The group leaders theoretical orientation will influence the way issues are approached

Theoretical orientation is important for both the counselor and the client. Every mind is different, and everyone responds differently to different forms of therapy. A counselor may be good with one form of psychotherapy but not so great with the other. On the other hand, a client may not care for one therapy but will respond greatly to another. We're going to dive deeper into the world of theoretical orientation and break it down throughout this article, especially in terms of helpfulness and information for online therapy sessions.

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What Is Theoretical Orientation?

Theoretical orientation involves a customized approach to how a counselor best serves their client. It is an organized set of assumptions or preferences (based on specific psychological theories) that provide the clinician with a conceptual framework for identifying the client’s needs and which specific interventions will work best to treat them. Every client is different and reacts to different treatments, and theoretical orientation is there to help the counselor take responsibility in finding the best method to tackle their client's problems.

When counselors use theoretical orientation, it typically involves the counselor getting to know the person, and, over time, the counselor may deploy a few techniques to see which of the approaches will help the most.

There are many types of theoretical orientations, such as the interactionist method, multimodal, object-relations, person-centered, ecological, and developmental. Learning which orientation works best for you is essential to the success of your treatment.

In other words, the theoretical orientation is the counselor's preferred therapy method or tool for understanding their client's perspectives. When seeking a counselor, asking what their theoretical orientation is can be a productive question as there are many types of orientations in psychology.

A List Of Therapies

Theoretical orientation uses quite a few therapies. These therapies can be classic, stemming from the beginning of modern psychology (such as psychoanalytic theory/therapy), to more contemporary, like solution-focused or strength-based therapy. Furthermore, each option is based on a specific theory of psychology and offers specific interventions or conceptual frameworks for which to treat clients. Some people will respond well to some therapies but not others. Let’s take a look at these theories below.

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT is one of the most common and popular theories/therapies on this list. With CBT, it's believed that the client's beliefs and actions are the main challenges in a client’s situation. To apply CBT techniques, a counselor will have to figure out what behaviors and beliefs are unhelpful and then challenge the client to change them or make some adjustments to their ideas.

The client may have to record their behaviors in a journal, tracking down the patterns of thoughts and emotions as they occur, and figure out what situations will cause them to have an episode. When they report to the counselor, they can figure out how to handle the behaviors whenever they arise through their newfound understanding of their own perspective.

It's safe to say that everyone has behaviors that can be self-destructive, and if your behaviors are out of control, CBT can help.

Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)

DBT is similar to CBT and uses a lot of its techniques but instead of concentrating on their unhelpful behaviors, it instead looks at a client's self-awareness, emotion regulation, distress levels, and much more. It was originally a treatment for BPD, or borderline personality disorder, but you can apply it to other mental issues too.

Family Counseling

Also known as family therapy, this involves the entire family. By family, this can mean children, caregivers, entire families, or just couples, and they are all considered the counselor's client. With family counseling, it can be a separate job or involve talking to all the family at once to determine what the relational conflicts are in this family systems unit. A counselor can learn a great deal from observing the interactions between family . Whether it's a bickering couple or parents trying to reach out to their unruly child, family counseling can help further the development of healthy skills within a family.

Feminist Counseling

This orientation looks at the world through a feminist lens but isn’t just limited to a person's sex or gender identity. Instead, a counselor may look at how a person's ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, and age play a part of their life experience.

Gestalt Therapy (GT)

GT involves the here and now. This goes by many names, such as mindfulness, and its job is to help the client be more aware of their present behaviors and feelings, with the goal being how they affect the world around them. GT is a good therapy system to have when the client is too focused on the experiences of the past or future. Sometimes, you just have to look at the world around you to find the answers.

Optimistic Therapy

Also known as humanistic therapy, this is focused on the good parts of life. Clinicians who use optimistic therapy believe that humans want to be satisfied and self-fulfilled, and the goal is for the client to feel that. Counselors may use techniques like self-actualization and open-ended responses to discern the goals the clients want. Everyone has a dream, and while optimistic therapy may not be able to reach every dream, it can create other goals to make the person feel accomplished.

Integrative Therapy (IT)

IT can involve a number of therapies depending on the client and their needs. The counselor may combine techniques or use them separately, depending on the situation.

Narrative Therapy (NT)

We all have imagined our lives to be like a book, a movie, or whatever narrative-driven form of media you prefer. NT involves looking at someone's life as a story and, through that story, what problems may be uncovered. Therapists guide the client in retelling their story to minimize or eliminate the importance of the problems and make new stories. The counselor may act like an interviewer, asking questions about the person's life, and in doing so help the client create their role in their story with their own words.

Psychodynamic

Also known as insight-oriented, this looks at how our unconscious minds control us. The unconscious mind contains hidden traumas and feelings, and it can influence our behavior. Psychodynamic therapy helps to bring this behavior to the forefront of our minds and give us self-awareness. Psychodynamic therapy is also short and very structural in nature. Sometimes, it can only take a handful of weekly sessions for success, though this will vary dependent on the individual client.

Psychoanalysis

Also known as psychoanalytic therapy or psychoanalytic theory, this is similar to psychodynamics, but it's more long-term and ends up being more intense. Like psychodynamic therapy, psychoanalytic theory focuses on the unconscious and tends to involve childhood trauma. There is immense focus on the past and how it affects the present moment, including one’s current well-being and current relationships. If a client is interested in taking a deep dive into their past in order to build a happier and better future, then psychoanalytic theory/therapy may be the best option for them.

The client will have to provide all the details they can to the therapist or clinician, from dreams to what they're feeling during the day. The counselor will then listen and provide insight. It's another good therapy for self-awareness.

How To Choose The Orientation That's Right For Me If I'm a Counselor?

If you're going into the therapy field, you may wonder which orientation would be best for you. As you may have guessed, there is no concrete answer. A counselor may be excellent in one orientation and not so great the other.

The best answer is to study each one objectively and incorporate each idea into your studies. Don't go into a field just because you have an associate who likes it. Don't go into an orientation just because you read a book about the orientation and agreed with its concepts. Study and practice are two of the best ways to choose the orientation that's best for you. Your orientation may change or become integrated with other modalities as you learn more and become more experienced.

For The Clients

If you're trying to find therapy, you may wonder which path is the best for you to take. Many factors influence a good therapy session, whether it's offline or online, including how you and the therapist interact. It is important that you as a client feel that you have rapport and trust in your therapist and also that the techniques that they are using with you are creating progress.

Are You Looking For For A Licensed Counselor You Can Trust?

Luckily, BetterHelp offers a wide variety of counselors so that you can find the person and setup that is correct for you. In addition, research to date has shown that remote therapy is just as effective as in-person therapy for treating post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety, among many other mental health issues. The New York Times notes that online therapy’s and successful outcomes are a few reasons behind its growing popularity.

In addition, consider that with so many psychologists available on BetterHelp, you have plenty of options to find which therapy style or type works best for you. Online options are often cheaper, in a transactional way, than traditional therapy options as well. Here are some recent reviews of BetterHelp’s counselors to guide you:

“Finding Cecile was a godsend! She is very professional. I don't feel any judgement from her. Cecile offers a wide range of different therapeutic styles to match me. She responds in a timely manner, is respectful, kind, and overall a great therapist to have. I recommend her to everyone. If you are struggling and need someone who will listen to you, be patient with your progress, and be dependable she is the best match for you! :)”

“Stephanie’s style and approach to counseling fits my needs 100 percent. I feel very validated, understood, and heard every session. She genuinely listens to what you’re saying and takes her time to respond appropriately. Which I appreciate so much. She’s not just there to tell you to meditate and do some breathing techniques while envisioning a calming tree, ya know? Stephanie is down to earth, realistic, and genuinely cares. I love working with her.”

The mind is complex and there is no one therapy or rationale to satisfy that unique experience of each client. Your life is different than another person's, and, thus, you may need a unique orientation. Be patient with the process of connecting with the right therapist and technique and know that whomever you connect with has your best interests and self-growth at heart.

Commonly Asked Questions:

  1. What is an example of a theoretical orientation?
  2. What are the five theoretical orientations?
  3. What is the most common theoretical orientation?
  4. What is theoretical orientation in education?
  5. Why is theoretical orientation important?
  6. Is CBT a theoretical orientation?
  7. What are the 7 main theories of psychology?
  8. What does a theoretical approach mean?
  9. What s theoretical orientation in sociology?
  10. What are theoretical orientations in social psychology?

What is the most important concept of group leadership?

Leaders must have skills in communicating effectively, listening actively, working with people, and helping others work together in groups. Leaders must have integrity and honesty. Good leaders must first learn to be good followers. Leaders do not dominate a group, but lead by their actions.

What is the role of a group leader in counseling?

Providing a safe, therapeutic frame for clients and maintaining firm boundaries are among the most important functions of the group leader. For many group members, a properly conducted group will be the first opportunity to interact with others in a safe, supportive, and substance-free environment.

What is group leadership?

Group leadership is the process of providing focus and direction to a specific group of people. Leadership of this type often involves facilitating and guiding the actions of group participants as well as accepting responsibility for the outcome of the group's efforts.

During which phase are group leaders most often confronted?

Group Faciliation - Final Exam - 04/15.