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Counselling Theories that

support the counselling process
Susan Johnson 2008 Counselling 1
Theory. Behavioural
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Susan Johnson 2008 Counselling 2

Theory. Behavioural
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Behaviour Therapy
• Began in 1950’s as a departure from the psychoanalytic
• Came under harsh criticism from other schools of
therapy
• This attack challenged the behaviourists to establish its
own identity
• During the 1970’s behaviour therapy emerged as a
major force in psychotherapy and education
• In this period the focus was on self control procedures
that helped clients to make significant changes on their
own
• The 70’s also produced cognitive-behavioural therapies

Susan Johnson 2008 Counselling 3

Theory. Behavioural
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Contemporary Behaviour
Therapy can be understood by
looking at 3 major areas of
development
• (Pavlovian)Classical Conditioning – in the 1950’s
the findings of experimental research with animals
was used to treat phobias eg. Systematic
desensitization
• Operant Conditioning – Skinner’s view of
controlling behaviour is based on these principles
whereby changes in behaviour occur when that
behaviour is followed by a particular consequence
• Cognitive Trend
Susan Johnson 2008 Counselling 4
Theory. Behavioural
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Susan Johnson 2008 Counselling 5

Theory. Behavioural
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Behaviour Therapy has undergone important

changes and has expanded considerably

• Lazarus (1971) is considered one of the pioneers

of clinical behaviour therapy for he contributed to
broadening its conceptual bases and introducing
innovative clinical techniques.

• Behaviour therapists tend to be active and

directive and to function as consultants and
problem solvers

Susan Johnson 2008 Counselling 6

Theory. Behavioural
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View of Human Nature

• The current view is that the person is the producer and the
product of his/her environment rather than the product of
their socio cultural conditioning
• Behaviour modification aims to increase people’s skills so
that the number of their response options is increased
• Philosophically the behaviouristic and humanistic
approaches have often been viewed as polar opposites
however the bridges are being built – greater attention is
being given to the similarities among theories
• Clients are asked to act rather than reflect passively on
problems
• They are helped to take specific actions to change their life

Susan Johnson 2008 Counselling 7

Theory. Behavioural
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The Scientific Method

• Behaviour Therapy is separated from other approaches by
its strict reliance on the principles of the scientific method
• Concepts and procedures are stated explicitly, tested
empirically and revised continually
• Treatment and assessment are interrelated as they occur
simultaneously
• Research is considered essential to providing effective
treatments
• A defining characteristic is the insistence on rigorous
standards of evidence for the effectiveness of any
technique employed.
• “What treatment, by whom, is the most effective for this
individual with that specific problem and under which set
of circumstances?”
Susan Johnson 2008 Counselling 8
Theory. Behavioural
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Therapeutic Goals
• Goals are very important in that they reflect specific areas
of client concern and therefore provide direction for
counselling
• The general goal is to create new conditions for learning to
decrease problem behaviour
• Client formulates goals at the beginning of therapy and
these are assessed throughout. Assessment and treatment
occur together
• Goals provide a framework for evaluating the outcome of
counselling
• Counsellor and client alter the goals throughout the
process as needed

Susan Johnson 2008 Counselling 9

Theory. Behavioural
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Cormier and Cormier 1985 describe the

sequence of selecting and defining goals
• counsellor explains the purpose of goals
• The client specifies the changes desired
• Both determine whether the stated goals are
changes ‘owned’ by the client
• They explore whether the goals are realistic
• They discuss possible advantages and
disadvantages of the goals
• On this basis the counsellor and client make one
of the following decisions: continue counselling,
reconsider goals or refer on
Susan Johnson 2008 Counselling 10
Theory. Behavioural
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Kuehnel and Liberman 1986

• Step 1: identify behaviours that are problematic
• Step 2: determining the clients assets and strengths
• Step3:put the information gathered into the context in
which the problem behaviour occurs
• Step4:setting up a strategy to measure each of the
identified problem behaviours and producing a baseline
evaluation which can be used as a reference point to
determine the effectiveness of the interventions
• Step5:client’s potential reinforcers are surveyed to identify
people, activities and things that provide motivation now
and in the future
• Step6: the client and therapist cooperatively formulate
treatment goals looking at what alternative behaviours will
resolve the problem
Susan Johnson 2008 Counselling 11
Theory. Behavioural
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Misconceptions

• A common myth is that the overall goal is

to simply remove the symptoms and once
this is done now symptoms will appear
because the underlying causes were not
treated
• The focus of therapy is on factors
influencing current behaviour and what can
be done to change that behaviour
Susan Johnson 2008 Counselling 12
Theory. Behavioural
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Misconception number 2
Client goals are determined and imposed by the
therapist

• Because it is fundamental to behaviour therapy

that the client should have the major say in setting
treatment goals, it is important that the client is
fully informed, and consents to and participates in
the setting of goals
• A good working relationship is seen as necessary
to clarify therapeutic goals and cooperatively
work towards the means to accomplish them
Susan Johnson 2008 Counselling 13
Theory. Behavioural
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Function and role of therapist

• Similar to other counsellors in that they pay
attention to cues given by the client, summarise,
reflect, clarify and ask open questions.
• 2 functions distinguish behavioural counsellors:
they focus on specifics and they systematically
attempt to get information about situational
antecedents, the dimensions of the problem
behaviour and the consequences of the problem
• Another important function of the counsellor is
role modelling for the client (Bandura1986)
Susan Johnson 2008 Counselling 14
Theory. Behavioural
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Client’s experience in Therapy

• Clients are actively involved in the selection and
determination of goals
• Clients must be motivated to change and willing
to cooperate in carrying out therapeutic activities
(homework)
• Clients are encouraged to experiment in enlarging
their repertoire of adaptive behaviours
• Counselling is not complete unless actions follow
verbalisations

Susan Johnson 2008 Counselling 15

Theory. Behavioural
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 Relationship between client and
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therapist
• Contemporary behaviour therapy does rest on on a
scientific view of human behaviour that calls for a
structured and systematic approach to counselling -
however-

• A good interpersonal relationship is an essential aspect of

the process
• A client’s positive expectations about the effectiveness of
counselling often contributes to effective outcomes
• Most behaviouralists do not assign an all important role to
relationship. They contend that factors such as warmth,
empathy, authenticity, permissiveness and acceptance are
necessary but not sufficient for behaviour change to occur

Susan Johnson 2008 Counselling 16

Theory. Behavioural
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Application
• Behavioural techniques must be shown to be
effective through objective means and there is a
constant effort to improve them
• Change is multifaceted in that it is not all or
nothing
• In contemporary behaviour therapies any
technique that can be demonstrated to change
behaviour may be incorporated in into a treatment
plan
Susan Johnson 2008 Counselling 17
Theory. Behavioural
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Therapeutic techniques include

• Relaxation training
• Systematic desensitisation
• Modeling methods
• Assertion training programs
• Self-management programs
• Multimodal therapy
• Others are continually developing
Susan Johnson 2008 Counselling 18
Theory. Behavioural
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 Multimodal Therapy
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• Is a comprehensive, systematic, holistic approach

to behaviour modification developed by Lazarus

• The essence of this approach is that human being’s

complex personality can be divided into 7 major
areas of functioning – the Basic ID

• Begins with a comprehensive assessment of the 7

modalities of human functioning

• Clients are asked questions pertaining to the Basic

ID
Susan Johnson 2008 Counselling 19
Theory. Behavioural
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• Behaviour

» main focus
» What would you like to change?
» How active are you?
» How much of a doer are you?
» What would you like to start doing?/
stop doing?
» What are some of your main strengths
» What specific behaviours keep you
from getting what you want?

Susan Johnson 2008 Counselling 20

Theory. Behavioural
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• Affect
» Emotions, moods and strong feelings
» How emotional are you?
» What emotions do you experience
most often?
» What makes you laugh?/cry?
» What emotions are problematic for
you?

Susan Johnson 2008 Counselling 21

Theory. Behavioural
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• Sensation
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–Touch, taste smell, sight and hearing

–Do you suffer from unpleasant

sensations?

–Stress, tension, pain?

–How much do you focus on

sensations?
Susan Johnson 2008 Counselling 22
Theory. Behavioural
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• Imagery

– How we picture ourselves including

memories and dreams
– Any recurring dreams or vivid
nightmares?
– Do you have a vivid imagination?
– How do you see yourself?
– How do you view your body?
– How would you like to see yourself in the
future?

Susan Johnson 2008 Counselling 23

Theory. Behavioural
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• Cognition
– Verbal info in one’s head that constitutes
values, attitudes and beliefs
– How much of a thinker are you?
– How do your thoughts affect your
emotions?
– What are some negative beliefs that you
say to yourself?
– What are your main shoulds, oughts and
musts in your life?
– How do they get in the way of effective
living?
Susan Johnson 2008 Counselling 24
Theory. Behavioural
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• Interpersonal Relationships
–Interactions with other people
–How much of a social being are
you?
–To what degree do you desire
intimacy with others?
–Are there any relationships with
others that you would like to
change? If so, what changes
would you like to make?
Susan Johnson 2008 Counselling 25
Theory. Behavioural
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• Drugs/biology
– Nutritional habits and exercise

– Are you healthy and health conscious?

– Do you have any concerns about your

health?
– Do you take any prescribed drugs?

– What are your habits in relation to diet,

exercise and physical fitness?
Susan Johnson 2008 Counselling 26
Theory. Behavioural
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