healthcare certifications

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Posted on by Mark Moran

CBT is one a tested and effected therapy for many basic mental issues that people face.  It is utilized by numerous counselors for numerous cases of depression, anxiety, and other impulse issue related disorders.  This blog continues from the behavioral therapy blog from AIHCP and focuses more on the cognitive element and second wave of behavioral therapy.  Please also review AIHCP’s numerous behavioral healthcare certifications in grief counseling, stress management, anger management and crisis intervention.

How we think affects how we feel and behave. Please also review AIHCP’s Healthcare Certifications

What is CBT?

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or CBT is part of the second wave of behavioral therapy.  It retains  many of the core behavioral therapy characteristics that recognizes who we are due to behavioral formation but emphasizes the importance of cognitive aspects that reflect feelings and subsequent behaviors.   According to Tan, CBT remains faithful to behavioral therapies various modifications but incorporates the cognitive processes associated with it (2022).   The primary founds of cognitive behavioral approaches are Aaron Beck of CT, Albert Ellis of CBT and Donald Meichenbaum of stress inoculation trainding (SIT) (Tan, 2022).

According to Ellis, the root of most emotional problems stems from irrational beliefs and thinking.  The purpose of cognitive behavior therapy is to alter irrational beliefs to alter negative feelings and that produce negative outcomes and behaviors.  CBT has three primary phases of help for a client.  The first involves cognitive restructuring or changing maladaptive or dysfunctional thinking, secondly equipping the client with coping skills to handle stressful situations and finally help the client acquire problem solving skills to explore options and solutions to issues (Tan, 2022).

Unlike radical behavioral therapies that bind the person to their environment which produces behavior, CBT does not deny the free will of the person’s behavioral development but ties it more closely to the influence of thought on the mind (Tan, 2022).   Some of the key basic theoretical principles of CBT include a neutral human nature that is neither good or bad, much like BT, but also emphasizes that the human organism primarily responds to cognitive representations of one’s environment than to the environment itself.  In addition, CBT views the thoughts, feelings and behaviors of a person to be all causally interrelated and connected.  Due to this, attitudes, expectations and attributes and other cognitive activities are essential clues to understanding ones psychopathological behavior.  CBT therapies envelop testing and empirical verification to better assist the client in reliable strategies and healing modalities to overcome these pathologies.   Through this healing process, CBT recognizes the behavioral therapist as a educator and diagnostician who identifies the pathology within the client and helps the client design new experiences and thoughts to remove the dysfunctional cognition and abnormal behavioral reactions (Tan, 2022).

Cognitive Distortions

Cognitive distortions or how people think play a key role in how one feels and reacting poorly to life situations.  Many automatic thoughts in childhood create basic assumptions about life which lead to maladaptive schemas that lead to bad behaviors (Tan, 2022). Beck believed that many of these cognitive distortions created these issues.  Beck listed 6 types of cognitive distortions.

  • Arbitrary Inference-making a conclusion without significant evidence
  • Selective Abstraction-a conclusion based on details taken out of context while ignoring other relevant information
  • Overgeneralization- applying a general rule to all situations not necessarily related
  • Magnification or Minimization-perceiving an event as greater or less than it really is
  • Personalization-relating a causal event as correlated to oneself when the event is not related to oneself
  • Dichotomous thinking- viewing things in one or two extremes as complete success or complete failure

Tan lists various examples tied to these cognitive distortions.  When making a conclusion without evidence can be likened to a mother believing she is a horrible mother because dinner was not on time due to working a long job.  An example of selective abstraction would be a person who becomes jealous of a girl friend speaking to a man, but not knowing the man she is speaking to is her cousin.  Overgeneralizing can be likened to a man who is turned down by a woman and then believing that all women will turn him down.  In regards to magnifying or minimizing, a person who may believe if he or she fails this exam, the world will end and one’s life will be over.  Personalization examples include someone who feels slighted by another and not concluding that the other person may have not meant anything by it or not even noticed it.  Dichotomous thinking can be compared to someone thinking if they fail to get the position or job, then one is a complete and total failure as a person (Tan, 2022).

Ellis also added critical elements to understanding cognitive distortions.  General irrational beliefs about life itself can lead to irrational reactions.  Among the irrational beliefs that Ellis listed were (Tan, 2022)

  • The necessity of close to universal acceptance or love
  • The erroneous correlation of worth tied to competence and adequacy
  • Wicked people should always be punished
  • It is a terrible reality if things are not as a person wants them to be
  • A person cannot control one’s own happiness but is subject to the circumstances of life
  • Dangerous and fearsome things must constantly be thought about and avoided
  • Avoidance of uneasy difficulties as a life plan instead of facing them
  • A person should be dependent upon others
  • The past makes one who one is and there is no escaping that past
  • Other people’s problems should be a burden upon oneself
  • The correct solution to each problem must be discovered to avoid chao

In addition, Ellis hoped to remove the controlling thoughts that include the words “must”, “should”, or “have to” (Tan, 2022).  CBT, or also rational emotion behavioral therapy (REBT) goes farther than CB of Beck and more strongly challenges the beliefs of the client, as well as differentiating between negative healthy emotions such as sadness and frustration as compared to unhealthy negative emotions such as depression and hostility (Tan, 2022).

Cognitive Techniques

There are variety of techniques at play within the mental toolbox for cognitive therapists.

There are numerous cognitive techniques in CBT and CB to help individuals confront irrational beliefs and thoughts. Please also review AIHCP’s healthcare certifications

CB

Beck employed a variety of techniques within cognitive behavioral therapy.  Beck would utilize the technique of idiosyncratic meaning to ask clients to utilize words to describe their thoughts and feelings.   The counselor then analyzes the words and questions the client on why particular words are being used to describe oneself.  Reattribution is a technique which forces clients to think of other reasons why something occurred.  Commonly the counselor will ask one if there “is another way to look at this?”  The counselor can also use rational responding as a technique which analyzes the evidence for or against something, what is more reasonable an explanation, limiting the extreme response of the person, and finding better ways to cope with the problem.   Counselors or therapists can also utilize examining options and alternatives as a strategy to brainstorm other solutions.  The counselor can use decatastrophizing as  a way to illustrate how the client is blowing things out of proportion.  CB therapists also utilize fantasized consequences which examines the supposed consequences of a situation to expose the irrationality of it.   Closely related is the technique of exaggeration or paradox in which the client is asked to verbalize all fears and consequences to the utmost extreme.  Upon reaching this height, the counselor then carefully walks the client back down to a more reasonable conclusion.   Obviously, this type of therapy should be used with care for some clients with particular past traumas.  Counselors also can try the technique of scaling to reduce the all or nothing feelings of a person.  This involves numbering the issue on a scale of 1 to 100 to help the client truly understand the significance of something.  Self talk is an important skill and technique as well that helps the client internally speak to oneself when confronted with the particular issue of control.  An interior monologue of planned and self rehearsed responses to a given situation and then utilized. Thought stopping is yet another technique to help clients where the client is given control of maladaptive thoughts through the command of stop, or through distracting oneself from the thought itself.  In addition to disruptive thoughts, counselors can help clients learn labeling of distortions in which the client is taught to identify the irrational and properly label it for what it is.  Essential to this and many other techniques is the use of homework for clients.  Clients can journal or in some cases put themselves in certain situations and practice these skills (Tan, 2022).

CBT/REBT

Ellis also employed a variety of techniques building upon Beck’s ideas to help individuals manage and control irrational thoughts and behaviors.  Ellis helped clients learn the technique of disputing irrational beliefs as a way to face them. Ellis employed this foundational technique with the ABC model.  A stands for the activation of the event or situation encountered, B stood for the beliefs that are usually irrationally tied to the event, and C stood for the consequences of those beliefs.  Ellis would help individuals understand all three aspects of this to understand every step of the irritational episode and how to better dissect it (Tan, 2022).   Ellis  also utilized the concept of homework and applied it to the ABC model by asking clients to keep a journal at home in which the steps of ABC evolve also into DE, in which the client in journal form disputes the irrational belief of the day and to note the unhealthy effects.  Ellis also emphasized a changing in language.  He especially dismissed demanding language that involve “must”.  In addition, Ellis was a big believer in psychoeducation as a way for individuals to understand themselves, and to apply what they learned in teaching others.

Beyond cognitive tools, Ellis also employed a variety of emotional tools to help understand one’s irrational thoughts.  Emotionally, Ellis believed in the importance of unconditional self acceptance and the critical part the counselor played in conveying this to the client.  Although no way as dependent as person centered therapy and the therapeutic relationship, CB and CBT does recognize the important role a counselor plays in helping guide the client.  In such way, emotional support is important and various therapies can be utilized to help emotional healing.  Rational emotional therapy teaches clients how to use mental imagery to visualize certain behaviors and thinking.  Clients are encouraged to visualize negative emotional experiences and how to work through them.  Emotionally, Ellis also believed that poking fun through humor was important.  The use of humor technique utilizes humor as a tool to attack irrational thought.  With emotion, self talk is also taken to a higher level, where the person moves from quiet internal discourse to verbally loud raised voice to dismiss the irrational thought.  This is also accomplished in role playing between the counselor and client, where the counselor allows the client to rehearse something is emotionally upsetting (Tan, 2022).  Many behavioral techniques include also tested behavioral techniques that are tied to operant conditioning, modification strategies, social skill training, relaxation trainings, stress management, and system desensitization (Tan, 2022).

Conclusion

Cognitive Behavioral (CB, CBT, REBT) are all byproducts of behavioral therapy but extend within its second wave to a more cognitive based approach.  It is one of the most empirically based systems in psychology and is equally effective in treating numerous pathologies as most time tested strategies.  It does not focus as much on the past as psychoanalytic theories but more so on the present and finding solution within the present.  In addition, while it does stress more importance of the therapeutic relationship than psycho analytic, it does not go as far as person centered therapies.   In its essence it sees humanity as neutral while other religious views portray humanity as broken but overall good.

CBT is a successful therapy that identifies irrational thought, how to cope with it and how to finally implement changes. Please also review AIHCP’s behavioral health certification programs

Please also review AIHCP’s Healthcare Certifications and see if they meet one’s academic and professional goals.  AIHCP offers a variety of certifications in the behavioral fields.  It is critical to remember that CBT, as all therapies, are reserved for only licensed professional counselors, social workers, psychologists or psychiatrists that a certified in CBT.  AIHCP’s certifications can be utilized by clinical professionals as well as non-clinical professionals but AIHCP does not offer any certifications in CBT but these are reserved for various organizations with board approvals.  If interested in applying CBT to one’s practice, one needs to be first licensed and also certified within that field.  This does not mean certain tools and aspects of it cannot be utilized for non-pathological cases in the pastoral setting, but not as a therapy itself.

 

Additional AIHCP Blogs

Behavioral Therapy: Access here

Person Centered Counseling.  Access here

Existential Counseling.  Access here

Jungian Psychology.  Access here

Reference

Tan, S-Y. (2022). Counseling and psychology: A Christian perspective (2nd Edition). Baker Academic.

Other Resources

Dr Aaron T Beck. CBT Institute.  Access here

Cherry, K. (2026). Albert Ellis Biography. VeryWellMind.  Access here

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.  Mayo Clinic.  Access here

Mcleod, S. (2023). “Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)”. SimplyPsychology.  Access here

 

 

Behavioral Psychology and Therapies

Posted on by Mark Moran

Behavioral Psychology is a branch of counseling and techniques that emphasize the direct role social experiences and learning play a role in behavior.  Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is an offshoot from it.   Behavior Therapy focuses on how current behaviors are affected through previous learning experiences and how they shaped the current behavior.  Behavior Therapy is concerned less with the subconscious and how it played a role in one’s current behavior but more so how past experiences, learning, and how classical and operant conditioning formed one’s individual behavior.  Like many schools of thought, it adheres to a strict conceptual model for its approach but for many therapists, it is integrated with other schools of thought to meet the needs of the client.   Among the many psychological schools, Behavior Therapy is the most empirically based approaches despite its limitations if used as the only lens to examine human behavior.  It perspective is a critical piece of understanding individuals and helping them find productive change and healing.  For that reason, it and many of its techniques are widely applied with other Psychoanalytic and Rogerian therapies.

Behavioral Therapy sees mental issues as issues associated with past learned behavior

Please also review AIHCP’s Behavioral Health Certifications, including Grief Counseling, Crisis Counseling, Trauma Informed Care, Anger Management, Stress Management, as well as Spiritual Counseling and Christian Counseling.

Behavioral Therapy

Behavioral Therapy emerged in the Mid 20th Century and continues to adapt and add key components from the original thought.  Key pioneers and founders of Behavioral Therapy include Joseph Wolpe, Hans Eysenck, B.F. Skinner, Arnold Lazarus, Albert Bandura and David Meichenbaum (Tan, 2022).  Traditional Behavior Therapy is based on behavior being conditioned by one’s learning and social environment.  Classical conditioning as well as operant conditioning play large roles in how behavior evolves within a person.

Classical conditioning is based off IvanPavlov and his studies on canine responses to stimuli.  In classical conditioning, the dog salivates in response to the treat or food.  The salivation is referred to the unconditioned response or natural response to the food or unconditioned stimuli.  The UCR to the UCS is a natural response to something that occurs subconsciously within any living creature.  Pavlov however incorporated a conditioned stimuli next to the unconditioned stimuli to help provoke a conditioned response.  He added the ringing of a bell during dinner time for the dogs.  The dogs continued to salivate and eat due to the food, but later when the food was removed, the ringing of the bell still conditioned a response of salivating.  A CR emerged due to the CS.   This illustrated that living things can be conditioned and behavior changed at neural level over time.

Operant conditioning also played a role for Wolpe, Skinner and other early behavioral therapists.    Operant conditioning looks to alter behavior through consequences.  Behaviors that are reinforced with pleasant stimuli or reward, or even the absence of negative stimuli constitute positive/negative reinforcement of it.   These consequences look to maintain or increase a certain behavior.  Behaviors that are met with punishment and negative stimuli look to eliminate or reduce a certain behavior (Tan, 2022).

Unconditioned and Conditioned Responses to Unconditioned and Conditioned Stimuli

Behavior modification became a key component in changing a person way of thinking and acting.  Skinner even took this a step farther than most and indicated that all behavioral events and modifications determine what a person will or shall do, even to the extent of denying free will (Tan, 2022).    Obviously, this was an extreme outlook and narrows human behavior only to present stimuli and events without considering the numerous other things at play.  Nonetheless, one cannot deny the profound effect environment and stimuli plays within the role of behavior and decision making.

As the school of thought developed, cognitive and other elements would become important tenets in Behavior Therapy.

Techniques and Therapies

Behavioral Therapy employs a broad range of techniques and therapies.   First and foremost, the therapist is more so in control than in Rogerian therapies and other Person-Centered Therapies.  The therapist takes a central role.  The client proposes the “what” while the therapist presents the “how”.   Hence, there is far less concern with the therapist-client relationship.  Although not disregarded, especially when integrated, the emphasis of healing and change is more so in the techniques and the now instead of focusing on a relationship or probing into the past.

To help understand the client, behavioral assessment is the first and key stage in helping  the client.  This involves targeting the “what” of the problem and identifying symptoms and problems of the client (Tan, 2022).   Counselors propose operant conditioning as a key element of change.  They utilize positive and negative forms of reinforcement to help the client change.  Some cases involve complete extinction of any positive or negative.  If dealing with a child’s temper tantrum, extinction would be utilized as a way to completely to ignore the outburst and when the child is again calm to implement positive reinforcement.    Punishment or aversive control can also be utilized to produce change.  Positive punishment adds an adverse stimulus, while negative punishment removes something positive.  A child may be forced to do a choir or with positive punishment associated with undesired behavior, while negative may involve grounding a child or taking away a privilege.  In some cases though, punishment and extinction can also cause unwanted desires in anger and aggression.  Because of this, positive reinforcement is seen as the best psychological tool in promoting healthy change (Tan, 2022).

Another technique utilized in Behavior Therapy is Token Economies.  This technique is a positive reinforcing strategy based on reward of token which has a symbolic value for something that can earned through good behavior.  This is a common technique used in schools which keep track of desired performance and behavior with recognition and reward.

Modeling represents another utilized strategy to help foster change.  In modeling, the client observes another person’s behavior and the consequences surrounding it.  Bandura listed certain ways modeling can be utilized in changing behavior.  He first emphasized teaching which includes simple observation and application of the model.  Second, in therapy, prompting involves the client performing a certain behavior that was observed. Motivating a client through modeling involves focus on the reward of the other person and hence motivating the client to replicate the behavior.   Reducing anxiety involves watching the model perform an anxious deed to be replicated by the client.  Maybe this involves the model dealing with something that is a phobia for the client.  Finally, live modeling involves replicating the behavior or acting it out in therapy under the guidance of the counselor (Tan, 2022).

In addition, Behavior therapies also look to incorporate certain social skill and assertiveness training.   In this, the therapist helps the client understand their current behavior and why he or she responds in certain situations and how to respond differently, utilizing a variety of modeling and rehearsal techniques.  In this way, Behavior Therapy works closely with a variety of management techniques to work on behaviors that need changed, included areas of anger, assertiveness, as well as stress management.  In addition, the counselor looks to help the client meet goals and self directed change.  Bandura believed strongly in the self efficacy of a client to successfully implement change in one’s life (Tan, 2022).  In meeting goals, self talk and other cognitive ways to help someone through a situation is encouraged.  Meichenbaum employed stress inoculation training, as a type of exposure therapy to stress itself and how one responds to stress.  This CBM (Cognitive Behavior Modification) was also utilized by the military to help soldiers in stressful situations (Tan, 2022).

Learned behaviors can be undone and replaced with new and healthy behaviors through a variety of behavioral techniques. Please also review AIHCP’s Healthcare Certifications

Behavior Therapy also focuses heavily on relation strategies which serve to relax the central nervous system and the reactions to stress and distress.  They employ a wide variety of exercises involving breathing, guided meditation and progressive muscle relation to face and deal with stress, emotions and trauma (Tan, 2022).   Mindfulness is also employed in a variety of stress management strategies.

Another key tool used in Behavior Therapy involves systematic desensitization.    Wolpe believed that exposures to phobias or traumas can help an individual modify current behavioral reactions and recircuit reactions to them. Utilizing the SUD scale (Subjective Units of Discomfort), the therapist gradually exposes the client to a phobia or issue.  For example, a person who fears a spider will be begin to be introduced to issues surrounding the spider with the therapist documenting the SUD scale input between 1 to 100 with 100 being the most anxious.  Minimal dosing with the word, moves forward to a picture, then it progresses to dead specimens to alive specimens to eventual complete exposure and touching (Tan, 2022).   Wolpe referred to this as counterconditioning a certain behavioral response with a new and healthy response.  Other forms are more intense.  Flooding involves exposure without the feared stimuli or its consequences but at a higher maximum level.  One modern utilization of this is EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing).  This technique has gained popularity in therapies facing trauma and has proved to be effective way for many clients to face trauma and phobias itself (Tan, 2022).

Moving Forward

Behavior Therapy has evolved to include many multi-dimensional aspects, included mindfulness as well as cognitive therapies.  It is a very successful type of therapy but like all therapies when utilized singularly, it can miss important aspects of healing regarding the past, or unresolved memories.  Yet despite this, it still possesses a comprehensive approach to multiple issues. It helps the person gain autonomy  and confidence through goals and freedom to reset one’s mindset to produce new desired behaviors.

Please also review AIHCP’s Healthcare Certification Programs and see if they meet your academic and professional goals.

Other AIHCP Blogs

Patient Centered Therapy:  Access here

Existential Therapy:  Access here

Reference

Tan, S-Y. (2022). Counseling and psychology: A Christian perspective (2nd Edition). Baker Academic.

Additional Resources

Cherry, K. (2025).  “How Behavioral Therapy Works”. Very Well Mind.  Access here

Gillette, H. (2025). “Your Guide to Understanding Behavioral Therapy”.  PsychCentral.  Access here

“Joseph Wolpe’s Contributions to Psychology: Pioneering Behavioral Therapy” (2024). Neurolaunch.  Access here

 

Healthcare Certification Blog: Reality Therapy

Posted on by Mark Moran

 

William Glasser created reality therapy, and it rests on choice theory. This theory states people can control their behavior with conscious choices. This method differs from older therapies. Those methods focus on mental illness and hidden motives. Reality therapy helps clients take responsibility and decide for themselves. The therapy asks people to meet four basic needs. These needs are belonging, power, freedom, and fun. Meeting these needs allows people to make positive changes in their lives. We should study Glasser and Alfred Adler together, and Adler led Individual Psychology. Both experts show social interest and belonging have importance for mental health. Their work reveals similarities and differences in their ways of changing behavior. Workplace stress is more common today, and new methods like reality therapy are strong options. They provide alternatives to the usual ways of helping.(Patricia A Robey et al., 2017). With the increasing prevalence of stress-related issues, such as those highlighted in workplace settings, innovative therapies like reality therapy offer promising alternatives to conventional methods (Jonge TD, 2019)

Please also review AIHCP’s Healthcare Certification.

Overview of Reality Therapy

Reality Therapy uniquely asks the person to face the issue at hand and to make a choice in one’s betterment. Please also review AIHCP’s Healthcare Certification

William Glasser developed Reality Therapy. This approach focuses on personal responsibility and the importance of meeting basic psychological needs. These needs include love, power, and freedom. Meeting these needs helps people achieve mental health and well-being. Choice Theory sits at the core of this model. It states that individuals have the power to choose their own behaviors to meet their needs. Therapy sessions build a partnership between the therapist and the client. This relationship allows them to explore choices. The client evaluates their own actions and sets realistic goals. New tools like augmented reality (AR) help the way therapists and clients interact today. Wearable AR devices like Google Glass and Microsoft HoloLens work well in medical settings. They help patients stay involved and support training programs (). Virtual reality (VR) tools work in many therapy settings. These tools show the use of technology in mental health treatment ()..(Baashar Y et al., 2023)). Likewise, virtual reality (VR) technologies are being explored for their applications in various therapeutic contexts, highlighting a forward-looking integration of technology in mental health treatment ((Mazurek J et al., 2019)).

William Glasser was a known psychiatrist and helped the field of psychotherapy. He created Reality Therapy and used his choice theory as a base. This method stresses that people have the power to make their own choices. These choices affect their emotional and mental health. Glasser’s work is like the ideas of Alfred Adler. Both men see that social interest and belonging matter for mental health. They both see behavior as a conscious choice. Glasser worked on school practices and wanted teachers to be more connected and responsive. This teaching style fits his psychological ideas. Glasser taught people to take responsibility for their actions and their relationships. His work still matters today. It gives clear facts about how people act and grow.(Patricia A Robey et al., 2017). Furthermore, Glasser’s contributions extend beyond therapy to include educational practices, advocating for a more connected and responsive teaching methodology that aligns with his psychological principles. By encouraging individuals to take responsibility for their actions and relationships, Glassers impact continues to resonate, offering valuable insights into human behavior and personal development (Browne D et al., 2012).

Reality Therapy places an overall positive spin on human nature and its ability for beneficial change.  It also looks more so at the subjective needs of the person which can limit its overall good for others, but it does teach one to take account of own’s action and to be mindful of others in determining what is best for oneself.  In addition to accountability, it instills hope, self reliance and self control in facing issues.  One is made aware of what needs to be done by being brought into confrontation with one’s negative behaviors.

One weakness within Glasser was his dismissal of pathology and instead seeing most issues to be concerning one’s own behavior and lack of accountability.  While more modern aspects admit for deeper issues of pathology, many issues of depression or anxiety or more so thought of as the issue of the person him or herself and not taking accountability.

 

Foundations of Reality Therapy

William Glasser developed the base principles of Reality Therapy. These principles focus on how personal choice and responsibility affect a person’s mental health. Glasser’s choice theory stays at the center of this method. This theory calls all behavior a choice from 5 basic human needs. These needs include love, belonging, power, freedom, and fun. This idea matches Alfred Adler’s Individual Psychology and connects to the value of social interest. It includes community belonging to show a shared understanding of mental health. Reality Therapy uses ideas from relational-cultural theory. This helps the method work well for clients from many backgrounds and builds a space to respect different cultures. These links show the social parts of counseling. They make the process work better and prove the Glasser framework fits in modern mental health work.(Patricia A Robey et al., 2017). Furthermore, by integrating concepts from relational‐cultural theory, Reality Therapy advances its effectiveness across diverse client backgrounds, fostering a culturally responsive therapeutic environment. This synergy not only illustrates the relational dimensions emphasized in counseling but also enhances the therapeutic process, demonstrating the adaptability and relevance of Glassers framework in contemporary mental health practices (Haskins N et al., 2017).

William Glasser’s reality therapy relies on core principles and a specific philosophy. These ideas are the basis for his work on mental health and personal growth. This method centers on the idea that people choose their own actions. Glasser claims this freedom is a key part of health. This view fits with pragmatist philosophy. That philosophy sees reality as operational. It stresses that people must solve real-world problems to make good changes. Glasser’s ideas also match parts of Alfred Adler’s Individual Psychology. He focuses on social interest and the need to belong. These points show how people stay linked to their communities. All these ideas show a drive to help people understand reality. They do this through active work and informed choices. These concepts changed the way therapists work.(Haṡok Chang, 2022). Moreover, Glasser’s concepts echo the tenets of Alfred Adler’s Individual Psychology, particularly regarding social interest and the significance of belonging, which emphasize the connectedness of individuals within their communities (Patricia A Robey et al., 2017). Collectively, these core ideas reveal a commitment to enhancing ones understanding of reality through active engagement and informed choices, reshaping the therapeutic landscape.

Glasser believed most issues are not pathological but due to one’s own choices. His approach empowers the person, assumes responsibility and hope of change through self control

William Glasser’s Choice Theory forms the base of Reality Therapy. The theory claims individuals have the inherent power to control their own behaviors. These choices directly affect their emotional health and overall well-being. Choice Theory focuses on personal responsibility to help people shape their lives. It suggests clients are active agents in their lives rather than victims of circumstances. This framework works very well in therapeutic settings. Clients think about their choices and learn to understand their motivations. These inner motivations drive their daily actions. People look at their decisions to find patterns leading to unhealthy behaviors. Then they work toward better fitting choices to meet their psychological needs. Virtual reality cognitive therapy shows how well this treatment method works. This tool lets clients face and change their delusions through different outcomes. The experience helps people heal and grow through the power of Choice Theory.(Anna M Wiese et al., 2024)(Freeman D et al., 2016).

Techniques and Application

Study the methods and uses of Reality Therapy. Tools like virtual reality (VR) improve these sessions. William Glasser built this field on choice and personal responsibility. VR provides a way to use Reality Therapy ideas in deep and active ways. For example, VR creates simulated worlds for people to experience. Therapists use these worlds for their clients. These worlds test their views and choices right then. This process helps people think about themselves. It helps them build better decision skills. Virtual rehab has changed over time. Early uses for phobias and brain issues show a link. VR links mental and physical health fields. These tools help therapy work better and faster. These tech tools fit the main ideas from Glasser. They create new therapy types. These new methods make therapy easier to get. They are easier to change for different client needs.(Mazurek J et al., 2019)(G Burdea, 2009). Such technological advancements not only align with Glassers core concepts but also pave the way for innovative therapeutic modalities that make therapy more accessible and adaptable for various client needs.

We study key methods used in therapy sessions. We look at how Virtual Reality Therapy (VRT) fits with Reality Therapy. William Glasser created Reality Therapy. VRT provides a direct way to work in therapy. It puts clients into controlled virtual spaces. These spaces give people direct contact with triggers causing anxiety. This method helps treat social anxiety disorder. It allows for slow exposure in a safe setting. It avoids the hard scheduling and the logistical tasks of traditional in vivo exposure therapy (iVET). Therapists use technology to adjust sessions for each client. This helps make learning easier and helps people adapt to the real world. VRT works well and shows a change in therapy. Flexible methods are needed to help many different groups grow and stay healthy every day.(Naran J, 2025)(Caponnetto P et al., 2021). By leveraging technology, therapists can tailor experiences to meet individual client needs, enhancing learning and adaptation in real-world contexts. The effectiveness of VRT reflects a shift in therapeutic paradigms, emphasizing the necessity for adaptable methods to support personal growth and well-being in diverse populations.

William Glasser created Reality Therapy. People use this method in many places and groups. It works well in schools, clinics, and community centers. Teachers use Reality Therapy in schools to help students behave better. This method helps students take responsibility for their actions. It helps learners feel like they belong and can succeed. Doctors use this therapy for people with mental health issues like anxiety. They use methods like Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (VRET). These tools create safe spaces where patients practice social skills. Reality Therapy helps people who need rehabilitation. This group includes patients recovering from strokes or living with chronic pain. The therapy uses tools like virtual reality. These tools keep patients active and help them recover faster. These examples show the flexibility of Reality Therapy. It works well and helps many people feel better.(Caponnetto P et al., 2021). Additionally, Reality Therapy is effective in populations requiring rehabilitation, such as patients recovering from strokes or dealing with chronic pain, leveraging innovative tools like virtual reality to enhance engagement and reduce recovery time (Dwarkadas AL et al., 2024). These settings underscore Reality Therapy’s adaptability and efficacy in promoting psychological well-being across various demographics.

Glasser and other reality therapists push individuals to take accountability for how they feel and what they want.  In this way there are a few techniques to keep in mind.  First, they WDEP formula of facing issues.  What is the want, what is one doing to reach it, how is one evaluating and assessing one’s behavior and how is one planning to fix it.  This makes the person a far more active participant in one’s mental health.  Instead of becoming merely a victim to anxiety or depression, a reality therapist will challenge the client.  Instead of saying I feel depressed, the therapist will verbalize it to why are you depressing yourself.  While for some this may be good, for others facing genetic or chemical depression, it is far less effective.  In some classical cases, many saw such behaviors of depression or anxiety also as ways one tried to control others.  Some individuals do manipulate with mental illness, but this is not the case for all.  Hence for some, this can help, for others, this type of therapy can cause issues.

Impact and Criticisms

William Glasser used reality therapy to change many ways of treating people. This method makes clients take personal responsibility for their own daily actions. Critics now point out problems with the theory and the way it works in life. Supporters link reality therapy to relational-cultural theory. They believe these combined ideas help many different groups of people (). Other people doubt the focus on choice and social bonds. To them, this view ignores deep social and mental problems. This limit makes the method less useful for some people in the real world (). The theory calls behavior a conscious choice. This view ignores many hard parts of the human experience. Real life often lacks the control found in the theory. These points show the need for a better understanding. It works best with other ways of treating clients.(Haskins N et al., 2017)). Despite this, skeptics question the efficacy of Glassers emphasis on choice and social connectedness, arguing that it may overlook deeper systemic and psychological issues faced by individuals, thereby limiting its overall effectiveness ((Patricia A Robey et al., 2017)). Moreover, the simplified notion of behavior as a conscious choice can disregard the complexities of human experience, which may not always align with the agency that reality therapy prescribes. These critiques underscore the need for a nuanced understanding of reality therapys application and its potential to integrate with other therapeutic modalities.

One of the primary criticisms of reality therapy is its over emphasis on power of self to change and its under estimation of other factors beyond one’s control as well as biological and mental pathology

William Glasser developed Reality Therapy. This effective method focuses on personal choice and responsibility. It shows how a person can control their own behavior to meet basic psychological needs. The therapist prioritizes the needs of the client for love, power, freedom, and fun at the same time. This approach builds an environment for personal growth and strong relationships. Research shows that Reality Therapy matches relational-cultural theory. Combining these ideas makes the therapy better for different cultures. This creates a useful therapy for many different people in society. Glasser’s ideas match the main points of Alfred Adler’s Individual Psychology. Adler valued social connection and belonging too. These links show the flexibility of the therapy in helping with psychosocial issues effectively. The complete nature of this therapy offers many benefits for clients who want to make constructive changes.(Haskins N et al., 2017). Furthermore, Glassers concepts resonate with foundational principles of Alfred Adler’s Individual Psychology, where the importance of social connection and belonging is equally emphasized, showcasing the therapeutic versatility of Reality Therapy in addressing psychosocial issues effectively (Patricia A Robey et al., 2017). Overall, the comprehensive nature of Reality Therapy provides significant benefits to clients seeking constructive change.

Reality Therapy uses a new method, but people find flaws and limits in the system. The system simplifies hard mental health issues too much for some critics. Critics say focusing on personal choice hides the effects of money and trauma. Glasser uses choice theory to help people feel in control. This method puts too much pressure on a person to fix their life. Slow change or unreachable goals lead to feelings of guilt or inadequacy. The COVID-19 pandemic made online therapy happen much faster than before. This shift showed that therapists need more training and knowledge. People now worry about session quality and rules for online sessions. Reality Therapy looks like many other types of clinical care. It lacks enough hard data to support its ideas. This lack of proof stops more experts from using the system.(Sampaio M et al., 2021). Moreover, while Reality Therapy shares similarities with other therapeutic modalities, the lack of extensive empirical support for its frameworks limits its broader acceptance in the mental health community (Patricia A Robey et al., 2017).

Conclusion

We look at the work William Glasser did for reality therapy. We clearly see his main points. He focused on personal responsibility and choice for good, effective clinical work. Mental health fields change over time. Virtual reality therapy (VRET) now works as a useful addition to old methods. It can improve treatments for anxiety disorders and more. VRET creates a deep experience for the user. This setting helps people face fears. It removes limits often found in real-world exposure therapy. Research shows VRET and standard methods work equally well. It costs less. It offers more flexibility. These traits make it a strong choice for many clinical uses. Therapists now add new tools to their work. Glasser’s principles still guide clients toward meaningful change and improved mental health. This shows his ideas still matter today.(Meyerbr Köker, 2021) (Caponnetto P et al., 2021).

The power of Reality Therapy lies in its focus on choice and personal responsibility. William Glasser laid out these principles in his work. This method relies on the idea that people choose their own actions and life results. This view helps clients take an active role when they face personal challenges. It helps them face these problems directly. Reality Therapy builds mental health through strong relationships and personal achievements. Clients work to meet basic psychological needs. These needs include belonging, power, freedom, and fun. Recent research shows that Glasser’s ideas match several parts of Individual Psychology. These parts include social interest and choosing how to behave. This method shares traits with other models. It stays unique in how people use it in practice. The model creates real change by looking at choice and responsibility.(Patricia A Robey et al., 2017). This therapeutic framework, while sharing similarities with other models, remains distinct in its practical application, promoting significant therapeutic change through the lens of choice and responsibility (Wedding D, 2010).

Like all therapies, reality therapy has its benefits for some and disadvantages for others, Please also review AIHCP’s Healthcare Certification program

William Glasser changed therapy when he created reality therapy and choice theory. These ideas still influence how psychologists work today. Glasser focused on personal responsibility and how people choose their behavior. His work matches the ideas of Alfred Adler’s Individual Psychology. Both men believed that social connection and belonging are central to mental health. Therapy methods change over time as research grows. More experts now see the value in the broad view Glasser first shared. Mixing psychology, medicine, and education makes therapy work better. This mix reflects the original vision of Lightner Witmer. He wanted a single field that went beyond old limits. Glasser’s work drives new ideas in therapy. His work leads to more connected mental health care.(Patricia A Robey et al., 2017). As the therapeutic landscape continues to evolve, there is an increasing recognition of the need for a multidisciplinary perspective that mirrors Glasser’s original insights. This blend of psychological, medical, and educational frameworks not only amplifies the effectiveness of therapeutic interventions but also echoes Lightner Witmers vision of a cohesive discipline that transcends traditional boundaries (Browne D et al., 2012). Glassers legacy thus serves as a catalyst for future innovations in therapeutic practice, fostering a more integrated approach to mental health care.

Please also review AIHCP’s Healthcare Certification Programs.

 

Additional AIHCP Blogs

Gestalt Therapy:  Access here

Person Centered Counseling.  Access here

Personal Psychology. Access here

Additional Resources

Tan, S-Y. (2022). Counseling and psychotherapy: a Christian perspective. (2nd Edition). Baker Academic, a division of the Baker Publishing Group.

“Reality Therapy”. Psychology Today.  Access here

Loggins, B. (2025). VeryWellMind.  Access here

Sutton, J. (2021). “10 Best Reality Therapy Techniques, Worksheets, & Exercises”. Positive Psychology.com.  Access here

 

AIHCP: Person/Client Centered Counseling

Posted on by Mark Moran

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

Rogerian or person centered counseling finds its roots in counselors who express empathy and unconditional positive regard

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

Please also review AIHCP’s Healthcare Certification programs and see if they match your academic or professional goals

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

 

 

AIHCP Video Blog: Changing Habits

Posted on by Mark Moran

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.

Jungian Psychology and Counseling: In the Arena of Grief and Modern Counseling

Posted on by Mark Moran

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

Jungian psychology looks at the conscious mind, subconscious mind and collective subconscious as the three tiers of one’s psyche

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

Understanding archetypes and dream analysis is a major component of Jungian counseling. Please also review AIHCP’s Healthcare Certifications

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

Jungian psychology looks to unlock the subconscious and help one reach self actualization by knowing oneself through integration of conscious and subconscious mind

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

Posted on by Mark Moran

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

Psychodynamic Theory in Counseling

Posted on by Mark Moran

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

Sigmund Freud is not only the father of psychodynamic theory but also considered one of the fathers of psychology itself

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

Understanding the id, ego and superego

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

Psychoanalytic and psychodynamic counseling still has multiple benefits but is rarely used as a stand alone approach in modern psychology

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

Posted on by Mark Moran

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.

Freud identified defense mechanisms people utilize to avoid pain, stress and conflict

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 

Our subconscious looks to repress and deny uncomfortable things

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

Rationalizing is defense mechanism that blinds us to the truth. Please also review AIHCP’s Healthcare Certifications

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

Defense mechanisms may help in the moment but they do not resolve long term issues

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