Counseling Theory Summary

Through understanding the core personality of an individual, how it develops, what effective functioning and distress look like, as well as exploring motivation and change, the author aims to further understand individuals at their basic level. Understanding individuals at this level, particularly with personality allows counselors to effectively work with clients. Counseling theory addresses goals for counseling, primary emphases in counseling, the therapeutic relationship, the process of counseling, interventions, techniques, modalities, and assessment of the counseling process. Again, it is important to remember that each individual is unique, intricate, and resilient; however, individuals often have similarities that allow us to use theoretical

The author aims to improve daily functioning, meaning that behaviors, thoughts, and feelings experienced are improved, or that the client is better equipped to experience, manage, and sit with these behaviors, thoughts, and feelings. Furthermore, the author aims to include in the counseling process increasing the awareness of every client. The author asserts that with greater awareness there is an innate drive to self-actualize, or work towards self-improvement. The author recognizes the advantages of identifying and exploring family dynamics in individual counseling. Often families are the first environments where individuals are able to learn how they interact with others, how to communicate, and set boundaries. Developing an understanding of relationships with family members may lead to insight on how individuals experience relationships with others. However, above all a primary goal of any counseling experience is to create an environment conducive to exploring the self of the client. Without a safe environment, clients are likely not to feel safe enough to explore the self, as the self often includes both parts the client is ready to share openly, and parts that the client is more hesitant to disclose as they may bring up feelings of shame and guilt, or other feelings and emotions not

First and foremost, it is necessary to create a therapeutic alliance with the client. The author believes that building rapport with a client is one of the most important tasks of a counselor. Rapport can be developed in many different manners. Counselors can use the language of the client. If clients use swear words, this author suggests also utilizing swear words in session to the level of the comfort of the client and counselor. Moreover, unconditional positive regard for clients is an effective and efficient way to build and maintain the therapeutic alliance with clients. It is key to the therapeutic alliance and in maintaining that safe space that clients feel like they can be their true and authentic selves and bring whatever is on their minds and hearts to the counseling session and know that they will not be rejected, ignored, or invalidated. The therapeutic relationship is central to the process of counseling. This author asserts that the counselor’s role within the therapeutic relationship is to provide a sounding board for the client. To reflect, empathize, and dig deeper to bring greater awareness and insight to the client. In work with clients it is important to recognize that clients are their own experts. This author believes that clients have the answers to their problems, excluding perhaps a need for psychoeducation or developmentally appropriate