Counselling Models by Joe Isaac

Most counselling models make use of the core conditions; empathy, unconditional positive regard and congruence.

Psychodynamic (psychoanalytic):

Developed by Freud. Sees childhood as cause of present problems and focuses on exploring past in some depth. Explores transference – displaced feelings from early childhood experienced in adult situations. Uses ‘free association’. Long term. Psychoanalytic therapy is the model where clients lay down with no eye contact or relationship with the therapist. (Less common these days)

Humanistic:

This broad, general model sees people as capable of taking responsibility for themselves and making decisions. It is part of many approaches. Hierarchy of Needs. (Maslow)

Person Centred:

Developed by Carl Rogers. Sees client as expert in their world. Primarily uses the ‘core conditions’ and views the counselling relationship as sufficient. Long term, and non-directive.

Gestalt:

Developed by Fritz Perls, out of psychoanalytic therapy. Gestalt aims for wholeness and the integration of parts and sees people as very much part of their environment. Works in the ‘here and now’. Makes use of metaphor to explore issues. Medium to long term.

Transactional Analysis (TA):

Developed by Eric Berne. Approaches interactions between people from the point of view of ego-states, (Parent – Adult – Child) and ‘scripts’ that people learn as children and act out in relationships.

Cognitive and Behavioural (CBT):

Developed as a result of research into how we learn. Works to change patterns of behaviour to more healthy ones – to think and act differently. Solution focused, it makes use of practical techniques and homework. No in depth exploration of the past unless it is relevant to present behaviour. Short term.

Integrative

A mix of more than one model. This is a very common model, these days. NLP is a mix of Person centred, Gestalt and CBT, alongside some new techniques. Short term.

Human Givens is a mix of NLP, CBT, positive therapy and some new techniques based on research. Short term.

Produced by Joe Isaac 023 92 733920(UK) www.elementsinbalance.co.uk