COMMON DIFFERENCES BETWEEN PSYCHOTHERAPY & COUNSELING

PSYCHOTHERAPY COUNSELING

(Gladding 2000) The past more than the presentInsight more than changeThe detachment of the therapistThe therapist’s role as an expert

(Nystul 1993)Problems are more complexLong term commitmentTreatment more complex and deals with unconscious processesUsually found in private practice, hospitals, and mental health clinics

(Nugent 2000)Focuses on more debilitating psychological and emotional problems which require more intense and often longer treatment

(Blocker 1966)Clients are note mentally ill but rather capable of setting goals, making decisions and being responsible for their behavior

Concerned with the present and the future

Counselors are essentially partners and teachers & clients are collaborators as they move toward mutually defined goals

Counselors do not impose values on their clients, nor do they attempt to hide their own values, feelings and moral values

The goal of counseling is to change behavior, not simply to gain personal insight

Have problems related to life choicesGoals are short – termTreatment is preventivePracticed in variety of settings

Approaches tend to be short – term with emphasis on developmental issues and concerns

(George and Cristiani 1995)Both psychotherapy and counseling utilize a common base of knowledge and a common set of techniques. Both involve in therapeutic process but they differ in terms of serenity of the client’s situations, in terms of the client’s level of problem and/or functioning.

WHAT IS COUNSELING?

A process facilitated by trained professionals for persons seeking help in gaining greater self-understanding and improved decision – making and behavior – change skills for problem resolution and/or developmental growth (Pietrofesa, et.al., 1984)

(echoed this perspective).. regardless of where they work, counselors help individuals, families and groups resolve conflicts, solve problems or make decisions in a social, cultural context (Nugent 2000).

As a short – term, interpersonal, theory-based process of helping persons who are basically psychologically healthy to resolve developmental and situational problems (Gladding 2000).

A human encounter that involves people helping people in a relationship established for this purpose

COUNSELING in Schools – is a process of helping students, parents and teachers learn about themselves, understand how their personal characteristics, human potential and behaviors influence their relationships with others and make choices to solve current problems while planning strategies for optimal development.

COUNSELING IS NOT (Patterson, 1967)

1. Information giving although information may be given in counseling

2. Dispensing advice

3. Influencing attitudes, beliefs and behaviors by persuading, compelling and threatening

4. Interviewing alone

HELPING RELATIONSHIP

A temporary interaction between the helper and rhe helpee, the goal of which is constructive behavioral change.

A relationship in which on of the participants intends that there should come about, in one or both parties, more appreciation of, more expression of, more functional use of the latent inner resources of the individual (Roger, 1961).

CHARACTERISTICS OF HELPING RELATIONSHIP

1. Therapist’s genuineness within the helping relationship

2. Unconditional positive regard

3. Empathy

4. Shared agreement on goals in therapy

5. Integrate humor in the relationship

NATURE, PURPOSE & GOALS OF COUNSELING

Counseling is goal-oriented relationship between a professionally trained, competent counselor and an individual seeking help for the purpose of bringing about a meaningful awareness and understanding of the self and environment, improving planning and decision making and formulating new ways of behaving, feeling and thinking for problem resolution and/or development growth.

GOALS OF COUNSELING (Accdng to George & Cristiani, 1995)

1. Facilitate changes in one’s behavior

2. Improve social and personal relationships

3. Increase social effectiveness and one’s ability to cope

4. Learn decision – making processes

5. Enhance human potential and enrich self – development

ETHICAL GUIDELINES IN COUNSELING

1. Confidentiality

2. Recognize your limitations

3. Do not use counselee to satisfy your own needs

4. Do not force to pressure counselee to continue counseling

5. Keep your appointments

6. Prepare for the session

7. Venue

8. Professional distance

9. Touch

10. Length of counseling session

11. Who can do counseling?

12. Prayer

QUESTIONS FOR EXPLORATIONS:

1. Can I be in some way which will be perceived by the client as trustworthy, dependable, or consistent in some deep sense

2. Can I be real?

3. Can I let myself experience positive attitudes toward my client without fear? Can I remember that I am treating a human being, just like myself?

4. Can I give the client the freedom to be who they are?

5. Can I be separate form the client and not foster a dependent relationship?

6. Can I step into the client’s private world so deeply that I lose all desire to evaluate or judge it?

7. Can I receive this client as he is? Can I accept him or her completely and communicate this acceptance?

8. Can I possess a non-judgmental attitude when dealing with this client?

9. Can I meet this individual as a person who is becoming, or will I be bound by his past or my past/