Essay Instructions: Finalize Theory Case Paper
1. Emerging Theory Case Paper PAGES TOTAL 10. 5 REFFERENCE, A, B, C, D FOR OUTLINE
Part I: Find your Theoretical Orientation - Consider your own values: A theoretical orientation provides helpers with a framework for therapy that sets the foundation for intentional counseling. For the counselor, being intentional is a prerequisite to ethical and effective helping. Theory is important factor in structuring therapy and directing interventions. When counselors get lost in the therapeutic process, theory can provide a roadmap. In order to choose a theoretical orientation that best fits you, you need to consider your own values, life philosophy, and worldview in honest way. Please write responses and reflections to the following questions in Part I. These questions will help you examine your values as they relate to the counseling process:
My personal orientation lies in Gestalt (Fritz Perls), Person Centered (Carl Rogers) and Reality Therapy (William Glasser) psychotherapy.
A. What do you see as the time frame of counseling? Are you more oriented to the past, present, or future?
I am oriented to present; however, I believe that many problems can come from the past. Therefore, the past must be discussed at some point.
To take this a step further, do you believe counseling is intended to work on current issues and feelings or to help people with issues and feelings from the past? Or, do you believe that people need to focus on their future feelings, thoughts and behaviors.
I believe people should focus on their current issues first. However, every individual are different. Therefore, therapy should be aim at individuals’ need.
B. What is your view of people? Do you believe people are essentially good, bad, or neutral? I believe people can be essentially good
Do you believe clients are good people with issues to work out? Generally yes. Conversely, are your clients bad people with an inherent defect that requires counseling? Client are all sorts of people with many different problems that requires counseling
Are people somewhere in between, such as good people that do bad things?
C. Who is in charge? Is the counselor in charge of the therapy or is the role shared equally with the client? Counselor can be in charge first, then the role can be shared equally
If the role is shared, how much of it belongs to the client and how much belongs to the counselor? If the counselor is in charge, how is that established? How do you view your role as a counselor? Are you an expert, consultant, or friend?
D. What do you want the client to learn? Is the emphasis of counseling to gain insight, action, or both?
Both…
Are you comfortable with clients leaving counseling with insight about their behaviors and feelings? Yes
Or, do you want the client to have insight and then “do” something with it?
Do you pay attention to thoughts, feelings, behaviors, or all of them?
All of them
II. Next, students will describe their emerging theoretical orientation and describe:
a) The rationale for choosing the theory including key points of the theory as applied to a hypothetical client of your choosing,
b) Theoretical concepts/ ideas unique to the theory
c) effectiveness through a literature review (minimum 5 peer reviewed references) and,
d) Strengths/weaknesses of the theory.
The papers will be a minimum of 7-9 pages excluding the cover page and reference page. Students must include citations within the paper and properly reference the citations on a separate reference page. Students must follow the APA manual and have 5 peer reviewed scholarly sources (e.g., no websites, Wikipedia, or non-scholarly sources). Please use only scholarly sources such as: ProQuest Psychology Journals, PsycARTICLES and PsycINFO. PsycCRITIQUES and American Psychological Association’s (APA) resource for abstracts of scholarly journal articles or books.
