04 Feb 2010
Introduction
The contemporary counseling is characterized by the wide application of various approaches and techniques, which are considered to be very effective, but often it is difficult to clearly define which approach is the most effective. Probably, the reason for such difficulties with the definition of the best approach to counseling is caused by the lack of such an approach since it is impossible to give some universal recommendations concerning counseling practices that could work effectively in absolutely all cases. In this respect, it is rather possible to recommend careful studying of patient’s needs and problems and on the basis of personal characteristics and psychological peculiarities of the patient define the approach that could be the most effective in the particular case.
Nevertheless, it is possible to distinguish client-centered and cognitive-behavioral approaches, which nowadays are widely spread and are very popular among health care professionals that work on counseling of their patients. In actuality, it is impossible to estimate that these approaches are perfect or the most effective, but still it is necessary to analyze and compare these approaches in order to better understand their advantages and drawbacks that will help better understand when and how these approaches could be applied with the utmost effectiveness.
Method
The search for the literature dedicated to the problem of the study of counseling and effective approaches to counseling was based on the search for journal articles. The articles should be related to the subject of the study and focus on the most popular and reliable approaches to counseling. At the same time, the articles are mainly published within the last decade and provide a overview of the counseling approaches and treatment of patients. In this respect, the search for articles were mainly focused for the studies conducted in relation to the client-centered approach and cognitive-behavioral approaches which have proved their efficiency in counseling, especially in counseling patients with mental health problems.
Results
In the result of the study of the literature dedicated to the research of the two aforementioned approaches to counseling, the articles on counseling based on client-centered approach were identified: Hodge, David R. “Spiritual Life Maps: A Client-Centered Pictorial Instrument for Spiritual Assessment, Planning, and Intervention”, Moon, Kathryn A. “A Client-Centered Review of Rogers with Gloria”, and Wickman, Scott A. and Cynthia Campbell. “An Analysis of How Carl Rogers Enacted Client-Centered Conversation with Gloria.” The authors mainly reveal the positive effects of client-centered approach on the state of patients.
Speaking about the client-centered approach, it should be said that this approach is basically focused on the counseling of the patient on the basis of the profound analysis and study of his or her problems and needs. To put it more precisely, this approach implies that the practitioner entirely focuses on the personality of the patient. It is necessary to define his or her internal inclinations, basic traits of character, psychological peculiarities and it is important to identify the major problems that disturb the patient. In actuality, the use of the client-centered approach implies that the patient entirely focuses on him- or herself, his or her needs and troubles. As a rule, the practitioner attempts to distance the patient from the actual problems he or she confronts in his or her regular life. It is very important to make the patient forget about his or her past problems and failure and, instead, focus on the future perspectives and opportunities he or she may realize and, in such a way, improve his or her life. In other words, this approach is based on the total concentration on the patient’s self and the formation of positive self-perception and higher self-esteem that is accompanied by the decreasing significance of the current problems and troubles that disturb the patient at the moment or that disturbed him or her in the past.
In addition, researches dedicated to the cognitive-behavioral approach were identified and they also proved the efficiency of this approach being applied in counseling. The articles identified were written by Patten, Christi A. et al. “Effectiveness of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Smokers with Histories of Alcohol Dependence and Depression” and by Tursi, Michael M. and Jeff L. Cochran. “Cognitive-Behavioral Tasks Accomplished in a Person-Centered Relational Framework.”
The researchers analyzed the cognitive-behavioral approach in details. They found out that this approach actually represents the combination of two approaches to counseling: behavioral and cognitive. In this respect, it should be said that the cognitive-behavioral approach basically addresses the unusual thoughts, feelings and behavior which cause the anxiety or troubles that disturb the patient. At the same time, unlike the client-centered approach, it does not focus entirely on the patient, but this approach also tends to take into consideration factors that increase the anxiety of the patient and his or her troubles, which eventually lead to discomfort and disorders. The practical application of this approach implies the development of a system of rewards for the patient when he or she overcomes and confronts successfully his or her personal troubles or situations which actually evoke the anxiety of the patient or troubles. Also, it is worth mentioning the fact that this approach does not ignore the past, though, similarly to the client-centered approach it tends to focus primarily on the present events which are in control of the patient’s behavior. In fact, the major goal of this approach is not only the formation of a positive self-esteem and self-perception, but primarily the cognitive-behavioral approach targets at the amendment of the disturbing thoughts, feelings and behavior of the patient in order to prevent the distressing consequences from occurring. On the other hand, it should be said that both approaches target at the change of the mode of thinking and self-perception of the patient and creation of the positive emotions and feelings of the patient in regard to his or her own self.
Remarkably, the cognitive-behavioral approach to counseling proved to be particularly effective being applied to adolescents with conduct disorders. The study conducted by B. Dykeman, “Cognitive-Behavior Treatment of Expressed Anger in Adolescents with Conduct Disorders”, reveals the fact that the cognitive-behavior treatment can be very effective. To put it more precisely, using the cognitive-behavioral approach, physicians managed to develop in adolescents a more global perspective of the social problem and understanding of others who were involved in the conflict situation. In such a way, it is possible to cope with conduct disorders of adolescents with the help of the cognitive-behavioral approach.
Conclusion
Thus, taking into account all above mentioned, it is possible to conclude that, in spite of the existing differences between the client-centered approach and cognitive-behavioral approach, they are, to a significant extent similar. At the same time, both approaches may be viewed as quite effective, taking into consideration the ability of the practitioner to help patients solve his or her problems. In this respect, it is important to lay emphasis on the fact that the development of efficient approaches to counseling is particularly important in the mental health care environment because patients with mental health problems have special needs and a particular attention from the part of practitioners. In this respect, the client-centered approach seems to be particularly perspective since it focuses on the patient’s specific problems, although it is possible to complement the client-centered approach by the cognitive-behavioral approach. In such a way, the combination of two approaches can bring positive results and make counseling efficient helping patients to overcome their problems.
References:
Dykeman, B. “Cognitive-Behavior Treatment of Expressed Anger in Adolescents with Conduct Disorders.” Education. 121:(2), 2000, p. 298-303.
Hodge, David R. “Spiritual Life Maps: A Client-Centered Pictorial Instrument for Spiritual Assessment, Planning, and Intervention.” Social Work. 50(1), 2005, p. 77-85.
Moon, Kathryn A. “A Client-Centered Review of Rogers with Gloria.” Journal of Counseling and Development. 85(3), 2007, p. 277-285.
Patten, Christi A. et al. “Effectiveness of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Smokers with Histories of Alcohol Dependence and Depression.” Journal of Studies on Alcohol. 59(3), 1998, p.327-335.
Tursi, Michael M. and Jeff L. Cochran. “Cognitive-Behavioral Tasks Accomplished in a Person-Centered Relational Framework.” Journal of Counseling and Development. 84(4), 2006, p. 387-398.
Wickman, Scott A. and Cynthia Campbell. “An Analysis of How Carl Rogers Enacted Client-Centered Conversation with Gloria.” Journal of Counseling and Development. 81(2), 2003, p. 178-186.
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