Counseling Theories, Tools, and Techniques PDF

COUNSELING THEORIES, TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES BY: MS. MAKI R. CAINGLET 10/09/24 1  BEHAVIOR THERAPY John Watson, B.F. Skinner, Joseph Wolpe, Donald Meichenbaum 10/09/24...

COUNSELING THEORIES, TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES BY: MS. MAKI R. CAINGLET 10/09/24 1  BEHAVIOR THERAPY John Watson, B.F. Skinner, Joseph Wolpe, Donald Meichenbaum 10/09/24 2 View of Human Nature People are basically neutral at birth; they are neither good nor bad People are influenced by what happens to them and by what they learn Learning can result in the development of any pattern of human behavior, provided that the person has a certain learning history and biological capability Includes both personal and environmental determinants of human behavior 10/09/24 3  Theory of Personality 1. Classical Conditioning Classical conditioning is a type of learning where a neutral stimulus becomes associated with a meaningful stimulus, eventually eliciting a similar response. This process was first studied by Ivan Pavlov and is fundamental in understanding how organisms learn to associate stimuli in their environment. 10/09/24 4 Theory of Personality Key Components: 1.Unconditioned Stimulus (US): A stimulus that naturally triggers a response 2.Unconditioned Response (UR): The natural response to the US 3.Neutral Stimulus (NS): A stimulus that initially does not elicit a response 4.Conditioned Stimulus (CS): The previously neutral stimulus that, after conditioning, elicits a response 5.Conditioned Response (CR): The learned response to the CS 10/09/24 5 Theory of Personality Examples: 1.Fear of Dentists: 1. US: Pain during dental procedure 2. UR: Fear and anxiety 3. NS/CS: Sight or smell of dental office 4. CR: Fear and anxiety when entering a dental office 2.Coffee Cravings: 1. US: Caffeine (stimulant effect) 2. UR: Increased alertness 3. NS/CS: Smell of coffee 4. CR: Feeling more alert upon smelling coffee 10/09/24 6 Theory of Personality 2. Operant Conditioning Operant conditioning is a learning process where behavior is modified through consequences. It was developed by psychologist B.F. Skinner and focuses on how voluntary behaviors are influenced by their outcomes. Key components: 1.Reinforcement: Increases the likelihood of behavior 2.Punishment: Decreases the likelihood of behavior 10/09/24 7 Theory of Personality 3. Reinforcement The process of encouraging or strengthening a particular behavior through the use of consequences. The main idea is that behaviors followed by positive outcomes are more likely to be repeated, while those followed by negative outcomes are less likely to occur again. Types of Reinforcement: 1.Positive Reinforcement: Adding a desirable stimulus to increase behavior 2.Negative Reinforcement: Removing an unpleasant stimulus to increase behavior 10/09/24 8 Theory of Personality Examples: 1.Positive Reinforcement: 1. A student receives praise from a professor for answering a question correctly, making them more likely to participate in future discussions. 2. An employee gets a bonus for meeting sales targets, encouraging them to maintain high performance. 2.Negative Reinforcement: 1. A person puts on sunscreen to avoid getting sunburned, reinforcing the behavior of applying sunscreen. 2. A student completes homework early to avoid the stress of last-minute cramming, reinforcing good study habits. 10/09/24 9  Theory of Personality 4. Extinction The gradual weakening and eventual disappearance of a conditioned response when the reinforcement or stimulus that originally triggered it is no longer present. This concept is crucial in learning theory and behavioral psychology. Example: If a child throws tantrums to get attention and parents consistently ignore this behavior, the tantrums will likely decrease over time. 5. Generalization The tendency to respond to stimuli that are similar to a previously learned stimulus in the same way. This concept is crucial in learning and behavior, as it allows individuals to apply what they've learned in one situation to similar situations. Example: A child who has been bitten by a German Shepherd may develop a fear response not only to that specific dog but to all large dogs or even all dogs in general. 10/09/24 10 Theory of Personality 6. Discrimination The ability to perceive and respond to differences between stimuli. It involves distinguishing between similar but distinct sensory inputs or concepts. This cognitive process is fundamental to learning and decision-making. Examples: 1.Visual Discrimination: Recognizing the difference between the letters 'b' and 'd'. 2.Auditory Discrimination: Distinguishing between similar-sounding words like "ship" and "chip". 3.Taste Discrimination: Identifying different flavors in a complex dish. 4.Cognitive Discrimination: Differentiating between relevant and irrelevant information when studying for an exam. 5.Social Discrimination: Recognizing subtle differences in facial expressions to interpret emotions. 10/09/24 11 Theory of Personality 7. Shaping In shaping, a complex behavior is broken down into smaller, achievable steps. As the subject performs behaviors that are closer to the desired outcome, they are reinforced. This process continues until the final, desired behavior is achieved. Example: Teaching a child to tie shoelaces: 1.Praise the child for holding the laces 2.Reinforce making a simple knot 3.Reward forming the initial loop 4.Encourage wrapping the second lace around 5.Finally, reinforce pulling through and tightening 10/09/24 12 Theory of Personality 8. Counterconditioning A behavioral therapy technique used to modify an individual's response to a stimulus by pairing it with a new, opposing response. This process aims to replace an undesirable reaction with a more desirable one. Examples: 1.Treating dog phobia: Initial response: Fear when seeing a dog Counterconditioning: Gradually exposing the person to dogs while in a relaxed state, often using relaxation techniques 10/09/24 13 Theory of Personality 9. Token Economies A token economy is a behavior modification system based on principles of operant conditioning. It involves using tokens as a form of reinforcement to encourage desired behaviors and discourage unwanted ones. In a token economy: 1.Tokens are awarded for positive behaviors 2.Tokens can be exchanged for rewards or privileges 3.The system is clearly defined and consistently implemented 10/09/24 14 The Therapeutic Process (Perspectives) Counseling and psychotherapy should focus on client’s observable behavior and their life responses, not on their unresolved, unconscious conflicts. Learning is a central principle for understanding and changing a client’s behavior. Clients’ changes in behavior are governed by the law of effect: “behavior that is followed by satisfying consequences will be more likely to be repeated and behavior that is followed by unsatisfying consequences will be less likely to be repeated. 10/09/24 15 The Therapeutic Process (Perspectives) Learning is also governed by contingencies. Clients change their behaviors as they discover relationships between sequences of events and their behaviors— associate learning Behavior therapy is an individual-focused approach. It takes a non-pathological approach to what other schools of thoughts label as mental illness. 10/09/24 16 The Therapeutic Process (Perspectives) Most abnormal behavior is assumed to be acquired through learning and maintained in the same manner as normal behavior Instead of focusing on the past, behavioral assessment examines the current determinants of behavior. The therapist conducts a prior analysis of the problem into its components or subparts 10/09/24 17 The Therapeutic Process (Perspectives) Therapist develops treatment strategies that are individually tailored for each client, depending on the issue for which they request assistance It is not essential for a behavior therapist to understand the origins of a psychological problem in order to produce positive client behavioral change. Behavior therapists must commit to the scientific method in their work with clients 10/09/24 18 The Therapeutic Relationship Behaviorists establish a warm and empathic relationship with clients It is central in behavior therapy because the therapists must be able to get clients to trust them in such sensitive issues as dealing with their deepest fears. 10/09/24 19 Goals of Therapy The counselor informs the client about the need for goals, the role that they play in therapy, and the client’s involvement in the goal-setting process. The client indicates the positive changes he or she desires from therapy. Emphasis is placed on what the client wants rather than what he or she does not want. The therapist highlights that change can only come from the client and the fact that the client must accept responsibility for the desired change in behavior. Throughout the therapy process, the client and therapist work on identified goals, revising them as the need arises. A plan of action is developed to achieve the identified goals. 10/09/24 20 Role of the Therapist Function as consultants in producing behavioral change Active and directive during counseling Conduct a complete functional assessment to identify the variables that maintain the conditions about which the client complains Generate initial treatment goals and construct a treatment plan to achieve these goals 10/09/24 21 Role of the Therapist Teach concrete skills to the client by instruction, modeling, and performance feedback Use therapy techniques to promote maintenance of behavior change Measure the effectiveness of treatment procedures Complete follow-up assessments 10/09/24 22 Role of the Client Agreeing to perform homework assignments and by engaging in behavioral rehearsal until skills are learned. Clients who come to therapy are motivated to change 10/09/24 23 Behavior Therapy Techniques 1. Relaxation Training Techniques: should be individualized for each client 2. Reciprocal Inhibition and Systematic Desensitization Reciprocal inhibition is a key concept in behavior therapy, developed by Joseph Wolpe. It's based on the principle that a person cannot experience two incompatible emotional states simultaneously. In therapy, this concept is used to reduce or eliminate anxiety responses by pairing anxiety-provoking stimuli with relaxation. Systematic desensitization is a therapeutic technique used in behavior therapy to help individuals overcome phobias, anxieties, or fears. This method involves gradually exposing the person to the feared object or situation while in a relaxed state, allowing them to learn that the feared stimulus is not actually dangerous. 10/09/24 24 Behavior Therapy Techniques 3. Stress Inoculation Training Designed to help inoculate people against collapse as they experienced stress. Goal: to change individual’s beliefs about the behaviors and statements they make to themselves regarding how they deal with stress Helps clients to induce a relaxation response, engage in cognitive restructuring, and perform effective problem-solving skills 10/09/24 25 Exposure Therapies General category of behavior techniques that are designed to treat phobias and a wide range of other behaviors Therapists introduce clients to the situations that have contributed to their problems 1. Flooding: constitutes either an in vivo or imaginal exposure to anxiety-evoking stimuli for a prolonged period of time. The therapist exposes the client to a safe version of the fearsome stimulus at maximum intensity 10/09/24 26 Exposure Therapies 2. In Vivo: refers to procedures that takes place in the client’s actual environment 3. Implosive Therapy: Client imagines all anxiety situations The imagined anxiety scene are exaggerated to elicit as much anxiety as possible The imagined scenes are based on hypothesized sources of anxiety, which are psychodynamic in nature 10/09/24 27  REBT (Albert Ellis) 10/09/24 28 View of Human Nature People are born with a potential for irrational or rational thinking Human beings have predispositions for self- preservation, happiness, and growth actualization People are constructivists and have a great deal of resources for human growth. 10/09/24 29 Theory of Personality ABC Model of Personality A: activating event or experiences, such as family problems or early childhood trauma, that trigger stress or worry B: belief system—the cognitive component in our reaction to events. Especially important are irrational, self-defeating beliefs that form the source of our unhappiness C: consequences (the neurotic symptoms and negative emotions, such as depression, anger, and rage) that come from our beliefs D: Disputing Irrational Thoughts and belief  Detecting  Debating  discriminating E: Cognitive and Emotional effects of revised beliefs 10/09/24 30 The Therapeutic Process Designed to help clients gain a more realistic, rational philosophy of life Therapist does not devote much time to examining the morbid details of the client’s life Challenges clients’ irrational beliefs in the first few sessions Intended to be a brief therapy (1-10 sessions) 10/09/24 31 The Therapeutic Process Clients with sever disturbances are encouraged to come to individual and/or group sessions for at least 6 months 2 techniques: Record the entire session. Clients then listen to the recordings several times so they can ascertain their problems and the REBT way of handling them To give REBT Self-Help Form to teach clients how to use the method when they experience emotional problems between therapeutic sessions 10/09/24 32 The Therapeutic Relationship General REBT: similar to CBT Preferential REBT, which stresses a deep philosophical change in the client’s life and way of relating to people 3 powerful Insights:  Person’s self-defeating behavior usually stems from the interaction of A and B; such that A+B=C  People have made themselves emotionally disturbed because they keep indoctrinating themselves with similar irrational beliefs  Clients recognize that only hard work and practice will correct irrational beliefs. Clients must commit themselves to repeated challenging of irrational thoughts until they are fully extinguished. 10/09/24 33 Role of the REBT Therapist Must understand belief systems and how to distinguish rational and irrational beliefs. Primary role: focus on the main irrational ideas that lie behind the feelings clients have expressed in therapy, especially their ideas that is awful the way in which people have treated them 10/09/24 34 Role of the REBT Therapist 3 phases: Cognitive Phase: therapist presents the cognitive rationale for REBT to the client. It is devoted to clients writing down their troublesome thoughts. Emotive Phase: clients are instructed that they can learn to control their emotions by becoming fully aware of the thoughts that support such emotions and by learning to substitute alternative thoughts Behavioristic Phase: clients are taught to change their behavior 10/09/24 35 Role of the Client Individuals who are out of contact with reality, in a highly manic state, seriously autistic or brain injured, and in lower ranges of mental deficiency are not good candidates for REBT More effective clients who have a single major symptom such as depression. Clients are instructed to focus on the present and not on the past Expected to participate actively in the therapeutic process and to complete assignments. 10/09/24 36 Counseling Techniques Uses a variety of therapeutic techniques: didactic discussion, bibliotherapy, role playing, assertion training, operant conditioning, activity-oriented homework assignments Changing one’s language Imprecise language contributes to distorted thinking Clients learn how to change their “musts” to “preferences” Humor: emotional disturbance comes from taking oneself too seriously 10/09/24 37 Counseling Techniques Shame-attacking exercises:  to help clients reduce shame over how they behaved. Such exercises are designed for increasing client self-acceptance. Disputing  Detailed examination sentence by sentence of any irrational belief that the client states during therapy  Using three forms of disputation:  Cognitive: attempts to persuade the client by asking direct questions; e.g. “Can u prove it?”; “How do u know”?  Imaginal: ask client to imagine themselves in the situation about which they feel uncomfortable  Behavioral: if clients continue practicing rational emotive imagery, they can reach the point where they no longer feel upset over negative events 10/09/24 38 Counseling Techniques Emotional Control Card Wallet sized and contains four emotionally debilitating categories: anger, self-criticism, anxiety and depression; a list of inappropriate feelings, and a parallel list of appropriate feelings The goal is to get clients to become aware of the feelings that they are using and to encourage them to rationally choose the emotions they display. 10/09/24 39