Personal Theory of Counseling

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Table of Contents

Introduction
My Basic View of Human Nature
The Key Factors that Account for the Changes of Behavior
Nature of the Therapist-Client Relationship
Key Functions and Role of the Therapist
Key Goals of a Therapy
References

Introduction

Many scholars have come up with various theories that try to explain the nature of human behavior and the factors that cause the differences in the same. However, there are some discrepancies in these theories and as such individuals continue to develop new theories everyday. This has brought about the emergence of personal theory, which is often used in counseling in an attempt to bridge the gap and discrepancies created.

It is worth noting that the theories have some common understanding or interrelated stand when it comes to critical factors of human nature. From these, we can deduce and come up with a precise and thorough understanding of the basic view of human nature, changes of behavior and therapy.

My Basic View of Human Nature

The human nature can be best described by the distinguishing traits among individuals. These traits include how an individual thinks, feels and acts. These naturally occurring traits constitute the human nature. Therefore, the human nature exhibits some uniformity that is accompanied by feeling. This is what makes individuals be referred to as human.

The human nature is usually composed of dynamic and transforming events, which are brought about by the conscious, preconscious and unconscious mind (Miller, 2002). The three works together in unity to constitute the human nature, this is why it is very difficult to precisely describe an individual’s nature since these components are not automatically visible at once.

It is also important to know that the human nature comprises of the intellectual, emotional, social, spiritual, and vocational needs, which must work together in a unified synchronization since the neglect of one will greatly reduce the ability of an individual to withstand adverse effects of life. But, if these factors are well coordinated and monitored, it is possible to control the well-being of a person both in the short term and long term.

The Key Factors that Account for the Changes of Behavior

Human behavior is affected by a wide array of factors. Among these factors that cause behavior change is the social influence. The social influence has a key role in a change of behavior. It has been proven that our interactions, be it with friends, coworkers and families affect greatly how we behave and sometimes even how decisions are made.

An individual cannot exist as a sole entity, thus he or she must interact a lot with people, as a result of this interaction, and individuals often change their behavior by either copying or imitating what others do. It is surprising to note that this can happen even within a very short period of time. People can change their priorities, value systems and believes based on their interactions.

Environmental factors also greatly affect behavior change. Individuals have little or no control to environmental factors, which end up influencing their behavior a lot. Therefore, it is impossible to address a behavioral problem based on personal factors alone. People from the same environment tend to have interrelated behavior and this has to be known when one is addressing certain behavior change.

Attitudes account greatly for behavior change since changes of behavior first emanate from the attitudes that individuals possess (Chiari, 2009). Attitudes will define the associated beliefs and evaluations towards things. Therefore, to have control of behavior, one only needs to activate an emotion or an effective attitude. Thus, change of attitude is a key component for the behavior change.

Compliance is the change of behavior as a result of consequences. For, example an individual’s strives to avoid punishment or changing behavior with hope of getting a reward. Here, there has to be some driving force behind an individual so as to respond in the required way.

Nature of the Therapist-Client Relationship

Therapist-client relationship sometimes can be very tight. At times, it is very difficult for the counselors or clients to ‘let go’ of the relationship.

This is brought about by the fact that clients often feel comfortable when they are with the therapist since they believe he or she is the only one who can solve their problem, and a strong love usually develops from this relationship and the client, if well attended to the first time will need more counseling services from the therapist.

Therapist-client relationship is also strengthened by the fact that counselors would like to know that they have really taken care of their clients over a significant period of time. This may force them to follow on the clients just to ensure that he or she is very okay (Duval & Beres, 2011).

Well, it is true that the therapists find certain clients are pleasure to work with and they often feel attached to their customers as a result of the relationship.

However, many professional acquaintances do not support therapist-client relationship outside professional setting because this is feared that it might violate professional ethics, thus jeopardizing the whole process. Therefore, it is important that despite the therapist-client relationship being very strong, the therapist must learn to let go and become unnecessary to the client once the business is done.

The therapist-client relationship in solution finding majorly focuses on factors surrounding one’s life. The two parties must work together in an attempt to find a solution. This is because a therapist will not fully understand some aspects of a person’s behavior unless he is told by the client. Therefore, it is important for the client to give his past and present accomplishments.

Then, these are used by the therapist to provide and address both the present and future occurrences/challenges. The centre stage here is the fact that the client must understand and develop positive reasoning, which is sometimes referred to as the learned optimism (Winter, 1994).

Key Functions and Role of the Therapist

The key functions of the therapist are to ensure that he or she provides growth-promoting environment for the clients. When this is effectively done, the client will be at ease to grow and discover him fully. He can then develop as he or she wants.

A therapist must also exercise the role of ensuring that he impacts or convinces the client on the way forward. Therefore, he should ensure that the client actively listens, understands and accepts himself. There should be genuineness and acceptance in the whole process.

A therapist also has a role of ensuring an individual precisely understands his identity and as such know how to establish meaningful relationship with the people around him. This way, a lot of problems and conflicts will be greatly reduced and relationships nurtured.

Key Goals of a Therapy

Different types of therapy have various goals, but the general focus of a therapy that applies to all include the restructuralization, a therapy seeks to expand the most flexible ways of finding alternative ways of dealing with problems. For example, when there are disagreements in a family set up, a therapist will assist in ensuring each partner deals with one another in a way that they will cope well and endure whatever comes their way.

Therapy also seeks to create awareness of oneself and their environment. If individuals do not fully understand themselves, they are subject to disagreements, conflicts and as such are prone to stress and other minor challenges. Therapy gives the solution to this; through education on ones own understanding, appreciation and acceptance.

Though, people can perceive things differently, they can also change their ways of thinking, modify behavior and view the same situations in a new perspective. The goal of therapy is to ensure that this is induced into an individual’s mind so as to convince him or her that this is possible.

Therapy also has a goal of ensuring that individuals understand the world and know how our behavior regarding how we feel, act, think, and relate. In fact all these can be addressed and help us live in a better way. This will in turn help people to look for their reasons for living and develop positive attitudes as they grow up.

Another goal of therapy is to serve the purpose of assisting individuals deal with stress and conflicts in an easy and manageable way.

When individuals or clients who undergo such circumstances are attended to and monitored for a period of time and it is realized that they have achieved self-sufficiency that they can sustain the changes made in place without necessarily needing any further support of a therapist, then the therapy is deemed successful and it comes to an end.

References

Chiari, G. (2009). Advancing Theory in Therapy. New York, NY: Routledge Publishers.
Duval, J. & Beres, L. (2011). Innovations in Narrative Therapy: Connecting Practice, Training, and Research. New York, NY: W. W. Norton & Company.
Miller, G. (2002). Incorporating Spirituality in Counseling and Psychotherapy: Theory and Technique. Oxford, Wiley publishers.
Winter, D. (1994). Personal Construct Psychology in Clinical Practice: Theory, Research and Applications. New York, NY: Routledge.

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