THE SECOND WAVE OF COUNSELING AND PSYCHOTHERAPY
(1970s – Philippines)
The second wave of counseling and psychotherapy emerged in the 1970s, when
Filipino pioneers introduced approaches they found effective and practical. These
approaches focused more on observable behavior and change, rather than deep
unconscious processes.
Key Pioneers
Brother Justin Lucian
Dr. Alfredo Lagmay
Major Contributions
Behavior Modification
Rational-Emotive Therapy (now Rational-Emotive Behavior Therapy – REBT)
Reality Therapy (now Choice Therapy)
Logotherapy
Gestalt Therapy (promoted by the Philippine Institute of Applied Behavioral Sciences
– PIABS)
BEHAVIOR THERAPY
Basic Assumption
All behavior is learned and can be unlearned or modified using scientifically
established principles of learning.
PROPONENTS
B.F. Skinner
Carl Thoresen
John D. Krumboltz
Joseph Wolpe
VIEW OF HUMAN NATURE
(Krumboltz & Thoresen, 1969)
Humans are not inherently good or bad
Behaviors are learned through reinforcement
Behaviors that are rewarded continue
Behaviors that are punished or ignored decrease
Maladaptive behaviors can be unlearned
SOURCES OF DIFFICULTIES
Behaviors learned are not adaptive
Behaviors are harmful to self or others
Behaviors interfere with personal development
GOALS OF BEHAVIOR THERAPY
General Goal
To modify inappropriate or undesirable behavior
Categories of Goals
Eliminate maladaptive behavior (behavioral excess)
Develop new behavior (behavioral deficit)
Strengthen new behavior
Maintain new behavior
Modify behaviors linked to strong emotions
Criteria for Goals
Goals must be:
Specific and observable
Attainable
Measurable
Desired by the client
Acceptable to the counselor
MAJOR FOCUS
(Blackham & Silberman, 1971)
Current maladaptive behavior
Behaviors occurring frequently
Behaviors harmful to self or others
Environmental factors that maintain the behavior
ROLE OF THE COUNSELOR / THERAPIST
Acts as an expert and teacher
Prescribes appropriate behavioral strategies
Explains techniques clearly
Assigns behavioral tasks
Monitors progress
Ensures maintenance of desired behavior
COUNSELOR CHARACTERISTICS & COMPETENCIES
(Krumboltz & Thoresen, 1969)
In Dealing with Clients
Objective
Nonjudgmental
Firm
Encouraging
Patient with failures
Reinforces progress
In Dealing with the Process
Knowledgeable
Diligent
Conscientious
Alert and flexible
Willing to experiment (theory-guided)
Authoritative when working with significant others
LEADS AND RESPONSES
(Lucian, 1973)
Acceptance
Restatement
Clarification
Supposition
Reassurance
Interpretation
Summarization
Facilitation
TECHNIQUES IN BEHAVIOR THERAPY
To Eliminate Maladaptive Behavior
Extinction
Positive reinforcement
Satiation
Incompatible alternative behavior
Negative reinforcement
To Develop New Behavior
Social modeling
Successive approximation
Cueing
Discrimination training
To Strengthen New Behavior
Positive reinforcement
Social
Material
Token
Activity reinforcers
To Maintain Behavior
Substitution
Decreasing reinforcement
Intermittent reinforcement
Interval / ratio reinforcement
To Modify Behavior with Strong Emotions
Aversive therapy
Assertiveness training
In-vivo desensitization
Emotional flooding
Systematic desensitization
Implosive therapy
OPERANT CONDITIONING STEPS
(Lucian, 1973)
Identify target behavior
Define goal behavior
Identify antecedents
Identify consequences
Establish baseline
Determine reinforcers
Select strategy
Reverse strategy to test stability
ASSESSMENT & HISTORY
History taking: considered irrelevant
Standardized tests: not emphasized
Continuous behavioral observation is preferred
CASE EXAMPLE: JEWEL (ASSERTIVENESS TRAINING)
Problem: Risk of losing financial grant
Cause: Inability to say “no” to friends
Technique Used: Assertiveness Training
Counseling Process:
Use of paraphrasing, clarification, and general leads
Role-playing and role reversal
Social modeling by the counselor
Behavior rehearsal with feedback
Repetition until confidence and skill were developed
Outcome:
Jewel learned to assert her priorities clearly while maintaining relationships.