Download Theories of Counseling

Theories of Counseling:
Behavioral Approaches
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Behavioral Approaches
Development of Behavioral Approaches

John Locke: Blank Slate

John Watson: Learned Neuroses

B. F. Skinner: Operant Conditioning

Ivan Pavlov: Classical Conditioning
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Behavioral Approaches
Basic Principles

Reinforcement: Rewards and Punishments.

Shaping: Working with small, incremental changes.

Measurement: Objective, measurable outcomes.

Action: Dwells more on behaviors than thoughts.
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Behavioral Approaches
Albert Ellis/Rational-Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT)
Theoretical Constructs and Techniques

Focuses on dysfunctional, irrational, unrealistic and distorted
thoughts.
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Feelings and behavior are also addressed.

Unconditional acceptance is important.

Ellis also believed in authenticity.

Clients are encouraged to think rationally.
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Behavioral Approaches
Albert Ellis/Rational-Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT)
Philosophy and Beliefs

Understanding belief systems is important.
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Belief systems are organized ways of thinking about reality.

Belief systems affect one’s self-view.

The language a client uses, will speak to their philosophy and belief
system.
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Behavioral Approaches
Albert Ellis/Rational-Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT)
Philosophy and Beliefs (continued)

Clients create their own emotional disturbances by believing in
absolute and irrational beliefs.

Clients can choose their belief system.

Counselors can help clients by identifying irrational beliefs and
helping the client find meaning in their lives.
Beliefs
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Behavioral Approaches
Albert Ellis/Rational-Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT)
Identifying Irrational Thinking

Helpless thinking is the result of irrational thinking.
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It usually includes “all or nothing” statements.

It usually includes the words should, ought, never and must.
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Behavioral Approaches
Albert Ellis/Rational-Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT)
Identifying Irrational Thinking (continued)
Five common irrational or dysfunctional ideas:
“Life
isn’t fair.”
“It’s awful.”
“I can’t stand it.”
“I must get what I want.”
“I’m incompetent.”
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Behavioral Approaches
Albert Ellis/Rational-Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT)
A-B-C-D-E-F
A = The activating event.
B = The irrational belief about the event.
C = The emotional consequence.
D = Disputing the irrational beliefs.
E = The emotional effect of disputing the belief.
F = New feelings and behavior.
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Behavioral Approaches
Rational-Emotive Behavior Therapy and Multiculturalism

The therapy fails to address contextual-situational factors that
adversely impact client’s lives.

REBT uses the ethnocentric approach to mental health care.

Does not focus on the phenomenological experience of the client.

Does not address the different ways irrational beliefs are manifested
by the culturally different.
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Behavioral Approaches
William Glasser/Reality Therapy/Choice Theory
The Basics

Instead of seeking to change behavior, Reality Therapy works on
changing awareness of responsibility.

Once responsibility is acknowledged by the client, it is then possible
to work on behavior change.

The locus of the decision is placed on the client.
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Behavioral Approaches
William Glasser/Reality Therapy/Choice Theory
The Basics

The Reality therapist might borrow skills, techniques or ideas from
other theories if it benefits the client.

The Reality therapist will be himself or herself, use humor, sarcasm
and confrontation in personal ways to assist the client in greater
understanding.

Role-playing, systematic planning, and teaching intentional living
are all important in Reality Therapy.
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Behavioral Approaches
William Glasser/Reality Therapy/Choice Theory
The Basics

The client has control over his or her life, choices and personhood.

There is no need to explore a client’s past because the past is over
and the client’s problems occur in the present.

Reality therapy puts the power into the client’s hands and shows the
client how he or she can help himself or herself.
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Behavioral Approaches
William Glasser/Reality Therapy/Choice Theory
The Basics

The client and counselor explores the client’s wants and needs.

It focuses on conscious, planned behavior.

The therapy focuses on responsibility and choice.

Trust and the relationship between client and counselor are critical.
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Behavioral Approaches
William Glasser/Reality Therapy/Choice Theory
The Basics

Since it is often used in institutions, the counselor’s communication
of trust, warmth, respect and caring is especially important.

Reality therapy helps clients look at the consequences of their own
actions.

This therapy is often used in settings other than the counseling
office (e.g. playground or detention center) and is practiced by those
other than counselors (e.g. teacher and prison guard).
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Thoughts
Behavioral Approaches
William Glasser/Reality Therapy//Choice Theory
Cognitive Aspects of Reality Therapy

Reality therapy aids the client in examining the types of thoughts he
or she has about himself or herself and the external world.

It helps clients exert control over their own actions, lives, choices
and feelings.

Clients choose misery and symptoms. This becomes a way a client
has of dealing with the world (e.g. depressing, headaching).
“Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004”
Behavioral Approaches
William Glasser/Reality Therapy/Choice Theory
Cognitive Aspects of Reality Therapy

There are negative additions (e.g. drugs, stealing) and positive
addictions (e.g. walking, meditation).

We choose our addictions and therefore our fate.

Reality therapy helps clients to: Explore their wants and how that
relates to their needs; look at what they are doing to meet those
needs; evaluate behaviors in relationship to those needs and helps
the client plan to change behavior to more effectively meet needs.
“Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004”
Behavioral Approaches
William Glasser/Reality Therapy/Choice Theory
Cognitive Aspects of Reality Therapy

There are negative additions (e.g. drugs, stealing) and positive
addictions (e.g. walking, meditation).

We choose our addictions and therefore our fate.

Reality therapy helps clients to: Explore their wants and how that
relates to their needs; look at what they are doing to meet those
needs; evaluate behaviors in relationship to those needs and helps
the client plan to change behavior to more effectively meet needs.
“Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004”
Behavioral Approaches
Reality Therapy and Multiculturalism

Many of the tenets of Reality therapy fits well with other cultures.

Helping the client explore wants and needs keeps the focus on the
client’s values and concerns within the client’s cultural context.

Reality therapy challenges the client to see the self in relationship to
his or her context. This includes the client’s cultural context.
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Behavioral Approaches
Donald Meichenbaum’s Ten Central Tenets of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Behavior is reciprocal between a client’s thoughts, feelings, psychological
processes and resultant consequences.

Cognitions do not cause emotional difficulty.

Counselors help clients understand how they construct and construe reality.

CBT therapists dissuade from the rationalist or objectivist position.

There is an emphasis on collaboration with the client.
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Behavioral Approaches
Donald Meichenbaum’s Ten Central Tenets of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
(continued)

Relapse prevention is central to cognitive behavioral therapy.

The client/therapist relationship is critical for change to occur.

Emotions play a critical role in cognitive-behavioral therapy.

CBT is used with couples and families.

CBT can be used in a variety of setting with a variety of issues.
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Behavioral Approaches
Applied Behavioral Analysis: Central Constructs

Client-counselor relationship is imperative and counselors exhibit high
levels of empathy, self-congruence and interpersonal contact. The
relationship is collaborative and relationship variables differ according to
client and culture.

Operationalization of Behavior: Focuses on the concreteness and
specifics of behavior. Vagueness is transformed into objective,
observable actions.

Functional Analysis: The ABC’s of behavior. An individual's behavior is
directly related to events and stimuli in the environment.
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Behavioral Approaches
Applied Behavioral Analysis: Central Constructs

Reinforcement: Behavior develops and maintains itself through a
system of punishments and rewards.

Goals: These are designed to make specific behavioral changes.
Goals are concrete, specific, observable and measurable.
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Resources
Ivey, A. E., D’Andrea, M., Ivey, M. B. and Morgan, L. S. (2002). Theories of counseling
and psychotherapy: A multicultural perspective, 5th ed. Boston, MA.: Allyn &
Bacon.
James, R. K. & Gilliland, B. E. (2003). Theories and strategies in counseling and
psychotherapy, 5th ed. Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon.
Kottler, J. A. (2002). Theories in counseling and therapy: An experiential approach.
Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon.
“Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004”