Eclectic Psychodynamic Research

Technical eclecticism has the potential to describe detailed changes within the therapy. The changes throughout the process will match the appropriate intervention that helped the client change. With more than one approach, therapists are more likely to get the full understanding of what happen with the client and if the issue being resolves. But, the cons of the factor go back to misjudging/ misdiagnosing the patient from another patient with the same symptoms in the pass (Lampropoulos, 2000). Lampropoulos (2001) address some advantages and disadvantages of assimilative integration. The main advantage allow therapist to practice within their own belief without losing the benefits of the effective techniques in other approaches. Therapist can rearrange their techniques to eliminate frustration and provide the effectiveness techniques to resolve the issue. Also, the continuation of guided practice and research will provide the therapist with the proper knowledge to work with diverse clients. An disadvantage is increasing the number of psychotherapies that would bring more confusion and therapist with unfamiliar knowledge of the appropriate issue (Lampropoulos, 2001). With the theoretical integration, there is more than one approach to use in a given situation. A disadvantage is focusing on one specific disorder than doesn’t correspond with another approach. Being able to use more than one approach within a disorder provides a better understanding of the situation

Today, the majority of counselors and therapists operate from an integrative standpoint; that is, they are open to “various ways of integrating diverse theories and techniques” (Corey, 2009b, p. 449). In fact, a survey in Psychotherapy Networker (2007) found that over 95% of respondents proclaimed to practice an integrative approach (cited in Corey, 2009b, p. 449). Corey (2009a; 2009b) explains that no one theory is comprehensive enough to attend to all aspects of the human – thought, feeling, and behavior. Therefore, in order to work with clients on all three of these levels, which Corey (2009b) asserts is necessary for the

As a counseling student, it is very important to formulate a counseling theory tailored to ones’ own personality and beliefs. A counselor may choose a single theory to model when practicing therapy or pick and choose components and techniques from various theories, otherwise known as eclecticism. No theory is considered right or wrong. Understanding the different therapeutic approaches are important to effective counseling, however, counselors must also understand their own personal value, view of human nature, human behavior, counseling techniques and the purpose and goals of counseling. Understanding these components along with the different theoretical approaches will provide the counselor with a 9 knowledge of their own counseling, orientation and is essential to not only the productivity of counseling but the growth of the counselor as well.

Counseling and delivering services under the “best practice” should always be the goal of a practitioner. In a field such as counseling, where the lives of others are being impacted, making specific choices on how to deliver services, and making a choice to choose one form of therapy over another is pertinent to not only the successful rehabilitation of a client, but to also ensure the longevity of yourself as a practitioner and as a counselor. Practicing techniques or alternative forms of therapy which are based off of literature which is not evidenced-based can lead a practitioner to unethical practices which can eventually mean revocation of

The theories we learned provided a broad-based understanding of numerous factors related to the evolution of counseling and therapy theories and practices, along with new counseling and therapy skills. The important premise that underscores one of the central challenges of counseling and psychotherapy is that we are all in the same world, but each of us makes different sense of what we see and experience. That is, to understand the different ways that clients perceive their strengths and problems as well as the way they make meaning of the world in which they are situated.

Everybody has their own opinion of why people encounter personal problems, shaping their belief of what makes therapy helpful. My theory posits that a combination of individual and systemic factors produces personal problems. Therefore, to effectively address the multiple sources of a problem, my theory of helping involves both behavioral and cognitive techniques. Although every theory has limitations, helping professionals nevertheless develop their preferred approach over time. Since theory is foundation to clinical social work, it is imperative for me to consider and further develop my knowledge of theory.

Theories play an important role in how a counselor serves their clients. Theories provide counselors with a foundation on which to build their counseling style. “Theories ground us as professional counselors. They provide a means to understand what we are doing, how we are serving clients, and how to explain counseling to clients” (Erford, 2010). Counselors are responsible for being aware of different theories in order to apply them appropriately within their practice. Established and new theories play an important and constant role in mental health counseling. Established theories in mental health counseling are based on “empirical or scientific foundations” (American Counseling Association, 2005). The best way to gain the most

Evidence-based practices (EBP) and empirically supported treatments (EST) are different approaches used in the field of psychology for psychotherapeutic treatment. ESP’s are current interventions based on scientific evidence; this suggests the strongest contributions and risk factors to psychological symptoms. According to Dr. Norcross, evidence-based practice is based on empirical research and the main goal is for the effectiveness in treating patients; it makes clinicians more effective, allows them to meet patients. EBP helps in making better decisions for patient care and treatment, which can better support the client's care process. EBP psychology has expanded the treatment of the patient to include patient characteristics, culture,

I can competently implement, identify, and describe the four major categories of direct practice in my own practice. I can also competently articulate the correct application, focus, and desired result of direct practice theories presented in this chapter in my own practice. The first of the four major categories is psychodynamic theories, which attempts to connect the current problems a client is having to past traumas from an early time in life. The focus of psychodynamic theories is to translate insights into personality changes within the client. The second category is cognitive-behavioral theories, which connects the cognitive processes and their influence on behaviors and focuses on the present with hopes to improve the future. These theories focus on the current conditions of the client and identify distortions, beliefs, and misconceptions that contribute to the behaviors and symptoms of the client. The third theories are the humanistic theories which are theories concerned with the present time and consists of a therapist being authentic, genuine, and having positive regard for the client while conducting person-centered counseling. The fourth of the four major categories is postmodern theories, which are theories that belief that reality is subjective in nature and open to multiple interpretations influenced by personal experiences and values along with the social and political norms. Within the postmodern theories is narrative therapy and solution-focused therapy.

Yet, if managed care begins to dictate what treatments have to be used, then empirically validated treatments will be used against psychologists as a form of restriction that may inhibit the success of the therapeutic process (Scaturo, 2001).However, certain artful tactics involved in psychotherapy will never be completely removed, such as the development of a therapeutic relationship (Allen, 2008). With the rise of EVTs there is a possibility that insurance or managed care may dictate the exact treatment techniques that need to be used for a particular disorder, the art of psychotherapy will not be able to thrive in the future has it once did in the past (Hopko & Hopko, 1999). One way to prevent the complete loss of the art of psychotherapy is to use both the art and science together.

Kesar, I do believe it is imperative for a therapist to be self aware in order to healthfully be effective to the client. Furthermore, you explained the uniqueness we all poses inside of each other. I wholeheartedly agree that there is no one theory or treatment plan that will work on everyone. In fact, therapist develop a favoritism towards a particular family theorist but they sometimes take little pieces from other collaborating theories.

As mentioned previously, a counsellor taking an eclectic approach will look for, and select the best interventions within particular therapies (O’Brien & Houston, 2003). ££££££ argue that such counsellor will rely rather heavily on their past experience and therefore, from knowing what has helped a client in the past will almost habitually will choose a similar approach for another client with what they perceive to be a similar problem. However, Morrissey (2016) argues that such approach is not an aspect to look negatively upon as, such eclecticism focuses entirely upon the wellbeing of the client, which should outweigh any commitment to an entire theory within counselling.

During the following three decades, numerous innovative treatment and intervention methods and standpoints were presented as opposed to the customary psychodynamic approachs. Of the many approaches to clinical psychology, four are major and consist of the behavioral, cognitive-behavioral, humanistic, and family classifications. By employing these four major approaches the effectiveness of treatment is heightened (Plante, 2011).

Technical eclecticism is when a clinician has a theoretic framework from which they practice regularly, but at times will supplement with other techniques that are derived from theories that do not necessarily fit within their practiced framework. For example, a cognitive behavioral therapist may find that their client is not benefiting from utilizing behavioral techniques and may decide to employ a psychoanalytic technique instead (with consideration that resolving an underlying or unconscious issue may be advantageous before employing something like desensitization). Theoretical eclecticism is different in that the clinician utilizes or combines different schools of theory to create their own framework. Unlike technical eclecticism, theoretical eclecticism does not focus on one theory as the basis of how to

Eclectic counseling is a controversial topic in the counseling profession. Many counselors believe that a counselor should adhere to one type of counseling technique while others believe that more than one counseling technique should be integrated during counseling. Arguments from both sides present valid points, but integrating counseling techniques can bring some potential benefits in the counseling relationship. When used correctly, the use of eclectic approaches can help yield a client in an adequate treatment plan. This paper serves the purpose of identifying why eclectic approaches to counseling can help the counselor come up with a treatment plan that is beneficial to the client. In the next proceeding paragraphs, this paper will discuss