Which Theoretical Orientation Should You Choose? The Modern Therapist's Survival Guide with Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy
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- Alternative Health
Which Theoretical Orientation Should You Choose?
Curt and Katie chat about how therapists typically select their clinical theoretical orientation for treatment. We look at the different elements of theoretical orientation (including case conceptualization, treatment interventions, and common factors), what impacts our choices, the importance of having a variety of clinical models to draw from, the types of practices that focus on only one clinical theory, and suggestions about how to approach choosing your theories for treatment, including some helpful assessments.
In this podcast episode we talk about how therapists pick their theoretical orientation
We received a couple of requests to talk about clinical theoretical orientation and how Curt and Katie chose their own. We tackle this question in depth:
Choosing a clinical theoretical orientation
The problem with the term “eclectic” when describing a clinical orientation
How Curt and Katie each define their clinical orientations
“Multi-modal” therapy
The different elements of clinical orientations
Case conceptualization
Treatment interventions
Common Factors and what actually makes therapy work
What impacts which theoretical orientation we choose as therapists
Clinical supervision
Training
Personal values and alignment with a theoretical orientation
Common sense (what makes sense to you logically)
Choosing interventions that you like
The importance of having a variety of clinical theories that you can draw from
Comprehensive understanding is required to be able to apply and know when not to apply a clinical orientation
Avoid fitting a client’s presentation into your one clinical orientation
Deliberate, intentional use of different orientations
Why some therapy practices operate with a single clinical model
Comprehensive Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) therapists run their practices and their lives with DBT principals
Going deeply into a very specific theory (like DBT, EMDR, EFT, etc.) while you learn it
Researchers are more likely to be singularly focused on one theory
Suggestions on How to Approach Choosing Your Clinical Theoretical Orientation
Obtain a comprehensive understanding of the theoretical orientation
Understand the theory behind the interventions
Recognizing when to use a very specific theory or when you can be more “eclectic” in your approach
Deciding how fluid you’d like to be with your theoretical orientation
Find what gels with you and do more of that
The ability to pretty dramatically shift your theoretical orientation later in your career
Instruments for Choosing a Theoretical Orientation
Theoretical Orientation Scale (Smith, 2010)
Counselor Theoretical Position Scale
Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode:
We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance!
Institute for Creative Mindfulness
Very Bad Therapy Podcast
Petko, Kendrick and Young (2016): Selecting a Theory of Counseling: What influences a counseling student to choose?
What is the Best Type of Therapy Elimination Game
The Practice of Multimodal Therapy by Arnold A. Lazarus
Poznanski and McClennan (2007): Measuring Counsellor Theoretical Orientation
Relevant Episodes of MTSG Podcast:
Unlearning Very Bad Therapy
Interview with Dr. Diane Gehart: An Incomplete List of Everything Wrong with Therapist Education
Which Theoretical Orientation Should You Choose?
Curt and Katie chat about how therapists typically select their clinical theoretical orientation for treatment. We look at the different elements of theoretical orientation (including case conceptualization, treatment interventions, and common factors), what impacts our choices, the importance of having a variety of clinical models to draw from, the types of practices that focus on only one clinical theory, and suggestions about how to approach choosing your theories for treatment, including some helpful assessments.
In this podcast episode we talk about how therapists pick their theoretical orientation
We received a couple of requests to talk about clinical theoretical orientation and how Curt and Katie chose their own. We tackle this question in depth:
Choosing a clinical theoretical orientation
The problem with the term “eclectic” when describing a clinical orientation
How Curt and Katie each define their clinical orientations
“Multi-modal” therapy
The different elements of clinical orientations
Case conceptualization
Treatment interventions
Common Factors and what actually makes therapy work
What impacts which theoretical orientation we choose as therapists
Clinical supervision
Training
Personal values and alignment with a theoretical orientation
Common sense (what makes sense to you logically)
Choosing interventions that you like
The importance of having a variety of clinical theories that you can draw from
Comprehensive understanding is required to be able to apply and know when not to apply a clinical orientation
Avoid fitting a client’s presentation into your one clinical orientation
Deliberate, intentional use of different orientations
Why some therapy practices operate with a single clinical model
Comprehensive Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) therapists run their practices and their lives with DBT principals
Going deeply into a very specific theory (like DBT, EMDR, EFT, etc.) while you learn it
Researchers are more likely to be singularly focused on one theory
Suggestions on How to Approach Choosing Your Clinical Theoretical Orientation
Obtain a comprehensive understanding of the theoretical orientation
Understand the theory behind the interventions
Recognizing when to use a very specific theory or when you can be more “eclectic” in your approach
Deciding how fluid you’d like to be with your theoretical orientation
Find what gels with you and do more of that
The ability to pretty dramatically shift your theoretical orientation later in your career
Instruments for Choosing a Theoretical Orientation
Theoretical Orientation Scale (Smith, 2010)
Counselor Theoretical Position Scale
Resources for Modern Therapists mentioned in this Podcast Episode:
We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance!
Institute for Creative Mindfulness
Very Bad Therapy Podcast
Petko, Kendrick and Young (2016): Selecting a Theory of Counseling: What influences a counseling student to choose?
What is the Best Type of Therapy Elimination Game
The Practice of Multimodal Therapy by Arnold A. Lazarus
Poznanski and McClennan (2007): Measuring Counsellor Theoretical Orientation
Relevant Episodes of MTSG Podcast:
Unlearning Very Bad Therapy
Interview with Dr. Diane Gehart: An Incomplete List of Everything Wrong with Therapist Education
34 min