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Counseling Theory Case Study Application

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Counseling Theory Case Study Application

In this case study application, I chose the Sakura case. The two counseling theories that have

been considered are narrative therapy and solution-focused therapy. Narrative therapy is a

counseling and therapy technique whereby the client is stimulated to form a boundary between

the problem they are undergoing and themselves (Madigan, 2011). This means that narrative

therapy is a type of psychoanalysis that is intended to help a patient identify their skills and

values allied with them. A counselor uses this therapy technique to create a gulf between the

client and the delicate issues they could be undergoing. Upon achieving this, the client is now

able to express their snags and thereby address them from an autonomous position. Afterward,

the patient can now be able to lower their personal defenses and bias and thereby increase the

efficiency with which they can solve the problem amicably.

Solution-focused therapy is a type of counseling and therapy that accentuates finding

answers to a bunch of issues more so than the issues themselves. The solution-focused short

therapy is the key area of concern here (Zhang et al., 2018). This means that it is a goal-oriented

therapy since it does not only focus on the problems that brought the patient to therapy.

Naturally, the problems will be addressed throughout the therapy session, but for the shortest

possible time. Possibly more time would be spent addressing the concerns than the time

that would actually be spent discussing the solutions. This type of therapy holds a heavy

emphasis that usually that focus on solving the problem. Solution-focused therapy can be

partitioned into three main parts: solution-focused brief therapy, solution-oriented therapy, and

solution-oriented Ericksonian hypnosis (de Shazer, 2019). Solution-focused therapy, therefore,

aims at taking as little time as possible during the therapy since it mostly focuses on solving the
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problems the patient is undergoing as fast as possible and minimizing the time the patient

suffering would spend.

The patient receiving therapy can recognize the abilities and skills that go with their

character and the situations around them with the use of narrative therapy. Once the client is

sufficiently equipped with the acquaintance and abilities at their discretion, they are then well

able to face their current issues and potential future situations that would call upon these abilities.

In the end, narrative therapy uncovers opportunities for the patient to find their own personal

meaning in life as well as the potential for personal improvement (Madigan, 2011). There are

several fundamental ideas that underpin narrative theory. The first of them seems to indicate that

our interactions, both with ourselves and others, ultimately impact how we view the world.

Secondly, narrative therapy contends that the language we deploy shapes and impacts reality

(Madigan, 2011). As a result, due to linguistic disparities, patients who speak different languages

are likely to have drastically different experiences of the same occurrences. Thirdly, according to

the Narrative Theory, having a known narrative aids the patient in organizing and understanding

their world. As a result, the stories we tell ourselves ultimately aid in our comprehension of

reality. Last but not least, it is clear from these claims that the Narrative Theory does not quite

accept the presence of an Absolute Truth. Despite the fact that two distinct persons may have

experienced the same identical events, what may be one individual's experience may not

automatically be the next individual's.

The patient and the therapist must collaborate closely under the Solution-Focused Theory.

This kind of model concentrations on the client's typical solution patterns, assesses their

effectiveness, and bends them with successful problem-solving techniques (de Shazer, 2019).

The solution-based theory is helpful for clients who want to be focused on the future instead of
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the past, despite it not being advisable for individuals with severe mental health issues. The

Solution-Focused approach has been widely utilized to treat domestic issues, behavioral issues in

children, marital challenges, and addiction concerns. The patient is frequently assumed to already

know what they should do; all that is required is for them to be coached and encouraged to make

the proper decisions and ask themselves pertinent questions.

Historical Background

The roots of narrative therapy may be traced back to David Epston and Michael White,

who proposed the idea that everyone has a variety of personal narratives that shape their self-

perception as a whole (Epston, 2016). As a result, the problems that the patients bring to

a therapist are not really their problems; rather, they are molded and impacted by ideas about

identity and power. The art of re-storing the client's story by re-considering, re-authoring, and re-

appreciating the client's preferred results, relations, and lives ultimately serves as the foundation

for the Narrative Therapy theory.

The history of the solution-focused theory dates back to the 1980s when a group of

therapists led by Insoo Kim Berg and Steve de Shazer was looking for the most effective ways to

help people change their lives (de Shazer, 2019). These therapists noted that there were frequent

instances in which the client's issues were either nonexistent or barely noticeable. Additionally,

the Systemic Family Therapy and therapeutic advancements from the Mental Research Institute,

where brief therapy was being developed for altering behavioral patterns, contributed to the

development of the Solution-Focused Theory.

Comparison between Narrative Therapy and Solution-Focused Therapy

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Once the therapy is on track, patients experience a greater feeling of self-awareness,

which is one of the narrative therapy's benefits. The externalization process speeds up the

process of finding a solution, which ultimately leads to the client being able to evaluate oneself

more accurately. The patient is ultimately far more cognizant of their strengths, routines, flaws,

patterns, and habits (Epston, 2016). The patient is also given the opportunity to develop a sense

of personal accountability for their life through narrative therapy. The patient will eventually

have the ability to change their reality by changing their story into a more compelling one

through the process of examining their habits and capabilities.

The solution-focused treatment approach's benefits include that sessions will be shorter

and more focused on solutions and strengths. Given that every patient visit provides different

settings, the technique also enables individualized solutions for individualized concerns. The

approach of this technique is also collaborative because it calls for input from both the patient

and the therapist. The Solution-Focused methodology also heavily emphasizes client capabilities,

enabling clients to leave the sessions in a better position than when they arrived (Zhang et al.,

2018). The other advantage is that solution-focused therapy is not costly. Therapy sessions are

known to be a long-term process that is costly for the patients and also costs them countless

hours of their time. However, solution-focused therapy is meant to be brief, which means

patients do not have to pay more for the ongoing therapy sessions. The short-term nature of

solution-focused therapy, therefore, makes the sessions' cost lower, and more patients can afford

it since it is accessible.

One of the drawbacks of the solution-focused model is that the patient faces the

possibility of concentrating on concerns that the psychotherapist see as secondary issues rather

than the issues that the psychotherapist views as fundamental issues (Kim et al., 2018). It is also
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possible that the patient or client feels like the issue has been resolved far earlier than the

therapist is prepared to say the same thing. The patient may be led to believe that they came up

with the answer independently rather than with the therapist's assistance, which increases the

likelihood that the therapist's efforts will go unrecognized. The patient eventually comes to

believe that they never needed the therapist in the first place.

The weakness of Narrative therapy is that diverse clients may frequently anticipate that

the therapist will serve as the subject matter expert in place of having to "lead" the conversation

themselves. Because of this, narrative therapy might be difficult if the patient cannot speak well.

Lack of self-assurance, intellectual limitations, and other problems could potentially impede a

person's ability to express them through a narrative (Epston, 2016). Also, the complexity of

narrative therapy is yet another drawback. Clients could find it challenging to comprehend the

justification for this strategy and what makes it effective due to the approach's foundation in the

challenging philosophical principles of postmodernism. Despite this, the majority of clients agree

with the fundamental notion that each of us has a unique story to tell and that altering this story

can alter our lives (Haugaard, 2016). A professional narrative therapist will make this

fundamental idea clear to the client without overly complicating things.

Explanation of the Two Counseling Techniques

In this case, I choose Sakura’s case as my counseling theory case study since it is one in

which Narrative Therapy and Solution-Focused Therapy would work best. It seems that Sakura

will benefit from having a different story to tie to the occurrences she believes to be happening to

her too. This is because the therapist could separate Sakura's issue from herself by identifying it

in accordance with Sakura's story. Then, the therapist would employ narrative therapy strategies,
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including looking for alternate stories, identifying an exemption to the main theme, which is

typically negative, and incorporating family members in the sessions. For Sakura, the

recommended number of treatment sessions could range from 20 to 30 in total. Sakura is

supposed to have a changed her mindset which would enable her to view life with a more

optimistic perspective.

Therapists employing CBT may encourage patients to re-evaluate their thinking patterns and
assumptions in order to identify unhelpful patterns (often termed “distortions”) in thoughts, such as
overgeneralizing bad outcomes, negative thinking that diminishes positive thinking, and always
expecting catastrophic outcomes, to more balanced and effective thinking patterns. These are intended
to help the person reconceptualize their understanding of traumatic experiences, as well as their
understanding of themselves and their ability to cope.

Exposure to the trauma narrative, as well as reminders of the trauma or emotions associated with the
trauma, are often used to help the patient reduce avoidance and maladaptive associations with the
trauma. Note, this exposure is done in a controlled way, and planned collaboratively by the provider and
patient so the patient chooses what they do. The goal is to return a sense of control, self-confidence, and
predictability to the patient, and reduce escape and avoidance behaviors.

Education about how trauma can affect the person is quite common as is instruction in various methods
to facilitate relaxation. Managing stress and planning for potential crises can also be important
components of CBT treatment. The provider, with the patient, has some latitude in selecting which
elements of cognitive behavioral therapy are likely to be most effective with any particular individual.

During your ACT for PTSD, you'll be encouraged to stop your tug-of-war with your thoughts and feelings.
The goal is to let go of attempts to avoid or control your thoughts and feelings and, instead, to practice
being both open and willing to experience thoughts and feelings for what they are and not what
you think they are (for example, bad or dangerous). The key benefit of ACT is that it can help patients
battle mental disorders like anxiety and depression without using medication. It teaches patients to
change the way they relate to their negative thoughts and emotions so that these thoughts don’t take
over.

Narrative therapy can be used in Sakura's case since it would play a significant role in

empowering her to identify her strengths. Narrative therapy would also enable her to build her

self-esteem and connection and identify healthy ways to cope with her addiction to alcohol. This

means that she will develop new perspectives through this method. Instead of her seeing trauma
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and grief in her story, she will start seeing her identity and her fault, which in the long run will

aid in reducing shame. As a result, narrative therapy will help her reduce the yearning to take

alcohol. By creating a positive self-image, the patient will learn to honor herself by behaving in

line with her values and goals.

Sakura would benefit from solution-focused therapy since it is a goal-oriented, patient-

driven tactic aimed at boosting the patient’s self-esteem and a sense of empowerment. Sakura,

since she is trying to overcome her alcohol addiction, he has thrashed with feeling helpless about

her situation. Solution-focused therapy would be beneficial to her since it is aimed at helping

patients feel more in control by pointing out how they can use their peculiar strengths to reach

their anticipated goals. Upon Sakura beginning solution-focused therapy sessions with her

counselor, they will discuss her expectations and the objectives for the treatment. Within this

addiction program, they can incorporate broader goals of staying sober and continuing the

treatment. Sakura can also bring up more specific goals, including going to the gym instead of

going to the alcohol joints and figuring out effective ways to deal with things that trigger her.

As previously mentioned, Sakura's situation would benefit greatly from solution-focused

therapy. This is because this therapy would shorten the time it would take her to resolve her

issue, easing her anguish. The therapist, in this case, would concentrate on guiding

Sakura towards putting the solutions into action by assisting her in determining the small,

progressive actions that are essential in allowing her to advance towards fulfilling the objective

of the meetings while also decreasing the time required. This treatment is effective in this

scenario because assumptions are rarely drawn, and patient language is used to make the issue

more manageable (Kim et al., 2018). It is also implicit, situational, practical, legal, and ethical,
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making it ideal for assisting people like Sakura in dealing with their difficulties and visualizing a

future free of problems.

In conclusion, therapies are intended to help patients feel better or resolve issues they

could not handle independently. To see this through, therapies like solution-focused therapy and

narrative therapy have been implemented. They assist customers in paving the route to those

possibilities while assisting them in seeing a future free of their current problems. In essence,

therapies can be considered to be beneficial and should be supported when someone needs

assistance because they help prevent various circumstances brought on by difficulties, such as

suicidal ideation.

References

De Shazer, S. (2019). Solution-Focused Theory. Contemporary Case Studies in School

Counseling, 143.

Epston, D. (2016). Re-imagining narrative therapy: A history for the future. Journal of Systemic

Therapies, 35(1), 79.

Haugaard, C. (2016). Narrative therapy as an ethical practice. Journal of systemic

therapies, 35(1), 1.
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Kim, J. S., Brook, J., & Akin, B. A. (2018). Solution-focused brief therapy with substance-using

individuals: A randomized controlled trial study. Research on Social Work

Practice, 28(4), 452-462.

Madigan, S. (2011). Narrative therapy. American Psychological Association.

Zhang, A., Franklin, C., Currin-McCulloch, J., Park, S., & Kim, J. (2018). The effectiveness of

strength-based, solution-focused brief therapy in medical settings: a systematic review

and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Journal of behavioral medicine, 41(2),

139-151.

Beck, J. S. (2011). Cognitive-behavioral therapy. Clinical textbook of addictive disorders, 491, 474-501.

Kazantzis, N., Luong, H. K., Usatoff, A. S., Impala, T., Yew, R. Y., & Hofmann, S. G. (2018). The

processes of cognitive behavioral therapy: A review of meta-analyses. Cognitive Therapy and

Research, 42(4), 349-357.

Carpenter, J. K., Andrews, L. A., Witcraft, S. M., Powers, M. B., Smits, J. A., & Hofmann, S. G. (2018).

Cognitive behavioral therapy for anxiety and related disorders: A meta‐analysis of randomized

placebo‐controlled trials. Depression and anxiety, 35(6), 502-514.

Hayes, S. C., Strosahl, K. D., & Wilson, K. G. (2011). Acceptance and commitment therapy: The process

and practice of mindful change. Guilford press.

Hayes, S. C., Pistorello, J., & Levin, M. E. (2012). Acceptance and commitment therapy as a unified

model of behavior change. The Counseling Psychologist, 40(7), 976-1002.

Coto-Lesmes, R., Fernández-Rodríguez, C., & González-Fernández, S. (2020). Acceptance and

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