Counseling Approaches

Cognitive: We define this as any therapy that is based on the belief that our thoughts are directly connected to how we feel. The cognitive therapies include Rational-Emotive, Cognitive-Behavioral, Reality, and Transactional Analysis.

Therapists in the cognitive field work with clients to solve present day problems by helping them to identify distorted thinking that causes emotional discomfort. There's little emphasis on the historical root of a problem. Rather, what's wrong with my present thinking that it is causing me distress.

Common traits among the cognitive approaches include a collaborative relationship between client and therapist, homework between sessions, and the tendency to be of short duration. These therapies are best known for treating mild depression, anxiety, and anger problems.

Behavioral : This is based on the premise that primary learning comes from experience. The initial concern in therapy is to help the client analyze behavior, define problems, and select goals.

Therapy often includes homework, behavioral experiments, role-playing, assertiveness training, and self management training. Like its cognitive therapy cousins it utilizes collaboration between client and therapist, and is usually of short duration.

Psychoanalytic : The original so called "talking therapy" involves analyzing the root causes of behavior and feelings by exploring the unconscious mind and the conscious mind's relation to it. Many theories and therapies have evolved from the original Freudian psychoanalysis which utilizes free-association, dreams, and transference, as well other strategies to help the client know the function of their own minds. Traditional analysts have their clients lie on a couch as the therapist takes notes and interprets the client's thoughts, etc.

Many theories and therapies have evolved from the original psychoanalysis, including Hypno-therapy, object-relations, Progoff's Intensive Journal Therapy, Jungian, and many others.

One thing they all have in common is that they deal with unconscious motivation. Usually the duration of therapy is lengthy; however, many modern therapists use psychoanalytic techniques for short term therapies. Posted  by Joseph Erick Teku/Bedcp/101502.  A  Blog chairman