fact or theory? counseling psychology

[SmallA]

Do psychological counselors use mostly theory or mostly fact to help their patients?

The reason I ask is because I am thinking about becoming a psychologist. I have chosen this field to consider because (a) I like helping people and (b) I like taking a framework of knowledge and applying its principles to improve something. I don't think I would like being a psychologist if they use mostly theory to help their patients because I'd like the "framework of knowledge" that I am applying to be fact-based (or as close to fact as possible) and not guess work. That way, helping people wouldn't involve merely guessing based on which theory I believe in. If psychological counseling involves using more fact-based methods, then I will find it more appealing. Thanks for your help!

[voodoo scientist]

I would suggest looking a bit more into what a fact and a theory is, but to answer what I think your question really is, modern psychology holds to very high scientific standards (except parapsychology, haha). Psychology as a field is still fighting to get out of big brother Medicine's shadow, so it's very important that the work is impeccable'.

However, the facts are always changing as our precision of measurement and comprehension improves. In science, you will always be revisiting your ideas and formulating new conclusions as you learn and experience. That's why a new counselor is usually less effective than an experienced one. You may want to look into becoming a minister or something if you're looking to peddle static, unchanging information for the rest of your life.

[NataEames]

I would also add that all cases vary from person to person. A psychologist might sometimes have to use other techniques and improvised ideas which are slightly different from the text to fit the patient's personality or problem.

The human mind is not even 1% in our knowledge. I graduated in psych but dealing with people, I'm still learning. There is no fit statistic or formula to "fixing" someone and it is a very stressful job. I have an interest in psychology, which is why I studied it and try to help people online but I don't want to work as a psychologist, even though I have many recommendations from my profs

Fact is 2+2=4, oranges contain vitamin C etc., psychology is not 100% fact and not 100% theory. It is somewhere in between and changes from situation to situation.

[gone]

You are misunderstanding psychology and counselling are two very different subjects. Psychological Counsellors you say? what is this?

Most counselling today is 'Person Centred' from the teachings and theories of Carl Rogers and is basically talking therapy. They talk you listen. It's that simple. (Note: no psychology required).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Person-centered_therapy


The person centred model has developed in recent times to continue into CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy) which is basically learning how to turn negative thoughts into positive ones. (no psychology required)..

The two are very different areas of study and practice & shouldn't be confused or you'll be very disappointed.

Maybe what you are thinking about is 'Psychiatry' and this again is a very different study to counselling and psychology. Maybe research each more and then decide which suits you best.
Counselling?
Psychology?
Psychiatry? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychiatry

[voodoo scientist]

That is pure misinformation. Where are you getting things like most counseling using a person-centered approach, or CBT developing from Rogers' theories? It's just wrong. Here are corrections to all those wrong bits of information above.

• Counselling and psychology are not different subjects, counselling is informed by psychology.
• Without getting into the validity of Rogers' claims, person-centred counseling is most certainly psychology.
• Most counseling today is eclectic, utilizing the various psychology paradigms and theories as tools instead of being wholly informed by any one.
  
• CBT did not grow out of Carl Rogers' theories, it grew from the theories of many prominent researchers like Beck and Skinner (come on, this is even on Wikipedia, I just checked).
  
• Psychiatry is a medical discipline that operates qualitatively differently from psychology. Aside from both treating broken minds, they are very different fields in almost every way.

You make many claims, but bring little substance or expert credibility to the table to back it up. Most of your claims are wrong, and I'm honestly confused as to where exactly they came from, but what's even more confusing is that the right answers to these can be found in any basic psychology textbook. I can recommend Gross' Psychology of Mind and Behavior.

[gone]

Voodoo you misquote and misinterpret me. I gave the informaiton based upon my knowledge and experience. I am a qualified counsellor (although not a practising one), when I researched gaining these skills and qualifications the options were 'Person Centred Counselling - most common and most available in educational establishments or Psychodynamic - not so readily available to study as 'out of fashion').. Therefore I qualified in Person Centred Counselling or Person Centred Psychotherapy (note Psychotherapy is not the same world as Psychology)..
There is NO KNOWLEDGE OF PSYCHOLOGY REQUIRED it's is skills based on listening and the theories of Carl Rogers.

I DID NOT SAY 'CBT developed from Carl Rogers theories' what I wrote was "The person centred model has developed in recent times to continue into CBT"

When a person seeks counselling here in the UK they will get person centred counselling from a person who has studied this. This is a course of 45 minute sessions over 6 weeks. This will be extended if required and if ongoing will eventually go into CBT therapy either with the same person or sometimes another practicioner more qualified. As counsellors do not have to have CBT training to be a counsellor. Infact anyone can set up shop as a counsellor, no qualifications required (as yet).
So that is my experience of the counselling system here in the UK, I will add I also went through counselling myself as research for the subject (and it was total rubbish and a waste of time after waiting a year on the NHS - you sit in a grotty room with two chair and there is silence until you talk and the counsellor just nods sympathetically - there is paraphrasing, reflecting ect but I only know that because I studied it, you don't get it, you get a nod of the head on occasion.

So that is why I ansered the question, I thought I was qualified to do so and offer my advice.

Psychiatry I mentioned as the question implied they wanted to help people (this could have included mental disorders - which is what psychiatry is)...

:-) hope that explains more.

[SWM]

counselling psychology is a professional occupation within the NHS. I am not sure if the US have an equivalent role. counselling psychologists work in secondary care mental health services mainly.