Monday, December 3, 2012

Reminder

Hello everyone! Don't forget that as you are writing your posts, you  should also be replying to your classmates ( at least three replies). You guys are doing a great job! Keep the information coming!

-John

Sunday, December 2, 2012

Mindfulness Approach

     Mindfulness approach is definitely a different and unique approach to counseling.  There are 2 different approaches to Mindfulness; Acceptance ad Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). This theory is basically meditation. I feel meditation is important for individuals not only in therapy but outside of therapy too. It helps relax the client and get them in a peaceful state of mind. It really helps clients who suffer with depression and anxiety. I could see myself as a counselor use this approach with my clients even if it is for a few minutes before each session just to get in a peaceful state of mind.

This video gives a type of sound that a counselor could use during the mindfulness session:





Gestalt Theory

     The Gestalt theory is based off of the notion humans are growth-oriented. (Murdock, 2013) "Humans can't be separated  from their environments, nor can they be divided into parts (such as body and mind)." (Murdock, 2013) In Gestalt theory human behavior is motivated  by the drive to satisfy needs. The Gestalt Therapist is to frustrate the client's avoidance of self-support. The client is confronted with their attempts to get the counselor to take care of them and their reluctance to be authentic.  (Murdock, 2013) Confrontation plays a huge role in the Gestalt theory and that's what I think makes it effective.

     Personally, I really enjoy the Gestalt theory. The fact that the therapist in this theory is upfront and blunt to their client fits my personality. I believe that the theory is also very effective. It may hurt the client's feelings or not be sensitive but some people need that in order to break through to them. One of the big techniques in this theory is the empty chair technique and I believe this is a good technique. It helps the client practice what they want to say to someone who has hurt them in the past, depending on their reason why they are in counseling. While they are acting out this technique it also helps them hear what they are saying and can help the client realize what is wrong with them and not just having the counselor say it to them blatantly. I could see myself using this theory a lot and make it my primary theory.

This is an example of the empty chair technique:



Saturday, December 1, 2012

Family Systems Theory


      In Family Systems Theory the family operates as a system. The family focuses on the relationships in the family and 
are interconnected. It is common to see families label one family member as the “one with the problem”. Overall there are 
four types of theories (approaches) in Family Systems Theory. The first approach is the Satir Approach, the second one is  
Structural Therapy, the third one is Strategic Therapy, and the last one is Bowen's Family Systems Theory. The Satir  
Approach emphasizes the need for human love. There are five basic life stages: Conception to birth, birth to puberty,  
puberty  to adulthood, adulthood to senior status, and senior status to death. Structural Therapy mainly focused on  
boundaries within the family. There are four stages of development: couple formation, families with young 
children, families with school-aged or adolescent children, and families with grown children. The Strategic Therapy 
focuses on repetitive patterns of communication. There are 6 life stages in this theory: The courting period, early marriage, 
childbirth and dealing with the young, middle marriage, weaning parents from children, and retirement and old age.Lastly, 
the Bowen's Family Systems Theory focuses on differentiation and balancing the 2 natural forced of individuality and
togetherness. 
      As a future counselor, I can see myself using this theory on families but do not think I would actually use it frequently.
I enjoy the fact that this theory has many options and interventions to use. I would rather work with younger children and  
this theory could help understand a child's home life and where they enact unhealthy behaviors. I enjoyed learning about 
this theory but like I have said I do not think I would use it often. From a Christian persepective, it does have relevance 
support in relation to the Bible which is a postive for Christian counselors. But it is not biased to just the Christian 
background because it can be used for secular clients too. I think that is an important factor in counseling because not 
everyone is going to be a Christian counselor or have clients that are Christian, it is important to be flexible between the 
two.