Three Counseling Theories essays

Three Counseling Theories essays Working models in counseling theory can be as varied as the number of authors who write on the subject. Like all fields of psychology, counseling in still relatively new and those involved in the field are still testing and applying the theorems put forth by earlier writers in an attempt to determine a best-fit practice for helping people master the world around them. Regardless of the theory chosen the professional must make sure that that which is purported as a usable theoretical paradigm is congruent with one's own personal values, personality, and professional skills. The remainder of this paper will focus on three different counseling theories with respect to their similarities, differences, and applicability in the advent of the twenty first century. The chosen theories are representative of the cognitive, psychodynamic, and behavioral approaches to counseling. Cognitive Approach to Counseling This particular approach to counseling is based on the theory that a person's thoughts are directly related to how they feel. Counseling therapists who are followers of this particular theorem work with clients' everyday problems from the perspective of helping them identify fields or instances of distorted thinking that are the cause of their emotional angst. Sub-systems of the cognitive counseling domain include rational-emotive-behavioral counseling (Ellis, 1998), reality therapy (Glasser, 1989), cognitive-behavioral (Bandura, 1974), and transactional analysis (Sills respect to the aforementioned counseling subsystems less emphasis is placed on historical insights into the behavioral dysfunctional and more on present conditions causing the emotional discomfort. Cognitive therapies are generally best fit to deal with lesser problems such as mil...