Steve Rockey

CNS 741
Jennifer Rogers
December 5, 2012

Theories Journal 2

REBT Journal

REBT is starting to get into the area of the course that I love: thoughts. I think
thoughts are such powerful things. Without a doubt, thoughts are connected to how
people feel as well as how they behave. One of the concepts that really stuck out to
me is the idea that within REBT, clinicians dont judge their clients; rather, they
judge their behaviors. Now, I specifically have found through the semester that I
heavily favor the therapeutic alliance as well as unconditional positive regard. This
theory seems to balance those ideas out though by accepting the person, but
questioning why theyre doing what theyre doing. To place value on the person but
also realize that they can change what theyre doing and can control their direction
(a lot of the time) affirmed those very beliefs within myself.

As a counselor now, knowing that I so strongly value the therapeutic alliance and
UPR, I can still highly value the client, but also lovingly and caringly confront them
about irrational beliefs and behaviors. Just building up my toolbox.

Cognitive Journal

Again, I absolutely love looking at peoples thoughts. Cognitive therapy is no
different: thoughts can really drive emotions and behavior, especially those pesky
automatic ones. CT has ushered me to look even deeper, though, when examining
thoughts. Thus far, personally, when examining a thought of my own or of someone
elses, its just been sort of an entity of its own. With CT, though, Ive learned to take
that thought to its core: within intermediate beliefs, core beliefs, and schemas. Ive
learned about myself and other that thoughts are more than just surface level, they
reach down to who we are as people whether we know it or not.

Ive also discovered about myself that I can really distort cognitions, even without
knowing it. For example, sometimes with others, I may jump to conclusions about
how they think or feel about me based on some really tiny thing they did (or didnt
do) i.e. they said hi to me funny, etc. Ive found it so valuable, going forward to
have these distortion labels in my back pocket to realize not only when a client may
be using them, but also to measure my own thoughts. Definitely helpful now and
into the future.




CBT Journal

Ive always been kind of biased against BT/CBT. Whenever I read about it, its
origins, etc., I seem to gravitate toward Skinner, Watson, and all those classic
behaviorists. Their ideas and techniques seem so cold to me. Its as if they treated
humans as mere animals in a laboratory, merely driven by base instincts and drives.
CBT goes way beyond those ideas, though, to a more comprehensive idea about how
people behave. (Cant you tell yet that Im really person-centered, all about UPR, etc.
)

What really sticks out to me about this therapy are the applications to all the
different varieties of disorders, especially anxiety disorders. I deal with anxiety on
occasion and its definitely no easy thing to just get rid of. Perhaps in the future, Id
like to learn more about how the two go together and possibly learn some helpful
techniques in dealing with things like anxiety, not just for myself, but for others.

Reality Therapy Journal

RT is a fun therapy to look at because it is real; not heady, down to earth, and kind
of in your face (see: Glasser, W. and his ideas on mental illness ). Studying this
theory has helped me to see that I really value therapies that focus on practicalities
and concrete ideas, rather than really spacey notions and concepts. With this, Ive
had the chance to use RT on occasion and I love how it really works with children.
Perhaps being so concrete by nature, it really connects with kids where they are, in
the real world, here and now.

As a counselor, I really want to incorporate ideas of RT in my practice, especially
when working with children. Helping kids to take a second to step back, look at
where theyre at, what choices theyre making, and how they can change them is
something I really value and something that fits closely with this form of therapy.

SFBT Journal

Like RT, SFBT is solution-focused and practical, something thats right up my alley.
Again, Im drawn to practicalities and applicabilities to everyday life, something
SFBT really emphasizes. Something that specifically sticks out to me is the miracle
question. What a powerful tool! Ive thought a lot about applying this to clients
someday, its efficacy, etc., and I just love how it can instill hope like nothing else.
What a way to get someone out of a funk and to start thinking positively,
constructively, and towards their own solutions.

With this theory, and the others, Ive really found that I value people as more than
the sum of their parts and as capable of tackling their own issues (in plenty of cases,
not all) with just a little nudging. People are so smart and intelligent, but sometimes
just get stuck. With that, I value therapies that help a person to, in the end, help
themselves.