RUNNING HEAD: Philosophy of Counseling

Lindsay Mims Philosophy of Counseling Georgia Southern University

Philosophy of Counseling

The summer that I was fifteen years old, I was leading a Vacation Bible School class of bout twenty-five third graders. It was music time and all of us were spread out in a big room singing along to Jesus loves me while incorporating whatever dance moves felt appropriate at the time. A little tiny sized girl with a large sized personality, named Ashlyn, was standing next to me, staring up at me with her big blue eyes. She watched my every move and duplicated them exactly. If I were to sneak a peek to look over towards her she would turn her head as fast as possible in hopes of not letting me catch her looking. When it was time to leave that day Ashlyn grabbed my hand and brought me over to her mother that was waiting to take her home. She looked up at her mom and said Momma, this is my best friend Miss Lindsay, I want to be just like her one day. Right then and there I knew that I wanted to make a difference in childrens lives, I just wasnt sure how. When I began college my goal was to become a pediatrician because that seemed like the most logical choice for helping children, it only took me one semester to realize I had chosen this path for all of the wrong reasons (i.e. money, status, etc.). During this first semester I also took a class in which we were required to take a career aptitude test. When my scores came back social work and family/marriage counselor were the top two. I had never heard of social work before and dismissed it because I thought it sounded like I would be doing construction for the government (not at all sure how I came to that conclusion, but that is truly what I thought), and I honestly had never thought about being a counselor before. As time went on and I began doing more and more research on career paths I wanted to take, I felt I knew what I wanted to do, but had not found what exactly it was called or even if there was such a job. One day when I was doing my best to describe to someone what I was wanting to do

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in life, they told me that was what a social worker or child advocate did, and my eyes grew wide with surprise and excitement. As time went by and I learned more about the different areas of social work and similar professions, I firmly decided that counseling, specifically counseling of children and trauma victims, was what I had been seeking all along. The reasons for deciding about the specific areas of counseling I wanted to pursue came later, and with another, but very personal, story. During the journey that I have taken to find the career path that best fits me and what I am most passionate about, I have also discovered that it is crucial to have your own personal approach, but also to realize that the same approach does not work for everyone. When going back over all of the different theories I have learned this semester, I found it exceptionally hard to decide point blank which theory or theories I felt fit my personal counseling style best or that I most adhere to. I have always been the type of person that believes just because two people have the same problem does not mean the same solution or way of coming to a solution will be the same for both of them. Although I know without a doubt which theories I am most drawn to and that I most adhere to, I am a firm believer that there is not one type of therapy that has ever been done that would work for every single person, and that is why we take the time and effort to learn so many different ones and learn when and how to use them. Throughout my life I have heard many stories of people who sought counseling for issues they had been struggling with, and went to see a counselor, unaware that there were different types of counseling and that their particular counseling only believed in and only used one technique or theory of counseling, whether that was truly the best method for that particular client or not. Because of their

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counselors close-minded methods of therapy the client usually became frustrated and discouraged, and miss out on so many benefits that counseling could have provided them had it been a counseling style that was adapted to fit them. Personally, I favor Behavior therapy, Existential therapy, and Person-Centered therapy approaches, but I would be open and willing to try most others if I felt they were more suited towards the clients needs. The first therapy approach that stuck out to me was Behavior therapy, perhaps because of my Psychology background. To me, this seems to be the approach most visible or most obviously seen in today to today life. Almost everyone has bore witness to a small child when modeling his/her parent to seek direction in learning and development. Another example can be seen in the classical conditioning affect on your dog when he hears the can opener just before you give him his food, or when he hears the rustling of his bag of treats, and his mouth begins to salivate without any effort. Behavior therapy also has some key theoretical concepts that I find relevant within my own life. This approach focuses on giving control to the client in order to facilitate freedom, increasing the clients skills, and decreasing debilitating behaviors. This therapy also believes that people are the producers and the product of their own environment (Corey, 2009), meaning that people create their own environment, and therefore are the ones that can change it. This approach often makes me think of the well known quote give a man a fish and you feed him for a day, teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime. Behavior therapy is all about teaching and understanding the behaviors that will allow a person to learn how to be productive on their own. The reason I chose to pursue a degree in counseling in the first place was because I delight in helping others in any way I can, and I believe that truly

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helping a person through counseling means not only solving the problems for them or giving them a diagnosis, but helping to shape them into more independent and confident person in making decisions and solutions for themselves. While I do not see Adlerian therapy as one of my own personal favorite approaches to therapy, it does have some similarities to Behavior therapy, as well as some drastic differences. Adlerian therapy states that behavior is purposeful and goal-directed; and consciousness rather than unconsciousness, is the focus (Corey, 2009). Adlerian therapy also assumes the idea that behavior is the make or break component of a person, but focuses on using inferiority feelings to spark greatness, rather than believing in the individual and thinking they would be able to change their behaviors on their own (Croake, 2011). Existential therapy is the next approach, or idea rather, I am drawn to. Like Behavior therapy this too has a strong emphasis on choice and freedom. Szasz stated that Existential Psychotherapy is a form of psychotherapy which aims at enhancing self-knowledge in the client and allowing them to be the author of their own lives (Szasz, 2005). Also, because of my feelings that different people require different approaches to therapy, I enjoy this approach because it incorporates and takes from many different theories to make up parts of its own. Another major attraction of Existential therapy is its focus on understanding and exploring issues going on, rather than its main purpose being the outcome or diagnosis of the client. Existential therapy focuses on the phenomenological exploration of the individuals experience (Claessens, 2009). In our book Corey states, The existential view of human nature is captured, in part, by the notion that the significance of our existence is never fixed once and for all; rather, we

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continually re-create ourselves through our projects. Humans are in a constant state of transition, emerging, evolving, and becoming. I have proven this to be true within my own life; I frequently look back at the person I was five years ago, or ten years ago and scarcely recognize the person I am reminiscing about. This notion of constantly changing and evolving can be quite scary at first, but most of us would be glad to know it is true. No one wants to think they are stuck the way they are forever, no matter how they strive to become a better person. Existential therapy strives to help clients realize they do have the potential to evolve into the person they hope to be. Considering Existential therapy focuses on understanding an issue before diving right into a solution or diagnosis, I would venture to say that Solution-Focused therapy to be its polar opposite. While I am sure that there are many people that whole-heartedly believe that SolutionFocused therapy is the way to go, and I am also sure there are many people that it has worked wonderfully for, I do not think I will ever gladly adhere to this approach to therapy. I perceive counseling as a chance for both client and counselor to embark on a journey together to explore that persons psyche, whether conscious or unconscious. Solution-Focused therapy seems to be a fast and easy way to skip over figuring out the real problem. Also, I feel that if the root of the issue is not addressed then the same issue will continue to arise. Lastly, I would say I also am a believer of Person-Centered therapy. This one I had never heard of until learning about it this semester and it just leapt out at me. I love the fact that the main technique and purpose in this therapy is to help the client realize all of the positives about himself/herself, and to be completely and genuinely focused on what the client is going through

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and needing. This approach has been said to be the original relationship therapy (Tudor, 2010). To me, this just seems so positive and uplifting; I think it would help the client to realize how much they truly are cared about. Carl Rogers, the primary figure of Person-Centered therapy, central theme in much of his writing is a basic sense of trust in the clients ability to move forward in a constructive manner if conditions fostering growth are present (Corey, 2009). If the counselor whole heartedly believes the client is capable of overcoming their struggles and downfalls, than the client is much more likely to believe this as well. If the therapist does not believe in the client, than how can anyone to expect the client to believe in himself/herself. When using this approach it has been said that once a relationship is established the therapist often takes the therapeutic relationship for granted (Gaylin, 2008). I sincerely hope, and will strive everyday not to get to that point of taking my client/counselor relationships for granted, no matter the circumstance. My love for the basic notions behind Person-Centered therapy, could be the same feelings that cause my lack of appeal for approaches such as Gestalt therapy. Although I understand the idea of tough love Gestalt practices take it a bit too far for my taste. Our book tells us of how Fritz Perls believed that clients have to grow up, stand on their own two feet, and deal with their life problems themselves (Corey, 2009). This approach seems to completely lack the support and empathy that counselors are there to provide. Everyone needs help at one point or another in their life and if someone is seeking counseling then perhaps they are doing so because they are legitimately not able to deal with life problems themselves, and I for one do not think they should be ridiculed for this.

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For my role as a counselor, I envision myself as being seen as a friend and confidante, someone my clients know they can trust and rely on when they need someone to be there for them through their hard times. I believe that with these therapy approaches, Behavior, Existential, and Person-Centered, as well as a healthy mixture of other therapies, I can make a difference in peoples lives. My passion for helping others, along with my genuine care and concern for peoples well being is a large portion of the reason I chose to becoming a counselor. I do realize that there are boundaries and ethics about getting too close to your clients, and I am not at all saying I would wish to overstep those boundaries, but everyone needs someone in their life they know without a doubt will be there for them, without judgment or rejection. I would willingly and gladly be that person for any child who came to me in need. In conclusion, although I would be more than willing to use whatever form or approach to therapy that would be needed to reach a specific client, I do have certain approaches that most appeal to me. Behavior, Existential, and Person-Centered therapies are the three approaches I have encountered thus far that have struck a special place in my heart. Behavior therapy is just so simplistic and seen in the most basic aspects of life that I enjoy seeing it in any little moment. Existential therapy focuses on choice and freedom of the individual, and I am for any approach that looks at empowering the individual to help himself/herself. Lastly, Person-Centered therapy touches the very core of who I am and why I want to be a counselor. It incorporates professionalism with a love and relationship acceptable in this type of environment, and works to make sure the client knows they are truly cared about.

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References

Claessens, M. (2009). Mindfulness and existential therapy. Existential analysis: Journal of the society for existential analysis, 20(1), 109-119.

Corey, G. (2009). Theory and practice of counseling and psychotherapy. Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole.

Croake, J. W. & Hinckle, D. E. (2011). Adlerian family counseling education. Individual psychology: The journal of Adlerian theory, research and practice, 39(3), 247.

Gaylin, N. L. (2008). Person-centered family therapy: Old wine in new bottles. Person-centered & experiential psychotherapies, 7(4), 235-244.

Szasz, T. (2005). What is existential therapy not?. Existential Analysis: Journal of the society for existential analysis, 16(1), 127-130.

Tudor, K. (2010). Person-centered relational therapy: An organismic perspective. Personcentered & experiential psychotherapies, 9(1), 52-68.