INTRODUCTION TO:

SOCIAL WORK COUNSELING

MARY C. CASTILLO (BSSW UNITING)
PROF: ROZELDA LUCIANO RPM,RSW,LPT,MSSW
A BRIEF HISTORY OF COUNSELING
- Counseling can be traced back to TRIBAL TIMES
where people would came together in a group and
share their experiences and sometimes their
dreams.

- SIGMUND FREUD (German neurologist)

developed a theory later to be called
psychoanalysis. (1980’s)

- The developments of counseling since the 1950’s,

from the late 1800’s up to the present day.
-
 COUNSELING HISTORY-TIMELINE
Below are significant milestones in the history of Counselling and psychotherapy

1886 – Sigmund Freud started practising in Vienna. He went on to develop Psychoanalysis

1951 – Carl Rogers outlined his person-centred approach in his book, Client-Centered Therapy.
1951 – Fritz Perls, Paul Goodman, and Ralph Hefferline.outlined Gestalt therapy in the book Excitement and Growth in the
Human Personality
1954 – Abraham Maslow helped to found Humanistic psychology and later developed his famous Hierarchy of Needs.
1955 – Albert Ellis began the first form of cognitive behavioural therapy which he called Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (
REBT)
1959 –Viktor Frankl published the English edition of his book Man's Search for Meaning, which provided an existential
account of his experiences as a prisoner in Nazi concentration camps during World War II. The book also outlines an
existential approach to counselling known as Logotherapy
1967 Aaron Beck developed Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) suggesting that in terms of depression the way we think
contributes to our emotional well being.
POST-MODERN APPROACHES TO
COUNSELING
The term 'Post Modern' in counselling refers to questioning the assumptions of previous theories.

The are three types of postmodern therapies:

Narrative Therapy was developed through the 1970s and 1980s, by Michael White and David Epston who
proposed that cultural influences and unconscious processes shape human behaviour.
Solution-Focused Therapy is a future-focused, goal-oriented approach which helps clients replace problems for
solutions. American researchers Steve de Shazer and Insoo Kim Berg developed the theory in the late 1970s.

Collaborative Language systems were developed by Harlene Anderson Harry Goolishian during the 1980s. They
propose the client works through their difficulties in the conversations they have with the therapist.
WHAT IS SOCIAL WORK COUNSELING?
Social workers and counselors both aim to help people deal
with the problems they face in their lives.

Counselling is a chance to work with a professional

counsellor to make positive changes in your life. Counselling
can help you to sort through thoughts and feelings in a safe
environment, and to find strategies to help you cope with
difficult situations.
 -building relationship/trust
ENGAGEMENT -active listening & empathy

-understanding & identifying

problems
ASSESSMENT -legal basis/framework

-Action plan
PLANNING -goal development
-objective
PHASES/STAGES
OF COUNSELING IMPLEMENTATIO -client’s progress -and
monitoring
N
-critical evaluation and
EVALUATION reflection

-maintain changes &

monitor any progress
TERMINATION independently

-to checked any progress

FOLLOW UP -result of interventions.
 5 MAJOR GOALS OF COUNSELING
•FACILITATING BEHAVIOR CHANGE
•IMPROVING RELATIONSHIPS
•ENHANCING COPING SKILLS
•PROMOTING DECISION MAKING (On why and how
decisions, problems during decision making facilitating
client’s POTENTIAL.)
•MAXIMIZE INDIVIDUALS POSSIBLE FREEDOM WITHIN
LIMITS (set by him and his environment and also control
the environment.)
 PRIMARY GOAL OF COUNSELING
Counseling is a collaborative effort
between the counselor and client. Professional
counselors help clients identify goals and
potential solutions to problems which cause
emotional turmoil; seek to improve
communication and coping skills; strengthen
self-esteem; and promote behavior change
and optimal mental health.