Types of Therapeutic Techniques

Throughout the helping process as necessary, each counselor informs the client of the purposes, goals, techniques, procedures, limitations, potential risks and benefits of services to be performed, and clearly indicates limitations that may affect the therapeutic relationship.  Each counselor takes reasonable steps to ensure that the client understands the implications of any diagnosis, the intended use of tests and reports, and the methods, techniques and interventions of treatment. 

Each counselor may utilize all therapeutic techniques at varying times depending on the client’s needs.  This approach is known as theoretical integration which synthesizes the best approaches for the moment.  Each counselor will shift from one technique to the other frequently within the course of therapy sessions again, depending on the client’s needs.  At Collardey Counseling & Consulting, all counselors view people from a holistic perspective with strength, resilience, and never-ending human potential.  Because of this, we do not adhere to any single therapeutic technique although we are experienced in using multiple techniques.  It is always you, the client, who guides problem-solving, healing, and personal growth.  There is no single blue-print for any human challenge!
 

Psychoanalytic Therapy/Interventions:

Basic Philosophies

Human beings are influenced by early experiences.  Unconscious motives and conflicts are central in understanding present behavior.  Early development is of crucial importance, because later personality problems have their roots in repressed or unresolved childhood conflicts. 

Techniques and Interventions

Key techniques are interpretation, dream analysis, free association, analysis of resistance and transference.  All are designed to help the client gain access to their unconscious conflicts which then leads to insight and eventually assimilation of new material.  Diagnosis and testing are often used. 

Person-centered Therapy/Interventions: 

Basic Philosophies

The view of humans is positive; humans have an inclination toward becoming fully functioning.  They have a capacity for self-awareness and freedom of choice.  Clients can experience feelings that were previously denied to awareness, and thus actualizing potential.  

Techniques and Interventions

It is useful for teaching, parent/child relations, crisis management and working with groups from diverse cultural backgrounds.  Focuses on active listening, reflection of feelings, clarification, paraphrasing, providing encouragement, gentle confrontation and “being there” for the client.

Reality Therapy/Interventions:

Basic Philosophies

People are ultimately self-determining and in charge of their life.  It looks at how clients attempt to control the world around them and teaches them ways to more effectively satisfy their needs. Geared to teaching people ways to control their life effectively.  It is an active, directive and didactic therapy. 

Techniques and Interventions

Various techniques may be used to get clients to evaluate what they are presently doing to see if they are willing to change.  If they want to change, they develop a specific plan for change and make a commitment to follow through.

Behavior Therapy/Interventions:

Basic Philosophies

Behavior is a product of learning.  We are both the product and the producer of the environment.  Behavior can be changed. 

Techniques and Interventions

A pragmatic approach based on validation of results.  The main techniques are systematic desensitization, relaxation methods, reinforcement techniques, modeling, cognitive restructuring, assertion and social-skills training, self-management programs, behavior rehearsal and coaching.

Cognitive-behavior Therapy/Interventions:

Basic Philosophies

Individuals tend to incorporate faulty thinking, which leads to emotional and behavioral disturbances.  Cognitions are the major determinants of how we feel and act. Therapy is a learning process, including acquiring and practicing new skills, learning new ways of thinking, and acquiring more effective ways of coping with problems. Useful in helping a client modify their cognitions. 

Techniques and Interventions

Therapy uses a variety of cognitive, emotive and behavioral techniques.  It is an active, directive, time-limited, present-centered, structured therapy.  Some techniques include Socratic dialogue, debating irrational beliefs, homework assignments, gathering data on assumptions, keeping record activities, forming alternative interpretations, learning new coping skills, changing one’s thinking and speaking patterns, role playing, imagery and confronting faulty beliefs.

Family Systems Therapy/Interventions:

Basic Philosophies

The family is viewed as an active and systemic unit.  They are connected in a living system; change in one part of the system will result in a change in other parts.  The family provides the context for understanding how individuals function in relationship to one another.  Treatment is focus on the family unit. An individual’s dysfunctional behavior grows out of the interactional unit of the family and out of larger systems as well.  

Techniques and Interventions

Useful for marital distress, communication problems among family members, power struggles, crisis situations in families and enhancing the overall functioning of the family.  Interventions may target behavior change, perceptual change or both.  Techniques include using genograms, teaching, asking questions, family sculpting, joining the family, tracking sequences, issuing directives, anchoring, family mapping, reframing, restructuring, enactments and setting boundaries.