Theories in Counselling: A Comparison of Rational Behavioural Therapy, Family System Therapy and Feminist Therapy

This essay compares and contrasts the rational behavioural therapy, family system therapy and feminist therapy. It describes the history, goal, and technique of each of the theories. Lastly, the essays compare and highlight the most plausible theories with boarded scope.

Running head: THEORIES IN COUNSELLING
THEORIES IN COUNSELLING
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1THEORIES IN COUNSELLING
Introduction
The primary purpose of the essay is to compare and contrast the rational behavioural
therapy, family system therapy and feminist therapy. The essay describes the history, goal, and
technique of each of the theories. Lastly, the essays compare and highlight the most plausible
theories with boarded scope.
Rational behavioural therapy is one of the type of active-directive therapy which was
formulated by Albert Ellis in the year 1950. The therapy helps to recognize the irrational and
negative thoughts that often lead to the behavioural and emotional issue (Wood, Barker &
Turner, 2017). The family systems therapy was established by Murray Bowen in 1960, focus on
the family and regard it as an emotional unit (Colapinto, 2015). The feminist therapy focuses on
empowering and strengthening women and highlights the need to break the stereotypes
connected to feminist. The Alexandra Rutherford gave the theory at the end of 1960 (Kaschak,
2016). Comparing the three models, each of them has a different perspective and used by a
different group of population. From the study of Wood, Barker and turner (2019) it can be said
that rational behavioural therapy can be used any age group who is experiencing issues like
anxiety, depression, procrastination, phobias, and addictive behaviour. This therapy helps to
improve the living condition of the people who suffered from a mental disorder. However, the
family systems therapy generally works and defended by the people who have family and
involve in the strong relationship (Fishman, 2017). When feminist therapy compares this model,
it can be said that the women of a different group use it. They defend it as it was developed
concerning the challenges faced in life.

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According to the study of Vasquez and Vasquez (2017), it is inferred that feminist theory
is the person-centred that operate within the cultural context. The main goal of the theory is to
empower the women, and as they also experience mental health disorder due to socio-political
status and psychological oppression. It is evident that women have to face the issue of
discriminations based on the gender-specific stressor and obstacles like violence, victimization
and work inequities (Carr, Green & Ponce, 2015). Thus, the therapy includes the technique of
self-disclosure and reframing and social action to motivate the women. The therapist shares their
own experience and work to shift the perspective of the target group by recognizing the social
factors when the feminist theory is compared to the rational behavioural theory, its goal target
the whole group of population with the sign of mental illness (Arczynski & Morrow, 2017). The
main goal of the REBT is to improve the quality of the life of people by the use of problem-
solving technique, cognitive restructuring technique and coping strategies (Wood, Turner &
Barker, 2019). These help people deal with their mental symptoms and manage them efficiently.
Irrespective to feminist therapy and REBT, the family system therapy aims to address the psyche
and thoughts of the people who are involved in a relationship with the objective to modify their
behaviour by use of the therapeutic technique (Wadhwa & Nicolaides, 2016). It redefines the
thought of one of the family member as the therapy believes that it can influence the function of
the whole family. The three therapy have the common conclusion of improving the quality of life
of the individual peoples or family by working on their mental status.
The family therapy is applied by the mean of role-play session where the therapist
examines the problem solving pattern by focusing on the behaviour of the family member. The
therapy also makes use of paradoxical interventions like suggesting to improve the relationship
to create desired changes (Karam et al., 2015). It motivates the family members by

3THEORIES IN COUNSELLING
demonstrating related problem scenario and encourage them towards decisive goal. These
interventions are quite similar to the feminist therapy, it is seen in the study of Hinojosa (2018)
that it is applied by listening to the stories of the therapist and gives inspiration to the women in
treatment to provoke social change and become competent to live the good life. It also provides
an approach through which women can analyse how unequal gender base power has impacted
their growth. Thus it helps them to encourage them. The two therapies when compared to REBT,
it can be said that it is applied in quite different ways. It makes use of a problem solving
technique that works to develop decision makings skills and social skill. It helps the person to
manage their mental illness (Turner, 2016) better.
As the three therapy focus to improve the mental health of a different group of people,
the more plausible therapy is rational emotional behavioural therapy. It helps to self-analyse the
negative and irrational belief of the people. By making the use of coping strategies, people
become competent to self-manage the issues and improve their thinking ability. It also develops
problem solving skill and conflict resolution skill of the people. It has a broad scope than
feminist and family therapy. From the study of Outar et al. (2018), it can be said that rational
emotional behavioural therapy can be applied to any age group of people and may include family
and women. As in the feminist and family strategy therapy, the main focus is paid on the mental
status of the women facing discrimination and in the relationship of a family member. Thus, the
technique used in REBT can be effectively applied in such therapies.
There are much recent work and research which has applied the REBT therapy for
improvising the mental stability of the people. The evidence available for REBT include RCT
and systematic review, which are the high level of evidence (Sælid & Nordahl, 2017).

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It can be concluded by comparing the three therapies, that REBT is the most effective and
useful therapy that offers good quality of life of people. The feminist and family therapy also
have a good level of evidence. However, they are limited to their applicability. Moreover, it can
be said that they have the potential to improve the daily living experience.
Reference
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