Issues in Theory and Practice

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Developing a counseling style:

  • Ethical practice requires a solid theoretical framework, as this influences how they practise.

  • Theories are based on worldviews, with its own values, biases, and assumptions of how best to bring about change in the therapeutic process.

  • the theoretical approach used to guide the practice is an expression of you as a person and is the result of intensive study, reflection, and clinical experience.

  • Ultimately, the counseling orientation and style must be appropriate for the type of counseling you do and the unique needs of your clients.

  • Contemporary theories tend to be oriented toward individual change and are grounded in values that emphasize:

    • Choice

    • Uniqueness of the individual

    • Self-assertion

    • Ego strength

  • May be inappropriate for clients from cultures that focus on interdependence, de-emphasize individuality, and emphasize being in harmony/acceptance of one’s environment.

Theoretic orientation:

  • Goals a therapist finds important in therapy.

  • Techniques and methods a therapist employ to reach these goals.

  • How a therapist sees the division of responsibility in the client– therapist relationship.

  • One’s view of their role and functions as a counselor.

  • One’s view of the place of assessment and diagnosis in the therapeutic process

Practicing counseling without an explicit theoretical rationale = Difficult to navigate.

A theoretical orientation helps to decide what to focus on, interpret material coherently, choose interventions intentionally, and gives a sense of direction when one feels lost.

On the other hand, a theoretical orientation is not a rigid structure that prescribes specific steps of what to do in a counseling situation. – Rather, it is a set of general guidelines that counselors can use to make sense of what they are hearing and what needs to change.

An integrative approach is not a “catch all” style but a purposeful and intentional integration of theoretical models that resonate with you.

Division of responsibility:

Issues in practice: