Reference no: EM133674370

Homework: Counseling Theory

When working with clients/students it is important that we as counselors are purposeful with our words, use of skills, use of techniques, and our exhibited behaviors. Theory is what helps to guide how we conceptualize client situations and work with our clients and students.

We will introduce you to a small handful of different theoretical approaches. You will be provided a case scenario. You will also be offered the opportunity to choose which theoretical approach (covered in class that week) to apply to the case scenario.

I. Presenting Concern/s:

1. Which of this theoretical approaches you will use to conceptualize the case and why.

2. What do you see as the client's presenting concerns/basic conflicts?

3. Based upon the concerns you identified, discuss which you would address first and why based upon the theoretical approach.

II. Three Central Concepts of the Approach/Theory:

1. Identify three central concepts of the approach (other than any you previously used to answer the above question) and describe the central concepts.

2. Explain how the central concepts are relevant to working with the client or understanding the case.

3. Clarification Notes: This week you are learning about Background Approaches. The term Background Approaches is umbrella term to describe a family of approaches that share certain characteristics (for example: focusing on the background of a client). Under this umbrella term you can select any one of the approaches covered this week for your homework (e.g., individual psychology, classic psychoanalysis) to use to complete the homework. When we refer to key concepts of the approaches, we are referring to the concepts that are central to the approach. For example, in classic psychoanalysis, Freud's concepts of the structural model (id, ego, and superego) is an example of a central concept. Let's say you selected individual psychology as your approach, Adler's concept of lifestyle is another example of a central concept.

III. Strengths and Limitations:

1. Analyze two strengths of the approach for working with the client.

2. Analyze two weakness of the approach for working with the client.

IV. Reflection:

1. Provide at least one example of how you could apply any strategy, technique, or concept of this theoretical approach to an area of your life to learn something about yourself personally. Also, explain what you learned.

2. What challenges did you encounter when attempting to apply an aspect of this theoretical approach to your life? Provide at least one example.

3. Did you notice any cultural limitations/obstacles to applying this approach to your life? Describe the cultural limitation or explain how the approach is culturally responsive.

Case Scenario

The Case of Jen:

Jen is a 19-year-old sophomore in college. She was raised by both her parents up to the age of 12 when her father cheated on her mother and then left them to get marry his mistress. Jen began to blame herself for her father leaving, and felt that she was not a good enough daughter. The father moved out, but still regularly saw Jen each week, talked to her on the phone, and attended her athletic and school activities. However, when Jen turned 14, her father had two twin boys with his new spouse. Soon after Jen's father moved to a new state with his "new" family. Jen was deeply hurt and felt that her father chose his "new" family over her. Jen and her father have since stopped talking.

Currently, as a sophomore in college, Jen has begun exploring relationships with men. However, she found that she had difficulty trusting the men, and is convinced that they will somehow let her down if she gives them the chance.Although Jen seems clear about not wanting to risk trusting men, she realizes that this notion is self-defeating and would like to challenge her views. Though she wants to change the way in which she perceives and feels about men, somehow she seems to have an investment in her belief about their basic untrustworthiness. She is not very willing to look at her part in keeping this assumption about men alive. Rather, she would prefer to pin the blame on her father. It was he, who taught her this lesson, and now it is difficult for her to change, or so she reports.