Cognitive Behavior Therapy
This is a scientific therapy type that follows scientific views in order to handle the behavior of humans. It holds the behavioral patterns predictability by the use of reinforcements. It is found applicable in many fields like education where it handles unacceptable behavior. For instance, take a look at a child attending a local school, the schooling can greatly be associated with behavioral patterns. The teacher is viewed as an independent figure who imparts knowledge to the pupils. The pupils are like void bodies waiting to be in receipt of what the teacher provides (J.B.Mill, 1972). At times the pupils get punished for attaining poor grades hence getting humiliated by those pupils who perform well (Bair, 1993). The students are also given credit when they show signs of starling performance.
A pupil who grows up in this kind of environment may end up questioning the criteria they used in learning and tries to acquire knowledge from a completely different method apart from limitation to classwork and even lectures. These really present a behavioral type of education. The pupil can then apply the same method to analyze common aspects such as drug use, smoking, and even playing. This method now becomes appropriate for the handling of the different psychological problems.
What Cognitive Behavior Therapy involves
Applied in the field of counseling where therapists or behaviorists assist their clients in taking particular steps to change their lives and not to just mention the problems they undergo during the therapy processes. The therapists are involved in the study of how a client’s stimuli are initiated by the cognitive process and also emphasize the accountability of the client following his behavior. Also, the therapist is not involved in dictating the goals of the therapy but the client, so the client is required to give full cooperation to the therapist. It does not focus on the clients’ past experiences but emphasizes the current problem under therapy (J.B.Mill 1972). An attitude of progress is instilled in the client by the therapist to give him the skills of self-management. A client is given a chance after the therapy to go and reflect on his actions in what can be termed as homework and a report to the therapist is expected.
Applications of this theory in real-life counseling
It is commonly applicable in Relaxation Training and Systematic Desensitization.
This is mainly done for stress management. As observed there are so many situations causing anxieties in the clients. The theory is mainly concerned with the behavior change and not the feelings undergone by the client and this presents the fact that the therapy technique stems from psychology experimentally (J.B.Mill, 1972).
It has a limitation in that Christian counselors, would not appreciate the overdependence on human behavior and also from the scientific argument, it may not be appropriate in handling unexhibited behavioral patterns presented by the client (Bair, 1993). It would be difficult in catering to both science and religion as far the clients’ behavior is concerned.
The Reality Therapy
This lays focus on the actuality of being an individual. It encourages the clients’ understanding of their current happenings. It covers the emotional aspects as well as the physical aspects of a person’s stated problems. It relies on phenomenology where the clients are expected to acquire knowledge of their experiences and what they do about them. It is based on three principles: humans always are in the stages of re-evaluating, restructuring, and remarking themselves and focuses on the perceptions of reality by the client.
A client is expected to understand the actions in his life that are causing the current experience.
The therapist here is the only trusted party that assists the client to have a well-explained understanding of the implications of the experiences he has. The client is advised by the skillful therapist that however difficult the experience is. The therapist uses correct timing mechanisms to evaluate the client’s behavior. Always the company of the therapist is never left out during these stages. One major requirement during this process is communication; the therapist should be in a position to interpret both verbal and non-verbal means of communication of the client as this would ensure full coverage of the client’s feelings and even think openly.
The theory seems to cover the depth of the problem by digging deep into the dreams of an individual to bring out the consciousness of a person. The therapy also involves wisdom and this wisdom is linked to the biblical one and more specifically to Joseph who could give the interpretation of dreams to depict reality (Bair 1993). But the interpretation of dreams is a natural process and therefore the theory is also the natural process of study. Careful training brings out the client’s reactions to the underlying truths concerning him.
The theory involves the dissection of a client’s physical representations of his internal complications and stresses. Finally, the resolution of the issues is done which is followed by the expected well-being.
The theory as well as its limitations as far as problem-solving is concerned. It involves experiments aimed at exposing the underlying problems of the client. However, the client may end up being overwhelmed, and also self-consciousness may arise.
Applications of the Reality Therapy in real-life counseling
One major area of application is in stress -management. Stress has become a major problem today arising from such factors as unemployment, retrenchment from jobs, and even a high cost of living. The affected need to get ways of reducing or managing it. This approach requires the person to seek the services of a therapist and explain all his experiences. The skilled therapist will have an introspection of the client’s problems and the possible understanding of his problems. Also, it is voluntary as far as the dispensing of information is concerned; the therapist will have first-hand information from the client without any pressure. The therapy is appropriate here.
References
- Bair, N.Grish (1993).An Introduction to Psychology: Taking a dynamic view. 3rd Edition. New York: Touchstone
- J.B.Mill (1972). The Cognitive Human Behaviour Analysis Approach to Thinking. 2nd Edition. London.