Theories & Techniques of Counseling Training
An expert clinician, in class or online educational programs, can provide theories and techniques of counseling training. Duties of counselors depend on their occupational specialty, work setting and the population they serve. Theories and techniques in counseling training enable counselors to assist their patients with personal, family, educational, career and mental health problems. Training in counseling techniques also strengthens a counselor's practice and enhances the level of comfort in incorporating counseling elements into their patient interactions.
Theory of Positive Psychology
Positive psychology states that people want to live meaningful and fulfilling lives -- to enhance their experiences of love, work and play. It is also the scientific study of the strengths and virtues enabling individuals and communities to thrive, with a focus on positive aspects of emotions, individual traits and institutions. Counselors can receive education or training in positive psychology from The Positive Psychology Center. Positive psychology serves to support counselors as they identify their patients' concerns and offer recommendations to their patients.
Rogerian Theory
Empathy, unconditional positive regard and genuineness are techniques in training for counselors. These techniques are part of the Rogerian Theory, in which a counselor assists a patient with removing obstacles from his or her life so the patient can develop independence and self-direction. Counselors are trained to use techniques such as refraining from disagreeing or pointing out contradictions with patients.
Counseling Session Techniques
Training for counselors includes information about a counselor's daily job responsibilities. Topics can include the art of contracting, handling patient medical and family history information, patient education, risk assessment, elements of psychosocial counseling and interact with patients who have different needs.
Educational Settings for Counselors
Training classes for counselors are offered in classroom sessions provided in volunteer programs, undergraduate school, non-generic graduate school programs and generic graduate school programs.
Clinical Rotation Training
Clinical rotation training enables counselors to understand best use techniques when dealing with one or two-session patient interactions. Counselors learn what behaviors and attitudes are effective in many situations, and they also learn identify the importance of time constraints or limitations in situations.
Behavioral Techniques
Classroom or Web-based training informs counselors demonstrate concern for patients. Counselors also learn behaviors of acceptance and understanding, attributes or qualities of congruence and unconditional positive regard -- identified by psychologist Carl Rogers as enablers of learning. Other techniques are role playing, promoting competence and genograms -- which uses color coding to identify types of relationships.
