A counselor spends a good chunk of their time caring - caring for their clients, caring for themselves, and caring for their families. Caring is their business. Like any aspect of a business, it can be streamlined and adapted to fit the needs of the counselor and the client. There is no lack of theory upon which to build a client care model for your practice, but at times, the sheer vastness of theory can be overwhelming. What works? What doesn’t? Luckily, trial and error can be kept to a minimum, so many others have theorized and applied their knowledge that we now have a good body of research suggesting what works best and when. Once we have established a basic care model, there are enough cutting-edge ideas to test out.
The types of counseling
The way a counselor approaches clients has a significant effect on the type of care delivered. To understand exactly how counselors do what they do, we have to unpack a few of the main theories that are useful to know whether you are considering psychology as a career, are just a curious mind, or have already completed online counseling psychology programs in the past. A little knowledge of how counselors apply what they know can go a long way.
Psychoanalytical
This form of therapy is rooted in the theories of Sigmond Freud and explores the unconscious patterns influencing our behavior. It emphasizes the therapeutic relationship, free association, and dream analysis. Counselors work with clients to gain insights into their unresolved issues from childhood and look at ways of overcoming said issues. This introspective approach fosters self-understanding, emotional healing, and personal growth. It’s a long-term therapy that takes many different aspects into account.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
This is an incredibly popular way of addressing and treating psychological distress for multiple reasons. A, it is time efficient and can see results in as few as five sessions. B, it is relatively easier to teach than other theories, meaning many different healthcare workers can learn and apply at least a few CBT techniques. So, what is CBT, and how do counselors use it? CBT looks at ‘unhelpful thought patterns’ and how we practitioners can intervene to adjust or replace them with more positive and realistic ones. This process involves structured sessions where clients learn to confront and change their distorted thinking, ultimately leading to a decrease in their psychological distress. It’s a practical, hands-on approach that empowers clients to take control of their mental health.
Humanistic counseling
This approach emphasizes the value of each person. The humanistic type of therapy was developed as a framework where practitioners are there simply to enable maximum growth in their clients. The essential view is that all humans have a vision of where they want to be or what they actually want to be like. This is called the ‘ideal self.’ Problems arise when there is a large difference between the ideal self and the ‘real self.’ In other words, how you perceive yourself now is very different from how you would like to perceive yourself. This is called incongruence. Humanistic therapy works to allow people to get closer to their ideal selves.
Applied theory
All of these theories are widely used and have positive results. While there are differences, the biggest differentiating factor by far is how they are applied. Formerly humanistic, and often referred to as person-centered, client-centered therapy has become the most common way to approach patients. This approach assumes the client has value to give and an inherent drive toward self-improvement. Whether you are a die-hard CBT practitioner or a psychoanalyst, techniques from the humanist camp are incredibly valuable.
The role of the counselor
It's not an easy job helping others day in and day out, but with the right tools, it can be pretty smooth sailing. Counselors have to be well-versed in various theories, such as Psychoanalytic Theory and CBT. They should be adept at applying these theories to real-world situations with the client's best interests in mind. The counselor acts as a guide, helping clients navigate their thoughts and behaviors, and facilitating self-discovery and growth. They tailor their approach based on the client’s unique needs, employing techniques from different theories as they see appropriate.
Why it matters
Only by applying the theories that work can counselors expect good results; one must listen attentively, really empathize, come up with a game plan, and apply it. Even then, nothing works 100% of the time. They keep on caring, nonetheless, and try to get the best outcome possible for those in need. These theories are adaptable. They have and will change over time. What is considered the ‘gold standard’ today could well be replaced by a new theory in 20 years' time. What sticks around is how the theory is applied, the smiles, human connection, and positive outlook. At the end of the day, what matters is that you care
