SOWK 433: APPROACHES

TO COUNSELLING

WEEK 2
NATURE OF COUNSELING
 DEFINING COUNSELLING
Concise Oxford Dictionary (9th Edition) gives at least two definitions of
counselling, which appear to be conflicting, adding to potential
confusion:
 “give advice to (a person) on social or personal problems, especially
professionally.”
and
 “the process of assisting and guiding clients, especially by a trained
person on a professional basis, to resolve especially personal, social,
or psychological problems and difficulties.”
 DEFINING COUNSELLING
 “A talking therapy that involves a trained therapist listening to you
and helping you find ways to deal with emotional issues.”
 COUNSELLING IS NOT:

 Giving advice.
 Being judgmental.
 Attempting to sort out the problems of the client.
 Expecting or encouraging a client to behave as the counsellor would
behave if confronted with a similar problem in their own life.
 Getting emotionally involved with the client.
 Looking at a client’s problems from your own perspective, based on
your own value system.
 COUNSELLING IS:

 The process that occurs when a client and counsellor set aside time
to explore difficulties which may include the stressful or emotional
feelings of the client.
 The act of helping the client to see things more clearly, possibly from
a different view-point. This can enable the client to focus on feelings,
experiences or behaviour, with a goal of facilitating positive change.
 A relationship of trust. Confidentiality is paramount to successful
counselling. Professional counsellors will usually explain their policy
on confidentiality. They may, however, be required by law to disclose
information if they believe that there is a risk to life.
 COUNSELLING AND
PSYCHOTHERAPY
 ‘Psychotherapy’ and ‘counselling’ are very similar, but not exactly the
same. Both describe a process of helping someone to come to terms
with and work out solutions to their problems.
 However, they vary in the approach used, and underpinning model
and thinking.
 Counselling is a helping approach that highlights the emotional and
intellectual experience of a client: how a client is feeling and what
they think about the problem they have sought help for.
 Psychotherapy, however, is based in the psychodynamic approach—it
encourages the client to go back to their earlier experiences and
explore how these experiences affect their current ‘problem’.
 COUNSELLING AND
PSYCHOTHERAPY
A psychotherapist, therefore, helps the client to
become conscious of experiences which they were
previously unaware of.
Counsellors, however, are less likely to be
concerned with the past experiences of the client
and are generally trained in a humanistic approach,
using techniques from client-centred therapy.
 COUNSELLING AND
PSYCHOTHERAPY
• Talking to a counsellor gives clients the opportunity to express difficult
feelings such as anger, resentment, guilt and fear in a confidential
environment.
• The counsellor may encourage the client to examine parts of their
lives that they may have found difficult or impossible to face before.
• There may be some exploration of early childhood experiences to
throw some light on why an individual reacts or responds in certain
ways in given situations.
• This is often followed by considering ways in which the client may
change such behaviours.
SOWK 433: APPROACHES
TO COUNSELLING
The Role of a Counsellor
 THE ROLE OF THE COUNSELLOR
 The counsellor’s primary role is to promote client welfare

 Their roles are dependent on the nature of case presented to

them

 Counsellors need to be aware that no two people are alike.

 No two people understand the same language in the same

way; their understanding will always be linked to their
personal experience of the world.
 THE ROLE OF THE COUNSELLOR
 They will enable the client to explore aspects of their
life and feelings, by talking openly and freely.

 Talking like this is rarely possible with family or

friends, who are likely to be emotionally involved and
have opinions and biases that may affect the
discussion.

 The counselling process depends on some principles

 PRINCIPLES OF COUNSELLING
 Setting/Physical space and arrangements

 Approach

 The client

 The counsellor

 Counselling plan
 Ethical issues
 SETTING
 The setting for counselling is extremely important
 The space/office must not be necessarily large and/or expensively
furnished.
 Privacy is of extreme importance
 Avoid ringing of telephone or knocking on door as these can be distracting.
 The counselling setting may be in a home, a park, a chapel, vestry, or any
available vacant room.
 While privacy is very important, it is not wise to choose an out-of-the-way
location where there are no humans in sight for miles. A feeling of
emotional and physical safety is necessary.
 SETTING
 While simplicity of furnishing is acceptable, comfort is necessary. If
the room is pleasant and comfortable, the counselor and counselee
will feel more relaxed and the sessions will be more productive.

 Arrange the chairs in the room so that the client may be able to
choose their seat. Avoid placing chairs in a position where the
counselee cannot see you clearly. You also need to be able to see him
or her.

 Try to present a calm, pleasant, and prepared appearance. This will

put your client at ease.
 APPROACH
 There are over 400 counselling approach

 A counsellors approach depends on her theoretical orientation

 Counsellors do not stick to one approach

 What is recommended is that the counsellor become familiar with all

of the approaches and then perhaps blend the different ideas that
appeal to him.
 THE CLIENT
 Clients come to counselling for various reasons. These may include
the following;
 Court order
 Divorce process
 To help a prisoner
 Personal need for help
 Academics and vocations
 Crisis
 Stress
 THE CLIENT
 All clients have expectations of varying levels
 Some clients expect rapid help and change.
 Others go into counseling with a mindset that
nothing will make a difference in their outlook and
behavior.
 Some go in order to satisfy a requirement or to stifle a
potential feeling of guilt.
 There are reluctant (involuntary) clients; one who
does not want to receive counseling but finds
him/herself in the counseling situation.
THE INVOLUNTARY CLIENT
 Reluctance may not always be negative

 Dyer and Vriend (1994)

 Resistance is an unavoidable process in every effective
treatment, for that part of the personality that has an
interest in the survival of the pathology actively protests
each time therapy comes close to inducing a successful
change

 It can be challenging for the new counsellor

 THE INVOLUNTARY CLIENT
 Reluctance manifests in the following ways;
 hostility of the client
 absenteeism
 non-cooperation
 strained civility
 Reasons for client reluctance include;
 Suspicion
 They do not want to change
 They are afraid to admit any possible flaws they might have.
 Order from an authority
 HOW TO DEAL WITH AN
INVOLUNTARY CLIENT
• You are not the target of the reluctance.
• This will affect your approach to counseling the client.
• Show confidence and do not be intimidated.
• Do not ignore the feelings of the client. Try to find out why he or she is
reluctant.
• Explore reasons for reluctance and use these as an opportunity to teach client
greater self-understanding.
• Show client that counseling helps to deal with feelings even if they are
uncomfortable.
• Patiently exploring the client’s behavior can help reduce the reluctance.
• Go straight to work on eliminating barriers
 THE COUNSELLOR
• Have an identity
• Have values
• Know your self and your worth
• Believe in yourself
• Be open-minded
• Develop your own counselling style
• Be honest, sincere The counsellor
• Develop a sense of humour tries to…
• Be culturally competent/sensitive
• Be an optimist
• Have reputation for confidentiality
• Be sensitive to human relationships
• Be natural
• Be a good listener
• Keep boundaries
• Show confidence in people
ETHICAL ISSUES IN COUNSELLING
 Ethics in counselling are critical and must be strictly adhered to

 Respect for ethical issues separate professional counsellors from lay

ones

 Carelessness regarding ethics can have very serious consequences

*refer to the NASW code of ethics

 ETHICAL ISSUES IN COUNSELLING
 Ethics is about the right and wrong counselling
practices

 Sometimes ignorance of some of the “rules of the

game” can lead to trouble

 Ignorance is no defense
 RIGHT OF CLIENTS
 Informed consent
 Confidentiality
 Disclosure of information and legal matters
 Duty to warn and protect
 Privacy
 Right to referral
 Underage clients
 RELATIONSHIP WITH CLIENT
 Strictly professional

 Avoid dual relationships (conflict of interest)

 No sexual relationship

 Do not exploit your client

 Not ideal to counsel close relations

 TOUCHING IN COUNSELLING
 Counsellors must be concerned about the place of touching in a therapeutic
relationship.
 Some experts feel that non-sensual (friendly pat, touching for comfort)
touching can be of benefit to the client.
 Some suggested guidelines for appropriate non-sensual touching:
 In cases of counselling socially and emotionally immature clients,
(e.g those with a history of maternal deprivation)
 In counselling people in crisis, such as those suffering from grief
or trauma
 In giving general emotional support
 In greeting or at the end of a session
 THE ROLE OF THE COUNSELLOR
 Protect the client

 Ensure their safety

 Provide them information

 Refer when necessary

 Collaborate with other professionals

 Keep records
 KEEPING RECORDS
 Anything that contains information (in any media)
which has been created or gathered as a result of
any aspect of the counsellors’s work
 Record in counselling includes:
 Notes in folders
 Counsellors notes
 Referral/reference letters
 Examinations results
 Assessment results
 Official records
 Counsellors must ensure confidentiality of such
records (of course bearing in mind the limits)
• Any material can be part of the records
Handwritten
computer typed and filed
audio and visual recordings
proformas used in assessments
records made by the client
creative work completed by the client (e.g.
artwork).
TIPS ON RECORD KEEPING
 Keeping all entries in chronological order
 Recording information while it’s fresh
 Making any alterations with a straight line,
dated and initialed
 Sticking to behaviours and concise description
 Staying away from diagnosis & interpretation
 Limiting records only to directly relevant
information
TIPS ON RECORD KEEPING
If hard copy, it should be kept under lock and key
If electronic, put a password on it
If a group is allowed to assess record, not all
members of the group and hold them
responsible
Records that enter your home must not be
exposed to the family
 IMPORTANCE OF RECORD
KEEPING
For continuity of service in case
counsellor is no more and another has
to take over
For legal purposes
Required by law
Reference for counsellor
 WARNING

It is illegal to fabricate record

It is illegal to tear off conceal record
from a court
Keep comprehensive record as this will
be your voice
SOWK 433: APPROACHES
TO COUNSELLING
WEEK 4
TYPES OF COUNSELING
OVERVIEW
 There are different types of counselling

 Type of counselling depends on the purpose of counselling

 Counsellors may choose to specialise in a particular type of

counselling
OBJECTIVES
This class will enable learning about:
 Types of counselling
 Couple/marriage counselling
 Group counselling
 Mental health counselling
 Individual counselling
LEARNING OUTCOMES
Students will be able to:
 Identify the various types of counselling

 Describe couples/marriage counselling

 Develop individual counselling skills

 Apply group counselling knowledge

 GOALS OF COUNSELLING

Common issues that can be explored through counselling include:

 lack of trust
 betrayal or affair
 jealousy
 lack of communication
 financial issues
 work-related stress
 different sexual needs or other sexual issues
 family conflicts
 different goals and values
 different parenting styles
 life changes.
 grief
TYPES OF COUNSELLING
May include but not limited to the following
• Marriage
• Group
• Couples
• Individual
• Religious
• Career
COUPLES (MARRIAGE) & FAMILY
COUNSELLING
 Couples counselling is a type of counselling that looks
to aid communication and facilitate change within an
intimate relationship.

 Typically the term couples counselling is applied when

the therapy is specifically designed for two people
within a relationship.
 Counsellors who offer this form of therapy should
have the relevant training to help them work with the
dynamics of a couple.
COUPLES (MARRIAGE) & FAMILY COUNSELLING

 Helping people work on their relationships.

 Marriage and family therapists offer guidance to

couples and families who are dealing with issues that
affect their mental health and the well-being of the
whole family.

 They help improve communication skills, increase

mutual respect, and help kids develop into healthy
adults.
COUPLES (MARRIAGE) & FAMILY
COUNSELLING
 Treat some of the same issues as other psychologists, such as
depression and anxiety, substance abuse, and PTSD.
 But their work focuses on issues that are specific to their target group,
the family.
 Some common issues that family counselors encounter are marital conflicts,
adolescent behavior problems, domestic violence and issues related to
infertility.
COUPLES (MARRIAGE) & FAMILY
COUNSELLING
 Marriage and family therapists observe how people behave within the
family, and identify relationship problems.

 They then come up with treatment plans so that each individual has
his or her needs met and the family unit can work for the benefit and
happiness of all.
 MENTAL HEALTH
COUNSELLING
 Offer guidance to individuals, couples, families, and
groups that are dealing with issues that affect their
mental health and well-being.

 Counsellors treat many of the same problems as other

psychologists: depression and anxiety, PTSD, ADHD,
bipolar disorder, eating disorders, personality
disorders, and any psychological issue you can think of.

 Their approach depends on their education and

professional experience, but like psychologists, they
may primarily practice psychodynamic therapy,
cognitive- behavioural therapy, humanistic therapy, or
have a holistic, integrative approach.
 SUBSTANCE ABUSE COUNSELLING
 Diagnose and assess addiction problems, and
treat clients in a variety of ways.

 Every patient is an individual and struggles

with addiction in different ways, counsellors
must therefore customize treatment plans for
each client.

 They may meet regularly with clients as

they recover, or work intensely with
individuals in crisis.
 SUBSTANCE ABUSE
COUNSELLORS
 They teach clients how to alter their attitudes and false
beliefs, and develop strategies to overcome denial and
rationalization in the hope of achieving full recovery.
 Since clients are susceptible to relapse, counsellors work
with clients on an on-going basis.
 Substance abuse counsellors support people with drug
and alcohol addictions, eating disorders and other
behavioural issues. They are compassionate and patient
problem-solvers.
EDUCATIONAL
COUNSELLING
 Kids have busier lives than ever before. Some of them
face additional challenges at home, with friends, or in
their studies.

 School psychologists/counsellors can help, with their

patient, caring nature. Their main mission: to help
students navigate their formative years with
confidence.

 School psychologists work with students at all levels,

from elementary school to college.
 EDUCATIONAL
COUNSELLING
 They are advocates for students’ well-being, and are a
valuable resource for their educational and personal
development.

 They help students work through issues such as bullying,

disabilities, low self-esteem, poor academic performance,
social anxiety, problems with authority or problems at
home.

 School psychologists may do one-on-one therapy with

students, or work in groups with family members or peers
to understand and overcome psychological problems.
 GROUP COUNSELLING
 A kind of psychological therapy that takes place with a
group of people together.

 Most commonly associated with a specific therapy

type that makes use of group dynamics; groups with a
particular need.

 The differences among the group members are

harnessed for a common goal
GROUP COUNSELLING
 Group therapy has many benefits as it offers a support network and
provides the opportunity to meet others experiencing similar
concerns.

 Together with the therapist and the other group members, clients are
encouraged to share your experiences and work on understanding
themselves better.
AIMS OF GROUP THERAPY
 To help individuals identify maladaptive behaviour

 To help with emotional difficulties through feedback.

 To offer a supportive environment

Sharing with people who are going through similar issues helps to feel less
isolated and therefore more supported.
 FACTORS THAT DEFINE GROUP COUNSELLING
Universality
 This is about recognising that the shared experiences
within the group may be universal - something
experienced by humans around the world. Universality
helps to raise self-esteem by removing your sense of
isolation.
Altruism
 Members in group therapy can enable members to offer
advice to each other. This sense of altruism helps to
develop interpersonal skills and adapt coping styles.
Instillation of hope
 Group therapy involves people at different stages of
recovery. This means you may find yourself in a setting
with others who have been where you are and have
found ways of coping and/or recovering; seeing this can
offer hope during times of difficulty.
 FACTORS THAT DEFINE GROUP COUNSELLING
Imparting information
 Exchanging information is helpful. Many group members
find it helpful to learn more about other members, this
could include information about their treatment or access
to services.
Development of social skills
 Speaking in a group setting improves social skills and
interpersonal behaviour in a safe and supportive
environment. This helps to build confidence.
Catharsis
 Catharsis refers to the experience of relief from emotional
distress via uninhibited expression of emotion. Telling your
story to a group of supportive and understanding people
can be incredibly cathartic and may offer relief from
feelings you had previously repressed.
 FACTORS THAT DEFINE GROUP
COUNSELLING
Imitative behaviour
 Sharing an environment with a therapist and other members of
the group helps to develop skills through observation and
imitation. Learning through positive behaviour.
Cohesiveness
 Being a part of a cohesive group offers a sense of belonging,
acceptance and validation. Working through issues in a group
setting can feel comforting.
Existential factors
 Sharing experiences helps to learn about responsibility and the
consequences of decisions/actions. Others’ mistakes helps to gain
new perspectives.
Interpersonal learning
 Group interaction provides feedback on behaviour which can help
achieve a greater sense of self-awareness. A better understanding
of the self often the first step towards change and recovery.
Situations for group counselling
 Addictions/substance use
 Relationship/marital
 Anger
 Other mental health problems
Note
• Self help groups
• Support groups
Premarital counselling
• Premarital counseling, a specialized type of therapy usually provided by
marriage and family therapists, is believed to offer benefit to all couples
who are considering a long-term commitment such as marriage.
• Typically, the goal of premarital counseling is to identify and address any
potential areas of conflict in a relationship early on, before those issues
become serious concerns, and teach partners effective strategies for
discussing and resolving conflict.
• Partners seeking counseling before marriage may also find that
premarital counseling can help them better understand their
expectations about marriage and address any significant differences in a
safe and neutral environment.
Religious counselling
• Based on a particular belief/faith
• Different from spirituality counselling
• Utilises the principles of a religious group
INDIVIDUAL COUNSELLING
 Focused on the individual's immediate or near future
concerns.
 Individual counseling may encompass career
counselling and planning, grief after loss of a loved
one or dealing with problems at work, and at home
(family).
 Individual counseling is a one-on-one discussion
between the counselor and the client, who is the
person seeking treatment.
 The two form an alliance, relationship or bond that
enables trust and personal growth.
CAREER COUNSELLING
Career Counseling is a process that will help you to know and
understand yourself and the world of work in order to make career,
educational, and life decisions. Career development is more than just
deciding on a major and what job you want to do when you graduate.
AS A COUNSELLOR
 Strong interpersonal skills
 Clear boundaries
 High ethical standards
 Desire to collaborate
 Goal-setting skills
SOWK 433: APPROACHES
TO COUNSELLING

WEEK 4&5
APPROACHES TO COUNSELING
OVERVIEW
Psychotherapy theories provide a framework for therapists and
counselors to interpret a client’s behavior, thoughts, and feelings and
help them navigate a client’s journey from diagnosis to post-treatment.
Theoretical approaches are an understandably integral part of the
therapeutic process.
OBJECTIVES
This class will enable learning about:
 Approaches to counselling

 Sigmund Freud

 Psychoanalysis approach to counselling

LEARNING OUTCOMES
By the end of this class you should be able to:
 Identify approaches to counselling

 Describe Freud’s theory

 Analyse Psychoanalysis approach to counselling

PSYCHOANALYTIC APPROACH
 Psychoanalytic approach is a type of approach based upon the
theories of Sigmund Freud.

 Sigmund Freud (May 6, 1856 –September 23, 1939)

 Considered to be one of the forefathers of psychology and the

founder of psychoanalysis.
PSYCHOANALYTIC
APPROACH
 Freud, believed there were unconscious forces that
drive behavior.
 This type of counselling explores how the unconscious
mind influences thoughts and behaviors, with the aim
of offering insight and resolution to the person
seeking therapy.

 Psychoanalytic therapy tends to look at experiences

from early childhood to see if these events have
affected the individual’s life, or potentially contributed
to current concerns.
PSYCHOANALYTIC APPROACH
 This form of therapy is considered a long-term choice and can
continue for weeks, months or even years depending on the depth of
the concern being explored.

 Differing from several other therapy types, psychoanalytic therapy

aims to make deep­seated changes in personality and emotional
development.
UNDERLYING PHILOSOPHY
Many counsellors work on the following assumptions:
 Human beings are basically determined by psychic energy
and by early experiences.
 Unconscious motives and conflicts are central in present
behavior.
 Irrational forces are strong; the person is driven by sexual
and aggressive impulses.
 Early development is of critical importance because later
personality problems have their roots in repressed
childhood conflicts.
DEVELOPMENTAL STAGES
 Oral stage is centered on the mouth as a source of pleasure.

 Anal stage is centered on the anus and elimination as a source of

pleasure.

 Phallic stage is centered on the genitals and sexual identification as a

source of pleasure.
DEVELOPMENTAL STAGES
 Oedipus Complex: described as the process whereby
a boy desires his mother and fears castration from the
father, in order to create an ally of the father, the
male learns traditional male roles.

 Electra Complex: described a similar but less clearly

resolved in the female child with her desire for the
father, competition with the mother; and thus, learns
the traditional female roles
DEVELOPMENTAL STAGES
 Latency stage: a time of little sexual interest in Freud’s
developmental view. This stage is characterized with
peer activities, academic and social learning, and
development of physical skills.

 Genital stage begins with the onset of puberty. If the

other stages have been successfully negotiated, the
young person will take an interest in and establish
sexual relationships.
GOALS OF COUNSELLING
 Helping the client bring into the conscious the
unconscious.
 Helping the client work through a developmental
stage that was not resolved or where the client
became fixated.
 To reconstruct the basic personality.
 To assist clients in reliving earlier experiences and
working through repressed conflicts.
 To achieve intellectual awareness.
 Help the client adjustment to the demands of work,
intimacy, and society
ROLE OF THE COUNSELOR
 To encourage the development of transference, giving the client a
sense of safety and acceptance. The client freely explores difficult
material and experiences from their past, gaining insight and working
through unresolved issues. The counselor is an expert, who interprets
for the client.
STRUCTURE OF PERSONALITY
STRUCTURE OF PERSONALITY
The personality has three parts ­the id, the ego, and the superego.
 The id is present at birth and is part of the unconscious. The id is the
site of the pleasure principle, the tendency of an individual to move
toward pleasure and away from pain. The id does not have a sense of
right or wrong, is impulsive, and is not rational. It contains the most
basic of human instincts, drives, and genetic endowments.
STRUCTURE OF PERSONALITY
 The ego is the second system to develop and it functions primarily in
the conscious mind and in the preconscious mind. It serves as a
moderator between the id and the superego, controlling wishes and
desires. The ego is the site of the reality principle, the ability to
interact with the outside world with appropriate goals and activities.
STRUCTURE OF PERSONALITY
 The superego sets the ideal standards and morals for the individual.
The superego operates on the moral principle which rewards the
individual for following parental and societal dictates. Guilt is
produced when a person violates the ideal ego denying or ignoring
the rules of the superego.
COUNSELLING TECHNIQUES
 Free Association is a process where the client verbalizes any thoughts
that may without censorship, no matter how trivial the thoughts or
feeling may be to the client.
 Dream Analysis is a process where the client relates their dreams to
the counselor. The counselor interprets the obvious or manifest
content and the hidden meanings or latent content.
COUNSELLING TECHNIQUES
 Analysis of transference is a process where the client is encouraged
to attribute to counselor those issues that have caused difficulties
with significant authority figures in their lives. The counselor helps the
client to gain insight by the conflicts and feelings expressed.
 (Transference is when the client projects onto the therapist feelings
experienced in previous significant relationships.)
COUNSELLING TECHNIQUES
 Analysis of resistance is a process where the counselor helps the
client to gain insight into what causes form the basis for a hesitation
or halting of therapy.

 Interpretation is a process where the counselor helps the client to

gain insight into past and present events.
APPLICATIONS
 Psychoanalytic therapy can be used by those with a specific emotional
concern as well as those who simply want to explore themselves.

 Understanding why we are the way we are often brings with it a sense
of well­being and a stronger sense of self.
APPLICATIONS
 As psychoanalytic therapy is considered one of the more long-term
therapy types, it is perhaps less useful for those seeking quick,
solution focused therapies.

 Psychoanalytic therapy is a gradual process that takes time; however

the results can be life changing.
APPLICATIONS
 Psychoanalytic work is better suited to more general concerns such
as anxiety, relationship difficulties, sexual issues or low self-esteem.

 Phobias, social shyness and difficulties sleeping are further examples

of areas that could be addressed within psychoanalytic therapy.
CONTRIBUTIONS TO COUNSELLING
 More than any other system, this approach has generated controversy
as well as exploration and has stimulated further thinking and
development of therapy.

 It has provided a detailed and comprehensive description of

personality structure and functioning.
CONTRIBUTIONS TO COUNSELLING
 It has brought into prominence factors such as the unconscious as a
determinant of behavior and the role of trauma during the first 6
years of life.
 It has developed several techniques for tapping the unconscious. It
has shed light on the dynamics of transference and counter­
transference, resistance, anxiety, and the mechanisms of ego defense.
LIMITATIONS
 Requires lengthy training for therapists and much time and expense
for clients.
 The model stresses biological and instinctive factors to the neglect of
social, cultural, and interpersonal ones.
 It is inappropriate for the typical counseling setting.
SUMMARY
 This approach stresses the importance of the
unconscious and past experience in shaping current
behavior.
 The client is encouraged to talk about childhood
relationships with parents and other significant
people and the therapist focuses on the
client/therapist relationship (the dynamics) and in
particular on the transference.
 The Psychodynamic approach is derived from
Psychoanalysis but usually provides a quicker solution
to emotional problems.