Constructing a Comprehensive Theory of Counseling
Constructing a Comprehensive Theory of Counseling
I. A comprehensive counseling theory should consider the following 10 constructs:
A. A delineation of personality structure (See the Concentric Circles Diagramming the Self)
1. What is affirmed regarding the structure of personality? 2. If structure is disregarded, how are we to think regarding personality?
B. An explanation of motivation 1. What pushes/drives the structure to produce behaviors? 2. What impact does the past, present, and future have on behaviors? 3. What role does the unconscious, preconscious, and conscious mind play in influencing human behavior?
C. A description of human development 1. Does personality change across the lifespan? 2. If personality changes, in what way does it change, how does it change, and how does this impact an individual’s behavior?
D. An accounting for individual differences How do we account for how individuals differ from one another? E. A definition of health 1. What does the healthy individual look like? (See the Grid for Tracking Progress in the Core, Soul [T.F.V/C], Body, Relationships.) 2. What is the impact of systems on health? F. A definition of illness 1. What does illness look like? 2. What causes illness? What biological, cognitive, affective, volitional, social and sin-based factors contribute to the onset of illness?
G. A definition of the elements in a comprehensive theory of cure 1. What needs to be cured? 2. What needs to happen for a sick person to get well? H. A development of the techniques that govern/guide the therapeutic process 1. What techniques hold power for healing? 2. How/when are the powers of the techniques maximized? 3. What
I. A comprehensive counseling theory should consider the following 10 constructs:
A. A delineation of personality structure (See the Concentric Circles Diagramming the Self)
1. What is affirmed regarding the structure of personality? 2. If structure is disregarded, how are we to think regarding personality?
B. An explanation of motivation 1. What pushes/drives the structure to produce behaviors? 2. What impact does the past, present, and future have on behaviors? 3. What role does the unconscious, preconscious, and conscious mind play in influencing human behavior?
C. A description of human development 1. Does personality change across the lifespan? 2. If personality changes, in what way does it change, how does it change, and how does this impact an individual’s behavior?
D. An accounting for individual differences How do we account for how individuals differ from one another? E. A definition of health 1. What does the healthy individual look like? (See the Grid for Tracking Progress in the Core, Soul [T.F.V/C], Body, Relationships.) 2. What is the impact of systems on health? F. A definition of illness 1. What does illness look like? 2. What causes illness? What biological, cognitive, affective, volitional, social and sin-based factors contribute to the onset of illness?
G. A definition of the elements in a comprehensive theory of cure 1. What needs to be cured? 2. What needs to happen for a sick person to get well? H. A development of the techniques that govern/guide the therapeutic process 1. What techniques hold power for healing? 2. How/when are the powers of the techniques maximized? 3. What