WEEK 4: 24TH OCTOBER 2008

Hierarchy Of Need:

5. SELF-ACTUALISATION
4. SELF-ESTEEM
3. SOCIAL NEEDS
2. SAFETY NEEDS
1. PHYSIOLOGICAL NEEDS


This week we explored different historical influences on counselling theory starting with Freud.
He developed two main areas of study: Understanding the human mind and treating the human mind. We discussed Freudian models of child development (oral, anal and genital stages) also how the mind is divided into the conscious, subconscious and unconcious. We looked at the id, the ego and the super-ego. The development of the adult state and conscience. The states of mind that affect our every decision. They seem to act in balance with each other (ideally).

Freudian analysis led to other approaches such as the psychodynamic approach and also the person-centred approach as embodied by Carl Rogers. This in turn led to Cognitive Behaviour therapy which is allied to Gestalt therapy(patterns within relationships). We touched upon Maslow's 'Hierarchy Of Need' (See above). This seemed a neat and simple approach, refreshingly free of jargon and user-friendly.

Most interesting to me was Carl Roger's approach. he believed that human beings had a natural instinct to change for the better and be healthy. This may be enabled when the helper set up the right conditions for the client to be helped. So, the client must feel vulnerable and in need of change to alleviate anxiety. The helper must be congruent, warm, empathic and non-judgmental and above all GENUINELY SO. That is, they must not evince these characteristics as 'tools' for the purpose of counselling, they must be these things in real life. This approach appeals me to me very much, being humanistic in ethos.

We then discussed in pairs the different ways in which we might make psychological contact. We identified warmth, good body language, good eye contact etc. Our homework was to read a poem by Carol Ann Duffy and consider how we might make psychological contact with the subject. I think it would be impossible. The subject of this poem would despise the very notion of being counselled.