Thinking in terms of normal development there are a multitude of factors that are valuable and essential. The most apparent component is your genetic predisposition. Some individuals are genetically predisposed to exhibit what society deems normal versus abnormal development and functionality. Some of these genetic predispositions can include, but are not limited to, your sex, your health mentally and physically, etc. Environmental factors also heavily contribute to normal development. If a person lacks basic necessities such as food and shelter that person may have difficulties with ordinary development. Family, or lack thereof, is an integral part of normal development. Providing love, warmth, attachment, and care starting in early childhood is essential for an individual to progress into a healthy, functional human. These factors I would consider foundational in human development. As much as the foundational aspect is important it is also significant to take into consideration ongoing experience, development, and coping mechanisms. When dealing with genetic predispositions, issues with the environment, or lack of attachment a substantial factor of development is learning coping mechanisms to deal with these issues. (Hill, 2014, p.26-27)
I feel that attachment in early childhood is most important to yield positive and healthy outcomes. Having strong attachment and bonds at a young age lays down the groundwork for healthy development and productive outcomes. Without love, support, and nourishment in early childhood the individual can become anxious, avoidant, has low self-esteem, or has issues with their own personal relationships in the future. Attachment is most important to me because lack thereof can have such an adverse effect on so many dimensions of a person’s life. Lacking proper attachment and nourishment can have an effect on a person’s mental health. This component can also cause conflict with a person’s interpersonal relationships as well as conflicts on an intrapersonal level. Not only does attachment have an effect on multiple dimensions of a person’s life, but neglect in childhood can also yield negative outcomes for a long period of time. Many people who have had attachment issues carry their resentment, anxiety, avoidance, etc. into their adult lives.
Adverse experiences do play a large role in how problems develop. However, there are two central components, I feel, that take an adverse experience and turn it into a problem. The first component is the individual himself or herself. Each person is different therefore each person perceives situations differently. What may be adverse and harmful to one person may be the greatest thing that ever happened to someone else. Along with each perception being diverse I think it also needs to be taken into account that each reaction and result of these situations varies from person to person as well. The second component is the thoughts and behaviors that occur after the harmful situation. Once an adverse situation occurs if individuals find themselves having maladaptive thoughts or engaging in maladaptive behaviors the experience can become a problem that can benefit from counseling.
The first component of my personal theory of psychotherapy, the individualized differences of perception as well as reactions to situations, is the major contributing factor as to why some people develop problems and others do not. Some individuals are capable of taking a negative event and the consequences and turning it into something positive. Others are capable of interpreting an event as positive when to others it would typically be interpreted as negative. Those that would benefit best from counseling are those who have a difficult time finding that silver lining in those adverse situations. The second component also plays an important role. If after a situation has been perceived as negative the individual has the ability to think positively as well as engage in behavior that may be beneficial rather than disadvantageous no problem is likely to persist. However, when an individual continues to think negative thoughts and engages in unfavorable behavior a problem is more likely to prevail.
Change occurs when an individual wants to change. Having awareness of your own personal thoughts, behaviors, and barriers strengthens the ability to change. Change is not something that happens overnight. There are steps that must be taken in order for change to occur, and those steps vary from person to person. Learning and exploration plays a massive role in the process of change. Exploring your goals as well as the appropriate means of achieving those goals that results in positive and effective change. I believe all change is important as long as it benefits the individual and yields practical and productive outcomes. Setting, as well as accomplishing, goals helps elicit change. Based on my personal theory of counseling the initial goal of counseling is to assess the situation with the client and then set goals to modify harmful thoughts and behaviors. During counseling the client should feel a mutual respect between the counselor and the client as well as a clear understanding of the goals set in the session. After counseling the client should be able to effectively continue to tackle those goals as well as maintain those already confronted in therapy.
Although I do not have much knowledge about the different approaches to psychotherapy I do believe that based on my personal beliefs there are two approaches I identify with the most at this moment. Person-centered therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy fit my beliefs about how problems develop, how change occurs, and what the goals of therapy and the outcomes should be. According to Sharf (2014), “Person-centered therapists are concerned about understanding the client’s experience and communicating their understanding to the client so that an atmosphere of trust can be developed that fosters change on the part of the client” (p.7-8). I believe the first step toward healthy and positive change is coming to a mutual understanding between client and therapist about what the issues at hand may be. The client plays a huge role in this initial step because their experience is subjective and must be conveyed to the therapist to establish their personal goals. The therapist must establish good rapport with their client as well as provide positive feedback and acceptance. After a relationship is formed and the problem is assessed mutually between client and therapist the two must set goals to work toward changing the client’s maladaptive thoughts and behaviors. According to Sharf (2014), “Cognitive therapists are able to use a wide variety of techniques to change beliefs that interfere with successful functioning” (p. 9). In cognitive therapy the counselor must first determine what exactly the negative thoughts and actions are. Then the counselor utilizes distinct techniques to work toward altering those thoughts and actions.
Overall, I stress the importance of the client’s role in the helping relationship. Ultimately the counselor is there for the client and the client only. Establishing a positive and trusting relationship is essential for lucrative outcomes. Thoughts and behaviors play a huge contributing role in how problems persist. The counselor’s goal should be to assist the client is altering those thoughts into more positive and prosperous ways of thinking and behaving. With these two essential components, change is possible. As of right now, my personal theory of psychotherapy is central to these two components, but I understand that as I grow as a counselor I may explore and utilize new approaches to psychotherapy that may be beneficial to my client base.
References
Sharf, R. S. (2014). Introduction. In S. McClung (Ed.), Theories of Psychotherapy and Counseling: Concepts and Cases(6th ed., pp. 1-28). Boston, MA: Cengage Learning.