Download The Theory Behind Helping

Introduction To Helping Relationships
PowerPoint produced by Melinda Haley, M.S., New Mexico State University.
“This multimedia product and its contents are protected under copyright law. The following are prohibited by law:

any public performance or display, including transmission of an image over a network;

preparation of any derivative work, including the extraction, in whole or part, of any images;

any rental, lease, or lending of the program.”
“Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004”
The Theory Behind Helping
What Can Theories Do For You?

Organize Information: Theories help you sort and organize the
information you get from helpees.

Provides a Framework for Action: Theories provide a road map for
the helping process.

Provides Social Influence: What helpers do often works because
helpees believe that helpers have the answers.

Theories help guide the helper: Theories give the helper
confidence that he or she is doing the right thing.
“Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004”
The Theory Behind Helping
What Questions Can Theories Help Answer?

How do people learn?

How do people develop?

How do people become troubled?

How can helpers best assist in the restoration of equilibrium?
“Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004”
The Theory Behind Helping
What Are The Three Main Categories of Theories

Developmental Theories

Learning Theories

Theories of Intervention
“Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004”
The Theory Behind Helping
Developmental Theories are usually organized around
different areas of human growth, experience and
development, including:









Physical
Emotional
Cognitive
Psychosocial
Cultural identity
Family
Moral
Gender
Sexual
“Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004”
The Theory Behind Helping
What are the Basic Premises of Developmental Theories?

Development proceeds in an orderly manner.

People naturally progress from one stage to another.

People progress through each stage.
“Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004”
The Theory Behind Helping
Learning Theories Help Us Understand How People Learn and
Change.
Common Learning Theories:






Operant Conditioning
Classical Conditioning
Modeling
Cognitive Information Processing
Brain-Based Learning
Constructivism
“Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004”
The Theory Behind Helping
Guiding Principles Behind Learning Theory

People learn when they are motivated.

When behavior is positively reinforced it is more likely to reoccur.

Fear and stress inhibit learning.

Behavior takes place within a context.

Behaviors can be learned through modeling.
“Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004”
The Theory Behind Helping
Guiding Principles Behind Learning Theory

Involve as many of the senses as you can in the learning process.

Help people make connections between what they are learning and
what they already know.

Learning takes place at both the conscious and unconscious level.

Establish a relationship that is conducive to exploration,
experimentation and risk taking.

Make learning an active process that fully engages the learner.
“Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004”
The Theory Behind Helping
Theories of Intervention: Some Examples
Psychoanalytic Theory (Sigmund Freud)

The unconscious is important.

People use defense mechanisms when uncomfortable.

Utilizes the concept of transference and countertransference.

People find relief through catharsis.
“Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004”
The Theory Behind Helping
Theories of Intervention: Some Examples
Person-Centered (Carl Rogers)

Believes in the power of nurturing relationships.

Believes in genuineness, trust, acceptance, caring and warmth.

Believes in exploring unexpressed feelings, clarifying experiences
and helping the person feel understood.

Goal is to create greater self-awareness, self-responsibility and
congruence.
“Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004”
The Theory Behind Helping
Theories of Intervention: Some Examples
Existential Theory

Believes in the development of insight.

Helps people create meaning in their lives.

Addresses issues of freedom, individual responsibility, alienation
and death.

Helps people explore who they are and where they are going.
“Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004”
The Theory Behind Helping
Theories of Intervention: Some Examples
Gestalt (Fritz Perls)

Stresses the importance of unfinished business.

Uses active strategies such as role-playing.

Goal is to help people become more integrated and highfunctioning.

“Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004”
The Theory Behind Helping
Theories of Intervention: Some Examples
Adlerian Theory (Alfred Adler)

Emphasizes the social context of behavior.

Emphasizes the role of choice in personal decision making.

Addresses a person’s feelings of inferiority.

“Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004”
The Theory Behind Helping
Theories of Intervention: Some Examples
Behavioral and Cognitive-Behavioral Theory

Behaviorism is systematic and utilizes interventions that produce
observable and measurable results.

Cognitive-behavioral (Albert Ellis): Looks at irrational thinking, faulty
logic, looks to change how people think about their problems.
“Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004”
The Theory Behind Helping
Theories of Intervention: Some Examples
Reality Therapy (William Glasser)

Action-oriented and problem-solving.

Helps people look at the consequences of their behavior.

People are helped to make responsible choices that will better fulfill
their needs and get them what they want.
“Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004”
The Theory Behind Helping
Building Your Own Unique Theory of Helping

Evaluate your own values, needs, communication style and how
those impact others.

Explore your own culture, personal myths, beliefs and how you see
yourself developing.

Read the other theories and explore how those fit with your own
clinical experiences and the research that you’ve read.

Utilize what works for you and your client population.
“Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004”
Introduction to Helping Relationships
Presentation Resources
Brammer, L. M. & MacDonald, G. (1999). The helping relationship:
Process and skills, 7th ed. Needham Heights, MA.: Allyn & Bacon.
Kottler, J. A. (2000). Nuts and bolts of helping, 1st ed. Needham Heights,
MA: Allyn & Bacon.
“Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004”