Major Counseling Theories Compare and Contrast Paper
Part 1: Bowen Family Systems Theory
Founding theorist(s) for the selected theory
The Bowen Family Systems Theory was developed by a top researcher and psychiatrist, Dr. Bowen Murray in the end of 1960s. When developing this theory, Dr. Bowen Murray was doing research related to family systems model where he engaged clients with diverse needs. Br. Bowen Murray states that he created this theory on the idea that human beings functioning happens as a sole emotional unit. According to (Murdock, 2012), Dr. Bowen also claimed that it was easy for a counselor to comprehend clients social-culture needs as well as mental issues provided that a therapist analyzed such needs in the context of relationship and family lineages. In the Bowen family systems therapy, the psychiatrist further postulated that family members’ dependence within the family makes treatment effective since the family of a patient plays a major role in the course of his or her treatment.
Standard interventions for the selected theory
Murdock (2012) argues that the BFST counseling approach demands that the client creates a close relationship with his or her family during treatment. While the BFST approach seeks to separately benefit the client with the help of his or her family, various intervention strategies are required to achieve this objective, and these include:
Process questioning: A therapist takes the client through a process of question and answer to gather the right information surrounding the client’s mental or psychological needs, the end goals is treating him against negative emotions and attitudes.
Issue redefining and reframing: According to (Aaron, 2018), a counselor applies the paradoxical therapy approach where he or she engages the family of the client in taking actions that are ant-counseling objectives with the objective of creating the right recovery process and procedure for the patient.
Role play: In this intervention approach, the counselor acts as the client to show empathy in a manner that the client takes the treatment positive, this facilitates quick recovery.
At Least Three Main Concepts of the Selected Theory
The BFST uses eight interlocking principles and concepts that aid counseling by the professionals. Some of the concepts include:
Triangles: Aaron, (2018) defines a triangle as any therapeutic relationship involving three-parties. According to Bowen, a triangle is the building block that helps in creating the minutest stable counseling relationship which creates a huge emotional system for the benefit of the client. Further, (Murdock, 2012) argues that a triangle contains advanced tensions in case other people are not involved for this tension has the potential of spreading to all involved parties if one party (triangle) is unable to withstand the tension.
Differentiation of self: Aaron, (2018) states that people’s acts, behavior, thoughts, and feelings are highly affected by social and family ties. However, due to “groupthink”, people tend to differ susceptibly as social constituents differ in terms of conformity related pressures that get exerted in this process.
Nuclear family emotional system: The nuclear family emotional system concept features four key relationship patterns that explain the core reasons for family related problems. These four relationship patterns include emotional distance, marital conflicts, one or more children impairment, and either spouse’s dysfunction. Aaron, (2018) argues that attitudes and beliefs of people impact on these patterns, but the emotional system part remains as the key driving force.
Part 2: Cognitive Behavior Theory (CBT)
Founding theorist(s) for CBT
Dr. Aaron T. Beck, a leading researcher and psychiatrist at the University of Pennsylvania is known to be the founder of cognitive behavior therapy during the 1960s. In his studies, Dr. Aaron Beck was fully convinced that his research would effectively validate the psychoanalytic concepts of anxiety, depression, stress, bipolar and other mentally related disorders. However as per (Saul, 2019), Dr. Beck’s findings went the opposite, and he had to alter his experimental approach while testing these psychoanalytic concepts. Such research findings made the researcher consider alternative approaches that would aid him in depression conceptualization. On additional research, Br. Beck found that depressed clients experience a regular pattern of negative behavior and thoughts that negate their positions as human beings.
Standard interventions for CBT
Collaboration approach: According to (Ben, 2018), client-counselor collaboration approach helps in setting the counseling objectives together, and all the counselor-client relationship boundaries….
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Similarities
Under solution-focused theory, the normal family development creates families that entail flexible structures, clear boundaries, and well-organized hierarchies. According to (Murdock, 2012), this is a similar concept in the Bowen family systems therapy key concept of normal family creation that calls for differentiated individuals to develop and design clear boundaries. On the same note, flexible structures and well-planned hierarchies assist in the promotion of reduced depression and anxiety for a client, and this develops a positive emotional contact for the client with his or her social ties.
Differences
The solution-focused therapy focuses on short-term counseling while the Bowen family systems therapy is designed to serve long-term counseling practices. Murdock, (2012) argues that the BFST approach requires many years to complete a client’s treatment. Contrastingly, the solution-focused therapy is usually brief, and takes a few weeks to complete.
The conceptualization of the family system development creates another difference between these two approaches (Walter & Peller, 2013). In this case, the BFST theory focuses on the past occurrences and experiences while the solution-focused therapy is more focused on the present and future circumstances of a client.
Part 4: Psychoanalysis
Founding Theorist(s) for Psychoanalysis
Psychoanalysis theory was founded between the year 1856 and 1939 by Sigmund Freud. Sigmund Freud is believed and considered to be the father of psychoanalysis, and most of social researchers and psychiatrists build on his ideas while developing other models of therapy. (Simgund, 1994). In this theory, Sigmund Freud postulated that clients could get treated from the unconsciousness to consciousness by equipping them with the right insights. In his argument, Sigmund believed that psychoanalysis therapy could help release all repressed emotions, attitudes, and experiences from a patient.
Standard Interventions for Psychoanalysis
Taking notes: The note taking intervention strategy requires the therapist to get the client lie and relax on a couch. Thereafter, the counselor sits behind the patient to take notes as the client narrates his or her childhood dreams, memories, and experiences. (Simgund, 1994).
Interrogation and free association: Once the treatment begins, the counselor takes the client through an interrogation where all desired psychoanalysis information is collected. (Simgund, 1994). Here, the therapist has the mandate to conduct a continuous review and analysis during the client’s recovery.
Ink blots: Ink blots are also the approach of encouraging the client. Here, the counselor encourages the client in a way that assists the client to gain insights over his or her unusual behavior as well as the meaning of parapraxes, ink blots, dreams interpretation and analysis, and the idea of transference and resistance analysis. (Simgund, 1994).
Similarities and Differences between your Selected Theory and Psychoanalysis
Similarities
These two approaches are designed to facilitate long-term counseling. Murdock, (2012) postulates that the BFST approach only suits long-term counseling purposes and that it takes a number of years to complete. Similarly, the defense mechanisms nature and the inaccessibility of deterministic forces witnessed in the psychoanalysis approach makes it lengthy; requiring several years to complete.
In both, the founding psychiatrists and researchers focused more on the past occurrences and experiences to a patient. Sigmund’s psychoanalysis therapy centers more on comprehending the past or childhood experiences and dreams for a client; that have the potential to trigger unconscious behavior. (Simgund, 1994). The BFST therapy is similar in that it focuses on helping patients understand their past family history.
Differences
According to (Murdock, 2012), the BFST theory centers more on a family unit, and views it as an emotional unit where all psychological issues are trusted to result from family related ties. In contrast, Sigmund’s psychoanalysis therapy is more focused on treating clients who suffer mental disorders caused by conscious and unconscious mind imbalances.
Another difference is on the fundamentals of BFST and psychoanalysis theory. The basics of psychoanalysis therapy apply where the therapist endeavors to comprehend the reasons for unconsciousness and transference. (Simgund, 1994). In contrast, the fundamentals of BFST are based on the past records in reference to future goals by the use of the eight key concepts.
References
Aaron, H. (2018, December 7). What Is Bowen Family Systems Theory? Retrieved from Betterhelp: https://www.betterhelp.com/advice/therapy/what-is-bowen-family-systems-theory/
Ben, M. (2018, October 8). In-Depth: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. PsychCentral, 1-8. Retrieved from https://psychcentral.com/lib/in-depth-cognitive-behavioral-therapy/
Freud, S. (1994). Psychoanalysis. Centres and Peripheries of Psychoanalysis: An Introduction to Psychoanalytic Studies, 15.
Murdock, N. L. (2012). Theories of counseling and psychotherapy: A case approach . Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education.
Saul, M. (2019). Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Simply Pyschology, 1-15. Retrieved from https://www.simplypsychology.org/cognitive-therapy.html
Walter, J. L., & Peller, J. E. (2013). Becoming solution-focused in brief therapy. New York: Routledge.