Cognitive restructuring, straight thinking or logical reanalysis is based on the belief that the way we feel, behave and respond to situations is based on the way we think. This approach attempts to modify unhelpful thought patterns and beliefs. Cognitive restructuring, also known as cognitive reframing, is a technique drawn from cognitive therapy that can […]
Sign up for your FREE e-newsletter
You’ll regularly recieve powerful strategies for personal development, tips to improve the growth of your counselling practice, the latest industry news and much more.
We’ll keep your information private and never sell, rent, trade or share it with any other organisation. And you can cancel anytime.
Counselling Theory & Process
Anxiety and Conditioning
Anxiety that is produced as a result of an actual situation (e.g. being in the dentist’s chair getting a tooth drilled) can become associated to events that surround the incident even when the component that originally activated the fear (a noisy drill that results in pain) is no longer present. For example, just sitting in […]
- February 18, 2010
- 0
- 27156
- Counselling Theory & Process, Stress Management
- Read More
How to Build Rapport with Parents
Parents can play the key role in initiating and generating behaviour change in their children. Parents have the potential to inspire their children directly (by applying reinforcers and other behaviour modification strategies) and indirectly (by providing a safe, supportive and encouraging environment). As counsellors, working with parents can enhance our potential to promote successful outcomes […]
- January 22, 2010
- 0
- 13749
- Children & Adolescents, Counselling Theory & Process, Relationship & Families
- Read More
3 Advantages of Online Counselling
Online counselling, once termed alternative therapy, is now becoming a common practice preferred by both clients and therapists (Elleven & Allen, 2004). It has been praised for bridging the gap that existed with traditional face to face therapy around issues such accessibility, convenience, affordability and more. Accessibility Web counselling is easily accessible to all those […]
- January 21, 2010
- 13
- 17939
- Counselling Theory & Process, Technology & Social Media
- Read More
The General Adaptation Syndrome
General adaptation syndrome describes the body’s short-term and long-term reaction to stress. Originally described by Hans De Solye in the 1920s, the general adaptation syndrome describes a three stage reaction to stress covering our initial reaction to the stressor, our resistance and adaptation to coping with the stressor and our eventual exhaustion after dealing with […]
- December 10, 2009
- 2
- 9092
- Counselling Theory & Process, Stress Management, Trauma & Disaster Mental Health
- Read More
Ethics and Ethical Codes in Counselling
Ethics are a set of moral principles or rules of conduct for an individual or group. The term ethics comes from the Greek ethos meaning custom, habit or character. Ethics determine choices made. In counselling, ethics underpin the nature and course of actions taken by the counsellor. Counsellors and others in helping professions are expected […]
- December 8, 2009
- 24
- 215528
- Counselling Theory & Process, Ethics & Legal Issues
- Read More
What is Mediation?
“Mediation” is a means of resolving disputes between two or more parties who possess a genuine desire to achieve a mutually satisfying outcome. The counsellor in the process acts as the “mediator” by assisting the disputing parties to focus on a mutual problem, discuss possible solutions and agree upon a solution. Mediation is confidential, however […]
- December 1, 2009
- 1
- 528478
- Counselling Theory & Process, Relationship & Families
- Read More
Creating a Relapse Prevention Plan
“Relapse prevention began with the work of Marlatt and Parks (1982) and Marlatt and Gordon (1985) who noted that after success with the treatment of various behavioural problems – such as smoking, drinking, overeating, drug addiction, obsessive compulsive disorder and gambling – clients very often fell back into their old behaviours. In fact, between 50% […]
- November 13, 2009
- 0
- 8134
- Counselling Theory & Process, Stress Management
- Read More
Counselling Microskills: Influencing
Influencing is part of all counselling. Even if the counsellor only used attending skills to actively listen to the client, being genuinely heard by another person can influence a person’s behaviour. Influencing skills take a more direct approach to client change, with specific alternatives for actions that can promote change quicker and in some cases […]
- November 12, 2009
- 1
- 32494
- Counselling Theory & Process
- Read More
Counselling Microskills: Client Observation
By accurately observing non-verbal behaviour, a counsellor can gauge the affect her/his words and actions have upon the client. Skilled client observation also allows the counsellor to identify discrepancies or incongruities in the client’s or their own communication. When is it used? Observation is a skill that is utilised throughout the entire counselling interview. Examples […]
- November 11, 2009
- 1
- 77462
- Counselling Theory & Process
- Read More
Counselling Microskills: Confrontation
Generally speaking the term confrontation means challenging another person over a discrepancy or disagreement. However, confrontation as a counselling skill is an attempt by the counsellor to gently bring about awareness in the client of something that they may have overlooked or avoided. There are three steps to confrontation in counselling. The first step involves […]
- November 10, 2009
- 4
- 162871
- Counselling Theory & Process
- Read More
Counselling Microskills: Responding, Noting and Reflecting
Accurate Responding allows the counsellor to confirm with the client that they are being heard correctly. Noting and reflecting are used to bring out underlying feelings. When are they used? Responding is useful throughout all stages of a counselling interview. It helps the counsellor to clarify and encourage clients’ stories. This is also a great […]
- November 9, 2009
- 3
- 17762
- Counselling Theory & Process
- Read More
Counselling Microskills: Attending Behaviour
Attending behaviour is a counselling microskill used to encourage clients to talk and show that the counsellor is interested in what’s being said. When is it used? Throughout the entire counselling interview. Particularly important in the initial stages of establishing rapport. Examples Attentive body language (eye contact, leaning forward slightly, encouraging gestures). Eye contact is […]
- November 5, 2009
- 0
- 53673
- Counselling Theory & Process
- Read More
Albert Ellis, Rational and Irrational Beliefs
Albert Ellis was born in Pittsburg (1913). He spent most of his life in New York. A natural counsellor, Ellis studied psychoanalysis and was supervised by a training analyst. Ellis, however, grew increasingly frustrated by psychoanalysis which he concluded was unscientific and superficial (Corey, 2005). In the early 1950s, Ellis experimented with other treatment frameworks, […]
- October 15, 2009
- 1
- 17524
- Counselling Theory & Process, Counselling Therapies, Personal Effectiveness
- Read More
How Can Clients Become More Assertive?
It is beneficial for clients who are struggling with passive or aggressive communication to be encouraged by counsellors to become more assertive. In this post we outline a step-by-step process to teach clients assertiveness skills. Step one: Assessment of current communication style The first step in teaching a client to become more assertive is for […]
- October 12, 2009
- 0
- 8421
- Counselling Theory & Process, Personal Effectiveness
- Read More