My Approach

I use an integrative approach which allows me to tap into any of the methods and theories in which I have been trained. In an Eclectic / Integrative approach we can select from different techniques, what feels appropriate for the client. .Integrative therapists feel free to discard the concepts they view as not helpful and select techniques from other schools of thought. Generally counselling therapists will work from two main approaches.

- more directive style, more initiative, more authoritative
- less direct, takes a lower profile and lets the clients take the initiative

Most will use both strategies incorporating all styles above depending on their preference in each situation and depending on needs of a particular case and the progress that has been made.

These are some of the different approaches:

The Behavioural Perspective:
This approach considers external activities of the individual that can be observed and measured e.g. a person eats breakfast, rides a bike, laughs, these are forms of behaviour which can be observed. Individuals are studied by looking at their behaviour not brain and nervous system (non biological approach). Methods based on learning principles to modify that behavior i.e. the person learns to relax in situations that previously produced anxiety, reinforcement of adaptive behaviours, and modeling and rehearsal of appropriate behaviours and techniques for self regulation of behaviour.

The Cognitive Perspective
Is concerned with mental processes such as perceiving, remembering, reasoning, deciding and problem solving:
Assumes that:
- Only by studying mental processes can we fully understand what individuals do
- We can study mental processes in an objective fashion by focusing on specific behaviours, as behaviourists do, but interpreting them into mental processes.
Changing maladaptive beliefs where the therapist helps the individual to replace irrational interpretations of events with more realistic ones.

Psychoanalytical Perspective
Emphasises unconscious motives stemming from sexual and aggressive impulses repressed in childhood. Developed by Sigmund Freud. He combined current cognitive notions of consciousness, perception and memory with ideas about biologically based instincts to forge a new theory of human behaviour. The assumption is that much of our behaviour stems from unconscious processes for example beliefs, fears and desires a person is unaware of but still influences their behaviour.

Phenomenological perspective
This approach focuses almost entirely on subjective experience, concerned with the individuals personal view of events, (the individuals phenomenology).
-Tends to reject the notion that behaviour is controlled by external stimuli (behaviorism) or just by the processing of information in the perception and memory (cognitive) or by unconscious impulses (psychoanalytic)
-Concerned more with describing the inner life and experiences of individuals than with developing theories and predicting behaviour.
-Generally called humanistic as they emphasise qualities that distinguish people from animals e.g., drive towards self actualization the principle motivation of an individual is toward personal growth.

Humanistic Therapies. (Person centered):
Helps people to become aware of their real selves and to solve their problems with a minimum of therapist intervention. Carl Rogers who developed client/person centered therapy believed that the therapist s characteristics that are necessary for client growth and self exploration are empathy, warmth and genuineness.

Gestalt Therapy:
The focus is to become aware of the whole personality
- working through unresolved conflicts
- discovering aspects that have been blocked from the awareness
- becoming aware of how one is feeling and behaving in the moment

Methods:
Therapy in group setting
- Therapist works with one at a time
- Acting out fantasies, dreams or two sides to a conflict (all are used to increase awareness).

Reality Therapy:
Focus is to clarify the individuals values:
- evaluate current behaviour and future plans in relation to these values
- force individual to accept responsibility

Methods:
Helps individual to see positive consequences of action and decide on realistic solutions or goals
- Once a goal is chosen a contract is signed in which the client agrees to follow through.

Rational Emotive Therapy:
The focus is to replace irrational ideas with more realistic ones: e.g. ‘I should be the best at everything’.  Assumes that cognitive change will produce emotional changes.

Methods:
Therapist attacks and contradicts the individual’s ideas to persuade them to take a more rational view (this method is similar to cognitive therapy but the therapist is more directive and confrontational).

Transactional Analysis:
The focus is to become aware of the intent behind the individuals communications. To eliminate deceit, so the individual can interpret their behaviour accurately.

Methods:
-therapy in a group setting
-communication between married couples of group members are analised in terms of the part of the personality that is speaking, e.g. Parent, adult, child and the intent of the message.

Factors common to different psychotherapies:
-a warm and trustful interpersonal relationship
-reassurance and support
-desensitisation
-insight
-reinforcement of adaptive responses