Rational-emotive approach in psychological counseling. The main approaches to psychological counseling in the domestic school Approaches to the practice of psychological counseling

The importance of theory in psychological counseling, as in other areas of psychological practice, cannot be overemphasized. We can say that an attempt to competently help another person in solving his problems without relying on a system of theoretical views is like flying without reference points. In psychological counseling, the role of the card is played by the theory of personality, which opens up a wide perspective for understanding the client's problems and indicates effective methods for resolving them. Theory helps the counselor formulate dynamic hypotheses that explain the client's problems and makes them feel safe when confronted with chaotic, disorganized inner peace some customers. Bramer, Shostrom (1982) emphasize that a consultant who has not mastered the theoretical foundations of his profession, who has not become familiar with the research carried out in this area, will not be able to do anything for the client except the use of private technology.

Each theory performs four main functions: summarizes the accumulated information; makes complex phenomena more understandable; predicts the consequences of different circumstances; promotes the search for new facts (George, Cristiani, 1990).

These functions are well suited to any theory underlying advisory practice. The theory helps the consultant to generalize the experience of working with a variety of clients, to understand the nature of most of their problems and forms of manifestation of conflicts, promotes effective use specific methods. Thanks to theoretical training, the consultant can formulate hypotheses in his practical work and anticipate the results of the counseling.

Each consultant, on the basis of practice, "constructs" his theory, which most often relies on already known theoretical paradigms, or orientations (psychoanalytic, behavioral-cognitive, existential-humanistic). With the accumulation of experience, the theoretical base is constantly being adjusted, expanded, and strengthened. What determines the choice of a particular theoretical orientation? First of all, it is determined by the point of view of the consultant on human nature. Each consultant is free to choose one or another concept as the basis of practice, depending on the characteristics of his personality, worldview, theoretical and psychological sympathies. At the same time, we emphasize the incorrectness of statements about the truth of the postulates of any single psychotherapeutic school, contrary to other schools. The results of numerous studies show that in practice, with orientation to any direction, it is possible to achieve a similar effectiveness of counseling.It is not so much the theory itself that is decisive, but the maturity of the counselor's personality and his professional training, which implies a high integration of theoretical knowledge and practical skills.

Eclectic counseling is now spreading around the world, representing an attempt at integration best sides different schools. Of course, this does not mean a set of different theoretical principles, views or the accumulation of methods and techniques that have proven practical efficiency regardless of the context of possible application. Eclectic counseling relies on the systems integration of several theoretical approaches in an effort to find a single source and test how the new system "works" in practice. We can say that the creation of an eclectic approach to counseling is the result of all professional activities. Most of the specialists who have been working in the field of psychological counseling and psychotherapy for a long time create their own theoretical system, usually eclectic, most corresponding to the personality and worldview of each of them.

Most counseling theories were developed exclusively by practitioners, based on their own experience and observations. Until now, most theories are, to some extent, unfinished, and none of the theories are sufficient to apply to all situations. Even the same theory for the same client at some point may be inadequate. Consultants should carefully select their theoretical positions and revise them regularly.

Some theoretical models are more complete, others less, and successful consultants know which theories are more perfect and for what reasons. Hansen, Stevic & Warner (1986) cite five signs of a good theory.

1. Clarity, ease of understanding and information content. The theory is consistent and consistent.
2. Comprehensiveness. It provides an explanation for a wide variety of different phenomena.
3. Certainty and heuristic. She, by virtue of her logic, generates a research plan.
4. Concreteness in the choice of means to achieve the desired result. The theory contains a way to achieve the desired result.
5. Usefulness for their adherents. It provides guidelines for research and practice.

In addition to these five qualities, a good theory is one that does not conflict with the counselor's personal worldview. Shertzer & Stone (1974) suggest that counseling theory should fit the counselor like a good suit. Some theories, as well as costumes, need fitting. Therefore, good consultants recognize the importance of alternating theoretical approaches. Counselors who want to be versatile and effective must learn a variety of counseling theories and know how to apply each one without compromising its intrinsic integrity (Auvenshine & Noffsinger, 1984).

The value of theory. Theory is the foundation of successful counseling. It requires the counselor to be careful and creative in a deeply personal relationship that is designed to grow and understand what is happening (Gladding, 1990). Theory influences how client information is conceptualized, how interpersonal relationships develop, how professional ethics are respected, and how counselors see themselves as professionals (Carey, Neukrug, McAuliffe, Pratt & Lowell, 1990). Without a theoretical foundation, consultants act haphazardly, by trial and error, and risk taking the wrong step and not achieving a result. Brammer, Abrego & Shostrom (1993) emphasize the pragmatic importance of elaborate theory to consultants. Theory helps explain what happens in the counseling process, and also allows the counselor to predict, evaluate and improve the results of their own actions. Theory provides a framework for scientific observation in the counseling process. Theorizing stimulates the production of new ideas and the establishment of a unity of views on counseling. Hence, counseling theory can be very practical in helping to make sense of the counselors' observations.

Boy & Pine (1983) concretize the practical value of theory by assuming that in the work of consultants, theory primarily answers the question “how?” Rather than “why?” By providing a structure within which consultants can operate. Theoretical consultants can better fit the needs of their profession because they have a reason to do what they do. Boy and Pine pointed out six functions of theory that help consultants in practice.

1. Theory helps consultants to discover the inner unity and interconnection of various phenomena of life.
2. Theory forces counselors to explore relationships that would otherwise be out of sight.
3. Theory provides counselors with guidance in their work and helps them assess themselves as professionals.
4. Theory helps counselors focus on the information they need and tells them what they should look for.
5. Theory helps counselors assist clients in effectively changing their behavior.
6. Theory helps counselors evaluate both old and new approaches to the counseling process. It is the starting point on which new counseling approaches are built.

“The main criterion for judging any theory of counseling is how well it provides an explanation of what happens in the counseling process” (Kelly, 1988, pp. 212-213). The value of theories as ways of organizing information "depends on the extent to which they correspond to the reality of human life" (Young, 1988, p. 336).

Purity of theory and eclecticism. At the beginning of its history, counseling was a profession in which purity of theory (adherence to one theory) was a condition and a pressing necessity for consultants looking for work. It was important that the consultants could identify their activities in line with one of less than half a dozen possible theories (psychoanalysis, behaviorism, client-centered approach, etc.). However, with the flood of new theories - cognitive, behavioral and affective - formulated in the 1960s - the idea of adherence to one specific theory began to lose popularity and relevance. The development of microskills training (teaching people skills common to all theories of care) has accelerated the move away from narrow theoretical positions. Eclectic counseling took their place.

Many professional consultants (approximately 60-70 \%) consider themselves to be eclectic in their use of theory and methods (Lazarus & Beutler, 1993). This means that they use different theories and methods to meet the needs of their clients. As needs change, counselors must move away from one theory and move on to another (a phenomenon called style change counseling). The change in style depends on the level of development of the client (Ivey & Goncalves, 1988). To be effective, consultants must take into account how far the clients have progressed in their structural development (in the terminology of Jean Piaget). For example, a client who is not familiar with the environment may need a therapeutic approach that focuses on “emotions, bodily sensations, and experiences based on momentary (here and now) experiences”, while a client with a higher level of development is better a “formal-operational” approach, where the emphasis is on thinking about one's actions, is suitable (Ivey & Goncalves, 1988, p. 410). The main thing is that both consultants and theories correspond to the level at which the clients are, helping them to develop as individuals in general.

An eclectic approach can be risky if the consultant is not sufficiently familiar with all of the processes involved. Sometimes the unintelligible approach of poorly trained counselors is sarcastically called the "electric" approach; such consultants try to apply any and every method available indiscriminately. The problem with electrical orientation is that counselors often do more harm than good if they have little or no understanding of what it means to “help” the client.

To overcome this problem, McBride and Martin (1990) propose a hierarchy of eclectic techniques and point to the importance of a solid theoretical base as a guide. The lower, or first, level of eclecticism is actually syncretism. It is an amorphous, non-systemic process of bringing together unrelated clinical concepts. This approach occurs in conditions where novice consultants are forced to formulate their own theories of counseling without first testing their empirical models in practice. The second level of eclecticism is traditional. It brings together "an ordered combination of comparable traits from different sources into a harmonious whole" (English & English, 1956, p. 168). It is more elaborate than syncretism and theoretically more elaborate.

At the third level, eclecticism is described as professional or theoretical, or as theoretical integrationism (Lazaurus & Beutler, 1993; Simon, 1989). This type of eclecticism requires consultants to master at least two theories in order to try to produce any combination. The problems with this approach are that it assumes some degree of equality of theories (which may or may not be) and the existence of a criterion “to determine which portions or parts of each theory to keep or delete” (Lazaurus & Beutler, 1Q93 , p. 382). It differs from traditional models in that the traditional-eclectic approach does not require knowledge of any theory.

The last level of eclecticism, called technical eclecticism, is presented in the work of Arnold Lazarus (1967). According to this approach, procedures from various theories are selected and applied in practice “without necessarily attributing them to the theories that generated them” (Lazaurus & Beutler, 1993, p. 384). The idea is that the client is actually using methodology, not theory. Consequently, if the situation permits, after properly assessing the client's condition, counselors can use behavioral methods (such as confidence building) in conjunction with existential techniques (such as confrontation in a debate about the meaning of life).

This latter approach ranks with Cavanagh (1990), which offers an eclectic approach to counseling as a sound one. This approach requires counselors to have (1) a sound knowledge and understanding of the applied counseling theories; (2) a basic generalizing philosophy of human behavior that brings together the disparate parts of various theories into a meaningful collage; and (3) flexible means of adapting, approaching the client, and not vice versa. Consultants following this model can work pragmatically and effectively in an eclectic scheme. For the true sane eclectic consultant, the critical variables are knowledge of theory and a keen sense of what approach to take, when, where, and how (Harman, 1977).

Send your good work in the knowledge base is simple. Use the form below

Students, graduate students, young scientists who use the knowledge base in their studies and work will be very grateful to you.

Posted on http://www.allbest.ru

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND SCIENCE OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION

FEDERAL STATE BUDGETARY EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION OF HIGHER PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION

"Novgorod State University named after Yaroslav the Wise"

Institute of Continuing Pedagogical Education

Department of Psychology

Topic: “The role of theory in counseling.

Contribution of different theoretical approaches to consulting "

Test

in the discipline "Fundamentals of Counseling Psychology"

Performed:

student of group 3562 salary

V.N. Novikova

V. Novgorod 2015

Introduction

1. Definition of the concept of "psychological counseling", 3 different authors

2. The main stages of consulting, the tasks of the client and the consultant at each stage

3. Three theoretical approaches to psychological counseling. Consider the main idea of the approach and the role of the consultant in the consultative process

4. Requirements for the personality of a counselor psychologist

Conclusion

Bibliography

Introduction

Psychological counseling as a profession is a relatively new area of psychological practice that has emerged from psychotherapy. This profession has arisen in response to the needs of people who are not clinically impaired, but who are looking for psychological help. Therefore, in psychological counseling, we are faced primarily with people who experience difficulties in everyday life. The spectrum of problems is truly wide: difficulties at work (dissatisfaction with work, conflicts with colleagues and managers, the possibility of dismissal), unsettled personal life and turmoil in the family, poor school performance, lack of self-confidence and self-esteem, agonizing hesitation in decision-making, difficulties in establishing and maintaining interpersonal relationships, etc. On the other hand, psychological counseling, as a young area of psychological practice, does not yet have strictly defined boundaries, a variety of problems fall into its field of vision.

1. Odefinition of the concept "nsychological counseling,3 different authors

Psychological counseling - professional assistance to the patient in finding a solution to a problem situation. Vocational counseling can be provided by psychologists, social workers, educators or trained doctors. Patients can be healthy or sick people presenting problems of existential crisis, interpersonal conflicts, family difficulties or professional choices. In any case, the patient is perceived by the consultant as a capable subject, responsible for solving his problem. This is the main difference between P. to. From psychotherapy. P. to. Differs from the so-called "friendly conversation" in the neutral position of the consultant. Using transactional terminology, "friendly conversation" is conducted in the Child-Child position, psychotherapy - Parent - Child, and P. to. - in the Adult-Adult position. The modern tendency is to blur the boundaries between psychotherapy and P. to. In the 40-50s. professional counseling arose and spread thanks to the social demand, conditioned by psychological education, psychotherapists, mainly psychodynamic directions, and based on the experience of psychotherapeutic practice (mainly client-centered psychotherapy). In recent years, the partnership approach and counseling experience have enriched psychotherapy.

Psychotherapeutic encyclopedia. - S.-Pb .: Peter. B.D. Karvasarsky. 2000.

Psychological counseling. A specific relationship between two people in which one person helps the other to help himself. It is a way of communication that allows the other person to explore their feelings, thoughts, and behavior. to come to a clearer understanding of yourself. and then discover and use your strengths, drawing on internal resources to better manage your life through making the right decisions and taking targeted actions (as defined by the British Association of Counseling Psychologists). psychological counseling consultant

Psychology. AND I. Reference dictionary / Per. from English K. S. Tkachenko. M .: FAIR-PRESS. Mike Cordwell. 2000.

Psychological counseling is a form of providing practical psychological assistance in the form of advice and recommendations based on a preliminary study of the problems that bother clients, as well as the study of the clients themselves and their relationships with people around them.

Dictionary of the Practical Psychologist. M .: AST, Harvest. S. Yu. Golovin. 1998.

2. The main stages of counseling,client's tasks anda consultant at each stage

1. Preparatory stage... At this stage, the psychologist-consultant gets acquainted with the client according to the preliminary record available about him in the registration journal, as well as according to the information about the client that can be obtained from third parties, for example, from the employee of the psychological counseling, who accepted the client's request for consultation. At this stage of work, the psychologist-consultant, in addition, prepares himself for the consultation. The working time of the psychologist-consultant at this stage is usually from 20 to 30 minutes.

2. Adjustment stage. At this stage, the psychologist-consultant personally meets the client, gets to know him and tunes in to work together with the client. The client does the same for his part. On average, this stage in time, if everything else has already been prepared for the consultation, can take from 5 to 7 minutes.

3. Diagnostic stage. At this stage, the counselor psychologist listens to the client's confession and, on the basis of its analysis, clarifies and clarifies the client's problem. The main content of this stage is the client's story about himself and about his problem (confession), as well as the client's psychodiagnostics, if it becomes necessary to conduct it to clarify the client's problem and find an optimal solution. It is not possible to accurately determine the time required for this stage of psychological counseling, since much in its definition depends on the specifics of the client's problem and his individual characteristics. In practice, this time is at least one hour, excluding the time required for psychological testing. Sometimes this stage of psychological counseling can take from 4 to 6-8 hours.

4. The recommendatory stage. The psychologist-consultant, having collected the necessary information about the client and his problem at the previous stages, at this stage, together with the client, develops practical recommendations for solving his problem. Here these recommendations are specified, clarified, and concretized in all essential details. The average time it usually takes to complete this stage of psychological counseling is 40 minutes to 1 hour.

5. Control stage. At this stage, the psychologist-consultant and the client agree with each other on how the practical implementation of the received by the client will be monitored and evaluated. practical advice and recommendations. Here, the question of how, where and when the psychologist-consultant and the client will be able to discuss additional issues that may arise in the process of implementing the developed recommendations are also resolved. At the end of this stage, if the need arises, the counselor and the client can agree with each other about where and when they will meet next time. On average, work at this final stage of psychological counseling takes 20-30 minutes.

If we summarize all of the above, then we can establish that it may take on average 2-3 to 10-12 hours to complete all five stages of psychological counseling (without the time allotted for psychological testing).

The psychotherapeutic orientation of psychological counseling can be noted in the counseling model proposed by M.K. Tutushkina and her colleagues, who note that regardless of whether a one-time consultation is carried out or prolonged work is carried out in the form of a series of psychotherapeutic sessions, counseling can be considered as a dialectical process that includes a number of stages (Tutushkina M.K., 2001):

1. Conclusion of a contract between a client from whom a voluntary order for consultation comes and a consultant who agrees to provide assistance, ensuring safety and support during the consultation.

2. Clarification of the request and analysis of the problem situation. At this stage, the consultant needs to navigate the client's problem, listening carefully, using open-ended questions, paraphrasing and questioning to obtain reliable information. At the same time, the counselor reflects on his feelings and the feelings of the client, helping him to dive deeper into the problem and approach the setting of a psychotherapeutic goal.

3. Reformulation of the problem and setting a psychotherapeutic goal, clarification of the contract. At this stage, as the conditions and situation of the problem arise, the analysis of the client's feelings and attitudes towards it, the essence of the problem is determined, that is, the psychological difficulty that prevents the client from finding a way out of the current situation, while the main thing is the client's awareness of the essence of the problem from the psychological point of view vision.

4. Finding ways to solve the problem. At this stage, it is necessary for the client to agree to research his own psychological difficulties, to search for and take responsibility for the decisions he makes.

In the process of counseling, the client undergoes changes that can in one way or another affect his personality and life in general. In any case, the client is given the opportunity to receive new experience, and the more deeply he realizes this, the more favorable the consequences of the consultation will be for him, hence its effectiveness.

The educational and corrective nature of the orientation of psychological counseling can be noted, in our opinion, in the approach proposed by A.F. Bondarenko, in this regard, at each stage of the counseling process, the psychologist solves the corresponding problems (Bondarenko A.F., 2000):

1. Initial stage. The stage of entering the situation of psychological assistance. The main tasks of the psychologist at this stage, which is fundamental for establishing a working relationship, are as follows:

Support of the client's motivation to working together;

· Clarification of the true (realistic) possibilities of psychological assistance and correction of unrealistic expectations;

· Expression of readiness to understand, accept the client and provide him with possible psychological assistance;

· Trial setting of goals of psychological assistance and determination of approximate terms and results of work;

· Elaboration, if necessary, of one's own difficulties in work associated with possible countertransference or emerging projections.

2. The stage of action and living of the situation of psychological assistance. Includes work with the client's personal material: experiences, relationships, feelings, dreams, value meanings. Possible tasks of the psychologist follow from the logic of his actions and the phenomenology of the client's experiences, among them:

· Providing an emotional response;

· Elaboration and symbolic satisfaction of certain frustrated needs;

· Creation of conditions for insight and catharsis;

· Reinforcement of the desired course of action (retraining);

· Providing conditions for personal reflection and living in a situation of free and responsible choice.

3. The stage of entering a new experience. This is the stage of personal transformations and attempts to familiarize oneself with a different way of living life, free from previous delusions and problems. This implies the following possible tasks in the activity of a psychologist:

· Emotional and existential support;

· Reinforcement of tendencies for personal reorientation and transformation;

· Help in coping with personal and situational anxiety caused by changes in the life world;

· Elaboration of value-semantic or behavioral obstacles blocking the implementation of necessary actions.

4. The stage of entering everyday life with an enriched new experience. It - The final stage work. Its significance reflects the specific tasks facing the psychologist:

· Reassuring the client and emphasizing the time boundaries of both the traumatizing issue and the end of the consultative process;

· Analysis of the elements of dependence in the client's behavior and assistance in achieving independence and self-sufficiency;

• redefining and rethinking the situation of psychological assistance as a given opportunity for a person to understand his own motives, values, goals and choices;

· Finding the "golden mean" between the tendencies of overprotection, patronage and emotional detachment from the client.

Each of the stages has its own duration. The consequences of counseling can be viewed in terms of changes in the client's personality and the degree of his satisfaction with the results of counseling.

R. Kochunas, referring to V.E. Gilland, offers the structure of the process of psychological counseling in the form of a systemic model, which focuses on the research and teaching nature of psychological assistance (R. Kochunas, 2000):

This systemic model, covering six closely related stages, reflects the universal features of psychological counseling or psychotherapy of any orientation.

1. Research of problems. At this stage, the consultant establishes contact (raport) with the client and achieves mutual trust: it is necessary to listen carefully to the client talking about his difficulties, and to show maximum sincerity, empathy, care, without resorting to evaluations and manipulation. The client should be encouraged to in-depth consideration of the problems that have arisen and to record his feelings, content of statements, non-verbal behavior.

2. Two-dimensional definition of problems. At this stage, the counselor seeks to accurately characterize the client's problems, establishing both emotional and cognitive aspects. Clarification of problems continues until the client and the consultant reach the same understanding; problems are defined by specific concepts. Precise definition problems allows you to understand their causes, and sometimes indicates how to resolve. If difficulties and ambiguities arise in identifying problems, then it is necessary to return to the research stage.

3. Identification of alternatives. At this stage, possible alternatives for solving problems are clarified and openly discussed. Using open-ended questions, the consultant encourages the client to name all possible options that he considers appropriate and realistic, helps to put forward additional alternatives, but does not impose his solutions. During the conversation, you can create a written list of options so that it is easier to compare them. Problem-solving alternatives should be found that the client could use directly.

4. Planning. At this stage, a critical assessment of the selected solution alternatives is carried out. The counselor helps the client understand which alternatives are appropriate and realistic in terms of previous experience and current willingness to change. Making a plan for realistic problem solving should also help the client understand that not all problems are solvable. Some problems take too long; others can only be partially resolved by reducing their destructive, disruptive behavior. In terms of solving problems, it is necessary to envisage by what means and methods the client will check the feasibility of the chosen solution (role-playing games, "rehearsal" of actions, etc.).

5. Activity. At this stage, the sequential implementation of the problem solving plan takes place. The consultant helps the client to build an activity taking into account the circumstances, time, emotional costs, as well as understanding the possibility of failure in achieving goals. The client must learn that partial failure is not a catastrophe and should continue to implement the plan for solving the problem, linking all actions to the ultimate goal.

6. Evaluation and feedback. At this stage, the client, together with the consultant, evaluates the level of achievement of the goal (the degree of resolution of the problem) and summarizes the results achieved. If necessary, it is possible to clarify the solution plan. When new or deeply hidden problems arise, it is necessary to return to the previous stages.

This model, which reflects the consultative process, only helps to better understand how a particular consultation takes place. The real consultation process is much more extensive and often does not obey this algorithm. The allocation of stages is conditional, since in practical work, some stages merge with others, and their interdependence is more complicated than in the presented scheme.

3. Threetheoretical approaches to psipsychological counseling.Consider the main idea of the approach and the role of the consultant in the consultative process

The importance of theory in psychological counseling, as in other areas of psychological practice, cannot be overemphasized. We can say that an attempt to competently help another person in solving his problems without relying on a system of theoretical views is like flying without reference points. In psychological counseling, the role of the card is played by the theory of personality, which opens up a wide perspective for understanding the client's problems and indicates effective methods for resolving them. Theory helps the counselor formulate dynamic hypotheses that explain the client's problems and makes it feel safe to deal with the chaotic, disorganized inner world of some clients. Bramer, Shostrom (1982) emphasize that a consultant who has not mastered the theoretical foundations of his profession, who has not become familiar with the research carried out in this area, will not be able to do anything for the client except the use of private technology.

These functions are well suited to any theory underlying advisory practice. The theory helps the consultant to generalize the experience of working with a variety of clients, to understand the nature of most of their problems and forms of manifestation of conflicts, and promotes the effective application of specific methods. Thanks to theoretical training, the consultant can formulate hypotheses in his practical work and anticipate the results of the counseling.

Eclectic counseling is now spreading around the world as an attempt to integrate the best of different schools. Of course, this does not mean a set of different theoretical principles, views or the accumulation of methods and techniques that have proven practical efficiency regardless of the context of possible application. Eclectic counseling relies on the systems integration of several theoretical approaches in an effort to find a single source and test how the new system "works" in practice. We can say that the creation of an eclectic approach to counseling is the result of all professional activities. Most of the specialists who have been working in the field of psychological counseling and psychotherapy for a long time create their own theoretical system, usually eclectic, most corresponding to the personality and worldview of each of them.

1. Clarity, ease of understanding and information content. The theory is consistent and consistent.

2. Comprehensiveness. It provides an explanation for a wide variety of different phenomena.

3. Certainty and heuristic. She, by virtue of her logic, generates a research plan.

4. Concreteness in the choice of means to achieve the desired result. The theory contains a way to achieve the desired result.

5. Usefulness for their adherents. It provides guidelines for research and practice.

1. Theory helps consultants to discover the inner unity and interconnection of various phenomena of life.

2. Theory forces counselors to explore relationships that would otherwise be out of sight.

3. Theory provides counselors with guidance in their work and helps them assess themselves as professionals.

4. Theory helps counselors focus on the information they need and tells them what they should look for.

5. Theory helps counselors assist clients in effectively changing their behavior.

6. Theory helps counselors evaluate both old and new approaches to the counseling process. It is the starting point on which new counseling approaches are built.

4. Requirements for the personality of a counselor psychologist

Almost all scientists engaged in theoretical and methodological research in the field of psychological counseling and psychotherapy note the importance of the personal characteristics of the counselor. Different authors note different personality traits, but all agree that the client cannot but pay attention to the personality of the consultant, and everything that the latter says and does is refracted through the image he created in the client.

M. Balint spoke of complete oblivion that psychotherapy is not theoretical knowledge, but personality skills. K. Rogers emphasized that the theory and methods of the consultant are less important than the implementation of his role. A. Gombs experimentally compared successful and unsuccessful consultants, revealed that the differences lie in personality traits. Z. Freud noted that a psychoanalyst does not have to have a medical education, but that he needs observation and the ability to penetrate the soul of the client. A. Adber said: "The technique of treatment is in you." A. Storr expressed the idea that psychotherapy and psychological counseling are considered to be unusual professions, since many people find it difficult to imagine how it is possible to listen to other people's stories about unhappy life and difficulties all day long.

In fact, it turns out that the main technique of psychological counseling is to use yourself, your personality as a tool. Awareness of this situation is an important stage on the path of becoming a professional.

It is quite obvious that a person does not have special genes that are responsible for whether to be a successful consultant or not. In general, of course, the personality of a consultant, like the personality of any other person, is formed on the basis of natural, biological characteristics, but the significance of these factors is not very great, although there is still a place to be.

After all, nobody is born a consultant. Most importantly, no one finally becomes a consultant. The required qualities are developed throughout the professional life of a specialist consultant.

There is a lot of research in this area, however, the model of the ideal consultant has not yet been built, different authors indicate different personal characteristics. Here's a rough list of these properties:

The consultant's openness (his manipulations, at least, are not noticeable to the client),

Warmth (compassion, display of lively emotions),

Mindfulness (he does not ignore anything, pays attention to important points),

Good intuition in communication (the client can - and in a sense even must - hide some important circumstances, and often these circumstances can only be guessed by the smallest features of behavior, a slightly changed intonation or a long pause - for example),

A keen interest in people (a new client for a consultant is like a new country in which he has not yet been; the easiest way to lose interest in people is if you are confident in your own omniscience),

Sincerity (loves Truth, strives for it, does not lie),

Flexibility (easily adaptable to the client, the specifics of consulting, abrupt changes in the client's mood),

Tolerance (the client's shortcomings are not condemned, although they are not encouraged either, and non-standard behavior is not condemned),

Consistency, objectivity, rationality (mastery of one's speech, the ability to build chains of reasoning, prudence, the ability to look at any situation as if from above),

Emotional stability (some confusing life stories of clients can "unsettle" an unprepared listener),

The ability to inspire trust (the client comes with his secrets, he will not share them with a person who "radiates a threat"),

Ability to respect (the slightest neglect can alienate the client forever),

Lack of an inferiority complex (if the consultant - even without speaking out loud - starts comparing himself and the client, figuring out which of them is "cooler", if he demonstrates his wealth in front of a poor client or, on the contrary, envies his solvency, then such a consultation may result in something completely different channel).

Conclusion

The goals of the consultant and the client ultimately meet, although each consultant has in mind his own system of general goals, corresponding to his theoretical orientation, and each client has his own individual goals that led him to a specialist. Very often, the formulation and re-formulation of goals occurs in the process of consulting during the interaction of the consultant with the client. The realization of the consultant's goals depends on the needs and expectations of the client. To successfully combine your general objectives and specific goals of the client, it is necessary from the very beginning to ask the client questions: "What do you expect from our communication?", "What are your desires?" etc. Clients tend to have only the most basic idea of what counseling is and what to expect from a counselor. When a client does not have any information about counseling, he is unable to properly formulate goals. If we inform the client about the duration of the interviews and generally about what usually happens during the counseling meetings, it is easier for him to understand the possibilities and limitations of counseling. Most clients come to psychological counseling hoping that the counselor will immediately provide some help. In this situation, the consultant must remember the main goal of counseling - to help the client understand that he himself is the person who must decide, act, change, and actualize his abilities.

Bibliography:

1. Abramova G.S. Practical psychology: Textbook for universities. - M .: Academic project, 2005 .-- 491 p.

2. Pakhalyan V.E. Psychological counseling: Textbook for universities. - SPb .: Peter, 2008 .-- 252 p.

3. Kochunas R. Fundamentals of psychological counseling. M., 1999.

4. Sapogova E.E. Counseling psychology: Textbook for universities. - M .: Academy, 2008 .-- 352 p.

Posted on Allbest.ru

...

Adlerian approach to counseling - Alfred Adler

The goals of Adler counseling are grouped around helping people develop healthy lifestyles:

developing a client's understanding of what is considered a healthy lifestyle,

helping clients overcome feelings of inferiority.

to support clients in the formation of social interest.

Social interest- internal potential "which must be consciously developed and assimilated." Wrong lifestyle considered egocentric, based on false goals and misconceptions and associated with feelings of inferiority (congenital physical or mental defects, as well as a family atmosphere: spoiled by parents or rejection). It is necessary to correct such feelings and get rid of unwanted forms of behavior. Adler Counseling Aims at the Whole Personality

Person-Centered Counseling Carl Rogers

The goals of person-centered counseling focus on the client's personality rather than the problem. People need help to learn to cope with their circumstances.

One of the main ways is to help the client learn to live a full life, to become a person who does not need to use protective mechanisms on a daily basis.

Such a person begins to strive more for change and growth. He becomes more open to assimilating experience, trusts his own perception more, is more deeply involved in self-knowledge and assessment of his “I”. A fully functioning person begins to relate better to himself and others and makes operational decisions more efficiently.

The client is helped to identify, use and integrate their own resources and potential.

Existential Counseling - Rollo May, Victor Frankl.

The goals of existential counseling are to help clients understand the importance of responsibility, awareness, freedom, and potential. The client gets rid of the role of observer of events and becomes the creator of meaningful personal activity.

The client becomes more aware of personal freedom. For clients, the main goal of counseling is to move from an external frame of reference to an internal one. Activity ceases to depend on the judgments of other people; actions will be primarily judged by the clients themselves.

Gestalt Therapy - Fritz Perls

Objectives include focusing on the here-and-now and awareness of immediate experience. Other goals of gestalt therapy:

draw the client's attention to non-verbal and verbal expression, as well as the client's assimilation of the general idea that life involves making choices.

helping the client in solving the problems of the past, so that he can achieve the inner integration of the personality.

the implementation of spiritual growth, which includes the integration of the emotional, cognitive and behavioral aspects of a person. The main task is to reconcile the polarities in a person.

Perls created a formula that expresses the essence of this word: “This hour = experience = awareness = reality. The past is gone, the future is not yet. There is only the present ».

To act "now", to show maturity, a person must periodically throw off neurotic tendencies. Perls identifies five layers of neurosis that potentially interfere with the manifestation of authenticity in contact with oneself:

false,
phobia,
a feeling of hopelessness,
impulsiveness (conciliation),
explosiveness (irascibility).
Cognitive therapy - A. Beck

Beck focuses on the importance of changing thoughts when dealing with mental disorders. According to his approach, there are six cognitive biases that the consultant must be prepared for:

unfounded conclusions,
selective abstraction,
supergeneralization,
exaggeration and understatement,
personalization,
dichotomous thinking

Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy Albert Ellis

The main goal of RETP is to help people realize that they can live more efficiently and productively. "In a first approximation, Rational Emotive Therapy is an attempt to eliminate unwanted emotions by correcting errors in the client's reasoning logic."

Many believe that desires must be fulfilled and that if desires remain unfulfilled, the result will be disastrous. RETP helps clients stop creating such demands and turning failure into a "catastrophe." In RETP, clients may express some negative feelings, but the main goal is to help them avoid overreacting to the event.

RETP encourages clients to be more tolerant of themselves and others and to achieve personal goals. These goals are achieved by teaching people to think rationally in order to change harmful behaviors and help them learn new ways of acting.

Transactional Analysis - Eric Berne

TA's main goals focus on helping clients transform themselves from “frogs” to “princes and princesses”. It is not enough for a person to learn simply to adapt, as is customary in psychoanalysis. Instead, the emphasis is on achieving health and autonomy.

By becoming autonomous, clients demonstrate more understanding, openness, and immediacy, become game-free, and get rid of non-constructive scenarios. They begin to better interact with their past, but at the same time remain free from the negative influences of the past. TA emphasizes the study of self in order to decide who a person wants to become.

Behavioral approach - B.F. Skinner

In general, behaviorists (with the exception of representatives of the cognitive-behavioral direction) concentrate on behavioral processes, that is, processes closely related to visible behavior.

Behaviorists focus on the here-and-now situation, as opposed to the there-and-then situation.

The goals of behaviorists are to help clients better adapt to their circumstances and achieve personal and professional goals. Counseling focuses on changing or eliminating clients' lack of adaptive behavior, thus helping them adopt healthy, constructive ways of acting. It is not enough to just eliminate unwanted behavior; unproductive actions must be replaced with productive responses.

Cognitive-behavioral theory

For learning to take place, it is necessary that a person actively participate in this process. If a person receives a reward or is punished for some activity, then he, as a result, learns to distinguish those actions that bring rewards from those that lead to punishment (or lack of encouragement).

The person will then strive for behaviors that are rewarded and avoid behaviors that are either punished or not reinforced. When certain actions are immediately followed reinforcements(reward), the possibility of repeating these actions in such or identical circumstances increases.

People are not shaped by their environment as much as they are shaped by rewards and punishments. The consequences of a particular action determine whether the action is learned and repeated.

Reality Therapy - William Glasser

The main goal of reality therapy is to help clients become psychologically strong, practical, to help them choose their attitude towards themselves and others. People become self-reliant and responsible for activities that affect themselves and others.

The growing complexity and the increasing pace of general economic changes and the conditions for doing business give rise to specific problems, in solving which more and more Russian entrepreneurs feel the need for the help of consultants. In this situation, the popularity of consulting activities has led to the fact that until recently, most consultants did not follow any specific strategy and tried to respond to any request from a potential client. However, even now, an increasing number of consultants understand that they cannot be everything for all clients, that the chance of getting an order increases if a unique service is offered. But here, in addition to the growth of competition among consultants, another question arises - what are the principles of forming a consulting service and what are the criteria for its assessment.

It has been repeatedly stated that professional services produce intangible products or products. A consulting product is advice given to a client or, if the focus is on implementation and change, which actually takes place in the organization of the client's work "and is due to the intervention of a consultant. Such a product is difficult to characterize, measure and evaluate. The consultant may have his own opinion and idea about it, while the customer's point of view on the same product and its real value is probably completely different.

Therefore, consultants are reluctant to clearly define their products. Some fear that this will limit them and prevent them from seeking and finding new opportunities in areas they do not cover. Others prefer to consider each possibility of a new assignment in essence and decide whether to accept or not accept it without any definition of the product in advance. In general, when selling his services on the market, the consultant actually sells only a promise to help the client meet his needs, and the client is deprived of an elementary opportunity to evaluate the offered product and is forced to only assume about the consultant's capabilities and build relationships with him on exclusive trust.

However, both clients and consultants alike increasingly want to “increase the tangibility” of the consulting process in order to improve sales, planning, management and control from both the client and the consultant. There are four different ways to define a consulting item.

Option 1. - functional or subject areas of intervention.

This option, common in the past and still widely used in the present, defines the services of the consultant in the functional or technical areas in which he can assist the client. The main thing here is to have a quality education and wide experience in this field. Examples are finance, marketing, production management, or general management.

While this product definition indicates an area of expertise, it does not have a specific focus if the subject area is broad.

It does not specify what quality is a feature of this consultant, what are his strengths and how he differs from others. It does not say anything about the methods of its work, about the results that it wants to get from the intervention.

Option 2 - management and business problems.

This option identifies services based on typical business and management issues faced by clients. Here, the main opportunity to help in solving problems and the corresponding special qualifications. For example, the rationalization of information flows, the emergence of the possibility of creating a joint venture and negotiations for its creation, transfer agreements technical advances etc. The consultant is expected to analyze and deliver a customer-friendly solution.

Option 3 - special methods and systems.

In this case, the consultant develops and offers clients his own (often unique) approach to solving the problem, which is expressed in the form of special methods, a model or a management system. It may (although not necessarily) be a proprietary system that cannot be obtained from anyone else. Of course, the consultant is not just implementing a standard system. As a rule, the assignment includes preliminary research in order to diagnose the problem, adaptation of the basic, standard, system to the client's conditions and assistance in its implementation and appropriate training of personnel. This may include further maintenance and system improvements that lay the foundations for a long-term consultant-client relationship. Moreover, the consultant who has developed a special system can be considered an authority on the application of a standard, obviously effective approach to a certain type of problem, which is relatively easy to identify and structure.

Option 4 - Application of the counseling methodology.

In this case, the consultant tries to make his products more tangible and accurate by providing the client with a description of his methodological approach and identification of problems in client organizations and to assist them in planning and implementing changes.

It is not the content or the end result of the consultation process that is emphasized, but the approach and the fact that the client will be able to master the methodology for diagnosing his problems in the future. The proposed product becomes the method itself.

Other options.

Other options are services other than consulting per se, such as executive development, technical training, research, design, data mining, etc. Accordingly, the above-mentioned consulting options are complemented by similar services, which is welcomed by clients.

However, none of the options provides a comprehensive solution to the customer's problems. For example, the issue of confidentiality No client feels absolute trust in the consultant, and, accordingly, the consulting process often takes place in a mode of informational limitation, and this cannot but affect the final result.

To this should be added a number of psychological barriers of the customer. Many are reluctant to acknowledge the need for consultant intervention at all, as this can reduce the managers' self-esteem. Often a potential client is concerned that the presence of the consultant will be viewed by others (subordinates, colleagues, bosses, or even competitors) as an admission of incompetence. For customers, it is typical to doubt the ability of an outsider to solve complex problems, which the organization's management tried unsuccessfully to overcome. Some people believe that the consultant will not bother himself with the difficult search for a solution that would fix the situation for a long time, but instead will try to apply one of his standard packages. In the eyes of some clients, the consultant looks like an overly curious subject who collects too much information, which can then be used against them.

Sometimes you hear that it is easy to hire a consultant, but very difficult to get rid of it. It is argued that consultants carry out the tasks received in such a way that new ones will inevitably appear. This can lead to permanent dependence on the consulting firm.

And we can not say that clients sometimes completely ignore how the amount of payment for the services of a consultant is determined and how it is justified, as well as with what benefits it can be compared. These clients believe that using a consultant is a luxury that they cannot afford.

How can a customer be in such a situation, who, on the one hand, is tormented by fears and doubts, and on the other hand, is concerned about the effective solution of his problems?

Taking into account the specifics of modern consulting practice and customers' doubts that are not always devoid of grounds, the creative team headed by the authors of the article attempted to create a specialized short-term training and consulting program focused on the field of personnel management.

If you try to look at the counseling process as a whole, then it can be presented as a set of activities carried out by the consultant and aimed at helping the client perceive, understand and influence the course of events taking place in the client's environment.

Therefore, the creative concept of this program was directed to the idea of building a "self-learning organization" - an organization that creates learning conditions for all its employees and is itself constantly transforming. According to a number of experts, it is such an organization that has the necessary level of adaptability to the dynamic development of external conditions and is capable of acting in the paradigm of “preventive” management.

In this context, the consultant acts as a coach preparing the organization for real "competition" in the external environment, where the organization will have to independently make decisions, develop an action strategy and implement tactical steps. Moreover, we are talking about the development of long-term adaptive skills that allow the organization for a long time to independently cope with emerging difficulties and problems in almost all areas of activity. The program is focused on top and middle management and is based on a change in traditional ideas about management roles. The implication is that managers must reorganize their activities on three levels.

The technology for implementing the program is based on an andragogical approach to organizational learning, during which a research approach to solving customer problems is implemented, as opposed to a hierarchical one - typical and generally accepted, i.e. an approach in which the activity of the consultant is based on the dominance of senior management in the course of information exchange, assessment and prescriptions. Inherent problem-solving models include the three components of advocating certain points of view, evaluating and attributing meanings, points of view and values to others. The research approach implies the opposite, the customer brings a significant share of his previous experience into the change process; discusses with the consultant the curriculum and the availability of the consultant in the process of organizational change; determines the result of organizational changes, agreed with the consultant, the relationship with which is built on the basis of cooperation and mutual exchange of ideas.

The duration of the program is focused on 3 months. During this time, the consultant “gets used to” the organization, where he initiates changes and is present in the system as an observer.

Of course, this approach to counseling requires appropriate training of the consultant. Namely. The consultant should monitor the influence of the following factors: consistency of the detailed diagnosis of the problem with the client; the ability to enhance the client's readiness and ability to implement change; the iterative nature of communication should provide the ability to adjust and modify the strategy and goals of change along the way; striving for stability as a desired consequence of change; the ability and ability to resist pressure from the client, often seeking to get premature and hasty decisions. Therefore, the program is supplemented with specially developed methodological applications that help the consultant to navigate in the process of implementing the program, and trainings for teachers - trainers.

CONCLUSION

From the study of the actual topic of the course work, it should be noted that the need for consulting services does not depend on the form of ownership of the organization or the type of business. The demand for the services of a consultant is determined not by the type of owner, but primarily by his real needs of the enterprise for services of this kind and, of course, by the business qualities of the managers of this enterprise. Today, the market clearly shows the demand for the services of consultants on the part of those enterprises headed by strong managers who are aware of the value of professional consulting assistance. The consultant is valuable not only because he carries out a one-time project, but because he helps the company to establish effective independent daily work. In this regard, enterprises first of all need a comprehensive restructuring, the main emphasis of which is on creating a strategy and reforming the business model, on setting up regular management procedures, on forming a financial management and management accounting system, on setting up the company's marketing activities. From the study of this work, it became clear for what consulting companies are needed and what they can give to their clients, how they help develop the companies using their services.

As in other organizations, consulting companies have their own, as yet unresolved problems and tasks, such as:

1. Formation of understanding among entrepreneurs of the place and role of professional consultants in the development of a successful business.

2. Formation of professional standards, ethical norms and rules of conduct in the consulting services market.

3. Improving the professional level of consultants.

4. Protection of professional and other interests of consultants.

5. Participation in the development and implementation of complex investment projects and specific regional programs.

6. Cooperation with Russian and foreign consulting firms and trade unions.

7. Institutionalization of the consulting profession.

Solving the problems of consultants is the main task. Due to the undeveloped demand in the consulting business, there is no competition in terms of quality, therefore, rivalry between companies is going on, today in the mainstream of attracting new clients for consulting in general, and not their transition to a more professional consultant.

Teamwork and interpersonal skills required by staff (providing and receiving feedback, resolving conflicts, understanding values of differences, collegiality);

Skills to actively fight for quality, including the ability to identify problems and implement improvements.

Of course, the program is not a panacea for all organizational troubles and problems. However, the authors of the program remain confident that this kind of strengthening of organizational structures will help the company withstand the storms raging in the modern market and involve employees in the company's problems, improve labor productivity and living standards.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

1. Aleshnikova V.I. Using the services of professional consultants: 17-module program for managers "Management of the development of the organization." - M., 2011.

2. Bobaho V.A. Organizational Consulting: Culture of Change // Personnel Management, 2012, No. 12.

3. Veltman M., Marshev V.I., Posadsky A.P. Consulting in Russia: an introduction to professional working methods. Moscow: 2012.

4. Goncharuk V.A. Marketing consulting. - M., 2013.

5. Elmamev O.K. Management consulting: questions of theory and practice. - Izhevsk, 2015.

7. Korobtsev V.V. Problems of professionalism of management consultants // Management consulting of innovations. Sat. Proceedings, no. 4, 2010.

8. Luzin A.E., Ozira V.Yu. Management Consulting Firms of Capitalist Countries M.: Economics, 2015.

9. Makhel K. Management consulting. Moscow: 2013.

10. Management in Russia and abroad. No. 3 1999, No. 2 2013.

11. Ondrak D. Management Consulting Program for Small Enterprises // PTIPU, No. 5, 2014.

12. Pesthoff V.A. Management consultant: new tasks // PtiPU, 2015.

Is it necessary in psychological counseling to rely on any psychological theory? This issue is still quite controversial and controversial. Those specialists who oppose the strict separation of counseling and psychotherapy, consider counseling to be the initial stage of psychotherapy and, therefore, defend the point of view that a counselor, like a psychotherapist, should undergo specialization in one of the theoretical areas in psychotherapy, receive an appropriate certificate and then work in within this approach. Those who consider psychological counseling to be a kind of professional activity separate from psychotherapy, adhere to the point of view that counseling has its own system of techniques, while psychotherapeutic techniques, designed, as a rule, for long-term work with a client, are not suitable for counseling.

What is the role of the theoretical approach in counseling?

Even if the psychologist uses an eclectic approach in terms of counseling technology, i.e. uses a variety of techniques to achieve a result on a specific problem, his theoretical concepts set the direction of the search for the sources of the client's problem, play the role of a "map" indicating effective ways resolving this problem. Without the support of theory, counseling will be intuitive and will become more like everyday conversation than professional work.

The theory helps to formulate advisory hypotheses, makes you feel safe when faced with the chaotic inner world of the client.

So, the functions of theory in psychological counseling can be as follows:

1) generalization of the accumulated information;
2) makes complex mental phenomena more understandable, explains the action of their mechanisms;
3) predicts the consequences of different circumstances;
4) promotes the search for new facts, the advancement and testing of advisory hypotheses.

The theory helps the psychologist to generalize the experience of working with a variety of clients, to understand the nature of their problems, and contributes to the effective application of specific methods.

Each psychologist, on the basis of his own practice, constructs his own theory, which is based on one of the well-known paradigms. With the accumulation of experience, the theoretical base is constantly being corrected, expanded, and strengthened.

What determines the choice of theory? Basically - from the view of the consultant on human nature. What is man? What innate tendencies does it have? Is he free in his choice? Can he change? It is the answers to these questions that will help you choose a theoretical approach.

In the practice of counseling, while focusing on any theoretical direction, you can achieve a similar effectiveness of counseling. The decisive importance is not so much the theory itself as the maturity of the personality of the consultant and his professional training, which implies a high integration of theoretical knowledge and practical skills.

Many psychologists believe they are taking an eclectic approach. However, closer analysis usually reveals that eclectic counseling relies on the systems integration of several theoretical approaches in an effort to find a single beginning and test how the new system works in practice. Creating your own eclectic approach is the result of all the professional activities of a counselor psychologist.

Practical example

A. F. Bondarenko's research was devoted to the professional identification of a psychologist. Researchers tried to find out what theories are used in Russia by counseling psychologists and psychotherapists. 46 psychologists with practical experience from one to 20 years, including 18 foreign ones, were interviewed.

The most pronounced approaches turned out to be:

eclecticism (80% of the respondents who gave this answer turned out to be Russian psychologists);
gestalt therapy;
Rogerianism;
behavioral therapy;
I don’t know (100% of those who gave such an answer were Russian psychologists, there were no such answers among foreign psychologists).

The following approaches turned out to be less pronounced:

existential psychology;
transactional analysis;
Adler psychotherapy;
rational emotive therapy (RET).

Psychoanalysis was the least represented.

Classification of theoretical approaches used in psychological counseling. There are many theories and approaches in modern psychology. And every day new ones appear. Eclecticism, a mixture of theories, and the use of a wide variety of techniques are becoming more and more characteristic of modern counseling. It is possible to single out the following main theoretical approaches.

Classic approaches.

1. Depth psychology (psychoanalysis) and its modifications, including modern neopsychoanalysis (Horney, Fromm, Sullivan).
2. Behavioral approach and its modern form - cognitive-behavioral approach (Bandura, Beck, Ellis).
3. Existential-humanistic approach (Rogers, Maslow, Allport, Perls, Frankl).
4. Eclectic approaches that combine the principles of various basic classical approaches - transactional analysis (Bern), psychosynthesis (Assagioli), neurolinguistic programming (NLP).

Non-classical directions.

1. Body-oriented psychotherapy (Reich, Lowen, Alexander, Janov, Feldenkrais, etc.).
2. Hypnotherapy.
3. Meditation therapy.
4. Transpersonal therapy (S. Grof).
5. Art therapy, including many variations.

Within the framework of this textbook, a detailed analysis of all approaches in counseling and psychotherapy is impossible. For this information, consult the specialist literature. Let's consider only the main classical theoretical approaches that are most often used in psychological counseling. Underlying each approach is an understanding of human nature and the role of the consultant (therapist). Therefore, the nature of the consultative contact and the consultation process itself largely depend on the choice of one or another theoretical approach.

Bondarenko A.F. 1993. No. 1. P. 63-77
See: R. Nelson-Jones Theory and Practice of Counseling. SPb .: Peter, 2000: Bondarenko A. Psychological assistance: theory and practice. M.: Publishing house of the Institute of Psychotherapy, 2000, etc.

Did you like the article? Share it

Print article