The description of the therapist in subject is one of a kind and a rare one to find. This is because she has made a choice of being in the shoes of someone in a small practice. The result of her choice has led her to working with people who have mental problems including eating disorders, depression and relationship issues. In order for her to succeed in this, two theories must be part of her practice and profession. The two theories are fit in in her work are the behavioral theory and Adlerian theory. The counselor chose the two theories for incorporation according to her beliefs and views on her personal life’s therapy.
Much attention falls on the description of each theory’s key assumptions. On each theory, there is provision of information on how they work in the presence of disorders. The behavioral theory’s focus is on eating disorders treatment and the Adlerian’s depression treatment. The counselor further explains how the two theories can work together in treatment of many mental disorders. She also describes how they fit together comfortably and serve many therapists and patients when well integrated.
Theories of counseling
Professionals working with people from different places depend on wishes and demands. The choice could include a private practice environment like the one chosen by the counselor. There will be purpose exploration of the professional to know more about the roles and intentions as well as functions. Such explorations include the role played in the process of counseling and the kind of mental cases the professional will come across. While in the line of work, she will use two main theories namely Adlerian and behavioral. There will be exploration of each theory and detailed assumptions on the two theories. After exploration, there will be description of how the theories work and the assumptions integration with personal values, philosophy and life story of the counselor. (Therapies, 2009)
There will be considerations on the application of these theories in different intellectual backgrounds and several settings of counseling. This will determine how the theories will be applicable in different parts of the given area and groups. With the use of existing study on both theories, there will be provision of analysis and description of how effective they are when working with different mental cases and disorders or even specific clients population. (Therapies, 2009)
Private practice
Specialized mental health practitioner in mental health has made a choice of working in a confidential setting. The described setting means small place and one more work mate who is also a professional. The small business aims at providing all-purpose treatments by counseling. Many people could need in one way or another these treatments including depression patients, marriage and relationship partners. Others include those who need direction in life and those who need to forget past events like death of their loved ones. (McLeod, 2007)
There is great need of a helper and that is why the counselor has another professional partner. This is because the small private business receives different cases of casualties and mentally challenged people from all spheres. Although the two partners are both professionals, they do not have same specialized skills. One of them may handle certain cases better than the other one. While working on all this cases, the counselor is not comfortable at all getting involved with the children. She dislikes with supported basis and it is because she is not experienced to do so. She will therefore concentrate on adults and practice using the two theories. (McLeod, 2007)
Adlerian theory
The Adlerian is one of the theories used by the counselor in the mental case practice. The developer of the theory is Alfred Adler. Adler brought about the development of the first therapy approach and it was holistic. From the horse’s mouth, whenever there is a encouragement feeling, there is a capability of one feeling appreciation and therefore resulting to understanding, connection and cooperation. In cases of discouragement, there is a feeling of rejection, giving up and unhealthy completion. One significant aspect of the Adlerian theory is encouragement. (Therapies, 2009)
Whenever one is encouraged, he or she feels as part of the rest. The therapist and subsequent argue that encouragement is the key to the growth of human beings and the world at large. Without encouragement, nothing can emerge successful. Adler argued that the mind of a human being does not work under the facts but on self-presumption. This is what many perceive as facts and it is wrong. Adler was responsible of looking at he subjective details and Freud was to look at the objective facts. According to the therapist, the main interest is not facts but how an individual looks and valuates (Therapies, 2009).
The personal point of view of somebody is what the paper refers to as subjective and Adler believed that everything in terms of human views was subjective. For instance, when one is having pain and illness, no one else can describe a natural private experience. The pain is from within making it a personalized matter and unless the therapist enquires, there can be no progress in treatment. Any human perceptions, ideas and feelings according to Adler were subjective. How an individual perceptions of the world contributes a lot to the behavior’s shape and therefore ones reality is actual and not actual where actual is subjective and factual objective. (LaFave, 2008)
Adler observed that the need for superiority is what drives people. Adler made emphasis on striving to be perfect under all circumstances including inferiority and to some extents seeking innate (Corey, 2009). Humans work hard to become superior and the search at times lead to inferiority complex where people feel overwhelmed. Clearly put in white and blacks states that the inferiority complex affects some people and it exceeds to hyperbole weakness. Such conditions lead to death when not well handled and attended to. The race to being superior is not always good especially to people who do not have a strong heart. (Magnus, 2009)
Both the past and the present were purely in the hands of Adler but he concentrated more on the present. He assumes that it is during the first years of life that people develop their real selves through series of events. People can see the series of events in childhood memories but at times tend to continue through adulthood. From the memories of the event’s series, they can choose what to reshape or change their future from current. The way people perceive themselves and their lives is with the help of the past events, which help them understand. Most of the childhood events do not happen again in adulthood and likewise in the future. (Therapies, 2009)
There are assumptions made by Adler that the Adlerian theory brings into line well with the personal views and life history. After a personal therapy, she was able to realize how her early recollections shaped her life and her views as a human being. Such things explain how life undergoes change and how bad one can be tying to think of what is real and not. To some extent, the counselor knows these things first hand since she has used them in her life and self-changes. (Therapies, 2009)
Behavioral theory
The theory is a complete complement of the Adlerian theory and this is what Adler strongly feels. Professionals dealing with behavior concentrate on traits that are easy to see and learning experiences from clients as well as treatment strategies for individual assessment. Some behaviors are rare to distinguish and in such cases, therapists go through a lot in trying to determine the root cause of the irregular behavior. The behavioral theory assumes that because it is not possible to measure emotions, feelings and thoughts, observing the behavior become the best way to help clients. (Corey, 2009)
The client gets the best help from counselor if there is time for observation. Behavior is therefore a product of learning and according to a behavior scientist; humans are products and producers of the environment. Classical and operant conditionings help people learn the new behaviors. There is another statement associated with behavioral theory that all simple and complex behaviors end up as stimulus response if there a reduction feature. Consequences change and maintain behavior as well as shaping it. The reinforcement of the behavior can be either positive or negative and the positive one has more impact in significance. If there is no appearance in reinforcement, there can be a disappearance of behavior no matter how much work there is in behavior change. (McLeod, 2007)
The theory tends to assume that learning and environment change a person in whole, right from character to behavior. There is much emphasis on current behavior and goals of treatment concerning changing the undesirable behaviors. The main goals are increasing the personal choice and creation of new conditions used when learning. (McLeod, 2007)
There is no much difference between the two schools of thought. Both theories believe can change assumptions and control their destinies. According to the counselor, the behavior theory best explains how people live and why they behave how they do. They also appreciate the motivation factor saying they play a big role to people’s behaviors. Life revolves around the two theories and they best explain how well people can relate and how best counselors can resolve issues on mental cases. (Kantrowitz, 2008)
Adlerian theory effectiveness on depression
Depression can come because of very many things including loss of property or loved ones. Relationships and broken marriages contribute more to depression, the feeling affects the brain, and to some levels, it causes insanity. Heavy anxiety in life could be a possible cause of depression and people who regularly receive threats could suffer from depression. The use of the Adlerian theory according to Adler helps a lot in the management of depression. (Therapies, 2009)
The therapy helps the depressed persons to get over the anxiety and the inferiority feelings. It then helps the patient set some goals, which would eventually give happiness and peace. The therapy works on assumptions that with the introduction of what one does best, there is a reduction in depression and inferiority feeling thus happiness. It concentrates on the patient’s psychology and its principals and it is triumphant in treating depression. Once the patient begins to see the society as different and friendly, anxiety goes and there is total happiness. (Therapies, 2009)
Adlerian therapy is applicable in many other social problems including marital disputes and domestic violence. For example, if one became more depressed because of a broken marriage, he or she could try to see a counselor who will ensure he is well by the use of micro skills of counseling. The counselor after analyzing will know the effective one and the most applicable. (Mosak, 1999).
Counseling micro skills, diverse backgrounds and role of theories with clients
Without the micro skills, counseling cannot be effective, the most important skill to counselors is the body language, and they are able to interpret them at a glance. Counselors believe that a blend of the two theories and their clients will be good for clients and successful too. For instance, if a person has suffered from depression the two theories can be very effective in treating them. In addition, if an individual realizes the problems, using these theories can help and restructure the mind. Many mental cases have been resolved by these theories and thanks to counselors who know the theoretical techniques to use. (McLeod, 2007)
The micro skills according to Adler vary depending on the client. Some may require a combination of both theories while others may require only one. These skills help the client realize future dreams and shun anything that could avoid getting them. Some of these skills include questioning, reflection of feeling and use of body language. (McLeod, 2007)
The counselors learn a lot and most of them have positioning language skill. Others are the four corners, reflection of feeling and content, short exercises, opening and closing questions and mind maps. There are also wish and brainstorming, self-disclosure, summarization, therapeutic alliance, advanced accuracy and immediacy. Most counselors at local levels tend to use the confrontation and assessment of sociality micro skills. (McLeod, 2007)
Conclusion
Counselors deal with many mental cases and working in a small private practice makes her prone to many emotional issues. The Adlerian and behavioral help the counselor deals with the emotions making them the best basis of therapy to clients. There is need for other theories in the practice since limiting it to only the two could lead to in efficient work and the process could turn out vale. The counselors face problems while trying to work on clients regarding the different mental cases, but the two theories have so far proved to be the best, especially for depression and emotional cases.
Many cases require a combination of both theories and when used effectively depending on the counselor’s skills, the results turn out to be very successful and appealing. Talking of depression, one theory alone cannot work since the patient has complete dislike of the inner self and for the surrounding and therefore a combination of the two is very effective. The micro skills used help the therapist incorporate the theories to clients and rarely does a patient get out of the clinic unwell.
There are many possible causes of the disadvantages including difficult clients and over rated mental cases. Sometimes the counselor has to deal with difficult situations like broken marriages, which is very emotional and sensitive. There could be no need for people to live with depression since the counselors know best how to do their work and convert depression to happiness.
Corey, G. (2009). Theory and practice of counseling and psychotherapy. New Jersey: Prentice hall.
Kantrowitz, E. and Okun, F.(2008). Effective helping interviewing and counseling techniques. Belmont: Brooks/Cole publishing.
LaFave, S. (2008). Thinking critically: objective subjective distinction. New York: Black well publishing.
McLeod, S. (2007). Simply Psychology. Retrieved on 8th May, available at www.simplypsychology.org
Mosak, H. and etal (1999). The analytic behavioral cognitive psychology of Alfred Adler. NY: Routledge.
Therapies. (2009). Adlerian therapy. Retrieved on 8th May, available at http://www.iamindepression.com/therapies/adlerian-therapy.htm
