Eight-year-old Josh often conflicts with peers at school, as he believes that classmates do not like him, but Josh wants to have more friends. Using cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), the counselor should help the client change negative perceptions and develop coping strategies (Prout & Fedewa, 2015). It is necessary to discuss Josh’s belief that peers do not like him and challenge it. Then, the counselor must help the student learn relaxation techniques to cope with aggression and develop social skills to establish relationships with classmates. Using solution-focused therapy (SFT), the counselor establishes a trusting relationship with the client and helps to find strengths and resources to solve the problem (Prout & Fedewa, 2015). By identifying Josh’s strengths, the counselor with the student will create a plan based on resources and goals. For example, if the boy’s strength is a sport, he can join a sports team to find new friends. Although each approach offers a solution, they have advantages and disadvantages, which must be considered.
CBT and SFT are significantly different in use and implications. Various studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of these approaches application (Boyd Webb & Terr, 2015; Prout & Fedewa, 2015). A key advantage of CBT is its broad applicability to various problems and long-term effects. However, this approach relies significantly on self-reflection, which can be challenging to apply when working with children (Prout & Fedewa, 2015). SFT offers a quick outcome and focuses on actions and solutions (Cook-Cottone et al., 2019). However, it may be difficult for children to determine their strengths, and if there is an underlying problem, therapy may miss it due to the focus on the solution. Therefore, working with Josh, the counselor should evaluate additional factors to choose an approach.
The most appropriate approach for Josh depends on his preferences and response to the intervention. CBT will be more effective if the focus on the negative perception of relationships with classmates is quite strong, and it is difficult for a boy to determine his resources. However, if the underlying problem is less influential and Josh is highly motivated to establish peer relationships, the SFT will help develop a plan to address the issue. Consequently, the choice of therapy approach for Josh depends on multiple factors, such as his personality or goals.
References
Boyd Webb, N. & Terr, L. C. (2015). Play therapy with children and adolescents in crisis. Guilford Publications.
Cook-Cottone, C. P., Anderson, L. M., & Kane, L. S. (2019). The elements of counseling children and adolescents. Springer Publishing Company.
Prout, H. T. & Fedewa, A. (2015). Counseling and psychotherapy with children and adolescents: Theory and practice for school and clinical settings. John Wiley & Sons.