Question

In regards to the four following theoretical frameworks: psychodynamic, existential-humanistic, cognitive-behavioral, and post-modern, what is their significance in providing effective counseling services?

Answer 1

Note: This response is in UK English, please paste the response to MS Word and you should be able to spot discrepancies easily. Also, I have cited information used below as they required proper definitions and not personal explanations.

(Answer) Psychodynamic: “The psychodynamic approach includes all the theories in psychology that see human functioning based upon the interaction of drives and forces within the person, particularly unconscious, and between the different structures of the personality.” (Saul McLeod – Simply Psychology).

Basically, it is the influence of our external experiences and internal drives that form the person we are.

Significance in counselling: It helps us comprehend the reasons for our problems Furthermore, it helps us transform this information into a form of reasoning, that we may use to overcome our difficulties

Existential-humanistic: Edmund Husserl and Martin Heidegger made existential-humanistic behaviour the core of understanding phenomenology. According to this concept, unique conscious experiences affect the behaviour of each human.

Significance in counselling: This approach helps look at the patient not only from a theoretical point-of-view but also from their personal perspective. This is important to study the perspective of the whole person and not just a single experience.

Cognitive-behavioural: “Cognitive behavioural therapy, is a talking therapy that can help you manage your problems by changing the way you think and behave. It's most commonly used to treat anxiety and depression, but can be useful for other mental and physical health problems.” (Source: NHS.uk)

Significance in counselling: The aim of adopting this theory is to teach the patient how to adopt healthy coping mechanisms effectively. It teaches the patient to tackle the issue through thought, behaviours, actions, attitudes etc.

Post-modern: Walter Truett Anderson, “All ideas about human reality are social constructions.” Rightly so, post-modern theory focuses on there being more than one truth to a person’s behaviour.

Significance in counselling: By counselling through this method, the therapist is able to deconstruct the patient’s beliefs and drives and analyse the truth or influence behind the behaviour.