SOCW1057: Comparing Person-Centered and Solution-Focused Counselling

This essay provides a comparative analysis of two prominent counselling approaches: person-centered and solution-focused therapy. It explores the premises of each approach concerning the view of the human being, examining how each theory understands human nature and potential. The essay also contrasts the stated aims of each counselling approach in relation to mental health, highlighting their respective methods and techniques for addressing client issues. Person-centered therapy emphasizes the individual's capacity for growth and self-awareness, while solution-focused therapy concentrates on identifying future solutions and goals to overcome present problems. The essay concludes that while both approaches aim to improve the client's well-being, they differ significantly in their methods and theoretical underpinnings, offering different pathways to therapeutic change.

Title an essay comparing and
contrasting two theoretical
approaches to counselling with
respect to the premises concerning
the view of the human be

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................5
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................7

INTRODUCTION
Counselling is being defined as the process through which an individual or any other
person takes some professional assistance in resolving some of the issue. The people can have
many kind of issue and this can affect the mental health and state of mind. Hence, it is necessary
for them to analyse problem and seek help from some professional to get the problem solved. For
understanding the nature of human it is very crucial that the counselling is being undertaken. In
the present essay the analysis and comparison of different counselling technique will be
undertaken. For this comparison the two approaches used for the comparison is person centred
and solution focused. The reason for selecting the both approach is that it will outline how the
nature of human is being understood with help of these theories.
Premises concerning the view of human being
The use of counselling is very important and crucial for the person in order to solve any
of the query or other problem. The reason pertaining to the fact is that when the person is facing
some of the issue then this will be impacting the working and thinking of them. Hence, this can
also affect the personality. Thus, for this it is crucial for the person to consult a counsellor who
will assist them in developing their emotional level and try to solve the issue (De Shazer and
et.al., 2021). The first theory that is use of person centred approach is helpful in analysing the
ways in which the person perceives themselves consciously. This person- centred approach
majorly undertakes the fact that human being have the capacity to develop in the direction of
their fullest potential. But this capability of the people is sometimes being blocked by some of
the incidents in life or some bad experience. Hence, this develop some of the negative things
within the mind and perception of the person. Thus, this results in development of negative
feeling and thoughts within the mind of person which restrict them in future development.
On the other hand, another approach of counselling is the solution focused approach. this
is a therapy or the approach which is used by the person in order to solve the problem with help
of future questions. This is a good approach in solving the problem or issue of the person by
asking some of the questions relating to the future and this might make the perception and
attitude of the person changed (Grant, 2017). The therapist using this type of the strategy are
more competitive and future focused and they believe in development of the futuristic working
so that person can build a good understanding and change the perception and attitude and level of

thinking. In this type of strategy, the major focus of the counsellor is to develop some futuristic
image of person in the mind so that they try to solve the problem in better and effective manner.
Understanding mental health and stated aims of counselling approaches
For the better mental health of the person, it is very crucial for the counsellor to
undertake a better and effective counselling therapy. This is particularly because of the reason
that in case the proper and appropriate technique for counselling will not be used then this will
result in ineffective treatment of the person (Metcalf, 2021). Hence, for this, it is crucial for the
counsellor to operate in proper and effective manner. Thus, it is very crucial for the counsellor
that they must analyse and evaluate the use of different theories in better and effective manner.
Hence, with help of the person centred approach it is clear that mental health of the
person can be evaluated in proper and effective manner. The aim of this counselling approach is
to have a humanistic approach and as a result of this, the counsellor is in position to influence the
person. Hence, this method of counselling is very good and assist in developing the mind and
attitude of the person in right direction. This affects the mental health of the person as when the
therapist is person centred then they believe that the person is trust worthy and they will share all
the information relating to their problem in correct manner. Hence, after evaluating the situation
of the person, the therapist evaluates the situation of person and then evaluates and develop
solution for them. Every person is different and mental state of each one is also different. Hence,
the person centred approach states that the solving therapy also need to be based on the
requirement of the person and their situation.
On the other hand, another therapy used is the solution focused which aims at solving the
problem of the person by having some futuristic orientation. Hence, as a result of this, the aim of
this theory is to develop a future oriented behaviour of the person so that they can solve the issue
relating to current time. The solution relating to the current problem is being developed by the
focusing on the future. In this type of therapy, the counsellor tries to develop some future goals
and this futuristic approach assist the person in overcoming with the present problem
(McCormack, 2017). The main aim of using this theory is to divert the mind of person for the
future growth and development so that they forget about the present issue or problem which they
are facing.
General idea of method or technique

Both the techniques have the common aim of solving the problem of the person and
making them comfortable. But, the way of working is different for both these techniques and the
process of solving the problem is also different. In case of the person centred, the counsellor
makes the person feel that they have the potential to work and overcome the problem in better
and effective manner. For working using the person centred approach, it is necessary that some
factors ate to be considered for solving the issue. These factors involve psychological contract of
client and therapist, vulnerability of client, genuineness of therapist, unconditional positive
regard of the therapist including empathy and perception of client (Person-Centered Therapy
(Rogerian Therapy), 2021). While using the person centred approach the therapist need to
understand all these factors first and then solve the problem the person.
On the other hand, solution focused therapy is different from that of the use of person
centred therapy. This is the theory wherein the therapist first tries to understand the problem of
the person and then sets some goal relating to solving of the problem. Further the therapist asks
for some of the questions to the client in order to analyse their strength and weakness. This is
done by the therapist in order to understand the capability of the client and then in accordance to
that try to find the solution for solving the problem faced by the client (Joseph and Bryant-
Jefferies, 2018). The model of solution focused for solving the problem involves the first step of
asking the question and then noticing the behaviour of the client. This is very important for the
counsellor to analyse the behaviour of client as with help of this, they will be in position to
understand that how they have to deal with the problem of client. This is very crucial because of
the reason that in case the counsellor does not understand the feeling and thinking of the client
then they will not be in position to provide solution to the client.
Hence, it can be stated that both the model of counselling works in different manner and
involves different process. But the aim and objective of using these two models are same that is
providing solution to the problem of client (Jones, 2020). Both the methods work in direction of
making the client comfortable and to fight with the problem they are facing and overcoming with
the issue. Thus, the use of any of the technique will be ultimately resulting in the providing of
solution of the person suffering from any of the problem.
CONCLUSION
In the end, it was concluded that the counselling is being defied as the process by which a
person can try to solve their issues and problem. Under this, the person goes to the counsellor

with their problem and counsellor assist them in solving the issue of the person. The above essay
also evaluated that the use of different counselling techniques will be assistive in solving the
issue or the problem of the person. In the present essay that use of person centred and solution
focused counselling technique was undertaken. The major difference between both these
technique is that former relates with the focusing on person and their attitude and perception
relating to the issue. Whereas the latter relates to have some solution to the problem by focusing
on the future working. Hence, the essay concluded that the use of counselling technique is based
on the situation and type of the person.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
De Shazer, S. and et.al., 2021. More than miracles: The state of the art of solution-focused brief
therapy. Routledge.
Grant, A. M., 2017. Solution-focused cognitive–behavioral coaching for sustainable high
performance and circumventing stress, fatigue, and burnout. Consulting Psychology
Journal: Practice and Research. 69(2). p.98.
Jones, C., 2020. Is person‐centred counselling effective when assisting young people who have
experienced bullying in schools?. Counselling and Psychotherapy Research. 20(4).
pp.657-665.
Joseph, S. and Bryant-Jefferies, R., 2018. Person-centred coaching psychology. In Handbook of
Coaching Psychology (pp. 131-143). Routledge.
McCormack, B., 2017. Negotiating partnerships with older people: a person centred approach.
Routledge.
Metcalf, L., 2021. Counseling toward solutions: A practical, solution-focused program for
working with students, teachers, and parents. Routledge.
Online
Person-Centered Therapy (Rogerian Therapy). 2021. [Online]. Available through: <
https://www.goodtherapy.org/learn-about-therapy/types/person-centered >