Description
Background
Psychotherapy is both an art and a science. Understanding the contribution of both these elements and achieving a proper balance in actual episodes of therapy is essential to optimize therapeutic success. All too often, behavioral health professionals have emphasised one and neglected the other (O`Donohue, Cummings & Cummings, 2006. p.1) As O’Donohue et al’s quote indicates, the profession of counselling/psychotherapy has long wrestled with whether therapeutic change is a ‘science’ or an ‘art’. Those who emphasise the ‘science’ approach advocate seeking evidence for the causes of problems and the specific mechanisms of changes, and emphasise that practitioners rigorously apply this knowledge as well as the scientific process in therapy. In contrast, those who say that therapeutic change is an ‘art’ often emphasise the individuality of each client and therapeutic relationship, the necessary creativity of the therapist, and the less quantifiable aspects of the interaction that might promote change. A major task for beginning counsellors is to integrate both science and art into their practice. Thus, the purpose of this essay is to allow you to explore and compare two theories of psychotherapy for what they have to say on the art and science of counselling.
Task
The task requires you to write a word academic essay on the topic of how two specific counselling theories articulate the science and the art of therapeutic change. You can choose any two theories that have been studied in this course. The essay should address the following sections:
1. Provide a succinct introduction of the essential features of the debate about the relative place of ‘art’ and ‘science’ in counselling/psychotherapy. What are the arguments for the emphasis of ‘science’ in counselling? What are the arguments for the emphasis of the ‘art’ of counselling? What is the value and the potential of seeing counselling as both art and science?
2. Discuss how each theory articulates its science. What are the major assumptions and concepts of the theories? What explanation does each theory give as to the cause of people coming therapy? What are the major mechanisms of therapeutic change according to each theory? What reasoning or evidence does the theory put forward to support its positions?
3. Discuss how each theory articulates the art of change. What guidance does each theory give to practitioners about the application of its ideas in the realities of therapy? What do they each say about the counsellor’s way of being, way of relating or way of intervening that contribute to positive change?
4. Drawing on the previous sections, make a critical comparison of the relative similarities and differences in how they approach the subject of therapeutic change. On the basis of this comparison, evaluate the strength and limitations of each theory’s position on the science and art of change. Present the reader with a well-reasoned and supported conclusion on this comparison/evaluation.
As an academic essay, it is expected that your writing is informed by good quality academic literature and evidence. In completing all these sections, note that the essay is intended to read as a cohesive whole, with a logical flow of ideas leading to your conclusions.
Questions
What theories can I use?
What is meant by ‘art’ and ‘science’ in this essay?
How many references do I need?
How do I write a personal position?
Some theories – for example, CBT or Psychodynamic – represent overarching terms for a diverse group of many therapies. What part of the theory do we focus on?
Do I need to choose contrasting theories?
Are we allowed to use videos of key theorists (e.g. Rogers, Ellis) as primary sources?
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