RIONA MARIE D.

MAGBUTAY MAED-EM
(MA028 EM 209)
REACTION MOD 1 UNIT 5
Unit 5 Basic Counseling Techniques

In the modern world, there are many (by some counts, 450 or more) types models of
therapy. Most used approaches are psychodynamic (insight oriented, depth psychology,
uncovering what is below the surface as experienced by the patient), Cognitive Behavioral
Therapy or CBT (Cognitive therapy- changing automatic thoughts to change behaviors and
changing behaviors to change thoughts), Humanistic (understanding the immediate experience of
the patient) and others.
However, research since the 1930’s to the present indicate that by and large, all therapies
are helpful to patients and all are about of equal value- that is, none is better than any other. The
most important factor contributing to the success of therapy is “the therapeutic relationship,” that
is, the quality of the relationship between the patient and the therapist. The second most
important factor is whether the patient is hopeful that they can improve in the therapy. All other
factors are of negligible significance including type of therapy.
Many counselors take the approach that they should exert control over the sessions and
model the undesirable behavior to the client. I have seen this technique used in group sessions
and it doesn’t usually work. Hammering a client with examples of his behavior only strengthens
resolve and makes matters worse. Group members are only too eager to pile on.
A more effective therapist might take the clients control issues and reflect them back to
the client, who then begins to see how his control issues dominate. It isn’t necessary to tell the
client he is controlling. Eventually, he will see it for himself and of course, this is the best
possible outcome. Change comes not by telling people what to do but allowing them to discover
for themselves how their behavior effects those around them and ultimately, is self-defeating. No
one likes a control freak. A client, for example, offers up control issues and eventually the
therapist asks the inevitable question, how is that working for you? Initially, the client might
insist that it gets his needs met but more consistency on the theme will produce positive results.
Lastly, there are things that tend to work, they won’t work with every human, but they
work often enough that it's helpful to keep them in mind. Some of them are counter-intuitive and
so you are less likely to stumble on the accidently if they are not passed along as techniques.