The reviewed articles were chosen for several reasons. First, they explore different topics in the field of counseling psychology. Second, the articles are recent (published within the last 5 years), and they provide current information on the topics covered. Third, they are a mixture of both scientific studies and professional literature reviews on issues related to the discipline of counseling. The findings of the studies offer invaluable insights that could have varied applications in professional practice. Moreover, they offer recommendations for further studies that could enhance theoretical comprehension.
Carlyle, D. (2017). Promoting pluralism in counselling: An untapped source of relational mapping as therapeutic process. International Journal for the Advancement of Counselling 39(1), 311-321. Web.
This journal article delves into the advantages of pluralism in clinical practice. The author advocates for the application of creative and integrative approaches for better outcomes. For instance, the methods used in the field of children’s geographies encourage creativity. This model could be used in practice as a way of encouraging innovation and unlocking the potential of practitioners. The author applies insights from the concept of “vectors of entanglement,” which views child development as a social, cultural, and philosophical endeavor, to promote the application of different approaches across various fields. According to attachment theory, children’s interactions are biologically and evolutionarily programmed. This argument has been validated by advances in neuroscience. The proposed idea that human beings are “bundles of lines” requires new approaches in order to ensure that it is integrated into existing concepts of psychology so as enhance the understanding of human development. Pluralism is vital in providing a diverse, philosophical, and hybrid approach that helps practitioners to integrate the similarities and differences of ideas and theories. For instance, they could consider prevailing theories in light of the social interactions between human and non-human insights.
The article could be used for future professional practice to promote diverse, pluralistic, and hybrid counseling. The various therapeutic processes could be viewed from a more creative and innovative perspective, and as a result, offer new connections for individual growth and self-awareness. However, this could be difficult because the application of pluralism in counseling has not been widely studied, and therefore, limited information is available. Moreover, the application of the insights offered could be hampered by current practice restrictions that give precedence to patient needs rather than the expected outcome.
Challoner, H., & Papayianni, F. (2018). Evaluating the role of formulation in counselling psychology: A systematic literature review. The European Journal of Counselling Psychology 7 (1), 47-68. Web.
This article evaluates the role played by formulation in the field of counseling psychology. Formulation can be defined as the use of psychological theory to understand a person’s circumstances, explain their current situation, and offer guidance on the best form of therapeutic intervention. Many practitioners and researchers place great importance on the concept of formulation, especially regarding its application in the therapeutic process. However, limited literature is available on its role, practice, and use as a key skill that every counseling psychologist should possess. It is used to enhance the understanding of service users’ experiences, incorporate patient concerns into therapeutic models, promote working and communication, and assess and plan interventions based on relevant models and clients’ perspectives. Counseling psychologists should be able to implement therapeutic interventions based on the standards of psychological formulation. A key issue to consider is the unseen influences that affect the process. For instance, therapeutic orientation and availability might determine whether the process is objective or subjective. Collaborative formulation is beneficial because it promotes emotional shifts among clients as they feel valued, accepted, and understood.
This article could be applied in future professional practice because it offers insights into the potential use of formulation in diverse fields. However, the ideas are not factual as the articles reviewed offer opposing views. Insights from the field of counseling psychology are excluded, rendering the application of the knowledge difficult. The information provided is largely applicable to clinical psychology. In addition, the concept has not been explored from the perspective of its benefits to clients and therapists, and how harm can be minimized while fostering positive relationships.
Kiosses, D. N., Ravdin, L. D., Gross, J. J., Raue, P., Kotbi, N., & Alexopoulos, G. S. (2015). Problem adaptation therapy for older adults with major depression and cognitive impairment: A clinical trial. JAMA Psychiatry 72(1), 22-30. Web.
The article explores the use of problem adaptation therapy (PATH) in the treatment of depression and cognitive impairment in older adults. According to studies, antidepressants are ineffective in the treatment of the aforementioned conditions in older adults. In that regard, PATH is mainly used as the most effective treatment remedy. Patients with cognitive impairment usually suffer from late-life major depressive disorder (MDD) that affects their social and interpersonal functioning. Moreover, it increases the risk of mortality and nursing home placement. Antidepressants are ineffective, especially in adults with dementia or executive dysfunction. PATH is a newly developed home-delivered psychotherapy that decreases disability and depression in older people. It focuses on the improvement of emotional regulation and mitigates the effects of functional and behavioral inadequacies. Emotional regulation modalities include response modulation, cognitive change, attention deployment, situation modification, and situation selection. The study included a population of 74 adults with MDD. They received PATH and supportive therapy for 12 weeks. The findings showed that PATH was effective in reducing depression and disability, and it was also efficacious in adults with pharmacotherapy-resistant depression.
The findings of the study can be applied in future practice in counseling psychology as the results are compelling. However, the study’s limitations render the results biased. The stability of PATH after 12 weeks was not reported, remission rates were low, and therapists’ allegiance was a challenge. The therapists involved in the study administered both interventions, and they could have been biased. The article lacks information about the treatment’s long-term sustainability, and the need for maintenance treatment. The application of information from the article would be difficult because the results are incomplete.
Litam, S. D., & Hipolito-Delgado, C. P. (2020). When being “essential” illuminates disparities: Counselling clients affected by COVID-19. Journal of Counselling & Development 99(1), 3-10. Web.
The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed severe disparities that exist in the United States, especially in the health care system. Currently, people from minority groups are more likely to be affected by government policy because of financial constraints and limited access to quality care. They encounter numerous stressors that worsen with the emergence of natural disasters. The amalgamation of these factors necessitates the provision of special attention by counselors. The economic, social, and psychological needs of people of color are not viewed as essential. Common stressors include exposure to infection, loss of loved ones, financial difficulties, and the uncertainty created by the disease. Therefore, it is important for counselors to familiarize themselves with culturally-appropriate strategies to help individuals affected by the novel pandemic. It is important for mental health practitioners to triage their client’s concerns and increase awareness of how different people are affected. Effective treatment should involve addressing clients’ safety and psychological needs as well as offering crisis counseling. Counselors should apply creative methods to conduct crisis management workshops and offer assistance on effective ways of handling stress and grief.
This article offers new information on counseling patients affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. It gives ideas on how counselors can help people of color and other minority groups improve their social and psychological wellbeing despite the ravaging effects of the novel disease. However, further research is needed because of the unavailability of literature on the most effective methods to address the situation. Moreover, the influence of factors such as religion and culture is not explored, even though they have great impacts on how people approach the issue of mental health.
Soroko, E., & Jankowiak, B. (2020). Shaping social and psychological competencies or intervening in a crisis? Sociotherapists’ experiences of helping adolescents in Poland. International Journal for the Advancement of Counselling 42(1), 349-2020. Web.
Adolescence is a stage in human development that is characterized by rapid physical, social, and emotional changes. Young people experience developmental changes that affect their psychological health. During this period, experiences with rapid growth, learning, social and psychological experimentation, neurobiological development and adaptation can have either positive or negative outcomes. In that regard, adolescence is an important time to offer therapeutic assistance, especially for young people who have faced psychological challenges due to factors like physical violence, sexual abuse, and drug abuse. Therapeutic intervention offers psychological support that restores a normal development trajectory for children with mental health problems and psychological dysfunctions. Help for adolescents should be approached from two perspectives. One, a gradual and staged group intervention that targets social and emotional competencies. Second, offering intervention to address developmental disturbances or a psychological crisis, such as depression, prolonged grief, or aggression. Both approaches encompass many activities, including social work, verbal challenges during meetings, working with families, and legal advice. Sociotherapy groups in school settings should involve the activation of helping factors, the support of the institution, and family therapy. Moreover, therapists should undergo specialist training in order to enable them to provide counseling services effectively.
The authors provide information that could be relevant to future professional practice. However, the findings are not conclusive. First, it is evident that a declaration-based study design would lead to different results. Second, the study does not show the extent to which the development of competencies and the provision of psychological intervention coexist in sociotherapy. It is unclear whether a therapist working with a group of adolescents could achieve both milestones simultaneously. It is important for the findings to be refined through further studies in order to improve their application in practice.
References
Carlyle, D. (2017). Promoting pluralism in counselling: An untapped source of relational mapping as therapeutic process. International Journal for the Advancement of Counselling 39(1), 311-321. Web.
Challoner, H., & Papayianni, F. (2018). Evaluating the role of formulation in counselling psychology: A systematic literature review. The European Journal of Counselling Psychology 7 (1), 47-68. Web.
Kiosses, D. N., Ravdin, L. D., Gross, J. J., Raue, P., Kotbi, N., & Alexopoulos, G. S. (2015). Problem adaptation therapy for older adults with major depression and cognitive impairment: A clinical trial. JAMA Psychiatry 72(1), 22-30. Web.
Litam, S. D., & Hipolito-Delgado, C. P. (2020). When being “essential” illuminates disparities: Counselling clients affected by COVID-19. Journal of Counselling & Development 99(1), 3-10. Web.
Soroko, E., & Jankowiak, B. (2020). Shaping social and psychological competencies or intervening in a crisis? Sociotherapists’ experiences of helping adolescents in Poland. International Journal for the Advancement of Counselling 42(1), 349-2020. Web.