My Counseling Orientation
Interested in taking a deep dive into my counseling orientation/philosophy? You can check out my Master’s Level Professional Portfolio here. A portfolio is a collection of experience-based materials and reflective information that demonstrates various dimensions of graduate student work, philosophy, skills, and attitudes. I had to defend my portfolio as a graduation requirement for Adler Graduate School. Needless to say, I am immensely proud of my work.
Not up for reading this 16-page behemoth? That’s totally fair. Here are some highlights:
My professional identity is influenced by both my career as a naturopathic doctor and my journey to becoming a mental health counselor. Naturopathic Medicine and Counseling go hand in hand! Both Naturopathic Medicine and Counseling are based on a wellness, strengths-based model that emphasizes holism, prevention, education, and the therapeutic relationship.
I completed my counseling practicum and internship at Lifestance Health in their community-based Children’s Therapeutic Success and Supports Services (CTSS) branch. I went through significant professional growth over my practicum and internship. I learned how to help clients experiencing challenging behaviors. I understand what meeting clients “where they are at” and also on a “horizontal plane” rather than a “vertical plane” means. I believe, especially with children, it can be easy to fall into the “I’m the adult/professional, and I’m in charge, and you are the kid, and you have to listen to me” way of thinking, but that does not work in a therapeutic relationship. I can intuitively give clients a “fresh start” every session. Especially for children with behavioral challenges, being a constant person in their life who does not hold their behaviors “against them” can be therapeutic.
As a #AdlerGrad, I have to talk about Adlerian Theory (AKA Individual Psychology)! Adlerian Therapy is a goal-oriented and psychodynamic therapy based on the theories of Alfred Adler. Alfred Adler had a positive view of human nature, emphasizing growth and development, individuals having control over their destiny (i.e., soft determinism), and people having purposeful behavior to strive towards superiority and fulfillment of life tasks. Additionally, Adlerian Psychology views discouragement and lack of community feeling as the underlying cause of most faulty beliefs and goals of misbehavior, which lead to mental health pathology. From an Adlerian view, the “antidote” to this is encouragement, Gemeinshaftsgefuhl (i.e., social interest/community feeling), and a mutually respectful therapeutic relationship. People’s behaviors are also influenced by their family dynamics, early childhood experiences, and how they interpret those experiences.
Alfred Adler was born near Vienna, Austria in 1870. In the early 1900s, Adler met regularly with Sigmund Freud as he began to develop psychoanalysis. Yet Adler soon parted ways with Freud to begin his own branch of therapy, which would become Adlerian Therapy or Individual Psychology.
It seems impossible to overstate how fundamental understanding multicultural perspectives is to the practice of counseling. In fact, a counselor cannot call themselves ethical if they do not strive towards multicultural competence. Being culturally competent is not something that a counselor “arrives at” or “becomes” but is a lifelong effort that requires ongoing self-examination. To strive towards cultural competence, a counselor needs to become aware of themselves and their own biases and preferences, needs to be knowledgeable about the impact of cultural and environmental factors on people’s development and worldview, and needs to be effective in working with people from diverse populations. “Good counselors” are those who work through a culturally responsive lens. Part of being a “good”, thorough, conscientious clinician is thinking both holistically and individually, and seeing clients within the context of their environment and upbringing.
Throughout my coursework at Adler, I have discovered that I align most with Person-Centered Theory, Individual Psychology, Gestalt, and Cognitive Behavioral Theory. These theories most align with my worldview, and beliefs about human nature, mental illness, and wellness. I particularly appreciate existential, constructivist, holistic, and humanistic theories, emphasizing personal growth and self-regulation. While I believe no one theory is better than any others, my selected theories allow me to best help my clients become more self-aware and cope with mental illness, instability, upheaval, or change.
But what does that mean in non-therapist speak? Here are the takeaways from this takeaway!
1. My approach is person-centered and non-pathologizing, AKA not focused on your diagnosis, but rather on collaboratively problem-solving issues or challenges you might be facing. We’ll develop ways we can use your strengths for problem-solving your concerns instead of “fixing” who you are. You are not “broken”.
2. As the Buddha said, “Life is suffering”. Like any emotion, suffering is a part of all human existence. Once we accept that we are suffering, we can make meaning of our pain, experiences, and lives overall. Even when our lives are out of control, we can focus on our own power and the aspects of ourselves that we can control.
3. I often utilize evidence-based Cognitive Behavioral techniques to help clients identify the connections between their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. These techniques can be helpful for challenging thought patterns and negative beliefs that no longer serve you.
If you are struggling with a mental health concern, please reach out! I am here to support you.
