This innovative text provides therapists-in-training with tools, strategies and activities to formulate their response to the age-old question, "What's your theoretical orientation?" The underpinnings of counseling and psychotherapy are based in its theoretical foundation. Thus, students and practitioners are frequently asked "What's your theoretical orientation?" This text gives students the understanding and the tools to develop their theoretical orientation throughout their training program.
Table of Contents:
Preface.
Dedication.
1. Why Theoretical Orientation Is Important.
A Personal Experience.
The Big Puzzle.
What is Theoretical Orientation?
The Helper’s Tool Belt.
What Can A Theoretical Orientation Do For Me?
How Have Others Picked A Theoretical Orientation?
Once I Have It, How Can I Use It?
How Are Theoretical Orientation and Ethics Related?
How Can Theoretical Orientation Help Me Examine Values?
The Main Points.
2. Incorporating Theory into Practice.
Making Theory Useful: A Model for You and Me.
Theory Development.
YOUR Life Philosophy.
School of Thought.
Theories.
Goals and Techniques: Interventions at Work.
Further Multicultural Concerns.
Resistance to Theories: Eclectic, Integrated, or Just Don’t Know.
I Mean, Really, Does it Work?
What to Take Home.
3. The Top Ten Ways to Find Your Theoretical Orientation.
Find Yourself.
Articulate Your Values.
Survey Your Preferences with the STS.
Use Your Personality.
Capture Yourself.
Let Others Inspire You in Your Learning.
Read ORIGINAL Work.
Get Real.
Study With a Master.
Broaden Your Experiences.
Top Ten Wrap Up.
4. Theories of Helping.
The Schools of Thought and Their Theories.
Psychodynamic School of Thought.
Psychoanalytic.
Analytic Psychology.
Individual Psychology.
Transactional Analysis.
Behavioral School of Thought.
Behavioral Therapy.
Humanistic School of Thought.
Client Centered.
Existential.
Gestalt.
Pragmatic School of Thought.
Cognitive Behavioral.
Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy.
Reality Therapy.
Contemporary Schools of Thought.
Multicultural Counseling & Therapy.
Feminist Theory.
Narrative Approaches.
Solution Focused Brief Therapy.
5. Case Examples for Integrating Theory to Practice.
Clinician Case Studies.
Case One: Tony’s Experience.
Case Two: Jill’s Experience.
Case Three: Travis’s Story.
Case Four: The Singing Counselor.
Comment on the Cases.
Client Case Studies.
Case One: Tim the Graduate Student.
Case Two: Miss or Mrs. Barbara.
Case Three: Cheryl.
Supervisory Case Studies.
Case One: Grace the Humanist.
Case Two: Dominick Missed It.
Case Three: Jason the Joiner.
Summary.
Putting it All Together.
Importance Revisited.
How Theory is Found.
Many Can Benefit.
The Field.
Index.
References.
Review :
"In the preface of their book, Duane Halbur and Kimberly Vess Halbur express the hope that readers will find their book both refreshing and meaningful. By book's end, the authors make good on that modest hope and deliver much more. Their treatment of theory development - the perennial challenge to every student counselor - is insightful, practical and thought-provoking." ~ Stephen G. Saiz, SUNY Plattsburgh in Counseling Today, January 2006
