Assignment Code: BPCC-114/Asst /TMA /2022-23

Course Code: BPCC-114

Assignment Name: Counselling Psychology

Year: 2022-2023

Verification Status: Verified by Professor

Assignment One

Answer the following descriptive category questions in about 500 words each. Each question carries 20 marks. 3 x 20 = 60

1. Explain the factors influencing counselling process.

Ans) Counselling is not a linear process, rather a dynamic process affected by so many factors. Understanding these factors can help the counsellor to work on these and make the process more effective and beneficial to the client.

Physical Setting/Contextual Factors

It is crucial to have a physical environment or context that offers the client a starting point for confidentiality and a sense of safety in order for the counselling process to be effective. Although there is no set standard for what should be present in a counselling room, there are some ideal circumstances that can be produced to have a welcoming environment for both the client and the counsellor.

The counselling space should feature cosy seating, sufficient ventilation, and the ideal temperature. The space should be well-lit and painted in tranquil colours. It shouldn't be overly cluttered because that could divert the client's focus. It ought to be a location where discretion and confidentiality can be upheld. Clients will be reluctant to approach if it is close to the main office or in plain sight of the public. It shouldn't be in a busy area, and there shouldn't be any distractions or interruptions.

Process Factors

By giving the counselling process a structure, it can be made easier for the client to understand what to expect from the session. Both the client and the counsellor can refer to the structure's framework to have a clear knowledge of the counselling process. It demonstrates a shared awareness of the client and counsellor's duties and obligations, as well as the qualities, conditions, and practises of counselling, including the costs and ethical standards. As a result, structure gives the counselling relationship and procedure a sense of impartiality. It ensures the success of counselling, preserves the rights, roles, and obligations of both the counsellor and the client, and aids in the clarification of the counsellor-client relationship.

As counselling progresses through its various phases, structure is provided. It is more crucial to explain the format of counselling right away so that the client is fully informed about what to anticipate from the sessions and does not have any unrealistic expectations. Structure enables the client to understand the session's time restriction, action limits—that is, what to say and how to say it—role limits, and procedural limits. As a result, structure aids in bringing some sense of order to the client's life, which is otherwise chaotic, unclear, and filled with competing concerns.

Client Factors

The client and counsellor’s therapeutic relationship is based on how they see one another. The results of counselling are more successful for clients who actively engage in the process than for those who are inert. Therefore, a key element in deciding the outcome of counselling is the client's initiative. It speaks of the desire to alter. Clients are more likely to stick with counselling and succeed in it if they have high expectations for it and faith in the process and their counsellor.

Whether the client is self-referred or is suggested by a third party is a crucial factor in this situation. It is anticipated that a client who self-referred or came on their own will take the initiative and be driven to change. This could not always be the case, though, when someone else refers you—for example, a parent, teacher, administrator at school, or office manager. Clients that are hesitant or resistive may exist. Although resistive clients can be seen in both self-referred and other-referred cases, they are sometimes present in referral cases. An unmotivated, uncooperative, and uninitiative-showing customer. They object to participating in counselling. They can express discontent and abruptly end the counselling.

2. What is person-centred therapy? Explain the techniques or strategies used in it.

Ans) In the person-centred approach, the therapist tries to comprehend the experience of the patient from their point of view. The therapist must strive to be honest and open while valuing the client as a person in all facets of their humanity. This is crucial in making the client feel accepted and improving their capacity for self-understanding. The strategy might assist the client in rediscovering their own values and sense of worth, empowering them to determine their own path to advancement.

Person-centred therapy's main goal is to support our capacity for self-actualization, or the conviction that each of us will develop and reach our full potential. By enabling a client to explore and utilise their own talents and personal identity, this strategy supports their personal growth and relationships. The counsellor supports the client during this process by giving them crucial support as they travel this path.

Techniques of Person-Cantered Therapy

Be Non-Directive: Rogers promoted a person-centered session where the therapist lets the client take the lead, in contrast to other therapies where a clinician may have an agenda for a certain session. The client is thought to be an authority on their own life because it is their path. As a result, the therapist is viewed as a partner rather than as a superior figure who can direct a person toward self-actualization. For this reason, Rogers preferred to use the term "client" rather than "patient" when referring to a person in therapy. Although it could be tempting to give advice, it's crucial that the client assumes ownership of their lives.

Unconditional Positive Regard: The therapist's obligation to treat the patient with unconditional positive regard is among the most crucial requirements of the person-centered therapy technique. They accept and care for the customer as they are, to put it briefly. This does not need the therapist to constantly concur with the client, but it does require them to avoid passing judgement. It is crucial that the client believes the therapist values him or her.

Congruence: Rogers stressed the importance of self-concept development. He believed that a person needs strike a balance between their ideal self and how they actually feel themselves in order to be functioning at their best. They gain what he called congruence when they succeed in doing that. He thought that in order to become a highly functioning person and realise one's goals in life, congruence was required.

Empathy: When using person-centered treatment strategies, a therapist must demonstrate empathy. Being able to relate to and place yourself in another person's situation is known as empathy. It should be remembered that sympathy and empathy are not the same thing. Sympathy is feeling sorry for someone, whereas empathy is demonstrating understanding for them. A client won't feel safe with the therapist and won't be able to be authentic and show their true self if they don't feel understood.

Accept Negative Emotions: It might be challenging to keep a client in a cheerful, encouraging, and non-judgmental frame of mind. A customer may occasionally convey unpleasant sentiments that cause a response. On occasion, a patient may even express hostile feelings toward the therapist. A therapist must keep in mind that person-centered therapy procedures are built on giving a client a sense of safety so they feel comfortable sharing information without fear of retaliation or condemnation.

3. Explain the key concepts of choice theory and describe the significance of reality therapy.

Ans) Choice theory: “Information is the only thing we can exchange or receive from others, and the only person whose behaviour we can affect is our own. Each deed contributes to a greater whole. Total behaviour, as defined by Glasser, is a concept that refers to four distinct yet connected events that always take place concurrently. These include physiology, action, thinking, and feeling.

Glasser contends that while we have a great deal of control or choice over our actions and thoughts, we have less direct influence over our feelings and bodily functions because they are more deeply ingrained in our subconscious and unconscious. These four elements continue to be interwoven, and our decisions on thinking and acting have a significant impact on how we feel and behave physiologically.

According to Glasser, a set of five fundamental desires that have evolved over time and are now ingrained in our genetic makeup drive all of our behaviour. Our actions are a manifestation of our desire to satisfy those demands. These are required:

1. Living and having physical safety.

2. Love is the desire to feel connected and a part of something.

3. The desire for control and competence is known as power.

4. Fun is the craving for recreation, amusement, or novelty.

5. Freedom - the ability to decide for oneself and independence.

One individual might, for instance, have strong needs for love and belonging, while their spouse might have weaker needs for same things but tremendous needs for freedom. It is crucial to realise that each person has a unique profile or combination of these demands. For instance, taking a trip with a special someone might satisfy your desires for love, belonging, independence, and enjoyment; or participating in sports can make you feel good about yourself, be pleasurable, and you might feel connected to your team. If we feel that our reality does not live up to these criteria, we may be motivated to act in a particular way by pleasant worldviews or mental representations. Someone else might not view love in the same way that we do, if our idea of it is someone making us tea in bed every morning.

Reality Therapy: The foundation of reality therapy is the notion that everyone is constantly working to satisfy their fundamental needs. According to reality therapists, depression results from one of the five needs not being addressed. It is possible that those undergoing reality therapy will learn how to be more aware of any negative thoughts and actions that may be preventing them from meeting their needs. Reality therapy contends that changing one's behaviour can have a positive impact on one's feelings and on one's ability to achieve one's goals. What are you doing and what can you do are some of the queries it uses.

In order to start the healing process, therapy may start by assisting a person to focus on their current behaviours rather than their old ones. The most crucial needs are those that can now be fulfilled. Reality therapists tend not to concentrate on a person's symptoms since Glasser believed that symptoms of mental discomfort are brought on by a person's separation from others. Reality therapy helps patients focus on things they can change rather than factors outside of their control by asking them to analyse the impact of their behaviour on a particular issue. In actual treatment, the patient's controllable factors are the main focus. Reality therapists believe that one can enhance one's relationships by concentrating on one's own needs and desires and developing a plan to address those needs without judging or blaming others.

Assignment Two

Answer the following short category questions in about 100 words each. Each question carries 5 marks. 8 x 5 = 40

4. Explain the goals and objectives of counselling.

Ans) The following are some crucial counselling goals and objectives:

1. Facilitating behaviour change: The counsellor works to help the client adjust their behaviour so that it reduces stress and brings harmony and fulfilment to their relationships.

2. Problem-solving goal: Counselling seeks to address the issues that brought clients in the first place. As a result, it seeks to alter dysfunctional behaviour and teach students how to address and avoid issues.

3. Strengthening clients' coping mechanisms so they can employ practical solutions is a crucial component of counselling.

4. fostering decision-making: Counselling techniques assist clients in making decisions and finding solutions to issues. The client gains the ability to make wise decisions.

5. Relationship improvement requires both interpersonal and intrapersonal growth.

6. maximising the client's potential: Each person have the inner resources to go through challenging circumstances. The client's inner potentials must be explored during counselling. The counselling process aids in identifying a client's strengths and directs them toward efficient decision- and problem-solving.

7. Achieving positive mental health: Counselling not only focuses on alleviating issues and sufferings, but also goes above and beyond to emphasise people's ability to build resources and strengths. Promoting good moods, mental health, and overall wellbeing is a key objective of counselling.

5. Explain the importance of informed consent and confidentiality in counselling.

Ans) Before beginning the counselling sessions, informed consent must be obtained from the client after they have been given all pertinent counselling-related information. The client's decision-making ability, comprehension of the information, and voluntariness of permission are all requirements. The right to opt to participate in counselling or psychotherapy and the freedom to stop once it has started should be granted to the counselee or client without coercion, undue incentives, or penalties.

It is important to protect the client's privacy. Whatever is discussed between a client and a counsellor should stay private, and it won't be done without the client's permission. Maintaining confidentiality is subject to some exceptions in situations where there is a possibility of physical injury to oneself such as suicide or danger to others such as plotting to kill others, unlawful activity, evidence that will be used as evidence in court proceedings, or child abuse.

6. Differentiate between assessment and testing.

Ans) Comparison between assessment and testing is as follows:

7. What is free association?

Ans) Clients are urged to be comfortable and speak whatever comes to mind during free association without using any type of logic. Sometimes they are also questioned about unpleasant emotional events or early memories. The secret is to put all forms of self-censorship, self-justification, and logical judgement on hold.

The therapist reassures the client that everything they are saying is important. The idea is that repressed information stored in the unconscious is liberated when free association occurs naturally. The repressions are partially released because, in classic psychoanalytical jargon, the id talks while the ego remains silent. It frequently leads to catharsis. The foundation of dream interpretation is also free association.

The analyst assumes that everything the client says is pertinent and discloses the unconscious as they listen intently to unearth the hidden meaning. Any resistance the client displays during free association, such as blocking thoughts or becoming silent, is given special consideration and is interpreted. When repressed material may surface during free association, the ego will respond with resistance. Finding the material that has been suppressed and making linkages between events are the analyst's tasks.

8. Describe the assumptions of behaviour therapy.

Ans) The assumptions of behaviour therapy are as follows:

1. Behaviour is the outcome of the internal and external environments, as well as other mental processes like attitudes and beliefs.

2. Utilizing learning theories is a legitimate way to effect profound and long-lasting psychological transformation.

3. The client actively participates in reducing psychological suffering by learning new coping mechanisms and self-management techniques.

4. The influence of treatment on the client can be assessed using standardised psychological tests, and the effectiveness of therapy is quantifiable using empirical methodologies.

5. Therapy is successful when the therapeutic goals are applied to everyday events, not merely when they are replicated in sessions or when the therapist has information and understanding into them.

6. Only when the client has self-efficacy, or the belief that change is both feasible and possible for her to bring about, can the therapeutic goals be met.

7. Psychological conditions are "issues in living," not diseases.

8. Therapeutic strategies and solutions must be customised to each client's requirements and presenting issues because they are not universal.

9. Describe the basic counselling skills.

Ans) Listening: It is one of the skills that a counsellor needs to have the most. Listening is more than just paying attention to what you hear since it also involves listening to what your customer is saying.

1. Self-awareness: Counsellors must be conscious of how their body language, gestures, and facial expressions may affect a client's willingness to share private information.

2. Communication: Sometimes, how you say something rather than what you say might have an impact on how comfortable your client is. A counsellor can handle a client more effectively when they react to their query with clarity.

3. Patience: One of the most important qualities for a counsellor to possess when working with clients is patience. Results could not appear for days or even months.

10. What are the steps in art therapy?

Ans) The various steps in art therapy are as follows:

1.  

2. It begins with assessment, which entails evaluating the client's issue and gathering information about the client. Next, the applicability of art therapy is decided upon, followed by the choice of the appropriate art therapy approach.

3. The therapist next builds rapport with the client and describes art therapy and how it will be used during therapy. The therapist emphasises that in order for art therapy to be effective, the client must be real and unrestricted in her expression of herself through the medium.

4. The client is then encouraged to express themselves freely and use the specific art therapy technique. The therapist talks about the client's artistic creations with her to assist her obtain new ideas, find meaning, and settle disputes.

5. The therapy connection comes to an end during the termination phase.

11. Describe the working phases in multi-dimensional family therapy.

Ans) The working phases in multi-dimensional family therapy are:

Phase 1: Forming a therapeutic alliance

In this phase, the family and adolescent are prepared for the intervention process, the intervention process is projected as a collaborative effort, the intervention goals are defined, and the adolescent and family members are given hope and motivation.

Phase 2: Making changes

This stage entails behavioural adjustments like decision-making, pro-social behaviour instruction, the creation of better social networks, increasing attention to academic tasks, and altering attitudes and beliefs about substance use in both the adolescent and family members.

Phase 3: Termination of the treatment

The intervention procedure is moving toward its conclusion as the counsellor maintains the behavioural, emotional, and cognitive adjustments made during the previous phase. The number of sessions depends on the counsellor, however in the case of non-opioid dependence in adolescents, the conventional form may comprise 25 sessions spread over 6 months.