Psychology 460 Counseling & Interviewing

1 1 Psychology 460 Counseling & InterviewingCalifornia State University, NorthridgeSheila. K. Grant, of Course Syllabus Schedule of Activities General Introduction Microcounseling / Microskills approach What is it? Microskills Hierachy Attending Skills Listening Skills (Active Listening) Influencing Skills Focus & Selective Attention Confrontation 5-Stage Interview ModelIntroduction Corey s perspective: No single model can explain all the facets ofhuman experience Eleven approaches to Counseling andpsychotherapy are discussed The Corey book assumes: Students can begin to acquire a counselingstyle tailored to their own personality The process will take years Different theories are not right or wrong Introduction Gerald CoreyWhere Corey Stands He is strongly influenced by the existentialapproach and so believes: Clients can exercise freedom to choose theirfuture The quality of the client/therapist relationshipis KEY He likes to use a variety of techniques: Role playing and various techniques fromcognitive and behavioral therapy approachesWhere Corey Stands He believes.

2 Counseling entails far more than becoming a skilledtechnician Who you are as a therapist, is critical Students should experience being a client and feelanxiety over self disclosure, and learn to modelcourage and growth It is not sufficient to be merely a good person with goodintentions Also essential are a knowledge of Counseling theoryand techniques, theories of personality, andsupervised experiences2 Suggestions for Course & Using Book Relate readings to your own experiences Reflect on your own needs, motivations,values, and life experiences Apply key concepts and techniques toyour own personal growth Develop a personalized style of counselingthat reflects your personality Early on, read chapter 16 and skimchapter 15 Overview of11 Therapeutic behavior systems therapyOverview of11 Therapeutic Approaches Psychoanalytic therapy Sigmund Freud Theory of personality Philosophy of human nature Method of psychotherapy Focuses on unconscious factors that motivateour behavior Events of 1st 6 years crucial determinants oflater developmentOverview of11 Therapeutic ApproachesAdlerian therapy_Alfred Adler_Followed by Rudolf Dreikers in Model_Stresses.

3 -Taking Responsibility-Creating own destiny-Finding meaning & goals to give life direction-Key concepts used in most other current therapiesOverview of11 Therapeutic ApproachesExistential therapy_Victor Frankl, Rollo May, Irvin Yalom_Stresses building therapy on basic conditions of human existence, such as - choice- the freedom & responsibility to shapes one s life- self-determination_Focuses on quality of person-to-persontherapeutic relationshipOverview of11 Therapeutic ApproachesPerson-centered therapy_ Carl Rogers_ Nondirective reaction to psychoanalysis_ Subjective view of human experiencing_ Places faith in & gives responsibility toclient in dealing w/ problems3 Overview of11 Therapeutic ApproachesGestalt therapy_ Fritz & Laura Perls_ Our dependency makes slaves out ofus, especially if this dependency is adependency of our self-esteem. If youneed encouragement, praise, pats on theback from everybody, then you makeeverybody your judge.

4 Overview of11 Therapeutic ApproachesBehavior therapy_ Skinner, Lazarus, Bandura_ Applies principles of learning to resolution ofspecific behavioral disorders_ Results subject to continual experimentation_ Technique always in process of refinementOverview of11 Therapeutic Approaches Cognitive behavior therapy Albert Ellis founded rational emotive behaviortherapy Highly didactic, cognitive, action-oriented model of therapy irrational beliefs Aaron Beck founded cognitive therapy automatic thoughtsOverview of11 Therapeutic Approaches Reality therapy Founder: William Glasser Short-term approach focuses on thepresent & stresses a person s strengths Clients learn more realistic behavior &thus achieve successOverview of11 Therapeutic Approaches Feminist therapy approach grew out of efforts of manywomen Central concept = concern forpsychological oppression of women Focuses on constraints imposed by sociopolitical statusto which women relegated, approach explores women s identitydevelopment, self-concept, goals &aspirations, & emotional well-beingOverview of11 Therapeutic Approaches Postmodern approaches Number of key figures associated w/development of these various approaches totherapy Social constructionism, solution-focused brieftherapy, & narrative therapy all assume thatthee is no single truth.

5 Rather it is believed that reality is sociallyconstructed through human interaction These approaches maintain that client is anexpert in his or her own life4 Overview of11 Therapeutic Approaches Family systems therapy Number of significant figures have beenpioneers of family systems approach ( ,Virginia Satir, Murray Bowen, SalvadorMinuchin) This systemic approach is based on theassumption that the key to changing theindividual is understanding & working w/ thefamilyCorey s View Practitioners need to pay attention to whattheir clients are thinking, feeling, & doing A complete therapy system must addressall 3 facets If any of these dimensions are excluded,the therapy approach is incompleteThe Case of Stan (Chapter 16) As you read about Stan ask yourself: What themes in Stan s life merit specialattention? What techniques and methods would bestmeet these goals? What characterizes the relationship betweenStan and his therapist?

6 How might the therapist precede?Microcounseling / Microskills approach Microcounseling / Microskills approach What is it? Microskills Hierachy Attending Skills Listening Skills (Active Listening) Influencing Skills Focus & Selective Attention Confrontation 5-Stage Interview ModelMicrocounseling / Microskills approach Term microcounseling encompasses themicroskills approach = practical approaches &techniques in Counseling & Interviewing (Ivey, etal., 1968) Developed pragmatically by focus on observableactions of counselors & therapists in theinterview that appeared to be effect positivechange in the session This focus on what works led to identification ofthe specific microskills Microcounseling represents both a technologyfor the interview & a social constructivist theoryof what occurs between counselor & clientMicrocounseling / Microskills approach Microcounseling Recognized as 1st skills-based system to takemulticultural issues into account Holds that ALL systems of Counseling &therapy employ various patterns & skills Using microskills approach .

7 We breakdown the complex interaction ofcounseling interview into manageable &learnable dimensions5 Microcounseling / Microskills approach Microskills approach makes it clear thatsometimes any intervention can be inappropriatefor particular clients or groups what works in one situation or with one clientmay not work with the next situation or client To be an effective counselor or therapist, youmust observe what occurs in the interview andchange your approach to meet the presentsituationMicroskills HierarchyMicrocounseling / Microskills approach Nonverbal factors: what the helper bringsto the interview Through body language & facial expression,the counselor expresses an attitude towardthe client Look at following pictures of a counselorlistening to a client in 2 different waysMicrocounseling / MicroskillsApproachPut Figure from IveyMicrocounseling / Microskills approach What specific attitudes were expressed in thephotos?

8 Be precise as possible in identifying observableaspects of nonverbal behavior What do you see in photo on left? In photo on right? Different Cultures respond differently North American vs Navajo A Navajo reported photo on right was much moreinviting & appropriate, although other Navajos mightnot agreeMicrocounseling / Microskills approach Attending Skills Attending Behavior (1st rung of Microskills Hierachy) Definition: Culturally & individually appropriate Dimensions of Nonverbal Communication: EYE CONTACT (North American Pattern: whenlistening to person, direct eye contact isappropriate; when talking, eye contact often lessfrequent) BODY LANGUAGE (North American Pattern: Slightforward trunk lean facing the person; handshake ageneral sign of welcome)6 Microcounseling / Microskills approach Attending Skills Attending Behavior (1st rung of Microskills Hierachy) Definition: Culturally & individually appropriate Dimensions of Nonverbal Communication: VOCAL QUALITIES (Does your voicecommunicate warmth & interest OR boredom &lack of caring?)

9 SILENCE: Can be powerful way of supporting your client As you become more interested you may be tempted toover involve yourself and intervene too much Most important gift you can give a client is attendingMicrocounseling / Microskills approach Attending Skills Attending Behavior (1st rung of Microskills Hierachy) Definition: Culturally & individually appropriate Dimensions of Nonverbal Communication: VERBAL TRACKING SKILLS (Stay on topic withclient & seldom interrupt or change topicsabruptly) PHYSICAL SPACE: Conversation distance isordinarily arm s length or more for comfort TIME: Highly structured, linear view of time;generally on time for appointmentMicrocounseling / Microskills approach Listening Skills (Active Listening) We will learn more in Group Task #3 Basic Listening Sequence Open & Closed Questions Open: What (facts), How (process or feeling), Why (reasons), Could (general picture) Closed: Usually begin with do is are & can be answered ina few words Client Observation Skills: Encouraging (Repeat back to client a few of client s detailed elaboration of the specific words& their meaning), Paraphrasing (Group Task # 5), Reflection of Feeling (Group Task #6) and Summarization (Group Task #6)Microcounseling / Microskills approach 5-Stage Interview Structure 1.

10 Rapport/Structuring (establishing rapport & take longer to develop rapport with somecultural groups) 2. Defining the Problem (Gathering data & all client appreciate the careful delineation ofissues) 3. Defining a Goal (Determining find out the ideal world of client) 4. Exploration of Alternatives & ConfrontingIncongruity (to work toward resolution of the client sissue) 5. Generalization to Daily Life (generalizes &transferring enable changes in thoughts,feelings, & behaviors in daily life)Microcounseling / Microskills approach Confrontation: Often think of confrontation as a hostile & aggressive act Usually a far more gentle process in Counseling /therapyin which we point out to client discrepancies between oramong attitudes, thoughts, or behaviors In confrontation, clients are faced directly with the factthat they may be saying other that what they mean, ordoing other than what they say One of main tasks of Counseling is to assist clients towork through, resolve, or learn to live with incongruitiesMicrocounseling / Microskills approach Confrontation: Importance of identifying & resolving incongruities cannotbe overemphasized A useful model sentence for confrontation is: On onehand, you think/feel/behave.