COUNSELING STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES 1

Learning Assignment One

COUNSELING STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES

David Howard

MTS-06 - Counseling Theories and Approaches

MARSTE Training Services

 COUNSELING STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES

COUNSELING STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES

Introduction

In order to be effective, a substance use disorder counselor needs a combination of

education, innate compassion and mindfully developed skills relative to the field. In Addiction

Counseling Competencies (Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, 2006) also known as TAP 21,

these component abilities are called knowledge, skills and attitudes (KSAs). While I am new to

the study of clinical counseling, I have experience working with recovering addicts as a sponsor

in a 12-step fellowship. I also have the benefit of my own individual and group therapy where I

learned many of the KSAs of recovery and overcoming depression, anxiety and stress

In the following pages I aim to summarize my strengths and weaknesses as they apply to

various counseling techniques. The scope of this paper will not allow for, nor do I have the

requisite experience to give a comprehensive investigation of all of the various theories and each

of the TAP 21 competencies. Instead I will try to focus on specific competencies I know and use

and those I hope to use in my counseling practice.

Understanding Addiction

The first of the four Transdisciplinary Foundations in TAP 21 (Center for Substance

Abuse Treatment, 2006) is Understanding Addiction. I have my own personal experience both as

a using addict and a sober recovering addict. A full understanding of addiction however, requires

a knowledge of different theories of addiction, application of different models and access to a

variety of literature about these models and theories. I have a lot of learning to do from a

professional and clinical standpoint. I also have to develop an attitude of openness to concepts,

models and opinions that I may not have previously agreed with.
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Character Strengths

I completed a TalentMine® strengths inventory and identified my top three character

strengths. They are Perspective, Forgiveness and Spirituality.

As a counselor, Perspective is important because addicts have altered perspectives of

their life condition and their relationship to others. The traits of Concreteness and Confrontation

are informed and supported by the ability to put things in perspective for the client and offer

supportive wisdom.

Forgiveness/Mercy is a powerful tool for a counselor to offer their client a path out of the

addiction lifestyle. The idea that it’s “never too late” to make a change toward recovery can be a

cathartic message. The traits of Empathy, Genuineness and Warmth correspond to these

strengths. Empathy is a trait of understanding and relating. We’re not in the business of judging

clients and we have to teach forgiveness as part of a behavioral approach toward recovery.

Spirituality/Faith/Purpose is a key component of recovery for people in and out of the 12-

step program. The traits of Respect and Empathy are spiritual principles. Using this strength

carefully and thoughtfully, a counselor can point a client toward causes greater than themselves;

the ability to help others, developing trust, seeking answers.

Counseling Theories and Approaches

I have had a therapist since I was 13 years old. I have had personal success with

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) in both individual and group settings. I like the CBT

approach, especially in terms of addiction counseling because there is often a disconnect between

the thoughts, feelings and actions of an addict and the consequences in their life. I am anxious to

use and apply CBT techniques and exercises because I have the most experience with this model.
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Cognitive distortion logs, thought journals and other simple, tangible proofs can be very

effective in opening a closed mind.

I am also fond of Gestalt because I agree with Perls that the client’s perception and their

non-verbal self-expression are absolutely connected to the present difficulty or unresolved issue.

The idea of “what’s going on with you right now?” is a really powerful open-ended question.

Learning to sit with a feeling and experience it, think about it, describe it and then compare it

with a different feeling, based on a different image or experience is a technique that has been

helpful to me and many other people I have watched in recovery.

When a client is presented with an open question or prompt, the automatic response

might be “I don’t know.” I have found myself doing this. If I don’t know and the therapist

answers the question for me, they have closed the door. CBT, Gestalt and other models compel

the client to think, feel and express what they DO know and may have hidden for years.

Other approaches I would like to learn to use effectively are Rogerian or person-centered

therapy and Adlerian psychoanalytic therapy. These theories are more holistic and as a result

may require more time and focus than the typical addiction treatment facility can allow (Miller,

2915) but there are some components of these approaches that can benefit the client. Many

addicts have traumatic early experiences that shape their life condition and view of the world.

Dysfunction in early life and exposure to risky behaviors and abuse result in the development of

strong defense mechanisms. A new client may resist treatment and unknowingly transfer or

project those learned attitudes on the counselor. Unconditional positive regard and empathy can

be valuable tools in establishing trust and confidence to convey their feelings and make new

choices.
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References

Center for Substance Abuse Treatment. Addiction Counseling Competencies: The Knowledge,

Skills, and Attitudes of Professional Practice. Technical Assistance Publication (TAP)

Series 21. HHS Publication No. (SMA) 08-4171. Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and

Mental Health Services Administration, 2006.

Miller, G. A. (2015). Learning the language of addiction counseling (4th ed.). Hoboken, NJ:

John Wiley & Sons, Inc.