Novice Counselor's blog

The Novice Counselor is human and like everyone else sometimes has dysfunctional thoughts. For example, the Novice Counselor has thoughts which deal with catastrophizing a situation and thinking negatively instead of positively about setbacks. For example she will think: if so-and-so has not called me or emailed her, that means he hates her; or, “if I don’t have a cigarette right now, I will go insane” (the Novice Counselor has recently quit smoking…); or, she will think: “if I am successful at this, it means I will have to be successful at everything and people will expect me to be perfect, therefore it will be too much pressure on me; therefore it is better to fail or do only a so-so job so that people will not expect too much from me”; the Novice counselor has depressive thoughts in order to keep herself safe and avoid anxiety-producing situations or to keep from taking risks.
Albert Ellis, founder of Rational-Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) would treat such thoughts by inducing the client to critically examine their current beliefs and thoughts. Are these thoughts self-defeating? REBT attempts to demonstrate to clients that their beliefs and self-talk keep them disturbed.
Clients are taught to actively dispute their faulty beliefs and engage in coping self-statements (Corey & Corey, 2007). The client is made aware that their refusal to accept reality, their insistence on having things their way, and their self-absorption contribute to emotional disturbances. At the same time, the client is encouraged to change and refute their irrational beliefs. Clients are taught to understand themselves, understand others, to react differently, and to change their basic life philosophy by correcting faulty thinking (Okun & Kantrowitz, 2008).

Similarly, Aaron Beck, founder of Cognitive Therapy would say that systematic errors in reasoning underlie psychological problems. Negative, automatic thoughts that dirupt one’s mood cause further thoughts to emerge in a downward spiral (Okun & Kantrowitz, 2008). Distortions of reality and faulty premises or assumptions lead to emotional problems such as anxiety and depression. Changes in beliefs and thought processes tend to result in changes in the way people feel and how they behave The therapist functions as a catalyst and guide who helps clients understand the connection between their thinking and the ways they feel and act.(Corey & Corey, 2007).

Both theories are similar in that they assume that distorted and irrational thinking and beliefs are at the core of emotional problems and that problems can be alleviated by changing thoughts, beliefs, and behavior. Both approaches use homework tailored to the client’s problems and both use a collaborative therapeutic relationship. Both approaches teach clients to look critically at their thoughts and beliefs and help them modify their life philosophy.

References:

Corey, M.S., & Corey, G (2006). Becoming a helper (5th ed.). Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole
Okun, B. & Kantrowitz R (2008). Effective helping: Interviewing and counseling techniques (7th ed.). Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole.