A Personal Theory of Counseling

Paper Summary:

This paper explains that the development of a personal theory of counseling is an important aspect of becoming a helping professional. The author points out that a personal theory is in itself a process and a tool, which the counselor uses to evaluate the client and his needs and and assess his own effectiveness as a helping professional. The paper relates that the author's own personal philosophy is influenced greatly by the phenomenological and humanistic approaches espoused by Alfred Adler and the existentialists and by the cognitive influences, especially appraisal, choice and responsibility as described by A. Ellis and W. Glasser. The author underscores that the fundamental goal of therapy is not necessarily symptom relief but rather identifying and exploring mistaken goals and ineffective values so that clients can make choices that are more congruent with their true selves.

Table of Contents:
View of Human Nature
Key Concepts
Therapeutic Goals and Objectives
Therapeutic Process
Techniques/Procedures
Multicultural Issues

From the Paper:

"Although I believe that humans have strong biological determinants with regard to personality, behavior, thought, and affect, I feel that the complexities of the mind transcend our innate composition such that we can function as unique, healthy, and adaptive individuals in both our internal and external worlds. Unfortunately, we sometimes get side-tracked from living up to our human potential, and our biological determinants then become more dominant. To be human is to be complex."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Arciniega, G. M., & Newlon, B. J. (2003). Counseling and psychotherapy: Multicultural considerations. In D. Capuzzi and D. R. Gross (Eds.), Counseling and Psychotherapies: Theories and Interventions. Upper Sadlle River, NJ: Pearson.
• Corey, G. (1986). Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy. Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole.
• Ellis, A. (2008). Rational emotive behavioral therapy. In R. J. Corsini and D. Wedding (Eds.), Current Psychotherapies. Belmont, CA: Thomson Brooks/Cole.
• Glasser, W. (1981). Stations of the Mind. New York: Harper & Row.
• Ivey, A. E., D'Andrea, M., Ivey, M. B., & Simek-Morgan, L. (2006). Theories of Counseling and Psychotherapy: A Multicultural Perspective. Boston: Allyn & Bacon.

More papers on A Personal Theory of Counseling:

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