Psychodynamic Counselling Comparison

In this paper, I will explore, compare and outline the differences between the first, second and third forces within counselling and the theories underpinning these therapeutic approaches. I examine their profound assumptions, essential strategies, strengths and limitations, and their management of culture and spirituality. Finally, I will discuss how the theories have motivated the development of my practice as a counsellor.

The first force in psychotherapy and counselling is the psychodynamic approach. This therapeutic technique began under the developmental work of Sigmund Freud. Freud (1856-1939) is familiar to everyone in one way or another. Our language is replete with expressions such as ego, superego, repression, and rationalisation,

The client-therapist relationship is highly central, and change cannot occur without the establishment of a therapist-client relationship. Psychoanalysts disclose very little about themselves and try to maintain a sense of neutrality. They attempt to foster a transference relationship in which their client will make projections onto them.

Psychoanalytic therapists use techniques such as abreaction of feelings, free association, and interpretation of resistance, dreams and transference material. A prominent feature of this theory is to encourage regression to promote exploration of early experiences (Blanck & Blanck, 1968).

As such their clinical efforts centre on altering the clients learned contingencies via methods such as exposure therapy, systematic desensitisation or assertiveness training.

COGNITIVE-BEHAVIOUR THERAPY

There are two widely recognised pioneers of cognitive therapy, Albert Ellis and Aaron Beck. Ellis's named his approach Rational Emotive Behavioural Therapy, while Beck stayed with the term cognitive therapy. Each developed their version of cognitive therapy, and although each was influenced by each other somewhat, their approaches evolved independently. The two methods overlap with their emphasis on improving clients symptoms via illogical corrective thinking, but the techniques distinguish them. Recent applications to cognitive therapy have seen the introduction of mindfulness and acceptance-based therapies.

Among many psychotherapists, cognitive therapy prevails, far more contemporary psychotherapists endorse cognitive treatment as their primary orientation than any other single school approach (Norcross, Karpiak & Santoro,