A simple review of certain medications for basic depression and anxiety as well as their Holistic counterparts
Please also review AIHCP’s Grief Counseling Certification as well as AIHCP’s other healthcare certifications
Behavioral Health Care
AIHCP: Person/Client Centered Counseling
AIHCP has numerous blogs based on Carl Rogers and his Client or Human/Person Centered Based Counseling. This blog will focus some on the general themes, goals and history of the therapy and how it set the standard for many modern day counseling techniques. Whether one belongs solely to Rogerian Counseling, or instead mixes and matches some of the philosophies and skills where needed, it remains nearly impossible for numerous Rogerian ideals not to be part of any counseling curriculum and utilized within the professional and clinical spectrum.
Please also review AIHCP’s various Behavioral and Healthcare Certifications and see if they meet your academic and professional goals.
Rogerian Psychology and Counseling- A Client/Person Centered Approach
In essence, Rogers possessed a more optimistic account of human nature and believed that helping people involved helping them help themselves and find inner healing. Instead of diagnosis, or pre-determined psycho-analysis, Roger developed a psychology and counseling that frowned upon diagnosis as well as counselor authoritarian directives but saw the counselor more as a guide and helper in unlocking a person’s potential to find happiness and balance in life. This type of counseling took some key core concepts from Adler and then became a main stay in the counseling fields since the Mid 20th Century.
Rogers taught that counselors need to help clients self-actualize to become their best self. This was accomplished through guidance that helped the person choose what is best for them. The counselor could help a person reach self actualization by helping them find congruence or genuineness with their true self. When a person was at odds with their true self or their words did not match their deeds, a counselor could help a person see this incongruence (Tan, 2022). In addition to helping a person actualize self, counselors within Rogerian schools of thought help clients understand the value of their own subjective experiences. Rogers believed that the subjective experience of a person was the most true form of self and the best way to find congruence within a person. However, the most lasting and important aspect involves the client’s condition of worth. Rogers emphasized that counselors must show deep empathy, unconditional positive regard and genuineness as core concepts in helping people (Tan, 2022). Ultimately the basis of Rogerian therapy is to not solve problems but to unlock an individual’s own solving problem abilities (Tan, 2022).
In other blogs, we discuss the critical importance of unconditional positive regard, congruence and empathy. These again are the most lasing elements of Rogerian psychology. While many adhere to some of the other concepts of subjective experience, or the role of the counselor, these three standards of counseling remain core in most counseling schools as essential elements in helping people. Beyond just being taught, these lasting qualities of the counselor also show empirically and in clinical studies strong effectiveness in helping the client. While classic Rogerian counseling swayed away from diagnosis or various therapeutic strategies, it always emphasized the importance of the counselor/client relationship. In many studies, this is the most key part whether counseling works or not. While various therapeutic strategies are essential, which ones used or not used, has more power when amplified with the counselor/client relationship.
In recent years, Rogerian Counseling has also been transformed by modifications, such Motivational Interviewing. Tan points out that this is also a person centered approach and also has many shared core elements (2022). Initially developed by William Miller, Motivational Interviewing utilizes Rogerian strategies and counselor based qualities to help clients reach goals. Tan points out that Motivational Interviewing is a collaborative approach of strengthening a person’s motivation and commitment to change. He also points out that it looks to address the ambivalence about change and is designed to help the person’s motivation by assigning goals and also exploring a person’s reasons to look for change (2022).
Interviewing involves utilizing empathy, congruence as well as unconditional positive regard, but also involves the counselor rolling with resistance of the client in a non-confrontational way. Instead helping to facilitate a picture for the client to see on one’s own to desire the change. In doing so, the counselor helps to support self efficacy and freedom of choice to fully embrace a change and work towards a goal (Tan, 2022).
Strengths and Weaknesses
Like any counseling system or psychological school of thought, one can be tied down and limited if only subject to one way of doing things with the psychological mind. This bears true with one who only utilizes psychodynamic ways without integration of other possible therapies in the cognitive fields, or for that matter approaching one from a cognitive or behavioral school of thought. Like wise, person centered psychology and counseling has strengths that can be employed, but also weaknesses when isolated and used as a the only way conducting counseling.
From a strength standpoint, the utilization of the concepts of unconditional positive regard, congruence and empathy are all staples of modern counseling. Person centered therapy also has a very optimistic view of a the human person and is rich in encouraging and helping someone find the ability to change through one’s innate abilities. It treasures freedom to choose which is the only way true change can occur.
From a weakness standpoint, it ins purest form, it avoids diagnosis and some therapies which when involving deeper trauma or pathology require more than just discussing an issue but also helping the mind heal through other proven strategies. Also, it emphasizes a complete subjective form of happiness and process of making decisions. This can lead to one’s own selfish motives, as well as choosing incorrectly in the overall scheme of life. Counselors while observing need to sometimes direct. Rogers did point to empathetic confrontation, but it needs to sometimes go farther than merely helping a person see the contradiction in one’s life but to also sometimes guide the person to the right choice. In Rogerian psychology, the counselor remains as benign a source of authority as possible in regards to direction. Many clients need guidance. This is not to assert they need told what and how to do something, but sometimes, a person needs direction. The concepts of subjective truth also come into conflict with many ideals on objective truth, as well as the person belonging to more than merely oneself but also belonging to a social construct that includes other people, as well as religious beliefs. For some, God is the source of self actualization, not the human person. For others, self actualization can become a very selfish design that ignores others and their needs. (Tan, 2022).
So again, I feel there always needs to be a measure of balance with any systems of psychology and counseling. While schools of thought exist in their purity, many counselors utilize the best of all the schools and fit it to meet the unique needs of a client.
Conclusion
Carl Rogers ideas and philosophies presented to counseling were revolutionary when compared to Freudian systems. It expressed that individuals were not preprogrammed and had the innate ability to find congruence when guided by a trained counselor. The counselor was not there to solve problems but help untap the ability of the client to solve their problems. This leads to a very subjective experience of self actualization which has its strengths and weaknesses in counseling. The largest contribution of Rogers was the counseling qualities he demanded from all counselors. Namely congruence, empathy and unconditional positive regard. These elements help forge a healthy counselor and client relationship which according to studies is more important and a bigger factor in client progress than any particular therapeutic strategy employed alone. It is the counselor and client’s relationship that is the biggest factor in whether the counseling experiment works or does not work.
Please also review AIHCP’s Behavioral Health Certifications in Grief Counseling, Christian Counseling, Trauma Counseling, Crisis Counseling, Stress Management and Anger Mangement.
Additional Blogs
Empathy in Counseling: Access here
Rogerian Counseling and Depression: Access here
Humanistic Approach and Grief: Access here
Reference
Tan, S-Y. (2022). Counseling and psychology: A Christian perspective (2nd Edition). Baker Academic.
Additional Resources
The Role of Empathy in Effective Counselling. (2024). Mental Mastery. Access here
“Accurate Empathic Understanding: A Core Component of Client-Centered Counseling” (2024). Psychology Town. Access here
Sutton, J. (2021). “Unconditional Positive Regard: 17 Worksheets & Activities”. Positive Psychology. Access here
Cherry, K. (2024). “Unconditional Positive Regard in Psychology”. Very Well Mind. Access here
Existential Therapy in Counseling: A Grief Counseling as well as a Christian Counseling Perspective
Meaning of existence plays a key role in understanding one’s daily trials, anxieties, stresses, as well as losses. Meaning in life can re-interpret an event for a person. From an bad event, individuals with meaning, can move forward with a better understanding and a fuller interpretation within life. Those without meaning to loss, or meaning to horrible things can fall victim to hopelessness and despair. Without an anchor of meaning, one can be swept by the various currents of life with no true direction. Existential philosophy, as well as Existential therapy, looks to find meaning in life. In this short blog, we will examine Existentialism and its influence on Existential therapy, as well as address the critical necessity of meaning in grief counseling, as well as conflicting issues between Christian theology and Existentialism.
Please review AIHCP’s Grief Counseling Certification, as well as AIHCP’s Christian Grief Counseling Certification and see if they meet your academic and professional goals.
Existentialist Philosophy and Therapy
Existentialist philosophy has two branches. One which encompasses a theist and sometimes Christian perspective, as well as an atheistic or nihilist branch. Philosophers such as Gabriel Marcel, Soren Kirkegaard and Paul Tillich approach existentialism from a theistic perspective, while others such as Frederick Nietzsche, Martin Heidegger and Paul Sarte present a atheistic and nihilist approach to existence. The core of the philosophy addresses humanity’s existential realities without reserve. Death, choice, freedom, isolation and meaning or lack of meaning in life are all important aspects of that cannot be ignored. Within this state of humanity, existence and its subjective and phenomenological interpretation of that existence details what a person is to be or find meaning in. There is no collective pre-existing template or essence of the human blueprint, but merely existence. As Sarte famously stated, “existence precedes essence” which at its core puts a subjective morality and choice at odds with a pre-existing objective template of reality and moral choice.
Humanity’s freedom to choose and become without fear is one of the guiding principles of non-theistic existentialist approach. As Frederick Nietzsche proposed, one must courageously drop the shackles of objective morality or the concept of God and become a “super man” who forges forward with great courage in creating one’s own essence and identity. While this is not the purpose of this blog to counter theological arguments over moral objectivity and the existence of God, this type of existentialist thought obviously places more power over one’s own decision what is good or evil.
Existentialist philosophy looks at human experience as a way one encounters life and discovers meaning. Through one’s inner self, one’s self with nature and one’s self and experiences with others. Human beings are free to relate and form one’s own meanings based on these three basic levels of existence (Tan, 2022). In this self discovery, one must be true to one’s self or authentic. It is when one ceases to be authentic with self, that pathology emerges. This becomes difficult because of natural existential dread and anxiety which in itself is not a bad thing but quite a natural thing. Within existential anxiety, one must deal with death and life, the need to act or not act, isolation versus companionship, and finally meaning or meaninglessness (Tan, 2022). A healthy existence is when these issues are faced, discussed and analyzed. When one does not dismiss these truths, as well as live authentically with oneself, then one finds a healthy balance in life.
Tan lists some of the key elements of existentialist philosophy of being human. He lists first, the capacity for awareness, second, freedom and responsibility, third, creating identity and establishing relationships, fourth, searching for meaning, fifth, accepting anxiety as part of life and finally, awareness of death and non being (2022). It is when one lies to oneself and avoids these principles that pathology can occur in life. Rollo May, a existentialist therapist contends that anxiety is a critical part of life itself and now all of it is toxic but something that needs faced and addressed. Clients need taught how to face anxiety and solve the issues and problems while remaining true to oneself (Tan, 2022).
Application of Meaning in Life
Victor Frankl, a holocaust survivor, discussed in detail the grave importance of finding meaning in life, especially, in loss and suffering. He saw a deeper purpose that could help drive one beyond the mere presence of suffering. His meaning was found in love and the dignity of the human person to push beyond mere tasks and elevate them to a higher power. In this way, Frankl was not atheistic in existential thought and like others, saw the importance of spirituality as a way to find meaning. Kirkegaard also saw the importance of emptying one’s anxiety and existential angst into the grounding of all existence which is God. Hence, while to some therapists, meaning can be subjective and coming from within the person, other theistic existentialists promote the possibility that meaning can come from an outside source.
Regardless, the power of meaning is a strong driving force in interpreting life events. Frankl helped individuals find deeper meaning in his Logotherapy which utilized four primary techniques. First, he employed the Socratic dialogue, second, paradoxical intent, dereflection and attitude modification (Tan, 2022). Within the Socratic dialogue, one is directed to take a complete inventory of one’s life. This helps the person discover direction but also what matters most. Within paradoxical intent, Logotherapy looks to present the absurdity of a habit or behavior by exaggerating it. Within dereflection, the therapist helps the client see other elements of an event. In this way it hopes to utilize a type of behavioral cognitive therapy where the individual rethinks the event in different perspectives. The idea is not to dismiss or devalue the event but to approach it from different aspects. Finally, attitude modification, helps the client to change certain views or behaviors by not lamenting over the past which cannot be changed, but instead by learning from it and making good changes.
Frankl saw in humanity that all are good initially at one’s core and that it was the purpose of the therapist to help enlighten a person of one’s inner talents to utilize the goodness of the inner core. He also pointed out that life has meaning and it is one’s goal to find meaning, which usually should be in something transcending, albeit, life does not guarantee happiness even with meaning, However, it the meaning and finding that meaning in the moment that all can find direction even in the most worst case scenarios. In this way, a person retains his core, his uniqueness as well as his freedom.
Meaning and Grief
Existential philosophy and therapy plays a key role in grief and loss. Robert Neimeyer has emphasized the critical importance of meaning making in loss. Meaning is essential in understanding the nature of the loss and how the loss plays a role in the overall life of a person. Individuals who utilize meaning and find meaning not only in loss but overall life can find smoother ways to adapt to the loss and move forward with the loss incorporated into one’s life. Those without meaning struggle with suffering and loss. This was also the case that Frankl noticed in the Nazi concentration camps. Those who lost hope or meaning, even meaning in the most dire situations, would gradually fade quicker to despair and death.
Existential philosophy also demands that we do not hide from natural anxieties. In the modern world, death becomes a taboo subject, but in the lens of existentialism, it is something that should be addressed, confronted and spoken about. If we ignore death, if we ignore unpleasant thoughts of non being, then one is not living authentically according to existentialist philosophy. Existentialist therapists will help clients face the loss, understand it, and find meaning moving forward from the loss. These are all concepts and techniques that coincide with modern bereavement science.
Existentialism and Christian Counseling
As stated, there are many forms of existentialism. Some forms adapt a Christian view on life that surrenders the existential experience to God under the example of Christ. In addition, many of the concepts are concepts to use in counseling. Seeking to find answers about existence, freedom, responsibility and meaning are important concepts for the Christian but the answers from secular existentialism seeks the inner self and experience instead of the moral law of God and established dogma. In secular settings, existentialism can allow one to become one’s own god in decisions. It also tends to find most pathology from within or failure to acknowledge the existential anxieties of life and ignores many other sources of issues. Many issues stem from also biological or social settings, not just one’s imbalance with authenticity and existential anxieties (Tan, 2022).
Again, when one surrenders oneself to the autonomous self, one does not find true peace or meaning as secular existentialists would contend. That peace is through surrender of one’s anxieties to God, which is a self grounding in the Self (Tan, 2022). Kierkagaard illustrates this importance, and even Frankl addresses the surrender of self to something to a higher transcendence as something more benefitting and long lasting than merely surrender to the autonomous self. In these ways, some concepts of existentialism are useable in Christian Counseling with a strong precaution of avoiding its more secular and atheistic roots.
Conclusion
Existentialist therapy while more so a philosophy than a true therapeutic concept employs meaning as a key concept for modern counseling. Meaning is essential for understanding loss, suffering and death. Existentialist therapy also helps one to not ignore the anxieties of life but to face them and find meaning in them. While some aspects of it have theistic wrappings, other elements are more atheistic in thought and look for the autonomous self and one’s authenticity to help build one’s character. This leads one ultimately to a subjective perspective on each person’s meaning of life as opposed to an objective and more dogmatic one. Regardless of belief, it has numerous benefits for counseling, in particular for Grief Counseling. Obviously, if not religious, the power of meaning in life, even if subjective, can be a powerful source for success in the world.
Please also review AIHCP’s Grief Counseling Program as well as AIHCP’s Christian Grief Counseling Program and Christian Counseling Program. AIHCP also offers a wide range of secular programs in grief but also as well in both healthcare and behavioral healthcare programs.
Additional Blog
Jungian Psychology: Access here
Reference
Tan, S-Y. (2022). Counseling and psychology: A Christian perspective (2nd Edition). Baker Academic.
Additional Resources
Perera, A. (2025). Viktor Frankl’s Logotherapy. Simply Psychology. Access here
Existential Therapy. Psychology Today. Access here
Existentialism. PhilosophiesOfLife.org. Access here
Sidor, S & Dubin, K. (2025). The Search for Meaning: An Existential Perspective on Human Experience. Existential Therapy: Sweet Institute. Access here
AIHCP Video Blog: Changing Habits
Producing change from a psychological standpoint is difficult. Subconscious trends and neuropathways make it difficult to change. This can make things difficult for changes in health as well as addiction. In addition, changes of habit from a counseling perspective can be difficult without a good plan and goals. Theologically, one can also see the idea of change and habit closely associated with vice and virtue which are considered habits of bad or excellence.
Please also review AIHCP’s Healthcare Certifications and see if they meet any of your academic or professional goals.
Trauma Informed Care: Neurobiology Survival Response Video Blog
Natural responses to survive are not pathological but healthy. However, human beings whose natural survival mechanisms become survival strategies that leave the person in a constant state of hyper or hypo arousal. This video takes a closer look at the neurobiology behind the brain during and after trauma responses.
Please also review AIHCP’s Trauma Informed Care program and see if it matches your academic and professional goals.
Jungian Psychology and Counseling: In the Arena of Grief and Modern Counseling
Carl Jung is one of the pioneers of modern psychology, along side Sigmund Freud and Alfred Adler. In fact, Jung for the longest period was part of Freud’s Psychoanalytic society, but like Adler, Jung also soon became at odds with all of Freud’s concepts. Despite this, Jung nevertheless maintained a strong affinity for the study of the conscious and unconscious mind and how they can be better aligned for optimal health. In this blog, we look briefly at some key concepts of Jungian psychology and what aspect of these theories hold strong modern day weight and significance for counselors.
Please also review AIHCP’s numerous behavioral and healthcare certifications, including programs in Grief Counseling, Christian Counseling and as well as Trauma Informed Care and Crisis Intervention.
Jungian Psychology
Carl Young’s psychology was based upon the conscious mind, subconscious mind and collective unconscious. Jung looked to help individuals find find individualization by awakening the subconscious mind but also integrated both the subconscious and conscious for a more healthy and whole person (Tan, 2022). Jung considered the conscious mind to be a person’s accessible aspect of one’s nature in which the psyche or personality of the person resided. Within the psyche, the ego exists as a unifier of memories and conscious thoughts of the entirety of the person. Within this development, the self emerges as the center of self realization. One’s personality is comprised of both the self and persona. The persona is the mask or behavior one exhibits in public, but the true self is what defines the person. Personas that overlap to far into self, can cause complexes and deeper issues in knowing oneself perfectly. Jung, also developed theories that have been more developed today with two of the most core basic personality traits of introvert or extrovert (Tan, 2022).
Beneath the layer of consciousness, the personal unconscious exists. This, according to Jung, is the aspect of one’s personality where thoughts, feelings, experiences, as well as perceptions are screened out of the conscious mind. These unconscious aspects of oneself need to be discovered and integrated with the conscious self. It is there that one can find repressed memories, forgotten experiences or various personal complexes. Finally, unique to Jung was the concept of the collective unconscious which consists of all universal human qualities that are shared and transpersonal to all human beings. People, according to Jung, are predisposed to certain feelings or archetypes in how one perceives oneself and experiences. Archetypes have form but not true content (Tan, 2022). Archetypes work in such a way to help the unconscious connect to the conscious and influence one’s behavior.
Jung spent many years studying diverse populations and cultures to try find universal archetypes and symbols of those archetypes in the human collective unconscious. Among the many included death, birth, power, the child, the hero, the sage, the earth mother, the snake, the demon and unity (Tan, 2022). Also included were the anima or animus sexual archetypes that exist within male and female. The anima representing the female qualities within a male, and the animus representing the male qualities within a woman (Tan). Also of importance was the persona or mask of the individual’s personality as well as the darker more primitive side of the shadow, which correlated with Freud’s ID.
Jung believed that through understanding one’s unconscious mind, both personal and collective, as well as identifying one’s archetypes, one could find self actualization and balance in life. However, since many of these concepts took time to unearth, he did not feel that anyone until their middle age could truly emerge as their true self.
Dream Analysis
A key aspect of Jungian psychology and therapy involves dream analysis. The trained Jungian therapist is able to help individuals understand the subconscious and collective unconscious mind through dreams and better identify one’s true self. Jung did not necessarily see dreams as repressed thoughts as did Freud, but Jung saw dreams as reminders to important things or what one should be attentive towards. He believed dreams could display a person’s fear, wishes, impulses or solutions to problems (Tan, 2022). In analysis, the parts of the dream, if recalled, are divided and interpreted through various symbols in dreams. Jung, believed that therapy is a journey between therapist and client, not so much a distant observation. He believed that through thee interpretation of dreams, as well as other techniques, therapists could help clients transform, individualize and self actualize their true self.
Modern Significance
While only a small percentage of therapists identify as Jungian or for that matter train within the school of Jungian Psychology, there still exists therapists who employ his methods and train under this discipline. Like Freudian Psychology, there still are many benefits that can have been seen in case studies to show benefit, although many lack a more intensive case study with controlled and uncontrolled groupings. Many counselors may utilize some concepts from Jung and apply as needed to individual cases, while not completely and totally undertaking a Jungian theme in their practice.
According to Tan, Jung made meaningful contributions to the developments on the study of personality, the focus on midlife, and the potential of wisdom and knowledge latent within the unconscious mind. In addition, Jung emphasized in these dialogues of self with the unconscious to become aware of the shadow self, or the darker side of one’s nature, to not free it, but to acknowledge it and learn to control it. Finally, Jung contributed greatly to the concepts of dream analysis as well as transference and countertransference between counselor and client.
Tan also discussed possible weaknesses within Jungian psychology. He points out that the concept of the collective unconscious as theory remains impossible to verify empirically and also the lacks controlled case studies. In addition, many of the concepts are very gnostic in theory. Tapping into unknown levels of unconsciousness to discover knowledge resembles a gnostic ideal, as well as Jung’s belief in the spiritual realm, which instead of finding a spiritual relationship with a personal God, views this spiritual relationship as a archetype to help one to know thyself. Obviously, Jung’s spirituality was something that drew a wedge between Freud and himself. Jung’s spirituality is far from one that would resemble most Christian traditions but better resembles those who consider themselves more spiritual than religious. In addition, evil or the shadow side of human nature while identified as not good, remains in many ways more so like an equal power to the good that must be balanced. This also differs greatly from many monotheistic ideals on morality.
One can still state overall that Jungian psychology has numerous unique elements and many useful techniques and tools in understanding the human mind. For that reason, many of his concepts are still studied and adapted to modern therapies and can be used for a wide variety of issues ranging from anxiety to depression, to phobias and and issues of self esteem.
Grief and Trauma
Carl Jung remains a pioneer in the area of psychology and one would be very naive to discredit many of his contributions or even not apply when applicable some of his ideas, especially in the areas of human philosophy, personality, human development and self actualization and individualization to a more holistic and mental health.
From a grief perspective, human loss and pain involves adjustment and change. Jungian concepts of helping the conscious mind and subconscious mind find each other can help one find more meaning in loss and work out any pathological reactions to loss itself. Dream analysis can also aid the person in understanding the loss and the time it takes for the mind to process the loss. The same can be true for trauma. Trauma exists within the subconscious mind. Traumatic memories due to intense emotional imprinting and survival mechanisms can leave the subconscious mind in a survival default mode causing anxiety. Understanding the unconscious mind, finding balance and self actualization can all play key roles in helping one process trauma properly.
Conclusion
Please also review AIHCP’s numerous Healthcare Certifications, as well as its Grief Counseling Program. Other programs include Christian Counseling, Trauma Informed Care, Anger Management, Crisis Intervention and also Stress Management. Many Jungian theories can help counselors in these areas.
Additional Blogs
Freudian Defense Mechanisms- Access here
Additional Resources
McCleod, S. (2025). Carl Jung’s Theory of Personality. Simply Psychology. Access here
Jungian Therapy. Psychology Today. Access here
Heyl, J. (2025). Carl Jung: Biography, Archetypes, Theories, Beliefs. VeryWellMind. Access here
What is Jungian Psychology? (2024). Routledge. Access here
Trauma Informed Care Program and Grooming Video
Predators and perpetrators groom children in advance and usually know the child as compared to the more rare brazen kidnapping scenarios. This video takes a closer look at grooming. Please also review AIHCP’s Healthcare Certification Program as well as AIHCP’s Trauma Informed Care Program
AIHCP and Healthcare Certification Blog: Alfred Adler and Individual Psychology
Alfred Adler, who many consider to be the father of modern psychology differed greatly from Sigmund Freud. In fact, Adler was once part of Freud’s psychoanalytic society, but was removed due to many of his differences from Freud considering human potential and his insistence on looking farther than merely ones parental upbringing but also looking at multiple other social aspects. He also differed from Freud in the counselor client relationship. It is of then wonder than many human centered philosophies, such as Rogerian counseling, stemmed and can trace its roots back to Adler.
Please also review AIHCP’s numerous healthcare certifications, as well as behavioral and mental health certifications in grief counseling, trauma informed care, stress management, anger management, crisis intervention, as well spiritual and Christian counseling
Adlerian Counseling
Alfred Adler’s approach was far less pessimistic than Freud’s outlook and instead of subconscious determinism, Adler saw potential (Tan, 2022). Adler focused on goal orientation with less focus on the subconscious and more attention to the conscious mind to meet goals and develop one’s potential (Tan, 2022). This led to Adler’s “Individual Psychology” that looked at a more wholistic view point of human nature rather than just limiting to subconscious and biology factors. Below are some of his key concepts in approaching psychology and counseling.
Subjective Perception of Reality
Adler took a phenomenological approach to human experience as something subjective to the agent and how the agent responds to a myriad of experiences. This approach is very much tied to numerous modern schools of thought. The counselor instead of quietly and out of view interpreting instead becomes an active agent in discussing these experiences with the client (Tan 2022).
Unity and Holistic Development
Adler focused on the full holistic of human nature, emphasizing the purpose of life goals and meeting those goals. In doing, so Adler is famous for identifying and coining the term “inferiority complex”. Many attribute this term due to the fact Adler was one of many children and faced inferiority complexes himself. Adler believed that one could overcome these inferiority complexes by continuing to strive for perfection and competence. He, however, warned of how inferiority complexes can become pathological, as well as superiority complexes which is merely a mask of feeling inferior (Tan, 2022).
Social Interest and Community Feeling
Adler also emphasized the importance of the individual’s role in community and social life as an important part of being a human person. He also considered how one contributed to society with his or her talents as key part of a healthy mental person (Tan, 2022).
Life Tasks
In contrast to Freuds sexual phases of development, Adler emphasized the importance of completing life tasks. He listed the task of building friendships, love-marriage task of intimacy and the occupational task of work and making contributions to society. Later professionals would also add self acceptance, development of spirituality and the parenting and family task. (Tan, 2022).
Birth Order
Key to Adler, since he belonged to a large family, was birthing order and how it plays a significant role in one’s personality. Like Freud, Adler maintained most of one’s personality is formed within the first 6 years of life, so naturally birth order and the family paradigm was important. Birthing order to Adler did not always necessarily mean by chronical order, but also sometimes with maturity, as well as groupings of children who were far younger than maybe the first two children who were close of age. Within this, Adler categorized eldest characteristics, as well as middle child and youngest child (Tan, 2022).
Counselor/Client Relationship
Adler is seen as the father of modern psychology because of his patient centered approach to counseling. He pointed out the importance of a therapeutic relationship with the patient that encourages, shows empathy, and walks with the client. Important to good counseling are detailed assessment to help the counselor better understand the needs and history of the client. Following assessment are many probing open ended questioning techniques such as “The Question” which entails asking someone if his/her life was different, what would one like to do and the “what if” questioning. Adler hoped to help clients see their self worth as well as to identify their self-concept and self ideal in conjunction with their worldview and ethical convictions (Tan, 2022).
Adler emphasized in self assessment and growth the danger of over-generalizations, false or impossible goals, misconceptions of life’s demands, minimization of self and also pointing out faulty values (Tan, 2022). In doing so Adler developed numerous counseling techniques which include encouragement, immediacy, “as if” exercise, catching oneself prior to bad behavior, creating healthy images, “spitting in the client’s soup”, “Avoidance of the Tar Baby”, push button techniques of controlling emotional regulation, paradoxical intention, task setting and commitment and finally the use of homework for the client (Tan, 2022).
For deeper clarification in some of the terms, “spitting in the client’s soup” is a technique a client uses to take the reward or attraction from something the client seems to be heroic or good. It permits the client to see more clearly how detrimental their statements or emotions are. “Avoiding the Tar Baby” is a technique that pushes the client to address issues they hope to avoid. The “Push Button Technique” is used to help clients visualize pleasant and unpleasant memories and to learn to feel and regulate the emotions within them. Finally, “paradoxical intention” is a technique that exaggerates a bad behavior to help clients see how ridiculous the behavior already is (Tan, 2022).
Conclusion
Albert Ellis, one of the founders of CBT, considered Alfred Adler to be the true father of modern psychology (Tan, 2022). It is easy to see why since it goes well beyond psychoanalysis but engages the client with empathy but also helps the client face their behaviors to promote change. This type of therapy or tools taken from it and borrowed by other schools has proven to be effective for many psychological ailments such as anxiety, affective disorders, personality disorders and anti social disorders.
Please also review AIHCP’s healthcare certifications as well its many behavioral health certifications, including Christian Counseling as well as Grief Counseling.
Additional AIHCP Blogs
Psychoanalytic Counseling: Access here
References
Tan, S-Y. (2022). Counseling and psychotherapy: a Christian perspective. (2nd Edition). Baker Academic, a division of the Baker Publishing Group.
Additional Resources
Cherry, K. (2025). Alfred Adler’s Career, Life, and Theory of Personality. VeryWellMind. Access here
Hoffman, R. (2024). Alfred Adler’s Theory of Individual Psychology and Personality. Simple Psychology. Access here
Adlerian Therapy. (2022). Psychology Today. Access here
Sutton, J. (2023). 22 Most Effective Adlerian Therapy Techniques and Worksheets. PositivePsychology.com. Access here
Psychodynamic Theory in Counseling
For many counselors, psychodynamic and psychoanalytic schools of thought are considered outdated and less used. While many good fruits came from Sigmund Freud and his theories, as a singular and closed system, it fails to meet many of the demands needed in modern psychology. This short blog will take a look at some of the good aspects of psychoanalytic theory and some of the bad and suggest how useful or not useful it may be for clinical counseling, as well as a pastoral counseling.
Please also review AIHCP’s various behavioral and healthcare certifications, as well as its Grief Counseling Program and also Christian Counseling Program
Basics of Psychodynamic and Psychoanalytic
Freud as a medical professional saw most problems from a pathological level of care, instead of a wellness approach to care. Unlike modern psychology, his thought looked more inwards to the subconscious mind and early childhood development. Due to biology and upbringing within the first six years, a person’s personality was determined early, instead of focusing more on a person’s choices later in life, as well as other social and environmental factors leading to personality. In essence, psychoanalytic and psychodynamic is a talk therapy with big emphasis in discussing the past, unlocking the unconscious and finding balance in life.
Within Freud’s system of thought existed the ID, Ego, and Superego. These classical terms are well known to even the least exposed person to psychology and counseling. It is no doubt that one has heard these terms throughout life. In Freudian psychology, the ID is humanity’s inner instincts and drives, such as life instincts of life and sexual energy and death instincts of death and aggression. The Ego dealt more with persons inner self or mind and its relation to the outside world and the Superego was a person’s connection to a code outside of itself, such as customs, laws, morality and conscience (Tan 2022). When these three parts of existence became unbalanced, then pathology was the end result in various forms of anxiety, depression or other more serious mental defects.
Since most issues are at the unconscious level, Freud believed in long term and in-depth counseling that interpreted the person’s subconscious and helped the person face those subconscious issues in a conscious confrontation. By awakening the unconscious and confronting it by bringing the subconscious material to the conscious spotlight, Freud looked to help individuals find peace and reconciliation with who they were and how to adjust.
In doing so, Freud believed the counselor was an interpreter and guide, not a coach or soul helper. Freud believed the counselor must be as neutral as possible and become a listener. This anonymous nature was better created by having a person lay on a couch or sofa out of sightline from the therapist. This led to the next step of free association where the client was encouraged to discuss whatever immediately came to one’s subconscious, in which the therapist would then interpret and when necessary ask necessary questions. In helping the process, the therapist can also utilize dream interpretation as a way to understand the deeper meanings of the subconscious. In addition, the therapist would help the client deal with any resistance to the blocking of the subconscious as to ensure the person is able to face it and understand it better. As the relationship develops, psychodynamic therapists look to interpret and better help through transference in which the client subconsciously begins to relate to the therapist as a parental figure ( Tan 2022).
Finally, Freud greatly depended upon his analysis of one’s stages of life which he tied to human sexuality. The oral, anal, phalic, latency and genital stages of sexual development all played key roles in a person’s psychological and mental development with the body in regards to healthy and unhealthy relationships with parental figures and later adult relationships (Tan 2022).
Utilization Today
Today, there are very few pure psychodynamic therapists who utilize purely only Freudian methodologies. According to Tan, 3 percent of clinical psychologists, percent of counseling psychologists, 5 percent of social workers and 2 percent of counselors consider themselves purely psychodynamic in practice (2022, p. 59). Many modern psychologists or counselors may utilize some aspects of it, or borrow some terms, but most depend more on more patient centered models that incorporate other social factors into the clients life.
From a beneficial standpoint, Freud’s theories do express the importance of the subconscious mind that is a key element of all psychology, especially in regards to the early phases of life and trauma. Freud’s defense mechanisms also illustrate many of humanity’s natural ways to try to avoid pain, suffering, guilt, or responsibility.
From a negative standpoint, Freud’s view of human nature is very pessimistic, as well as deterministic. This can be at odds with more modern patient based models that look to promote healthy change and focus on wellness instead of complete pathology, as well as other motivational drives beyond the sexual (Tan 2022, p. 54). In addition from a grief study perspective, Freud’s view that grief is an imbalance and a pathology itself, does not fall into line with basic bereavement science. Obviously, for the spiritual counselor or those of various faiths, Freud’s atheistic views dismissed spirituality. All recent studies show the important factors faith and spirituality play in a person’s healing process.
Tan also points out that many of Freud’s theories are not easily translated into a testable hypothesis (2022, p. 55). In addition, Tan lists the long and expensive nature of psychoanalytic therapy since it rarely can be completed within a few months, much less a year due to its intensity. Some patients can also become annoyed and the distance and anonymity of the counselor in such a sterile environment. For many, this does not translate well into pastoral counseling settings which demands empathy display in counseling (Tan 2022).
While psychodynamic and psychoanalytic therapy has been seen as a successful method for some, it still lacks empirical controlled and uncontrolled tests to fully testify to its effectiveness. Nonetheless, it is still seen as a empirically useful method of therapy with good results since its conception (TAN 2022).
Ultimately, it comes down to the style that works best for the client and the type of counseling relationship and beliefs the client holds.
Conclusion
While few utilize psychodynamic and psychoanalytic in professional counseling, it still is an effective method for some. This school of counseling has many beneficial concepts and tools that can be employed by a counselor, but for many, it is not the primary school utilized. Instead many borrow certain concepts and use as needed in their professional careers with clients. This does not diminish the shadow of Sigmund Freud’s stamp on modern psychology. He clearly took psychology from a more soul helping endeavor in pastoral settings to a more academic and medical format. While some of this was good, some of it left out centuries of past wisdom seen from the Church and other pastoral traditions. It also neglected some of the basic ideals of a more client centered care with other factors at play seen with Alfred Adler and later Carl Rogers.
Please also review AIHCP’s Christian Counseling Certification, as well as its Grief Counseling program. AIHCP offers also a wide variety of other healthcare certifications
ADDITIONAL AIHCP BLOG
Freudian Self Defense Mechanisms- Access here
References
Tan, S-Y. (2022). Counseling and psychotherapy: a Christian perspective. (2nd Edition). Baker Academic, a division of the Baker Publishing Group.
Additional Resources
Cherry, K. (2025). Sigmund Freud’s Life, Theories, and Influence. VeryWellMind. Access here
Cherry, K. (2025). What Is Psychoanalytic Therapy?. VeryWellMind. Access here
McCleod, S. (2024). Sigmund Freud’s Theories & Contribution to Psychology. Psychology Today. Access here
Psychoanalytic and Psychodynamic Psychology (2022). APA. Access here
Behavioral Health Certifications: Freudian Self Defense Mechanisms
Despite numerous modern objections to various aspects of Freud and psychoanalytic theory and counseling, Sigmund Freud nonetheless gave psychology many beneficial concepts that can be borrowed from his school of thought and utilized to help one understand human nature. Among one of these useful tools are Freud’s defense mechanisms of the ego. To recall, Freud considered the makeup of the human mind to consist of the id, ego, and superego. The id referred to humanity’s natural inclinations and instinctive drives, the ego was in essence the executive drive behind the self and the interaction with the outside world and the superego was humanity’s alteration of self to customs, social patterns and inherited morality. When these three were at odds with each other or in imbalance, then psychological discomfort resulted. This short blog will look at these Freudian defense mechanisms.
Please also review AIHCP’s numerous behavioral and healthcare certifications.
Facing Anxiety and Defense Mechanisms
When dealing with anxiety, or distress, the ego, according to Freud, would attempt to cope with the issues, but sometimes in an unhealthy way through defense systems (Tan 2011, p. 41). Freud stated that in particular, neurotic or moral anxiety caused most individuals to look to defend their actions or views. Neurotic anxiety referred to one’s own fears of being overwhelmed by one’s own desires and drives, while moral anxiety was the fear of being at odds with one’s conscience (Tan 2011, p. 41). Since many individuals’ actions are at odds with their beliefs, then naturally, individuals look to find a way to exist creating a cognitive dissonance. In therapy, it is important to identify these defense mechanisms since they prevent the truth of the matter or the reality of the situation.
Repression
Freud considered repression to the most fundamental and important defense mechanism (Tan 2011, p. 41). At the subconscious level, Freud believed that individuals within their first formative years could repress and block out past and painful memories. Many of these subconscious memories would be lost to consciousness but could only be retraced through therapy or dream work. In addition to these memories, emotions tied to them could also be repressed but remain boiling within one’s subconscious. This involuntary type of defense mechanism helped the person find peace but still left unresolved issues that could fester in one’s later life if not faced.
Denial
Denial is a common defense mechanism and even one of the first responses in grief. Denial looks to push away the horrid reality and to pretend it does not exist. In grief, denial is temporary, but for some denial can become a very dangerous thing as it festers. For instance, if one is diagnosed with a disease, one may live in a state of denial for a very long time, or if one refuses to accept the consequences of bad habits, one can continue down a unhealthy path.
Displacement
Displacement is a common mechanism that is quite unfair to others. Instead of coping with the issue directly or facing the person causing it, one displaces the confrontation and frustration onto an easier substitute. For instance a man who returns home from work, may instead yell at his spouse or children. It is very common for individuals with high level stress to displace the stress source onto someone else. This can cause great turmoil at home or with family and friends for individuals who are unable to channel their frustration into the proper source.
Sublimation
In a very similar way, the stressed person may aim their frustration or energy into other things or projects instead of facing the primary stress itself. This is far better than blaming a person for one’s own issues, but this defense mechanism nonetheless re allocates the problem to something else without finding resolution. In the end, the person at least temporarily is defended from the stress but it remains waiting later.
Reaction Formation
Ironically, some individuals ignore the intense feeling they experience by acting out the exact opposite emotional reaction in a hope of controlling the situation. Instead of confronting a person one dislikes, one instead over exaggerates the response of kindness. While this may seem nice, it is nonetheless toxic as it builds up resentment because the stress or emotion is not being acknowledged or the issue is not being resolved.
Projection
This defense mechanism is very toxic because it places one’s own impulses or behaviors on another person. This permits the person to blame others and to defend oneself from one’s own judgement and consequence. This can occur when a boy hates his father because he believes his father hates him (Tan 2011, p. 42). In essence, projection permits the person to escape the emotion by placing it on the other person.
Rationalization
Sometimes when something bad happens, individuals try to convince themselves that what occurred is not that bad after all. This false attempt to find a silver lining does not permit the person to grieve the situation from a truthful perspective. Because of this, the person then misses the opportunity to face the issue as well as to learn from it. This is why especially in grief counseling, it is important to acknowledge the reality of the situation. It is OK to feel something went wrong and to feel bad about it, but sometimes subconscious defense mechanisms try to derail this process for temporary relief.
Regression
When things go wrong, sometimes people fall back. If something is terrible instead of facing it, sometimes people may feel the need to hide or not confront and return to more childlike behaviors or even immature behaviors. In children, this is even more common and visible in behavior, such as bed wetting, or other thumb sucking.
Intellectualism
Sometimes individuals may try to theorize or philosophize a bad event instead of focusing on the emotions themselves. This defense mechanism again looks to keep the painful emotion away through rational thought about the situation. This mechanism like many others is only prolonging the issue. In grief counseling, it is detrimental to bury emotion and not acknowledge it. One cannot avoid what needs to be faced.
Identification
Sometimes, the cross or problem is so big, that one feels oneself is not equipped to face it. In this regard, they identify with other people who have successful faced these issues. While this can be good, it can also be bad when one begins to emulate the other person at a pathological level. It is fine to see how others handled problems, but ultimately our problems are unique to us and we must sometimes walk the road alone and figure it out for ourselves.
Conclusion
In society and counseling, one can see many of these defense mechanisms. It may be with a client or a relative or friend, but these are common place issues. In grief counseling, many of these issues shuffle the current emotion away to find temporary relief. Sometimes, in the moment this may be necessary, but as time goes on, these defense mechanisms can lead to pathological grief and stress reactions. The mind hopes to spare the body as much emotional pain as possible, but sometimes, we need to face pain and suffering so that we can completely heal.
Please also review AIHCP’s Grief Counseling Certification as well as its many healthcare certifications.
Additional Blogs
Shame, Fear and Guilt in Trauma Counseling: Click here
Reference
Tan, S.-Y. (2022). Counseling and Psychotherapy: a Christian Perspective (2nd edition) Baker Academic, a division of Baker Publishing Group
Additional Resources
Cherry, K. (2025). 20 Defense Mechanisms We Use to Protect Ourselves. VeryWellMind. Access here
McCleod, S. (2024). Defense Mechanisms In Psychology Explained (+ Examples). Simply Psychology. Access here
Defense Mechanisms. Psychology Today. Access here
Pass, JC. (2023). An Exploration of Freudian Defence Mechanisms. Simply Put Psych. Access here