Importance_of_Theory_in_Counselling

CST-L3 There are several theories and approaches within counselling, the psychodynamic approach, the behavioural and cognitive behavioural approaches and the humanistic approach. • The Psychodynamic approach stem from the work of Sigmund Freud. Freud believed that everything we do and think has a goal. There is no such thing as an accident or chance event, he believed mental activity existed in three domains: unconscious, pre- conscious and conscious. • The Behavioural and Cognitive Behavioural Approaches, this approach is based on the work of a group of behavioural psychologists who were interested in the nature of human learning. • The Humanistic Approach, this approach was developed by several psychologists (Maslow, Rogers, May). They believe humans are motivated by the human needs and to realise as much as their potential as possible. Theories of counselling are the building blocks of the profession. There are many ideas in counseling about how people thrive and about how things go wrong for some people and how to help with people and their healing. Each of these theories produces a set of techniques. Different counsellors chose different styles depending on the type of person they are. Before a counsellor decides which style of counselling they are going to work with they must become familiar with several of the theories first. Any style of counselling is underpinned by theory and the reason for this is that these theories have been developed through tried and trusted methods. These methods provide safe and defined frameworks to work within. Without a definite framework there is a danger the counsellor may work in a haphazard way causing both counsellor and client developing an unsafe working relationship. Through these theories counsellors provide a safe and supportive environment in which people can work through their own issues. Also what works best with different sorts of clients or different sorts of issues needs to be taken into account, all of the theories work with some clients but none of them work with all clients.