5 Counseling Theories You May Recognize
Many people refuse to seek individual counseling when they may really benefit from it because they have tried it in the past and it did not work for them. If you are one of these people, then your counselor may have been trained in a counseling theory that was not right for you. Therefore, you may still benefit from individual counseling in Orlando. Learning to recognize the most popular counseling theories is a great place to start finding a counselor who you are comfortable working with today.
Psychoanalytical Counseling
Psychoanalytical counseling was first developed by Sigmund Freud. Free association, dream analysis, and transference of feelings are common techniques. Most counselors who use this approach feel that traumatic experiences at an early age cause people to act in a certain way later in life. It can be very time intensive because goals are often set to change deeply ingrained behaviors.
Behavioral Counseling
The basis behind the behavioral theory is that behavior is learned. Pavlov was one of the earliest developers of this theory when he showed how animals could be trained to act in certain ways to earn a reward. B.F. Skinner further developed this theory showing that rewards cause good behaviors while punishments stop bad ones. Behavior modification is still a major goal of this type of therapy.
Cognitive Counseling
Cognitive counseling is often short-term because it focuses on looking at problems in novel ways. Pointing out distorted thinking is often a large part of cognitive counseling. Aaron Beck first developed this type of counseling in the 1960s. It is often combined with behavioral counseling to teach a person receiving counseling a new way of thinking resulting in changed behaviors.
Humanistic Counseling
One of the earliest pioneers of humanistic counseling was Carl Rogers. He believed that people are inherently good, and the counselor’s job is to help the person see their own goodness. It is almost completely focused on the present with very little attention paid to the person’s past. It is also the counselor’s job to help people exercise their free will, determine and act on what they want in the future and take responsibility for their own life.
Holistic Counseling
Holistic counseling is one of the fastest growing types of counseling. It attempts to get a person to see themselves as a whole with past experiences helping to shape who they are today. It recognizes that a person is made up of spiritual, physical, psychological and mental components. Many holistic counselors are associated with a faith.
When you are looking for individual counseling in Orlando, call Orlando Thrive Therapy. With over 18 years of experience, Heather Oller and her team are experts at helping you thrive instead of just survive. While you may have the ability to adapt to your current circumstances, they can help you thrive helping tomorrow be an even brighter day.
