Why Theory?
What is a Theory?
Theories…
 Help explain and predict behavior
 Guide our thinking and actions when working
with clients
 “a set of interrelated ideas, constructs, and
principles proposed to explain certain
observations of reality” (Hjelle & Ziegler, 1992,
p.7)
So, why theory?
 There are over 400 different approaches to
counseling
 Theory helps guide our thinking… a sort of “road
map” to therapy
 Subscribing to a theory helps the counselor
determine if counseling is working
 Using a theory(ies) while conducting counseling is
ethically responsible to the client
 ????
CAUTION…Slippery Road
Ahead
 Subscribing to a theory
can be problematic when:
– Counselor is rigid and theory
does not fit client
– Counselor overlooks or disregards
important information/data that
does not fit into subscribed theory
– Counselor does not acknowledge
the biases or misconceptions present
in the theory
– ????
Take home poinT…
 Subscribing to a theory can help counselors
(especially new counselors) approach therapy in an
efficient, organized, systematic way. However,
counselors should be knowledgeable about the major
counseling theories and not become rigid or stuck in
only one theory
How do I pick a theory?
 1st Step: Know major
theories
 Helps you to make an
informed choice
 2nd Step: Who am I?
 Most counselors pick
theories based on their own
conceptions of human
behavior, personality styles,
etc.
Characteristics of a good
theory
 There are several ways to judge a theory:
(PESST)
–
–
–
–
–
Precision/Testability
Empirical Validity
Simplicity
Stimulation
The real world
Precision/Testability
 Does the theory have clearly defined constructs?
 Is the theory based on some sort of realistic view of
human behavior?
Empirical Validity
 Has the theory been tested? On whom? When? How?
 Ways to determine empirical validity:
– Controlled case studies
– Case descriptions
– Meta-analysis
– Surveys
– Stringent comparison studies of therapy and control
groups
Simplicity
 How easy is the theory adhered to and
implemented?
 Caution: A simple theory may not be the
best theory. Also, who says what is simple?
And what seems simple today may not be
so in the future
Stimulation
 How enticing is the theory?
 Does it “stimulate” discussion, critique, research?
 Is it taken seriously?
The real world…
 How easily does the theory explain and fit into the
“real world”?
 Does the conceptual framework make it practical to
use? (Theories presented in this class are widely
believed to be practical on a varying spectrum)
Eclecticism
 This is when a counselor integrates two or more
theories into counseling
 40% of the counselors surveyed from 1982 to 2001
(see Murdock, 2004) subscribed to an eclectic
counseling approach
 Even those who were eclectic in their main approach
usually integrated theories from a similar theoretical
viewpoint (i.e., Beck’s cognitive therapy and RET)
(Murdock, 2004)
Steps to Applying Theory
Applying Theory…
 1st Step: Know Your Theory
– Understand core beliefs
– Understand constructs
– Know the process
– What constitutes psychological health, wellbeing, success?
applying Theory…
 2nd Step: Know Your Client
– Know demographics (age, gender, sexual orientation, physical
ability, religion, ethnicity, etc.) and understand the impact these
characteristics have on the client
– Gather pertinent information about client according to theoretical
constructs (cognitive theory=understand client’s thoughts;
behavioral therapy=understand productive or destructive
behavior, etc.)
– Ask yourself if the clients presenting problem fits with theory (i.e., a
young college student wants help dealing with feelings of
frustration at school, however the counselor subscribes to the RET
therapist who wants to focus on relationships)