Counseling Theory Paper

Counseling theories serves as a framework for helping professionals. Theories assist professional in providing counseling and any other services in a way that is meaningful. For instance, counseling using a Cognitive-Behavioral approach tends to focus on a patient’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Counselors using a Solution-Focused approach tends to focus on the solutions versus the past and/or behavior(s). There are certain techniques that are appropriate for certain theories. Techniques must be use appropriately to be effective; however, it is vital to understand that depending too heavily on techniques can make the session too “mechanical” as Corey (2013) stated. This paper compares and contrasts two counseling theories, cognitive-behavioral …show more content…
Rex has been admitted several times within a two-month time span to various locations, with three at the same hospital. First admission was 3/19/17 through 3/22/17, second was 3/30/17 through 4/5/17, and his third admission date was 4/11/17. During his first admission, a full biopsychosocial assessment was competed. For the second and third admission, an addendum was completed. On 4/11/17, Rex was admitted to a behavioral health floor for depressive symptoms and requesting ethyl alcohol (ETOH) detox. Upon admission, Rex was in early withdrawal. Rex was set up to go to a 30-day treatment facility, instead of going, he chose to go to a girlfriend’s house who also drinks alcohol. Rex’s Global Assessment of Functioning would be close to 39 because he demonstrates having some major symptoms and impairments in functioning due to his depression and alcohol abuse. The patient has serious impairments with friends and family. He shared he has “burnt bridges” with homeless shelters due to not abiding by the rules and regulations. He presented with SI with a history of suicide attempts. Rex shared that he is anxious about the unknown. His mood was described as “depressed”. He is hopeless, feeling as though he will “definitely relapse”. However, he has not experienced any visual or auditory hallucinations or delusions. Based on this patient’s case, …show more content…
One assumption that guides the practice of SFT is that patient want to change, can change, and trying their best to change (Corey, 2013). This assumption is relatable to this patient; the patient was voluntary admitted, suggesting that he does want to change. The patient has had a period with no alcohol consumption suggesting that he can change. Furthermore, addiction is strong, it is hard to overcome especially with depressive symptoms, the fact that the patient admitted himself and attends groups suggest that he is trying his best to change. SFT would focus on the patient’s strengths and future. The patient has a strong desire to become sober; however, his past and current behaviors suggest to him that he will relapse. SFT would be appropriate as it would provide an opportunity for the patient to focus on exceptions, which would be times when he did not drink, reduced his drinking, did not attempt suicide, or challenged suicidal thoughts. Useful techniques would be exception questions, the miracle questions, and/or scaling questions (Corey & Corey, 2016). An example of using a scaling questions would be the following, “Mr. Rex, on a scale of one to ten, how motivated are you to commit to a 30-day treatment facility”? If the patient answered seven, the counselor would respond by asking, “what makes