Counseling Theories

This article discusses the use of different counseling theories, specifically Humanistic Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), in treating psychological disorders. It explores the application of these theories in the case study of Maya, a 32-year-old suffering from anxiety of driving. The article highlights the performance of Humanistic Therapy and CBT on Maya, their similarities and differences, and evaluates the most appropriate approach for her treatment. The goal is to help Maya overcome her fear and perform her driving job without anxiety.

Running head: COUNSELING THEORIES 1
Counselling Theories
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Introduction
Counseling as a practice has played an essential role in the recovery of various mild to
severe psychological disorders. However, for advice to be effectively achieved, different theories
must be used to facilitate the process effectively (Dobson, 2016). Therefore, the modalities
discussed are Humanistic Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Nevertheless, the
theories work perfect depending on the type of disorder. For instance, the case study highlights a
32-year-old single lady called Maya who is suffering from anxiety of driving, a disease that
describes the discomfort of driving making the Maya experience fears while she wants to attempt
driving. Thus, the paper will indicate how the Humanistic and CBT will be used to recover
Maya's anxiety to drive as well as their similarities and differences when put into effect on Maya
to ensure that Maya can perform her newly offered job of driving without fear.
Performance of Humanistic Therapy on Maya
Humanistic therapy contains the accompanying vital ideas alongside its plans which are
secured, hence, can assemble everything. Non-judgmental counseling sessions and individual's
strengths are offered by humanistic therapy as well as helping the patient to build up a more
grounded, more advantageous feeling of self and comprehend patient emotions to aid in gaining
a sense of importance throughout everyday living (Adams et al., 2019). Additionally, Humanistic
therapy plays a primary role in Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs as it discusses the innate human
curiosity to satisfy everything that they do to achieve the self-realization. Nevertheless, Maslow's
theory demonstrates how humans intrinsically partake in behavioral motivation with different
levels of hierarchy such as psychological, safety, belonging, safety and self-actualization (Adams
et al., 2019). Therefore, in experiencing the progressive system of need, we have the idea called
self- actualization. If self- actualization is presently guaranteeing, then, an individual meets a

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high level of potential as a total person (Adams et al., 2019). Moreover, self -actualization is the
terminal phase of Maslow’s psychology’s development phase which is reached only when
necessary mental basic needs are satisfied such that a one can do everything he or she can, thus,
“actualization” of the person’s potential occurs.
For instance, Maya will be counselled without any judgmental effects from the counselor
alongside her anxiety condition. As Maya will be needed to build a strong ground base of self,
more confidence will develop and recognize those road accidents are not a person's fault(Roth,
2015). Therefore, it will all depend on the person carefulness while driving to avoid causing
accidents. Additionally, as much she has been involved in an accident previously, it does not
guarantee that she will experience the same. Usage of humanistic therapy will comprehend
Maya’s feelings as she develops a positive attitude towards avoiding anxiety and have a mindset
that what she can do she can.
Nonetheless, Johari Window is an idea that ensures that the individual is mindful. This
stage now all the part of identity is gathered together making the person to comprehend who he
or she is(Dobson, 2016). Again, people can understand their relationships better with themselves
as well as others. Under the humanistic theory, there is Gestalt Therapy where the advisor
manages the unfinished business (Farmer and Chapman, 2016). The specialist unites diverse
zones to make wholeness of a person.
Additionally, we have the idea of the four givens where there is: the passing certainty,
opportunity to choose and the realizing individual is separated from everyone else (McArthur
and Cooper, 2017). The four givens belong to existential psychotherapy that focuses on the fact
that all people experience a conflict that is intrapsychic related as a result of associating with
certain human existence conditions. These conditions that are inherent in human existence
include isolation, death, meaningless, freedom and related responsibility.

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Performance of CBT on Maya
The CBT theory was spearheaded by Dr. Aaron in 1960 when at the University of
Pennsylvania as a specialist (Roth, 2015). He structured and attempted a few examinations to test
the psychoanalytic idea of melancholy. Nevertheless, he illustrated that normal mediations
incorporate defining reasonable objectives and critical thinking, stress the executives’
distinguishing issues and circumstances that are frequently maintained a strategic distance from
and at the end confronting dreaded situations (Farmer and Chapman, 2016). Subjective conduct
treatment is a theory dependent on the intellectual model which recommends that individuals see
a circumstance in a manner that is more firmly associated with their response than the event
itself. The theory centers in helping psychologically disordered patients change their conduct
which could be unhelpful and along these lines improving in their inclinations and working
(Aviram, Westra, Constantino and Antony, 2016). Therefore, considering Maya’s case study,
through the use of CBT, Maya could easily forget the unhelpful memories about the death of her
father in a road accident as well as self-memory of being involved in a road accident (Olthuis et
al., 2016). Hence, the therapist can provide education on the disadvantage of remembering
deceased family members and instruct Maya to be engaged in physical activities during her free
time dispel any thoughts that might arise regarding her father's death. By ignoring the useless
memories, Maya would then incline her attitudes towards doing the newly offered driving job.
Moreover, both recognizing and participating in exercises such as playing puzzles and
others that an individual appreciates are promoted by CBT theory as well as discovering and
testing of negative considerations (Olthuis et al., 2016). For instance, Maya considers it a
negative opportunity to work for a company as a driver due to fear and anxiety that because her
father died through a tragic road accident, she might also face a similar consequence. Therefore,
CBT will enable Maya test and discover that driving can work well with her despite the fear of

COUNSELLING THEORIES 5
being involved in a road accident (Knell, 2016). Finally, CBT enhances checking inclination
contemplations and practices to be educated, indications and in the long run change
considerations and practices on Maya (Knell, 2016).
Understanding Maya Using Humanistic Therapy And CBT
To eradicate Maya’s fear and anxiety, a social therapist will start by helping Maya to
identify the dangerous emotions she might have. However, the practical investigation stage is
critical for determining how considerations, sentiments, and other aspects can contribute to
changes in patient behavior (Rowan, 2016). The overall steps can be challenging, especially
when a patient is in a dilemma of making a decision such as Maya. Nevertheless, at long last, it
may lead to self-disclosure and knowledge needed for the overall treatment. Also, the second
piece of Maya’s CBT treatment revolves in the real practices that help in dispelling the anxiety
disorder (Wosket, 2016). Maya will start to rehearse new aptitudes as well as explaining to them
what she has rehearsed, thus, enabling her to be in a position of satisfaction, and can then
manage to perform driving work.
Moreover, CBT is a progressive theory that ensures an individual makes steady
movements alongside changing of conduct (Wosket, 2016). Maya can start by radically putting
herself in a nervousness inciting social situation. After that, Maya may begin engaging in
discussions with colleagues and family members. If Maya takes the logical direction of a more
critical target in dispelling her anxiety, then all the other steps will be overwhelming minimally,
and Maya's driving work will be simpler to accomplish.
On the other hand, humanistic treatment will entail discussion treatment between Maya
and the therapist that includes a gestalt approach, investigating how Maya feels in the present
time and place, with an elimination of attempting to recognize past occasions such as her father’s
accident and Maya’s accident that prompted the anxiety (Kaczkurkin and Foa, 2015).

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Furthermore, the humanistic therapist will provide help, support, sympathy, and trust that will
enable Maya to share her emotions without dread of judgment. The therapist will then not go
about to demonstrate expertise, but rather maintain the connection with Maya and provide
advisory services and education on how to overcome anxiety (Kaczkurkin and Foa, 2015).
Differences Between Humanistic and CBT on Maya
Humanistic and CBT exhibit differences that depend on the goals to be performed on the
Maya. CBT reduces psychological stress and maladaptive thoughts and behavior through the use
of cognitive psychology principles(Newman et al., 2015). Again, CBT tends to be very
rationalistic as it is concerned more on the head rather than the heart.
On the other hand, humanistic psychology illustrates many different human personality
dimensions such that it attempts to provide answers to questions like; what is a human being?
What gives life meaning and brings genuine happiness? And to apply this knowledge to
counseling or social/cultural improvement (Aviram, Westra, Constantino and Antony, 2016).
Similarities Between Humanistic and CBT Modalities on Maya
According to Newman et al. (2015), humanistic and cognitive behavioral therapies share
common goals. Thus, using rigid absolutistic "should" is seen as generative of dysfunctional
behavior. Additionally, the two treatments value “self-acceptance,” in a way that may discourage
Maya from forming negative overgeneralized trait-like self-judgments (McArthur and Cooper,
2017). Moreover, the two therapies value one’s mistakes and failures as a coping and exploration
process. Furthermore, hypothesis-testing and “holding constructs tentatively” are assessed in
both treatments whereby they help Maya learn to stick to her “moment to moment experiencing,”
and to be more phenomenological (Ebert et al., 2015).

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Evaluation of The Most Appropriate Approach
A research conducted by Imel, Steyvers, and Atkins (2015) reported that CBT was the
best and compelling or more viable than different treatments in treating PTSD, general anxiety,
sorrow, and social fear. Moreover, CBT is recognized as a therapy with a treatment rate of 50%
success rate compared to other therapies such as humanistic therapy. However, the evaluation
and success of treatment may depend on the person’s relationship with the therapist (Linehan,
2016).
Humanistic treatment is utilized to facilitate the treatment of large numbers of individuals
and various psychological disorders. In many times, it has been used in the treatment of anxiety,
misery, schizophrenia, identity issue, relationship issues, and different addictions, for example,
drug abuse (Ebert et al., 2015). Extensive research conducted by Pereira, Goncalves, and Bizzarri
(2019) advocate the possibility that it may be helpful and with popularity, thus, others have
contended that it has restricted adequacy with people who have constrained attending of training.
Furthermore, McArthur and Cooper (2017) recommend that humanistic is like any other type of
therapy, hence can deliver steadily and with positive improvements for a short period only if the
psychological disorder patients take part in the treatment process. For instance, if Maya would
make use of the CBT and the humanistic therapy, there is a higher likelihood of recovering from
the anxiety condition. Therefore, well established therapeutic relationships between the therapist
and Maya will lead to quick recovery of the patient’s conditions regardless of the type of therapy
used for any given psychological disorder.
Conclusion
To conclude, individual-centered care can be effectively achieved using various
respective counseling modalities. Through well-used and implemented therapies, the patient's
psychological disorders can be restored; thus, make the victims perform their activities in healthy

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ways. For instance, the 32-years old Maya will be now able to drive under consistent usage of
CBT and humanistic therapies on her. Therefore, dispelling Maya’s anxiety will contribute to
dispelling of fear to drive as well as avoiding remembering the death of her further while
performing her duty. Also, as much different applicable counseling theories are used for various
disorders, it should also be noted that their performance evaluations need not be conducted
alongside the patients. By using performance evaluations, the use of counseling theories will be
improved and facilitated effectively, hence, creating a corresponding increase in quality services
patient living with psychological disorders receive.

COUNSELLING THEORIES 9
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