Personal Counseling Position Paper As a budding counselor, I approach the field with the belief that all humans are equal and worthy of assistance in achieving their highest potential. I also believe people can change and that even the most desperate situations can be improved. There would be no point in attempting to help others if I didn’t believe that humans can change and that a life worth living is attainable. Theory of Counseling and Change I subscribe to Albert Bandura’s social learning theory. Bandura (1977) describes this theory as imbuing in the client “new patterns of behavior [that] can be acquired through direct experience or by observing the behavior of others.” So, for people seeking change, whether it be from addiction or mental …show more content…
This change can decrease symptoms and distress by incorporating new ways of processing information, as well as increasing coping skills. The power of cognitive behavioral therapy has been shown through scientific studies that “individuals who undergo CBT show changes in brain activity, suggesting that this therapy actually improves your brain functioning as well.” CBT’s core principles are “identifying negative or false beliefs and testing or restructuring them.” (“NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness | Psychotherapy,” …show more content…
This process aids in the client achieving a deeper understanding of their problem behaviors. Through exploring the origin of the client’s problematic behaviors, the counselor assists in the acquisition of healthier behaviors. This process includes clearly identifying the new target behaviors and goals to achieve those. Professionals work with the client to create a treatment plan that includes well-defined, measurable goals and finally, an objective assessment of the counseling