Encouragement vs. Praise

Encouragement for the self

I am going to discuss the differences between encouragement versus praise, furthermore when it is appropriate to use the two during a counseling session. Encouragement according to Sweeney “seeks to modify motivation rather than behavior (2009).” The purpose is to allow the client to develop faith within them by focusing on the positive aspects of life. Encouragement in a counseling session is to motivate, inspire, and instill confidence in an individual. Praise is used “to maintain or strengthen a specific behavior (Witmer 1985).” Praise is used to compliment a specific trait the clients demonstrates. However, “praise can put the counselor in a judgemental role which prevents damper the helping process between the client and the counselor (Young, 2017).”

Praise is used to focus on the individual's behavior which creates a sense of approval from others instead of the individual's strengths but also focuses on the individual's successes within their life. Encouragement focuses on building autonomy within the individual in which helps to create a sense of pride. The client will become self-reliant because they can focus on their autonomy while relying on their strength to achieve their desired goals and outcomes in their life. Praise reinforces the behavior of the individual creating a desire for approvals from others. While weakening the individual from focusing on their strengths, they hold within the self. Wong stated, “Encouragement positively affects the therapeutic relationship (2015).” Essentially praise should be used very seldom in a counseling session. Also, a counselor needs to focus on encouragement in their session to help their client have positive experiences while creating a healthy relationship that promotes growth for the client.

References:

Picture Reference: Pixabay. https://pixabay.com/en/self-confidence-self-confidence-2121159/

Sweeney, D. S., & Landreth, G. L. (2009). Child-centered play therapy. In K. J. O’Connor & L. D. Braverman (Eds.) Play therapy: Theory and practice (2^nd ed.; pp 123-162). New York, NY: Wiley.

Witmer, J. M. (1985). Pathways to personal growth: Developing a sense of worth and competence. Muncie, IN: Accelerated Development.

Wong, Y. J. (2015). The psychology of encouragement: Theory, research and applications. The Counseling Psychologist, 43, 178-216.

Young, M. (2017). Learning the art of helping, 6^th edition. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.     ISBN: 0-13-416578-0

Gratitude as a Strengths-Based Technique

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   Positive Psychology has grown increasingly popular among mental health professionals with humanistic approaches, and gratitude is considered one of the strengths-based approaches that is receiving research support (Young, 2017). As defined by Young (2017), gratitude is “a feeling that results when one recognizes a benefit that is unwarranted and unexpected.” The word grateful comes from the Latin word gratus which denotes a concept of unmerited favor (Young & Hutchinson, 2012). Gratitude can be expressed toward a Higher Being, other people, or life in general (Young & Hutchinson, 2012). Gratitude can be a disposition or personality trait or the emotion which comes through the act of recognizing positive aspects of life (Young & Hutchinson, 2012). In other words, gratitude is not only a natural feeling but can be a choice of the will as well.

   Some research has shown that gratitude can help fight against stress, depression, antisocial behavior, substance abuse, self-blame, and sleep trouble to name a few (Young & Hutchinson, 2012). Some researchers have used neuroimaging to look at how expressions of gratitude can affect neural activity (Kini, Wong, McInnis, Gabana, & Brown, 2016). Helping clients use gratitude fits well with a holistic model of professional counseling which focuses on overall wellness rather than pathology (Young & Hutchinson, 2012). Gratitude is to be used in conjunction with other counseling interventions, not the least of which are support, empathy and reflection of feeling (Young, 2017). According to Young (2017), utilizing gratitude in counseling does not mean that client problems are ignored or minimized, but rather it allows clients to attain a more accurate picture of life with its both positive and negative aspects (Young, 2017). Possible techniques include gratitude journaling, letter writing, gift giving, and even phone apps such as gratitude365app (Young, 2012).

References

Kini, P., Wong, J., McInnis, S., Gabana, N., & Brown, J. W. (2016). The effects of gratitude expression on neural activity. NeuroImage, 128, 1-10. 

Young, M. E., & Hutchinson, T. S. (2012). The rediscovery of gratitude: Implications for counseling practice. The Journal of Humanistic Counseling, 51(1), 99-113.

Young, M. E. (2017). Learning the Art of Helping: Building Blocks and Techniques (6^th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson.  

The Power of Self-Worth

By: Jenna Beever

Caption: Worth More

Link: https://flic.kr/p/P2T7hS

            Young (2017) addresses self-worth as “a global feelings that one has a right to exist” (p. 215). This includes one’s attitudes of his or her self, which may be affected by a various array of factors. More than ever, I believe a lot of individuals will enter our office with many problems rooted in a negative self-worth. Even when a person has great qualities, many have trouble seeing them as ‘good enough’. It will be our job to journey with them and help them see that they have been created wonderfully with purpose. It was Virginia Satir who said that one must love his or her self before he or she can properly love another (Brubacher, 2006). A negative self-worth not only affects the individual’s view of self, but it further affects their relationships. The Human Validation Process Model by Satir says that a problem of self-worth occurs from early family experience (Goldenberg & Goldenberg, 2012).

            When approaching clients, they will be shaped by the past and we have the difficult responsibility of helping them face and break the chains of the past. Imagine a smart, beautiful, capable person sitting in your office expressing he or she does not feel ‘good enough to live anymore’ or that he or she ‘never gets anything right’. It will be hard to face out clients irrational beliefs, but we have the honor of showing them their truth worth throughout the therapeutic experience. While this can be challenging to help an individual find wellness, Satir said, “all human beings carry with them all resources they need to flourish” (Stites, 2017). I am excited for the day I can help a client find what they are looking for, the moment when everything clicks and they say, “wow, I finally love who I am”.

References

Brubacher, L. (2006). INTEGRATING EMOTION-FOCUSED THERAPY WITH THE SATIR MODEL. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 32(2), 141-53.

Goldenberg, H., & Goldenberg, I. (2012). Family therapy: An overview. Cengage Learning.

Murdock, N. L. (2013). Theories of counseling and psychotherapy: A case approach (3rd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education, Inc.

Stites, M. (2017). Family Systems Theory. [Powerpoint slides].

Young, M. E. (2017). Learning the art of helping: Building blocks and techniques. Pearson Higher Ed.

The Dangers of Stress

Caption: The Stressors of Life

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We live in a world that is increasingly fast-paced and demanding. Deadlines, relational issues, and tensions of life wear an individual down and create immeasurable stress. Many individuals will seek help from a counselor to reduce the stress that is in their lives. Therapists can help their clients learn time-management skills, develop beneficial self-care habits, establish a workout routine and good nutrition, and cultivate a healthier outlook on life (Young, 2017). Furthermore, systematic desensitization, relaxation, coping skills training, meditation, enhancing social support, and a variety of other techniques may be used to reach a life with limited stress (Young, 2017).

            While many counselors may assume that utilizing these stress-management techniques will simply help an individual reduce their stress, they may actually be reducing one’s chances of developing certain diseases throughout life. Furthermore, the process of expressing one’s emotions is also beneficial in reducing stress. Those who repress emotions are left in a state of chronic stress which creates a multitude of unnatural biochemical reactions in the body (Mate, 2003). For example, emotional stress has been shown to be a major contributing cause of breast malignancy because it creates greater physiological stress (Stewart et al., 2001). While there are a multitude of other diseases that are associated with stress, it would take a great amount of time to explain each one. Nevertheless, counselors should understand that the work they do is beneficial in creating a state of mental wellness as well as physical wellness in their clients.

            However, counselors must ensure that they take care of themselves and utilize stress-reducing resources (Lawson & Myers, 2011). By managing their own stress, they will be able to adequately help others. If stress is ignored, counselors might experience burnout and could potentially harm their clients.

References:

Lawson, G., & Myers, J. E. (2011). Wellness, professional quality of life, and career-sustaining behaviors: What keeps us well?. Journal of Counseling and Development: JCD, 89(2), 163.

Maté, G. (2003). When the body says no: Exploring the stress-disease connection. Hoboken.

Stewart, D. E., Cheung, A. M., Duff, S., Wong, F., McQuestion, M., Cheng, T., ... & Bunston, T. (2001). Attributions of cause and recurrence in long‐term breast cancer survivors. Psycho‐Oncology, 10(2), 179-183.

Young, M. E. (2017). Learning the art of helping: Building blocks and techniques. Pearson Higher Ed.

Can You Keep a Secret?

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I consider myself to be a private person and others often confuse this with being secretive. I am more open than secretive, but am able to keep another person's secret to myself. There is a section of chapter six that covers secrets, which I found really interesting (Young, 2017). As a counselor, it is imperative to be able to keep someone's information confidential. Some clients will reveal their deepest secrets with their therapist because it is the only person they know who will not judge or expose them. Yet, those of Korean culture feel opposite and do not disclose with individuals who have authority (Han & O’Brien, 2014). It is shown that such disclosure actually builds the relationship between therapist and client (Kelly & Yuan, 2009). Furthermore, it is important for the counselor to encourage the client to dig deep because it will help the client eliminate their symptoms (Young, 2017). There is a saying used among Alcoholics Anonymous members that "you are only as sick as your darkest secret" (Young, 2017, p. 127). It implies that the more you keep things inside, the more difficult it is to cope with one's illness. We must reveal the things about ourselves that we are not proud of, because facing our shortcomings will help us grow from them (Young, 2017). The book expresses more reasons why being open is beneficial. It says that telling others can help the person develop a new perspective and motivate them to change if they value other’s opinions (Young, 2017). It is relieving to learn about such benefits while living in a world where so many people are told to keep their business personal to "save face.” I think I could use this information to teach my clients why it is helpful to be open in counseling. 

Han, Y. J., & O’Brien, K. M. (2014). Critical secret disclosure in psychotherapy with 

            Korean clients. The Counseling Psychologist, 42(4), 524-551.

Kelly, A.E., & Yuan, K. (2009). Clients’ secret keeping and the working alliance in adult

outpatient therapy. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, Practice, Training, 46(2), 

193-202.

Young, M. E. (2017). Learning the art of helping: Building blocks and techniques (6th

ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson. 

Self-Efficacy versus Self-Esteem

Self-Efficacy versus Self-Esteem

Caption: In flight

URL: https://s7.postimg.org/wfuc1jmyz/IMG_9418.jpg

As the Young text pointed out to us in this week’s reading, there is a difference between self-efficacy and self-esteem. Self-efficacy is the individual’s belief that he or she can accomplish tasks, effect change, or otherwise succeed in varying situations. Self-esteem is more closely related with self-worth. Self-esteem relates to how an individual sees him or herself and their ability to be loved and worthy of existing. Thus, an individual can have high self-efficacy and still struggle with low self-esteem, or vice versa. This is important to note because counselors might easily be tempted to see someone who has high self-efficacy as someone who has high self-esteem. This could lead to a misunderstanding, or even an ignorance of the client’s true emotional state needs (Young, 2017).

After reading this in the Young text, my interest was piqued. I wanted to take this opportunity to delve into the topics of self-efficacy and self-esteem as they relate to school or other academic areas and students. There is some research on this topic.

Solution-focused brief therapy, much like we have been discussing in class, has been studied. When solution-focused brief therapists focus on improving self-efficacy, students see statistically significant improvement in their schoolwork and other interpersonal areas of their lives (Lane, Lane, & Kyprianou, 2004).

Additionally, academic success is linked to higher levels of self-esteem (Rakauskiene, & Dumciene, 2013). Combining these two studies to their logical end, solution-focused brief therapy can increase self-efficacy. This increase in self-efficacy has been shown to increase academic performance. With an increase in academic performance can come an increase in self-esteem for some students. Thus, solution-focused brief therapy has the potential to increase both self-efficacy and self-esteem, even though those two things are different and don’t always reside in individuals at the same level.

References

Lane, J., Lane, A. M., & Kyprianou, A. (2004). Self-efficacy, self-esteem, and their impact on academic performance. Social Behavior and Personality, 32(3), 247-256. 

Rakauskiene, V., & Dumciene, A. (2013). Alteration of adolescent self-efficacy when applying brief counseling at school. Social Behavior and Personality: An International Journal, 41(6), 893+.

Young, M. (2017). Learning the art of helping, 6^th edition. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.     ISBN: 0-13-416578-0

Termination in Counseling

    It is true that saying goodbye in any relationship is difficult, and it seems as though the greater amount of time you spend with a person, that goodbye becomes even harder.  The counseling relationship does by no means fall under the category of a normal or typical relationship.  On the contrary, counselors and clients develop a bond that is unique in and of itself.  In everyday life, certain things are said or withheld in regards to perhaps selfish reasons or hidden motivations.  Counseling is intentionally meant to contrast this.  Many individuals who seek out mental health assistance lack supporting, loving, and empathetic interactions with others or have little to no access to necessary resources in order to cope with their current concerns.  Through these relationships, counselors have the ability to facilitate positive change and assist the client in working towards goals.  When a counselor implements appropriate boundaries and beneficial techniques/attributes within counseling, the client’s distress is reduced as time progresses (Wiseman & Tishby, 2014).  It is these factors that clients and counselors form a special connection.  Removal of anything holding that much significance and that much vulnerability would certainly be difficult to lose.  This is why termination of counseling sessions is such a sensitive and delicate conversation for counselors to have with their clients.  Often, clients express feelings of reluctance to end their sessions and the helping relationship (Moola, 2016).  These reports make it even more evident that the understanding that the sessions will eventually come to an end be brought up and timing be carefully considered (Moola, 2016).

 

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Moola, F. (2016). 251 therapeutic endings: Reflections on the termination of counselling-based research relationshhips among patients with cystic fibrosis and their caregivers. Journal of Cystic Fibrosis, 15, 115.

Wiseman, H., & Tishby, O. (2014). Client attachment, attachment to the therapist and client-therapist attachment match: How do they relate to change in psychodynamic psychotherapy. Psychotherapy Research, 24(3), 392-406. doi: 10.1080/10503307.2014.892646