My Counseling Theory Paper
EPS 601 Theories of Counseling November 27, 2006 Professor: Dr. Pit Kolodinsky Student: Melanie A. Korth
Clinical Setting It is my goal to become a school counselor in a local high school.
Population I intend to work with: Yuma has a diverse group of high school students. Over fifty percent are of Hispanic origin. Many children are first or second generation immigrants and don’t have a good grasp of the English language. Many of them bring with them a strong identification to their Mexican heritage; therefore, I will have to be sensitive to their culture in order to better understand them. There are also children of military members, who have moved to different countries and cities every couple of years since they were born. Many of them have difficulty forming friendships and effective relationships. Many of these adolescents often act out and get in trouble often. It is also important to try and understand the different experiences in their lives to get through to them as well.
Key theoretical concepts/techniques I intend to use: After studying the different counseling theories, I have discovered that each theory is valid and there are ideas and techniques that I would use out of each of them. However, there are some theories more than others that I would use to guide me in my daily school counseling. First, I would like to address Psychoanalytic Therapy. I agree with Freud on the power the unconscious in influencing how we think, feel and behave and that dreams are powerful tools in helping people recognize their internal conflicts, central struggles, wants hopes and visions of the future. He also acknowledges the power of the past and
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early traumatic childhood experiences in preventing people from living happy, healthy, well-adjusted lives. I agree more with Erikson’s psychosocial perspective than Freud’s psychosexual stages in that people continue to develop socially throughout their lives and that there are...