My philosophical approach to counseling My basic understanding of the
human behavior is not grounded in one psychological approach, instead there are two
therapeutic approaches that govern my rationale. These two approaches, Existential and
Person-centered (Client-centered to many) heavily influence my philosophical orientation
to counseling. In writing this paper, I will explore some of the basic philosophical
premises that lay the essential groundwork for these two approaches. The following
information will also show the reader that using the two therapeutic approaches together
will effectively diagnose and treat teenagers.
Definition of Existential Therapy
One survey taken by Corey suggests a definition of Existential Therapy include two key
elements:
Existential Therapy is essentially an approach to
counseling and therapy rather than a firm theoretical model, it stresses core human
conditions. Normally, personality development is based on the uniqueness of
Philosophical Approach 4
each individual. Sense of self develops from infancy. Self determination and a
tendency toward growth are control ideas. Focus is on the present and on what one
is becoming; that is the approach has a future orientation. It stresses
self-awareness before action. (1996, p.465)
In layman terms, Existential therapy can be described as a philosophical approach that
is not designed to cure people but instead help the client reflect and search for value
and meaning in life. Existential Therapy does not supply a cookbook of methods like
other approaches but instead it provides a framework that is adaptable to the therapist,
in which to view the individual and the world in which they participate.
Definition of Person-Centered (Client-Centered) Therapy
According to Mosby's Medical, Nursing, and Allied Health Dictionary, client-centered
therapy is a non directive method of group or individual psychotherapy, originated by
Carl Rogers, in which the role of the therapist is to listen
to and reflect or restate without judgment or interpretation the words of the client.
Philosophical Approach 5
Objectives of Existential Therapy
The objectives of Existential Therapy are quite unique. Existential counselors are
focused on helping the client achieve and expand their self-awareness. Many Therapist
assume once self awareness is achieved, the client can examine new ways of dealing with
problems and except the responsibility of choosing.
Objectives of Client-centered Therapy
The objective of client-centered therapy is to assist the client to experience self
exploration, so that they can identify problems that are hindering their growth process.
Essentially, the main goal of client-centered therapy is to have the client achieve a
sense of increased awareness and understanding of his attitudes, feelings, and
behaviors.
Professional Opinions
Existential and client-centered therapy have been criticized for not being "scientific
enough". They have been down played as not being empirical and not having a therapeutic
model that is firmly set in stone with a set of methods and interventions. A large
number of therapist feel that Existential and client-centered therapy are not sound
therapeutic approaches for treating and diagnosing
Philosophical Approach 6
adolescents. One main reason for this argument is the existential view toward
adolescence. Existentialist view adolescence as a time when a young person begins to
gain a sense of awareness on a surface level. After achieving this level, the adolescent
gradually starts to focus on self
meaning, which takes place through the development of their identity(Hacker, 1994).
Existentialist also believe that how the individual conceptilizes death plays a part in
the whole being of the person. A survey of 82 students revealed people viewed death as
cold and denied. This information indicates death is very influencial in creating
anxiety in people (Westman, 1992, p. 1064).
Existential and client-centered therapy have not labeled themselves with a distinct
clinical procedure, instead these techniques and concepts have been effective in helping
patients to recognize and accomplish their goals. For this reason, I believe
existential thought coupled with client-centered therapy are appropriate in treating
clients who confront some type of obstacle or major event in their life (confronting
death, sudden isolation, changing from childhood to adolescence). David Cain(1993), a
person-centered therapist, believes client-centered therapy is not
Philosophical Approach 7
a wise decision for treating clients in some cases, he sites that due to the lack of
evolution of Client-centered therapy and the client-centered community's unwillingness to
change with the advancements of counseling and psychotherapy has limited the therapeutic
approach.
On the otherhand, therapist Philip Kendall and Michael A. Southam-Gerow, seem to
recognize the importance of client-centered therapy. Kendall and Southam-Gerow conducted
a study which examined the long-term effects of psychosocial treatment for anxiety
disordered youth, which they evaluated the long term effects and the effective components
of the treatment.
The results from the study revealed that children and adolescent clients treated two to
five years earlier with psychotherapy retained their gains over anxiety related
disorders(p 728).
Kendall noted the lack of anxiety related problems could have resulted from the clients
maturation and not the long-term effects of therapy. This evidence alone exhibits
just one aspect of the tremendous effects of client-centered psychotherapy. The study
also demonstrated the variety of
techniques used with the clients, which ranged from relaxation exercises to role playing.
Philosophical Approach 8
Another ongoing criticism of the two dynamic approaches to therapy is gender plays a
major role in the outcome of therapy. Researchers (Porter, Cox, Williams, Wagner, &
Johnson, 1996.) have provided research to argue this point.
They conducted a study, which a Client-Behavioral system was used to evaluate the
therapeutic process with 27 sexually abused girls who were enrolled in individual
counseling, the study revealed that when sexual abuse was formally taught that the girls
were more likely to answer with abuse related answers in response to child abuse
questions, regardless of whether the counselor was male or female.
Summary and Conclusion
One can see from the material provided that there are some recurring themes in the areas
of client-centered and existential psychology: The search for meaning and value in life,
self-awareness, and behavior. While existential and
client-centered roots are planted firmly in philosophical and humanistic styles of
thinking without clear evidence of any scientific model, existentialism and
client-centered therapy offers the science of psychology a path much
Philosophical Approach 9
different than the other approaches to therapy that seek only a scientific outcome.
Existential and client-centered offer a alternative form of therapy, a phenomenological
approach to the person, not a look at the instincts of the person, not a separation of
the id, the ego, and superego, but a view of the entire being in the now.
The drawbacks of existential and client-centered therapy have been stated as a basic
lack of pure scientific methodology. These two approaches do not offer a textbook of
"how to" techniques, but instead they offer a viewpoint, a lens, a way of picturing the
person and the world in which they live. It offers a way to view oneself, as a
therapist, a motivator, and as a helper. They do not however, offer a fix-all to every
problem, rather they seek to help the client realize responsibility for their actions and
thoughts
while helping the client gain a deep sense of awareness and trust in themselves in the
therapeutic relationship.
Philosophical Approach 10
Cain, D. J. (1993). The uncertain future of client-centered counseling. Journal of
Humanistic Education and Development. 31 (3), 133-138.
Client-Centered Therapy Dictionary Definition. Mosby's Medical, Nursing, and Allied
Health Dictionary. [CD-ROM] Abstract from: Health Reference Center. File Number:
00009108.
Corey, G. (1996). Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy. (Rev. ed.).
Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Coleman.
Hacker, D. J. (1994). An Existential View of Adolescence. Journal of Early Adolescence.
14. (3),
300-327.
Kendall, P., & Southam-Gerow, M.(1996). Long-term follow-up of a Cognitive-Behavioral
Therapy for Anxiety-Disordered Youth. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology.
64.(4), 724-730.
Porter, R. L., Wagner W., Johnson, J., & Cox, L. M. (1996). Sexually abused girls'
verbalizations in counseling: an application of the client behavior system.
Philosophical Approach 11
[CD-ROM]. Journal of Counseling Psychology. 43. (4), 383-389. Abstract from: Health
Reference Center. File Number:
18987461.
Westman, A. S., (1992). Existential Anxiety as Related to Conceptualization of Self and
of Death, Denial of Death, and Religiosity. Psychological Reports. 71. 1064-1066.
|