• What are your initial reactions and thoughts about this theoretical orientation?

Theoretical underpinnings: I see counseling as providing a safe and nurturing environment for clients to explore and attempt to understand situations that arise in life that cause stress, anxiety, or discomfort. Counseling includes the counselor's active involvement in the process.This includes an open exploration of your own thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and the willingness to change these when they cause problems in your own life.You will have to work both in and out of the counseling sessions. There are no instant fixes for you or your clients.Rather, it will be necessary for you to continue to explore new solutions to old issues and practice these new solutions and behaviors on a daily basis.This may include journaling your experiences or other homework assignments.Sometimes insight into a stressful situation or problem can be quick and other times it takes slow and careful exploration, but once there is insight into a problem, it now becomes possible to change.

My approach to counseling is basically humanistic (person-centered, Gestalt, and existential) integrated with many other theories.Because I see all of us as interconnected with those in our environments, I believe that our problems are reflected in our environment and problems in our environment are reflected in us.Although part of a system, each person is an individual, unique in their experiences.I have learned through experience that the counseling relationship is the most important aspect of the process. Because person-centered and existential approaches do not prescribe a set of techniques, I draw heavily from cognitive behavioral theory, including rational emotive behavior therapy, using role-playing, disputing faulty ideas, and assigning homework for my clients. I also realize that the past plays a crucial role in shaping current behavior, so I value theAdlerian,psychodynamicemphasis on early childhood experiences and recollections. Depending on the client's issues, I pull from other theories that help the client increase their awareness, so Gestalt methods are important to me.

My intention is to meet each individual with the plan or approach that best matches their needs. In working together, we work to specify the goal of our work together and determine the methods and objectives to meet this goal. We discuss the risks and benefits of treatment. It is important that we make these decisions together because I see clients as the experts on their lives. I cannot do the work of therapy for my client, but I can serve as a guide and role model.

My clients are psychologically and emotionally "healthy" and seek counseling for difficulties with normal and/or traumatic life events (i.e., most people fall into this category). I do not work with clients whom I cannot help using the techniques I have available (e.g., a client in a psychotic state, out of touch with reality). In some cases, it might be necessary to consult another professional or make an appropriate referral. I enter each counseling relationship with optimism and an eagerness to work. I have a special interest in helping adults and adolescents working to understand life's problems. Some examples of issues with which I am particularly interested or skilled in working with are depression, anxiety, LGBTQ+ issues, family and relationship issues, and unresolved or complicated grief.

I hope you found this helpful. Keep learning about ways of understanding and working with people. Keep checking theory against your own life experiences. Keep cycling through these steps. Gradually, you will discover your own personal working style.

It has been my privilege to introduce you to some major counseling theories and help you learn to construct case conceptualizations, a task you will have again at various points in this program. Please stay positive and realize that you have what it takes to succeed here. Remember to manage your time as efficiently as possible, allowing enough time to really prepare each week's assignments. Always reach out to your instructors at Walden. As I have mentioned to you many times, we are here for you and want you to succeed!