Evaluating Therapeutic Counseling in Relationships of Couples, Marriages, and Families
Therapeutic Counseling is a prominent and necessary reality that helps solve or address many of the problems faced by people today. In counseling, clients are given by professional counselors certain treatments and therapeutic help to guide or advise them according to whatever troubles they are going through. But many people of do not recognize or in constant denial that they need help or intervention in order for all the people involved to have a sense of understanding about their situations. Relationships among couples, marriages, and families are among the commonly focused units by counselors because most of the hardest problems a person may encounter comes from these intimate relationships. But aside from solving disputes, counseling in families and marriages also helps improve and develop the currently existing relationship too. Therapeutic counseling help evaluate and reestablish families and marriages that have been separated or are continuously being tested by difficult circumstances.
Approaches in Counseling
Family issues are sensitive realities that should be addressed by all close family members. The marriage enrichment field is often traced to the early 1960s (Dinkmeyer, 2007, p.314). As the years passed, different improvements and developments have been introduced to the process of counseling of marriages and family relationships in order to accommodate all the emerging problems of the society. Many scholars believe that the gateway to all couple and family therapy (CFT) is a systematic formulation of the presenting problem of an individual, couple, or family (Celano, Smith, and Kaslow, 2010, p.36). Systematic formulations specifically deal with familial issues regarding intimacy, sociocultural issues, family routines, and family strengths. These types of therapies target understanding the interactions of couples and family members in relational context.
Along with the changing of times, the main operation of families have also significantly evolved and changed. Formerly family and marriage were often characterized by an autocratic relationship one is in charge and the rest follows (Dinkmeyer, 2007, p. 315). This kind of mindset have been dramatically reformed along with the world wide advocacy of equal roles in the society. Therefore, there cannot be just one standard approach in counseling the different problems that may arise in families and marriages. An open, congruent marriage system is often not the result of chance but rather systematic education and movement toward this goal (Dinkmeyer, 2007, p.317). The importance of formulating an effective marriage education program is definitely important or necessary for the achievement of ideal or lasting marriages. Dinkmeyer introduced in his work a system-based, structured approach on educating people about marriages. Training in Marriage Enrichment (TIME) is a psychological approach wherein counselors would be required to study individual behavior as it is incorporated together with how the people participate in their external human relations. TIME teaches the necessary skills for a happy, healthy marriage in a group setting and can be applied to couples individually in couples counseling (Dinkmeyer, 2007, p.317).
Alliance of Counselors to their Client
Counseling families is a very sensitive task not only because of the intimacy that the relationship is expected to have, but also because families are the societys most basic unit. To be a professional therapist is not an easy task. Counselors are expected to work on understanding and presenting complex aid to intimate relationships experiencing sensitive issues. Focusing on relationships requires that therapists have a broad knowledge base as exemplified by the requirements for coursework in theoretical foundations, couple and family therapy, human development and family studies, ethics, and research (Becvar, 2008, p.181). Presence of mind, proper training, and rich education are important for every person who wants to become psychology practitioners.
The kind of relationship that should be formed between therapists and clients should be one that is established in honesty and trust. This is essentially difficult for the therapists of family issues because they are subjected to face all members of the family. Therapeutic alliance is the quality and strength of the collaborative relationship between family members and therapist, and includes a shared commitment to the goals of therapy in the context of a positive emotional bond (Celano, Smith, and Kaslow , 2010, p. 37). This alliance is a necessary factor for all therapists who needs to understand each family members individual problems as well as participation or role in the family.
Generally, people are purposive in their behavior. Therefore counselors look for the purpose of behaviors within the marriage system which help or hinder the enrichment of the marriage (Dinkmeyer, 2007, p.316). This is crucial for counselors to understand and always consider what possible intentions each individual may have for all their certain actions. Aside from assessing what particular purposes do people have for their actions, counselors also need to address the problem of how the differing point of view between partners makes a single action possible within two interpretations (Dinkmeyer, 2007, p. 316). This human trait usually causes the most prominent disagreements in relationships. When this happens, counselors can understand that the couple have underlying more important issues to address like their failure to communicate openly or when one partner harbors mistrust towards any action the other would do. What is essentially important in a marriage counseling is that counselors encourage an awareness and dedication to the idea that the relationship is the number one priority for both individuals (Dinkmeyer, 2007, p.317). Facilitators or the leading therapists have the important task of making couples realize this and put into significant action this reality.
Teaching and Training how to be Counselors
To be an effective counselor, one would need to be educated with the proper values and knowledge in the practice of psychology. Counselors need crucial scholastic background in order to become significantly useful in the action of counseling familial problems. Also, as with every profession, the field of marriage and family therapy is characterized by a unique training and socialization process for those who desire to attain full membership (Becvar, 2010, p. 1). Knowing the basic theories from scholastic inputs is not sufficient for one person to effectively address all the problems that may arise. Also, family therapy instructors should employ a plethora of teaching techniques to guarantee the retention of critical theoretical constructs and therapeutic techniques (Maynard, 1996, p.203). Keeping the attention of students through constantly new methods would and allow them to learn faster and for the retention of information to be easier. This would be very beneficial for students in the future when they have to face important counseling projects already.
Proper training in the form of internships are also important for would-be counselors. Many will continue to focus on generating knowledge relative to both the training and supervision of family therapists and the practice of family therapy (Becvar, 2010, p. 1). The program of internship is conducted to efficiently train graduates of the psychology courses. Based on observations from the group of successful interns, internship strengthened their career decision making, bolstered their confidence in their ability to handle the demands of faculty life, and strengthened their clinical skills (Miller et. Al, 2010. p.77). Having a direct, first-hand experience prepares future counselors by allowing them to see the scenarios they should expect to deal with. This practice also allows them to prepare what kind of lessons they would most likely find most outside schools and how to properly address each one of them.
Aside from classroom learning and practical application through internship, students of therapy and psychology also learn immensely through their observations of their instructors or professors. by demonstrating dedication and attention to teaching, family therapy instructors can model for future therapists the importance of thoroughness and professionalism (Maynard, 1996, p. 195).
Spirituality in Counseling
One of the most prominent idea circulating in counseling families is a theory that was often overlooked before is the application of spirituality in assessing truths about counseling. Spirituality is so important but it is neglected in counseling practice because not all counseling professors see the significance of this reality in dealing with intimate relationships and other related factors (Ellison, 2009, p. 190). Spirituality offers an important contribution to marriage and family therapeutic counseling, though it is often also minsunderstood. Incorporating spiritual approaches to family counseling is important because this makes the exchanges between the clients and the counselors much easier and meaningful. Several literature have been devoted to the evaluation of spiritualitys importance especially to therapeutic counseling in marriages and family life.
The term spirituality is often misinterpreted with religiousness. But the truth is a person can be spiritual without belonging to a religious community or participating in religious rituals (Grams, Carlson, and McGeorge, 2007, p. 150). And in its particular application to counseling, the emphasis in the intervention of the counselors would be more significantly focused to the spiritual values of their clients. Some examples of pathways to connection are through the body, through nature, through the arts, or through a Higher Power (Ellison, 2009, p. 190). Spirituality is not always confined the definitions of religious figures, but there are times that it is.
Minus religious factors, spirituality can be defined as the choice to move toward personal growth, responsibility, and relationship with others (van Asselt and Senstock, 2009, p. 412). When one person improves his spiritual condition, he is also increasing his hope that his problems would be solved. This helps counselors to penetrate and condition the minds of their clients faster. Spirituality can also be defined as an experience or meaning system that allows people to find connection, values, and purpose, which can be related to nature, art, meditation, prayer, religion, or a relationship with a higher power (Grams, Carlson, and McGeorge, 2007, p. 150). Counselors can gain vast information from their clients because of spirituality, and this would help them in understanding how to rightfully address whatever problems they may consult them with.
According to van Asselt and Senstock (2009), there is evidence that more awareness and training can have positive rewards for clients when sharing their experiences, especially spiritual ones (p. 418). This means that enhancing the abilities of counselors to deal with spiritual issues elevate their chances of understanding their clients faster. Also, clients give in faster and wholeheartedly to their therapists after feeling that they do more than listening to their problems, but actually see them from their own personal spiritual level. Clients self-perceived competence was influenced by the counselors spiritual beliefs and spirituality training (van Asselt and Senstock, 2009, p. 417). This boosts their minds to become more participative to whatever activities their counselors may give them. Also, all of us have some sense of spirituality in some form and clients have the right to be able to address these issues in their therapeutic work so therapists should learn how to deal with this in a respectful, non imposing, and emphatic way (Ellison, 2009, p. 190).
In addition to spirituality as an aid to counseling, some counselors also shares the existence of pastoral counseling. This type of counseling involves acknowledging that the counselor is not the healer but that a healing energy, which is both inside and beyond the client and counselor, is present and available to be tapped into (Davis, 2008, p. 668). Through this type of counseling, family members or married couples become more involved the spiritual and theological growth they could gain from their immersion, through the help of course of their pastoral counselors. This type of counseling aims for goal of transformation for the client from a trouble state to one characterized by well-being and just and loving relationships (Davis, 2008, p.668).
Types of Negative Issues faced by Therapeutic Counselors
The types of problems that marriage and family counselors are supposed to deal with are vast and very sensitive. Domestic violence, child maltreatment, homicidal ideation, and suicidal ideation are four types of clinical crises that most novice as well as seasoned therapists find challenging (Hodgson, Lamson, and Feldhousen, 2007, p. 36). These types of relationship problems are among the most sensitive but highly occurring problems that specifically needs the careful attention of counseling groups.
The problems in families and marriages are different per situation, but are more often rooted from the same mistakes. To deal with the most harmful realities happening to day, first we should acknowledge that the causes of human evil are complex, largely because human beings are complex and live in complex societies (Davis, 2008, p.665). Therapeutic counselors should be aware of how the evils of the world affects each family directly and indirectly. Through engaging and transforming our inner systems, we also can access the insight, compassion, and courage to name and engage the external systems of our world that are sources of evil and suffering (Davis, 2008, p. 680). Therefore, awareness and sensitivity to what effects evil realities may have to each family member is crucial and significant for the counselor to understand just what their client may need.
Sometimes, because of the large amount of negativities that one person may experience, he may feel a part of himself to get disconnected or removed from his world. Logically, recapturing this disconnected piece can be done via introducing compassion both toward others and toward oneself (Ellison, 2009, p. 190). Not all if us could help do this or answer to this plea immediately and only well-trained counselors can help address this dilemma of being disconnected faster and more efficiently.
How Counseling Helps
Counseling groups that are specifically made for marriages and families should be equipped with the sufficient strength and knowledge to rightfully address all types of issues that may reach them. The first consideration is that core competencies create a path, and the direction is determined by the organizations core values (Miller, Todahl, and Platt, 2010, p. 67). Counselors should be sensitive and knowledgeable of the essential factors that are important on how to counsel problems in families and marriages.
Therapy and counseling sessions are proven to be highly successful in majority of the cases that have undergone it. Counseling helps because highly negative and conflictual family interactions may be reduced by carefully timed therapist interventions (Celano, Smith, and Kaslow, 2010 p. 38). Therapists are given enough education and training to professionally and expertly deal with their clients concerns. Present curriculum are still being continuously improved to make the education for therapeutic counseling easier and more fitting in todays time. Marriage and family counselors play important roles in the society today. In fact, the marital therapy will ultimately save taxpayers money through reduced divorce rates and health care costs associated with individuals experiencing divorce (Miller, Todahl, and Platt, 2010, p. 60).
Conclusion
Therapeutic counseling, especially in the sectors of families and marriages is crucially important and necessary amidst all the growing cases of family problems that our world today faces. Marriages and families should be the most safeguarded and well taken care of basic units of the society because they are also potentially the most powerful. Counseling in family and marriage therapy requires great discipline, sensitivity, and knowledge in the part of the counselors in order to efficiently determine and address what the family or the couple just needs. There are several systems formulated to educate people about marriages and family life. But the inclusion of spirituality in the relationship of the client to their respective counselor helps immensely for the two parties to understand each other better and form positive and productive relationship in the future.
Categories:
0 comments:
Post a Comment