My Evolving Philosophy of Counselling
As a Master of Counselling Student, I have been exposed to different counselling theories that will be helpful for a wide range of clients. At this infant stage, I believe that my philosophy of counselling is ever-changing and integrative. Although I am open to implementing diverse theories and techniques that will be beneficial for clients in therapy, my base theory derives from a combination of Person-centred Framework, Rational Emotive Behavioural Therapy (REBT), Solution Focused Therapy (SFT), Gestalt Therapy, Existential Therapy and Mindfulness. Given a limited number of words, in this paper, I will discuss person-centred framework, my inclination for REBT and Mindfulness with focus on interpersonal dynamics, my intended goals for practise and role and as a therapist.
Person-Centred Foundation
The Master’s program I am enrolled in is committed to experiential learning, with an emphasis on the counselling relationship as a key feature of effective counselling practise. As such a non-directive approach- Person Centred Approach (PCA) – have been introduced has one of the major theoretical frameworks for understanding distressed clients. This humanistic approach, developed by Carl Rogers (1977, P14), is ‘politically centred in the client’. I adapted this framework in my early steps as a trainee counsellor as I believed that the role of a therapist was to create an empathic environment and facilitate the process for individuals to discover the solutions themselves (Corey, 2015). At my internal placement, I found it challenging to exhibit congruence which is described as ‘therapist does not have a façade’. I believe the first impression we have of clients begins from a phone call, to receiving them from the holding area and the first session. As a therapist, I may only be aware of the presenting issues clients bring after the first session, or more. I know of some judgements I make in general circumstances and there may be some presenting issues or opinionated response which may trigger me. Although, I would like to be non-judgemental completely, I believe it will be a challenge. According to Merry and Brodely (2002), unconditional positive regard does not mean that I have to agree with clients’ actions or responses. This perspective resonates with me as I believe it is critical to be understanding while training to be as non-judgemental as possible. This results in a dilemma of ‘am I having a façade, if I attempt to be understanding and as non-judgemental as possible, despite having different views from client?’ In response to this dilemma, Mearns and Thorne (2000: P.204) says “congruence is the accurate symbolisation and integration of self-experience into awareness and the accurate expression of this integrated experience in behaviour”. This provides me an understanding that I can take the risk of sharing a feeling or giving feedback that might improve the relationship because it is genuinely expressed with accurate symbolisation and integrated experience.
At Caladenia, I found PCA to be essential in providing client with a safe space and build a therapeutic relationship. Now what is the next step? As described by Elliott (2012), Roger’s six conditions are sufficient, however, may not be efficient. The six conditions of PCA has been helpful in my practise attributing to therapeutic relationship and context. Although, congruence and unconditional positive regard may be understood differently, the key to being able to apply this conditions is being empathetic, authentic and genuine both to self and client. Overall, this framework provides me with the foundation of building therapeutic relationship with clients through different skills and will aid in successful therapy.
Additional Psychological Frameworks
I have been exposed to various counselling theories that can be utilised with different clients. From personal reflections and analysis attributing to my personal preferences and cultural background, I find my inclination towards the cognitive behavioural approach, REBT.
Albert Ellis (1995) believes that people contribute their own psychological problems as well as specific symptoms by the way they interpret events and situations. Our thoughts, feelings and behaviours interact significantly and have a reciprocal cause and effect relationship. Fundamental to REBT is the concept that our emotions result solely from our beliefs, not by the events that occur in our lives. If our beliefs are irrational and self-defeating, our emotional life suffers from neuroses such as self-blame, depression, anxiety and internalizing beliefs such as the “shoulds” “musts” and “oughts.” The ABCDE concept helps clients change their irrational thoughts and assists them to understand the vicious circle of the self-blaming process, which also changes their self-defeating behaviours (Dryden, 2005). This concept captivated me when I applied to myself, before utilising it with my clients.
Having experience domestic violence from a young age and learning the separation of my parents last year left me self-blaming - “I should have listened to Mum, they wouldn’t have fought”. For almost 20 years these irrational thoughts consumed me. With REBT, clients are taught the value of self-acceptance. Rational emotive imagery is used where clients imagine themselves thinking, feeling and behaving exactly the way they would like to think, feel and behave in real life (Bishop & Fleming, 2015). Challenging my irrational thoughts and imagining how I would like to think in real life allowed me to experience the functional effectiveness in my body therefore providing an insight of how powerful the mind is. I found REBT effective for most of my clients (adolescents and young adults) who struggle with low self-esteem while trying to form an identity. As such one particular client expressed that she did not feel that her beliefs should be termed as ‘irrational’. I reflected on REBT framework and realised that although it has been effective, the language used in this approach may be directive. I used the term ‘helpful’ and unhelpful’ beliefs instead, which clients found to resonate better with them.
The next framework that has influenced my practise to a great extent is Mindfulness. In REBT, the goal is to develop messages that challenge the negative thoughts and actions to change the behaviours however in mindfulness, the goal is to observe and accept without judgment, gaining insight and gradually letting go of fears, avoidance and negative impulses that come from a sense of lack or attachments (Germer, Siegel & Fulto, 2016). The reading from cultivating attention and empathy (Morgan & Morgan, 2005) describes mindfulness to strengthen the capacity of the mind to remain with any mental object in a sustained and concentrated manner and improve insights to make the thoughts and feelings that threaten to ensnare our attention less compelling. This lured me to practise mindfulness on myself. Mindfulness enables me to confidently accept where I am in the present moment as a trainee counsellor and how to be open, non-judgmental, kind, nurturing and compassionate toward others and myself. I notice that developing my natural ability to be consciously aware and mindful allows for richer connections with others. Having worked with clients using mindfulness, I found that this framework is authentic and true to both the client and their process to healing. Therefore, allowing clients to feel empowered by themselves.
Integration
I consider my theoretical perspective to be an integrative approach to counselling. As a counsellor, I experience continuous changes, self-awareness and focused on improving my limitations identified as a counsellor. I am open to a variety of ways to integrate diversity and techniques, which can benefit client from diverse backgrounds. In combining person-centred therapy, cognitive behaviour therapy and mindfulness to counselling, I have developed multidimensional perspective to my counselling style, which I use currently and plan on using in the future to engage clients in the change process. As described by Norcross and Goldfried (2005), integrative counselling was one way to try and make up for deficiencies in so models or enhance efficiency in others. Each client benefit from different approach, therefore it is clear that there never is one framework that can be used.
My experience being the oldest daughter in an orthodox family resulted in needing to be the ‘jack of all trades’. I believe I have adapted this perspective and it resonates to a certain extent with my evolving philosophy of counselling. I strive to have a deep understanding of the various approaches to be able to create a powerful ‘tool box’ for my clients. However, I am aware that more than ‘knowledge’, responsiveness is considerably more important (Jennings & Schovholt, 1999; Miller, Duncan & Hubble, 2008). Given that, I have altered my perspective by having a certain understanding of each theory, but being a ‘jack’ of the theories that fits best with me.
My Current Position
Influenced by different models, techniques and skills, I have equipped myself with a tool box I use to work with clients. I use a pragmatically grounded formulation to facilitate integrative information such as the ‘Five P’s’ model. Bounded by ethics, my certification only entitles me to use this formulation. Having said that my future areas of education lie in REBT and Mindfulness. Therefore I believe that through my personal and professional development I will be able to provide a safe space for clients (Crago & Gardner, 2012). As a therapist I allow the client to determine the direction and depth that therapy should take. I help the client find his or her own inner strength and resources. I attempt to tie their beliefs and practices into the counselling process whenever necessary. I encourage my clients to explore their own value systems to determine whether they believe a course of action is right for them.
Being able to acknowledge imperfections and admit to mistakes is another personal quality an effective counsellor shall hold (Corey, 2013). Reflecting on this process I understand how my experiences have groomed me for this profession. Coming from a large family, exposed to different personalities and dealing with conflicts have led me to being an effective listener, mediator and patient. This skills, alongside my academic knowledge has contributed to my presence as a counsellor.
Future directions for Counselling
What makes counselling so stimulating and challenging is the fact that every client is unique. Each story is compelling. In terms of therapeutic technique and strategy, one size definitely does not fit all. The counsellor must be skilled at tailoring his/her theoretical method to match the client in the moment. A person centred philosophy attempts to create a counselling space and develop an alliance within which client revelation and change and personal growth are realized. In order to meet to the complex needs of clients, client specificity is critical (Teyber & Teyber, 2017). Research and integration of techniques into practise is critical to achieving client specificity and professional development. As it is not possible to be ‘jack of all trades’, it will be helpful to network with other professionals such as psychologist, psychiatrist, general practioners and counsellors with different philosophy of counselling. I have started networking in my external placement by attending Mental Health events. I hope to network further, gain insight from various dynamics – supervisions- and reflect my personal experience to continue my development as a counsellor.
Conclusion
I would describe my therapeutic approach as eclectic, I accentuate the significance of a strong and empathetic therapeutic relationship and work primarily from a person-centred model. From there, I incorporate elements of CBT, REBT, SFT and Gestalt experiential exercises, tailored to each individual I work with. I will create opportunities to expand my knowledge in these domain, while being open to other approaches in future. Incorporating my experiences when I was younger with the knowledge I have gained thus far, allows me to carve my journey. The field of counselling will continue to discover new findings on existing therapies and new therapies as the way individuals interact is constantly changing in this world.
References
Bishop, M., & Fleming, A. R. (2015). Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy. Counseling Theories and Techniques for Rehabilitation and Mental Health Professionals, 108.
Corey, G. (2015). Theory and practice of counseling and psychotherapy. Nelson Education.
Corey, M. S., Corey, G., & Corey, C. (2013). Groups: Process and practice. Cengage Learning.
Crago, H., & Gardner, P. (2012). A safe place to change: Skills and capacities for counselling and therapy. IP Communications, Melbourne.
Dryden, W. (2005). Rational emotive behavior therapy. In Encyclopedia of cognitive behavior therapy (pp. 321-324). Springer, Boston, MA.
Elliott, R. (2012). Emotion-focused therapy. In The tribes of the person centred nation. PCCS Books. Ross-on-Wye.
Ellis, A. (1995). Rational emotive behavior therapy. Current psychotherapies, 5, 162-196.
Germer, C., Siegel, R. D., & Fulton, P. R. (Eds.). (2016). Mindfulness and psychotherapy. Guilford Publications.
Jennings, L., & Skovholt, T. M. (1999). The cognitive, emotional, and relational characteristics of master therapists. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 46(1), 3-11. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0022-0167.46.1.3
Mearns, D., & Thorne, B. (2000). Person-centred therapy today: New frontiers in theory and practice. Sage.
Merry, T., & Brodley, B. T. (2002). The nondirective attitude in client-centered therapy: A response to Kahn. Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 42(2), 66-77.
Miller, S. D., Duncan, B., & Hubble, M. (2008). Supershrinks: What is the secret of their success?. Psychotherapy in Australia, 14(4), 14-22. Retrieved from http://www.psychotherapy.com.au/fileadmin/site_files/pdfs/Supershrinks.pdf
Morgan, A. (2002). Beginning to use a narrative approach in therapy. International Journal of Narrative Therapy & Community Work, 2002(1), 85-90. Retrieved from http://www.narrativetherapylibrary.com/media/downloadable/files/links/0/2/021Morgan_2.pdf
Morgan, W. D., & Morgan, S. T. (2005). Chapter 4: Cultivating attention and empathy. In C. K. Germer, R. D. Siegel, & P. R. Fulton (Eds.), Mindfulness and psychotherapy (1st ed ed., pp. 73-90). New York: Guilford Press.
Norcross, J. C., & Goldfried, M. R. (Eds.). (2005). Handbook of psychotherapy integration. Oxford University Press.
Teyber, E., & Teyber, F. H. (2017). Interpersonal process in psychotherapy: An Integrative Model. 7th edition. Cengage Learning, USA.