if any, unique existential techniques that can be utilized in the counselling process
- a significant decline in research on experiential therapies was noted, and thus a danger of their
becoming extinct or being integrated into other schools of counseling
 These three theories, reflect the spirit of humanistic psychology in conceptualizing human nature as
inherently positive, self-determined, and having self-actualizing tendencies.
o The strength of experiential therapies lies in their ability to help clients become aware of
their thoughts and feelings, discover their inner choices, and promote personal
responsibility.
o The weakness of experiential therapies can be their overemphasis on feelings and
underemphasis on cognition and behavior. Experiential therapies may therefore lack some of
the counseling strategies necessary to promote a comprehensive treatment program.
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COGNITIVE-BEHAVIORAL THEORIES
Behavior Therapy
Strengths
- focuses on overt behavior; the counselling process emphasizes the importance of establishing
clear goals stated in behavioural terms; progress in therapy is indicated when there is a change or
modification in behavior
- a research on behaviour therapy concludes that it has been shown to be effective to treat a number
of mental disorders and client concerns such as:
 Anxiety disorders (such as phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder, generalized anxiety, aggressive-
compulsive disorder)
 Depression (behavioral counselling is effective when used in conjunction with cognitive approaches
such as cognitive therapy)
 Alcoholism (including treatment of controlled drinking)
 Sexual disorders (behavioural counselling is quite useful to treat dysfunctions such as premature
ejaculation and missed orgasm but not so effective in treating paraphilias such as exhibitionism
and phedophilia)
Weaknesses
- on the behavioural approach, this therapy tends to disregard the importance of feelings and emotions
in the counselling process, ignore historical factors that can contribute to a client’s problem, and
minimize
the use of insight in the counselling process
Rational-Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT)

Strengths
- REBT is an educationally oriented approach that attempts to teach a client how to overcome
self-defeating cognitive reactions
- one of the strengths of REBT is its simplicity; it can be taught in the client in terms as simple
as the A-B-C-D acronym; in time, clients can learn to use the tools necessary to become their
own self-therapists and gain control over their mental health
Weaknesses
- overemphasis on the role of cognition in the etiology of mental disorders and emotional disturbances
- it may be an oversimplified approach in terms of what is required to effectively restructure cognition;
for many clients, much more may be required than simply changing irrational statements to rational
statements
- it also avoids exploring other factors such as traumatic early-life experiences, which could represent
important treatment considerations
- it was identified to be not appropriate for clients who are not capable of engaging in a cognitively
oriented process, for example, people who have mental retardation, brain injuries, psychosis, or mania
Reality Therapy
Strengths
- a popular short-term form of intervention that focuses on behaviour that is not occurring in the present
- it is a particularly attractive type of treatment with people who have a pattern of acting irresponsibly,
such as delinquent children, students with school-related behavioural problems, and people with
substance abuse problems
Weaknesses
- there appear to be a limited number of recent studies that have evaluated the efficacy of reality
therapy
- one study suggested that this therapy could be used in group counselling with addicts to enhance
their self-esteem, help them take more responsibility for their behaviour, and improve their relations
with others.
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Feminist Therapy
Strengths
- it represents an emerging theoretical perspective in the counselling literature -- its overall aim is to
promote equality between the sexes and to overcome tendencies toward oppression
- it has also provided a forum for addressing diversity issues such as gender and sexual orientation
within the counselling process
Weaknesses
- difficulty in finding universities that offer training and supervision in feminist therapy was noted
- the lack of training opportunities is compounded by the fact that some programs appear to
exclude feminist therapy from the curriculum on ideological grounds; this form of discrimination
is unfortunate, to say the least; hopefully, research efforts will provide the support necessary
for feminist therapy to be fully integrated into the mainstream of counseling

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BCU MAGC 205 – COUNSELING THEORIES, TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES LESSON I

Adler’s Individual Psychology

Jung’s Analytic Psychology

 These classic theories share some elements.

Gestalt Therapy (Fritz Perls)

Existential Therapy (Victor Frankl, Rollo May & James Bugental)

Rational-Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT)

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