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	<title>Psychology Blog</title>
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	<link>http://blog.psychology.ie</link>
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		<title>What is included in counselling psychotherapy courses?</title>
		<link>http://blog.psychology.ie/what-is-included-in-counselling-psychotherapy-courses/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.psychology.ie/what-is-included-in-counselling-psychotherapy-courses/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 06 Jul 2010 11:22:47 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Counselling Psychotherapy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[psychology]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[psychology courses]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[education]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.psychology.ie/?p=130</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Today if you are looking to make a career as a psychotherapist then you just cannot ignore the importance of counselling training along with  counselling psychotherapy courses as well. Perhaps to be an effective and competent counsellor or psychotherapist you need to hold a counselling degree apart from having substantial knowledge and skills. But [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Today if you are looking to make a career as a psychotherapist then you just cannot ignore the importance of counselling training along with  <a href="http://www.psychology.ie/BA-Counselling-Psychotherapy.html">counselling psychotherapy courses</a> as well. Perhaps to be an effective and competent counsellor or psychotherapist you need to hold a counselling degree apart from having substantial knowledge and skills. But by and large, today everything depends upon your aptitude to make and sustain trustworthy therapeutic relationships. Sometimes the relationship between client and you as a counsellor can be very complex and therefore it requires devotion and sufficient self-esteem to accept the challenges that this profession demands. Opting counselling psychotherapy course provides you an education platform to learn these skills and get trained that this profession majorly requires.</p>
<p>These days, there are many <a href="http://www.psychology.ie/">psychology training institutes</a> that are offering various counselling training programmes. The primary aim of this course is to make students like you well equipped with all necessary skills and capable enough to practice safely and effectively within the context of counselling and psychotherapy. In fact, this is the only course that primarily includes an integrated educational process in the field of counselling and psychotherapy, with a range of modules that generally reflect the best practice of psychotherapy.</p>
<p>If we talk about the benefits of this psychotherapy course then it is one of its own kinds of training course that may help you in:</p>
<p>•	Nurturing your critical thinking ability and analytical skills that may assist you to be make proper use of healthy evidence-based practice in counselling and psychotherapy.</p>
<p>•	Providing inter-professional and interdisciplinary education surroundings that are very important for the decisive analysis and practice of Counselling and Psychotherapy.</p>
<p>•	Developing your personal growth that can further enable to work at levels of increasing complexity.</p>
<p>Moreover, the counselling psychotherapy course may even equip you with an understanding of the psychobiology of emotional disorders and the finest knowledge of how to go about bringing a favourable adjustment in an individual as quickly as possible. Adding to this, the course also trains you about the effective structuring of counselling sessions so that the patient may leave the counselling session feeling better and knowing that he or she is making improvements.</p>
<p>Apart from this, the major highlight of this counselling degree course is it even teaches you about the rapid rapport building skills, which generally occur due to our innate human abilities to connect and communicate. And, along with this, it also educates about the metaphorical pattern-matching nature of the brain and how patterns can be reframed and enriched in a way so that the person could easily get back in control of his or her lives again.</p>
<p>Finally, once you complete this counselling training, as a graduate you will develop the aptitude to:</p>
<p>7.	Identify key theories and prime methods of counselling and psychotherapy</p>
<p>8.	Demonstrate the application of the knowledge achieved in the field of counselling in a supervised settings and calculate the potential impact of their application</p>
<p>9.	Devise and undertake the accountability for applications of theory for various use in clinical situations</p>
<p>Today definitely it is a course that promotes evidence-based practice and relational research in the field of counselling and psychotherapy. With so much to learn and as the demand for well trained psychotherapists are on rise, opting counselling psychotherapy course is going to be a smart decision.</p>
<p>Find more information on <a href="http://www.psychology.ie/BA-Counselling-Psychotherapy.html">Counselling Psychotherapy courses</a> in Ireland including how to apply, course contents, and career as a Psychotherapist at Psychology.ie .</p>
<p>Apply for specialised <a href="http://www.psychology.ie/">counseliing courses</a> at ATI – Psychology Training institute in Ireland.</p>
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		<title>Psychology Training in Institute Vs Home Study</title>
		<link>http://blog.psychology.ie/psychology-training-in-institute-vs-home-study/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.psychology.ie/psychology-training-in-institute-vs-home-study/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 29 Jun 2010 11:23:53 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Addiction Studies]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Counselling Psychotherapy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[psychology]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.psychology.ie/psychology-training-in-institute-vs-home-study/</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Psychology is one of the few broad areas which has a wide range of applications in our daily lives. Whether you are intending to pursue or make a career in this sector, or even looking to add that extra value to your counselling career, earning a psychology degree is always going to be effective.
Today there [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Psychology is one of the few broad areas which has a wide range of applications in our daily lives. Whether you are intending to pursue or make a career in this sector, or even looking to add that extra value to your counselling career, earning a psychology degree is always going to be effective.</p>
<p>Today there are many good ways to earn a psychotherapy or <a href="http://www.psychology.ie">psychology degree</a> in the specialised field. And, choosing on-campus or distance psychology education from a reputable psychology college is key. A distance psychology course provides a general education and fundamental psychological skills in a flexible format, and on-campus psychology training on other hand provides the best exposure to real-life and practical training experience. Both the education and training formats has its own benefits and which are discussed below. </p>
<p><b>More on-time Involvement Vs Easy Convenience to Study at Home</b></p>
<p>The most meaningful benefit of on-campus psychology training and education is the sense of association you usually set up by becoming part of a learning community. In fact, by affiliating to such a community fosters a uniqueness and comfort that is generally not always present or may also take time to develop in a distance education setting. Because, you are at the centre of the entire activity or study environment, you are less liable to miss-out the class. Perhaps the predefined class timings facilitate you to plan your entire day effectively. However, distance learning programs allow you to complete your coursework when you have time. The home study psychology course fits around your needs and not the other way around. It provides you the convenience to study at your own time and complete the assignments as suit you. </p>
<p><b>Face-to-face Interaction Vs Flexible Schedules</b></p>
<p>Today there are numerous psychology colleges and institutes that are offering counselling and <a href="http://www.psychology.ie/">psychology courses</a>. Earning a degree or training in psychology has numerous benefits that cannot be ignored. Acquiring training from psychology colleges can help you enhance your progress into the field of psychology through introductory courses and direct interaction with faculty who are skilled professionals in their field. This interaction can help you in improving your overall learning experience and at times can help you develop better skills that you might need to be successful in your career. </p>
<p>Distance education psychology course on other hand act more like a virtual campus and provide flexible home study options. Your distance education psychotherapy courses are generally held completely online along with your instructor who is always ready to give you the assistance and course information. </p>
<p><b>Hands-on Learning Vs Self-paced Learning</b></p>
<p>A traditional campus degree program gives you the opportunity to take part in field exposure and other hands-on learning opportunities that are very effective to help you learn and experience more than any textbook content could educate you. The experience you gain through hands-on learning can be very effective especially in the field of psychology. </p>
<p>On other hand home study psychology certification courses provide you with the chance to study at your own pace at your home. Perhaps, at times the situation may arise where you may require extra time to reread an assignment or even study more on a certain subject. With home study format you have the option to do that, as long as you can complete the work before the deadline. </p>
<p>To be a competent counsellor or psychotherapist you must hold a degree apart from having substantial knowledge and skills. And, it doesn’t matter whether you choose distance learning or on-campus psychotherapy course, both can provide you with the education platform to get started. </p>
<p>Get specialized Psychology training at ATI – a <a href="http://www.psychology.ie/">Psychology Institute in Ireland</a> well known for <a href="http://www.psychology.ie/BA-Counselling-Psychotherapy.html">Counselling Psychotherapy courses</a> Ireland.<br />
Know more about Psychotherapy training courses offered by ATI. </p>
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		<title>Career in Addiction Counselling</title>
		<link>http://blog.psychology.ie/career-in-addiction-counselling/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.psychology.ie/career-in-addiction-counselling/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 22 May 2010 07:21:23 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Addiction Studies]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Counselling Psychotherapy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[psychology]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[addiction counselling]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[counselling]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[education]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.psychology.ie/?p=125</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[There are millions of individuals worldwide who are addicted in one way or another. Nicotine, alcohol, drugs, gambling are among the most common forms of addiction. Addiction causes problems to individuals, families, and society and these problems are increasing all the time. 
Addiction and its causes are not that easy to eliminate. How do you [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>There are millions of individuals worldwide who are addicted in one way or another. Nicotine, alcohol, drugs, gambling are among the most common forms of addiction. Addiction causes problems to individuals, families, and society and these problems are increasing all the time. </p>
<p>Addiction and its causes are not that easy to eliminate. How do you break the behavioural and psychological cycle of addictive behaviours? Each person&#8217;s addiction is individual and there are always various  contributory factors that are present, that perpetuate and precipitate the addictive behaviours.  The most appropriate approach is to recognise those factors and address them on an individual basis,  and this is where addiction counselling proves  to be one of the most effective treatment alternatives. </p>
<p>Addiction is complex.  It is often thought of as a disease that damages the addict physically and mentally. It can also be thought of as having emotional, interpersonal, social or spiritual aspects, and so these factors too must be addressed to support recovery. Counselling is the most effective approach that may help an individual.  </p>
<p>In recent years the demand for addiction counsellors has increased dramatically, and <a href="http://www.psychology.ie/BA-Applied-Addiction-Studies.html">addiction counselling</a> / psychological counselling has become a very promising career option. Many rehabilitation centres, clinics, community centres and schools have begun recruiting addiction counsellors or trainers. </p>
<p>Today there are many accredited Addiction Training Institutes that are offering addiction counselling courses and providing training.. By enrolling in such institutes you will learn a range of appropriate methods for engaging, communicating and supporting the addicted individual effectively. Additionally,  the courses may cover other areas such as service provision, drug and alcohol policy, and social cultural perspectives.  </p>
<p>Addiction counselling is definitely a career that can offer numerous benefits. When choosing the institute or counselling course, keep in mind the following points:<br />
Does the course have a skills approach as well as a theoretical approach?<br />
Does the course provide a multi-disciplinary approach to theory?<br />
Does the course provide opportunities for hands-on learning?</p>
<p>Working in the area of addiction is extremely challenging, but it has its many rewards. Beyond being engaged in a profession that  makes a difference to individual lives,  the job prospect of addiction counselling is bright. It is an expanding area. Having a specialisation in addiction will place you at the forefront in the area of mental health counselling.  Many medical and health care experts  expect the need for addiction counseling to outpace all other areas of mental health. </p>
<p>In present scenario the demand of professional addiction counsellers is increasing day by day. If you too want to make a career in addiction coulselling then join ATI, a leading institute for <a href="http://www.www.psychology.ie/">Psychotherapy Training Ireland</a>, offers bachelor’s degree in <a href="http://www.psychology.ie/BA-Applied-Addiction-Studies.html">addiction counselling</a> and psychotherapy. For more information, browse Psychology.ie.</p>
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		<title>What is Psychology Counselling?</title>
		<link>http://blog.psychology.ie/what-is-psychology-counselling/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.psychology.ie/what-is-psychology-counselling/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 21 May 2010 10:03:14 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Addiction Studies]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Counselling Psychotherapy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[career]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[psychology]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[education]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.psychology.ie/?p=123</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Counselling psychology is a unique psychological specialty that encompasses research and applied work in several broad domains. Its fundamental aim is to provide therapeutic treatments to individuals. This makes it one of the largest specialty areas within psychology. A counselling psychologist’s main focus is to help people with a diverse array of mental health problems. [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Counselling psychology is a unique psychological specialty that encompasses research and applied work in several broad domains. Its fundamental aim is to provide therapeutic treatments to individuals. This makes it one of the largest specialty areas within psychology. A counselling psychologist’s main focus is to help people with a diverse array of mental health problems. In doing this a strong emphasis is paid to understanding the interpersonal dynamics of therapy.</p>
<p>The Society of Counselling Psychology describes it as a field that primarily facilitates different interpersonal functioning across the life span, with a major focus on social, vocational, health-related and emotional concerns. The discipline is relatively new and requires both knowledge of psychology with an understanding of therapeutic practice. </p>
<p>Today those pursuing <a href="http://www.psychology.ie">counselling psychology </a>as a career, will find a large vista of career paths. Though many counselling psychologists are involved in providing psychotherapy services, there are many other career paths available.  These include those related to teaching, vocational counselling, and. conducting research. In recent years, many large corporate organisations now employ psychology counsellors, as workplaces are becoming prime sources of psychological and emotional stress. In the same way many schools and colleges are also looking for counselling psychologists for guiding young students. </p>
<p>At present there is a range of options when it comes to making a career or studying counselling psychology.  There are many institutes that provide psychology counselling courses, and also there are courses available online or through distance education. There are several points to be aware of before enrolling onto a course:</p>
<p>•	Ensure that the course has an international accreditation<br />
•	Do a thorough background check on the psychology institute you have shortlisted<br />
•	Decide if you would like to study a course with a particular specialisation &#8211; there are various options available.</p>
<p>Psychology is an exciting  field. It will lead you into a world where you meet the whole spectrum of human difficulties. Whilst dealing with people and mental health problems is very appealing it is also very challenging. However, with patience and determination, successful career paths can be achieved in psychology counselling. All you require is an understanding of psychological theories and their application, and a desire to help people overcome their problems and move towards achieving  their full potential.</p>
<p>Join ATI, one of the reputed institutes for <a href="http://www.psychology.ie/BA-Counselling-Psychotherapy.html">Counselling Psychotherapy courses</a>, to become a professional Psychotherapist. Enroll yourself in  <a href="http://www.psychology.ie/">Counselling Courses Ireland</a> for making a bright career in psychology. For more information, please visit Psychology.ie.</p>
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		<title>Top Psychology Career Options</title>
		<link>http://blog.psychology.ie/top-psychology-career-options/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.psychology.ie/top-psychology-career-options/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 13 Apr 2010 07:30:38 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Counselling Psychotherapy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[career]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[career in psychology]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[courses]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[education]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.psychology.ie/?p=121</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Psychology is sometimes perceived as a “young” field in the area of human behavioural studies but it has in fact been around for almost 125 years. It is a field that primarily concerns itself with both the biology and sociology of human behaviour. The field is also home to some of the top career opportunities [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Psychology is sometimes perceived as a “young” field in the area of human behavioural studies but it has in fact been around for almost 125 years. It is a field that primarily concerns itself with both the biology and sociology of human behaviour. The field is also home to some of the top career opportunities available today. if you are looking to make a career in the field of psychology then here are few most popular career options that you can look at:</p>
<p><strong>School Psychologist- </strong>Over the last few years, this <a title="Career Options in Psychology" href="http://www.psychology.ie/">career option in psychology</a> has gained enormous popularity.  Today many schools across the world are utilising the skills and training of school psychologists. Many school psychologists go into this area of psychology as they wish to work with “early interventions with young people”.</p>
<p><strong>Forensic Psychologists</strong> – These are psychologists that apply psychological principles to different legal issues. Their expertise is often vital in court. They often carry out research on jury behaviour or eyewitness testimony. These days, many forensic psychologists also train in both law and psychology. The demand for forensic psychologists is also very high.</p>
<p><strong>Clinical Psychologists</strong>- These professionals generally perform their key role in mental health clinics, hospital settings or private practice. Their key role revolves around the assessing, diagnosing and treating clients suffering from psychological disorders. Today it is considered as one of the single largest employment areas within the field of psychology.</p>
<p><strong>Sports Psychologists</strong> – This is another career option that has also gained in popularity and up-coming as a major career option. Their role revolves around helping athletes or sportspeople in refining their focus on competition and winning. They motivate competitors and utilise methods that assist in how to deal with the anxiety and fear of failure that can often come with sports. In the last few years, as sports become more competitive this psychological field has also become more and more popular.</p>
<p><strong>Industrial-organisational Psychologists</strong> – This field primarily concentrates on workplace behaviour. Today many companies use industrial organisational psychologists to boost their employees’ productivity.</p>
<p><strong>Research Psychologists – </strong>As the name suggests<strong> </strong>they primarily carry out research at corporations, non-profit organisations or for the universities. They usually look at the patterns of humans’ behaviour and try to study variations of effects of drugs, motivation, neurology, genetics and similar other factors.</p>
<p>These are some of the career options in the field of psychology that have gained wide popularity in recent years, so if you are looking for a career in psychology these are some of your options.</p>
<p><strong> </strong>Join ATI, a specialised Psychology training institute in Ireland for career focussed <a href="http://www.psychology.ie/"> Psychology Courses </a> Bachelor programs. If you want to become a competent Counsellor or Psychotherapist, you can enroll here for <a href="http://www.psychology.ie/BA-Counselling-Psychotherapy.html"> Psychotherapy Training Courses </a>Ireland.</p>
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		<title>Careers in Addiction Counselling</title>
		<link>http://blog.psychology.ie/careers-in-addiction-counselling/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.psychology.ie/careers-in-addiction-counselling/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 13 Apr 2010 07:22:13 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Addiction Studies]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Counselling Psychotherapy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[career]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[career in addiction counselling]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.psychology.ie/?p=117</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[There are many different addictions that a person may suffer from and for as long as recorded history people have suffered from them. Worldwide, there are millions of individuals with nicotine, drug, alcohol or other addictions who need help to overcome them. As many as one in six of those who drink alcohol will become [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>There are many different addictions that a person may suffer from and for as long as recorded history people have suffered from them. Worldwide, there are millions of individuals with nicotine, drug, alcohol or other addictions who need help to overcome them. As many as one in six of those who drink alcohol will become addicted and an even higher number of drug users, one in four, will become addicted. Of those who smoke tobacco, almost all will become addicted to the nicotine they contain. Addiction and its causes are not easy to eliminate and it can be extremely hard to break the behavioural and psychological cycle of addictive behaviours. Each person’s addiction is individual to them and whilst there are factors that are present in most sufferers of an addiction, the best solution available is to recognise and handle such addictions and related behaviour individually. This is where the addiction counsellor comes in.</p>
<p>Over the past number of years, the demand for addiction counsellors has increased dramatically and <a href="http://psychology.ie/BA-Applied-Addiction-Studies.html">addiction counselling</a> / psychological counselling has become a very credible career option.  The training required for such a career is provided via specialised training courses in a number of accredited Addiction Training Institutes. Choosing the correct institute or counselling course is vital in learning process and in the acquisition of the skills and nuances of addiction treatment.  In addition to this, a career in addiction counselling / psychological counselling   offers numerous benefits to the trained counsellor and in next few years it is expected to grow further.</p>
<p>Training in addiction counselling / psychological therapy teaches you the appropriate methods for engaging, communicating and supporting the addicted individual effectively.  This provides great job satisfaction for the individual working in the field.  Addiction counselling and training have gained much greater recognition in recent years and it has emerged as one of one of the best means for people to overcome addictive behaviour and similar behavioural patterns. Many rehabilitation centres, clinics, community centres and schools have begun recruiting addiction trainers or counsellors. Choosing a career in this field is the best option available for those interested in helping people with addictions.</p>
<p>Want to pursue Addiction Counselling training from Ireland? Then join ATI, a leading institute specialised for Counselling and <a href="http://www.psychology.ie/"> Psychology Degree Courses Ireland </a>.  Enroll for career oriented <a href="http://psychology.ie/BA-Applied-Addiction-Studies.html">Addiction Counselling</a> degree at ATI and ensure your career in rewarding field of psychology.</p>
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		<title>Freud’s Influence in the field of Psychodynamic Psychotherapy</title>
		<link>http://blog.psychology.ie/freud%e2%80%99s-influence-in-the-field-of-psychodynamic-psychotherapy/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.psychology.ie/freud%e2%80%99s-influence-in-the-field-of-psychodynamic-psychotherapy/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 05 Apr 2010 12:30:49 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Counselling Psychotherapy]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.psychology.ie/?p=112</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Sigmund Freud was born on the 6th May 1856 in Frielberg, Moravia, which was at the time in Austria-Hungery and is currently in the Czech Republic.
The son of wool merchant (Jakob) and the eldest of the 8 children of Jakob and Amalie Freud, (though not Jakob’s eldest child as he had 2 children from a [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Sigmund Freud was born on the 6th May 1856 in Frielberg, Moravia, which was at the time in Austria-Hungery and is currently in the Czech Republic.</p>
<p>The son of wool merchant (Jakob) and the eldest of the 8 children of Jakob and Amalie Freud, (though not Jakob’s eldest child as he had 2 children from a previous marriage), the young Freud was said to have been favoured by his parents over his other siblings due to his superior intellect.  During the recession of 1857 Jakob Freud lost his business and moved first to Leipzig and then Vienna where he settled with his family, including the young Sigmund.<br />
In 1874 the concept of Psychodynamics was first proposed by German Physiologist Ernst Wilhelm von Brücke in his publication “Lectures on physiology”. His work on this concept was in conjunction with Hermann von Helmholtz a Physiologist and Physicist who was one of the originators  of the conservation of energy theories and the creators of the first law of thermodynamics. These papers theorized that all living things are “energy systems” and are governed by the same laws as non living energy systems. This was a radical and new theory at the time, stating that the living organism was a “Dynamic System” subject to the laws of Chemistry and Physics.</p>
<p>This same Von Brücke was the supervisor of the first year Medical student, Sigmund Freud. Freud quickly adopted this new “Dynamic” Physiology and it became a starting point for his Dynamic Psychology and its relationship to the unconscious mind.  According to John Bowlby the origins of Freud’s basic model, based on the fundamentals of chemistry and physics stems from Brücke (Psychodynamics), Meynert (Director of Psychiatry at Vienna University) Breuer (Physician and Peer), Helmholtz (Conservation of Energy) and Herbart (Philosopher and Meta-physicist ).</p>
<p>As this essay is about the influence of Freud on contemporary Psychodynamic Psychoanalysis and its usefulness in the treatment of addiction, I am not going to go into a detailed explanation of his theories but will add a glossary of terms at the end of the essay and refer to those terms within the essay when discussing a point that is relevant to them.</p>
<p><strong>Influence:</strong></p>
<p>First and foremost he created the language of Psychoanalysis. He gave it words and in doing so he laid the foundations for those who followed and gave them the words and concepts necessary to converse and study, to analysis and criticize. Whilst some changes to his terminology were made by those who followed, it is easy to see that the formulation of their theories and words was based in Freudian theory. This tends to be true even of those who disagreed with his theories in part and those who, according to themselves, dismissed his theories completely.</p>
<p>He was the first person to give serious consideration to the “unconscious” part of the individual’s mind and having accepted the unconscious, to realize and acknowledge the level to which that unconscious part of the person could influence the conscious.</p>
<p>He recognised, named and categorized the defence mechanisms that individuals employ to avoid dealing with reality and he ( within the general population) is probably best known for his (extremely controversial) Psychosexual stages of development. Again it should be stated that even those who do not fully agree with those stages, do still take part of what he said and use it in both their theories and utilize them in their practice.</p>
<p>He was also the first “ superstar” of the field, crossing over into the public domain. To this day you will often hear someone saying “well that was a Freudian slip if I ever heard one” or “ He’s completely Anal”. He would also be quite notorious for his prescription of Cocaine for the treatment of Opium Malady and the strong suggestion of inappropriate behaviour with some of his clients.</p>
<p>Freud’s influence on those that worked with him in the “inner circle” and on those who followed was imesureable. Carl Jung, Alfred Adler ( who was one of the first to break away from the inner circle but still to a large degree influenced by Freud in the earlier years and who himself became a significant influence on Rollo May, Viktor Frankl, Abraham Maslow and Albert Ellis), Anna Freud, Melanie Klein, Eric Fromm amongst many others. Otto Rank, was one of Freud’s closest collaborators  until the publication of his book “Das Trauma der Geburt” in 1924, subsequently translated into English in 1929,     “The Trauma of Birth” explored how religion, philosophy, art, myth, and therapy were brought about by “separation anxiety” in the “phase before the development of the Oedipus complex”   This ultimately led to the split between them as Freud considered this to be Oedipal heresy. In addition to this Freud’s recommendations that analysts be completely emotionless did not sit well with Rank. He felt that the emotional lives of the clients were being ignored. He became a great influence on Rollo May and in 1936 he was invited to lecture in New York by one Carl Rogers, the “Father” of Person Centered Therapy and who later stated that he had been transformed by Rank’s ideas.<br />
Paul Goodman, who in conjunction with Fritz Perls co-founded Gestalt therapy stated that Rank’s post Freudian ideas on art and creativity were “beyond praise”</p>
<p>The reason for citing these connections, is to show the level of influence Freud has had on the whole field of psychotherapy. Even though most of those cited have ended up disagreeing with Freud to a greater or lesser extent over time….ALL of their thinking is either based in or a reaction too Freudian theory. His influence on all areas of modern psychotherapy cannot be overstated.</p>
<p>ATI, a leading psychology and counselling training institute offers career oriented  Counselling and <a href="http://www.psychology.ie/BA-Counselling-Psychotherapy.html ">Psychotherapy training Courses</a> in Ireland. For more detail visit the official website of institute: Psychology.ie.</p>
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		<title>Wheel of Change</title>
		<link>http://blog.psychology.ie/wheel-of-change/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.psychology.ie/wheel-of-change/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 31 Mar 2010 10:46:08 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Addiction Studies]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Counselling Psychotherapy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[career]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[psychology education]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.psychology.ie/?p=65</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The wheel of change is an instrument by which the professional helper can assess the point at which the client is at in the cycle of change and thereby offer appropriate intervention. It facilitates the use of the correct therapeutic skills for the stage that the client is at.[i]
Prochaska and DiClemente formulated the Transtheoretical or [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The wheel of change is an instrument by which the professional helper can assess the point at which the client is at in the cycle of change and thereby offer appropriate intervention. It facilitates the use of the correct therapeutic skills for the stage that the client is at.[i]</p>
<p>Prochaska and DiClemente formulated the Transtheoretical or Cycle of Change Model in 1982.[ii]</p>
<p>It is a multi-dimensional model and the stages of change are the core constructs around which the model is organized. These stages are graphically demonstrated in the wheel of change.[iii]</p>
<p>This model sees change as a cycle and not an all or nothing situation and it is quite possible for an individual to travel around the wheel of change a number of times before breaking the cycle.[iv]</p>
<p>In addition to this, relapse is seen as a normal part of the cycle and not seen as a failure on the part of the individual attempting to change their lives.[v]</p>
<p><strong>Pre-contemplation</strong></p>
<p><strong> </strong>This is the first of the stages in the wheel of change and the one to which my individuals return after a relapse. In the pre-contemplation stage the individual is either unaware that there is a problem with their behaviour or they are aware that there is a problem but have given no thought to the possibility of a change of behaviour. Their addiction is “working” for them and the benefits of the addiction, In their own minds, far out weigh and difficulties it may be causing. The individual at this stage has no interest or inclination to change their behaviour patterns.[vi]</p>
<p><strong>Contemplation</strong></p>
<p>This is the second stage in the wheel of change and is where the individual begins to recognise that there may be a problem with their behaviour and they are thinking about that possibility and the possibility of making changes. In Many cases this is a “light bulb” moment, where they are jarred into thought by a specific incident or blatant piece of information regarding the problem behaviour. For example the “hard drinker” being told by their Doctor that lab tests have shown liver damage that will become irreversible if drinking continues. Again, it is often the “individualisation” of information that makes the difference. All smokers know that smoking is bad for them and it is on the television all the time. Indeed it is printed on every cigarette packet. This is generic information and does not affect the smoker. If however a Cardiac specialist sits in front of them and tells them that their heart is damaged by their smoking and they are going to die if they do not stop now, it will have far greater impact on the smoker. Contemplation can arrive and then disappear very quickly and the major challenge for the individual involved is to seize the opportunity when it arises. At this point the individual must weigh the costs versus the benefits of changing the behaviour and the motivational interviewer, if they are involved at this stage, will be looking at ways to “tip the balance” with the client, in favour of modifying  the problem behaviour. Once the balance has been tipped, realistic goals must be set by the individual themselves in conjunction with the councillor or therapist if they are involved.[vii]</p>
<p><strong>Determination</strong></p>
<p><strong> </strong>The third of the stages in the wheel of change, determination, is a transitionary period between the balance in favour of change being accepted by the individual and the taking of action. Again, as with contemplation, many people have fleeting feelings of determination that can be harshly knocked back when the “horrors” of the perceived reality of changing behaviour patterns sinks in. These perceptions may well be distorted as a result of the addiction and the mental state of the individual.</p>
<p>Determination will lead directly to action if all aspects of the addictive problem have been considered realistically and the goals that have been set are also realistic and attainable.  Many believe that the only way to change the problem behaviour is to eliminate it completely and undertake an almost complete change in character. Both Alcoholics Anonymous, Minnesota Model treatment centres and the medical professions, espousing the Disease / Medical Models would, insist on total abstinence by the individual, with Minnesota Centres and A.A. also looking for a Spiritual aspect or “Awakening” to take place. M.E.T. would, on the other hand, look more at the acceptance of the individual by the individual, leading themselves to look for a better quality of life. It maybe impossible for the individual to achieve complete abstinence from their problem behaviour, as for example in the case of a chronic over eater. In this case and in the case of some alcoholics, drug abusers and even smokers, harm reduction maybe a realistic goal.[viii]</p>
<p><strong>Action</strong></p>
<p><strong> </strong>The decision has been made, now it’s time to do it! The problem behaviour is now stopped or reduced to a less harmful state. This is an incredibly hard time for any individual in the process of change. They have lost their “best friend”. Life is never going to be the same again. Positive reinforcement of the benefits of change and unconditional positive regard, accurate empathy and congruent reality on the part of the professional helper can play a major role in the action stage progressing successfully. The individual needs to have, with the assistance of the therapist or councillor, acquired the necessary knowledge and skills required to continue abstaining or moderating their behaviour. These would include the interventions and skills listed in the processes of change, i.e. Stimulus Control: recognizing “triggers” for the old problem behaviours. Peer Pressure: pressure from old friends who have not changed their behaviours. Lifestyle Enhancement: “filling the gap”. Many who have been in the throes of active addiction have invested large portions of their time in feeding that addiction. Now that that is no longer necessary, they often find that they have a large amount of free time. The individual needs to find something that is pleasurable or interesting to them in order to avoid boredom and the danger of slipping back into the old problem behaviours.[ix]</p>
<p><strong>Maintenance</strong><strong> </strong></p>
<p>When in active addiction, the actions carried out by the individual to feed that habit become automatic. The aim in the maintenance stage is for the actions carried out by the individual to maintain the status quo and not to relapse should become automatic. This does not mean that they should not constantly be on guard for high risk situations, “people, places, things” but it means that the initial reaction to a dangerous stimulus is not to immediately “pick up”. In general a person is said to have moved from the action stage to the maintenance stage after a period of six months, though this can vary from individual to individual. It is hoped that this is the stage at which the individual will permanently exit the wheel of change. This is not however always the case and some people will move on, perhaps a number of times, to relapse before breaking the cycle. Some will never break it.[x]</p>
<p><strong>Relapse</strong><br />
<strong> </strong><br />
Relapse is the name given to when an individual returns to the old problem behaviours. The Transtheoretical Model however, views relapse as a natural part of the cycle of change and this can in-fact go a long way to removing or reducing the shame and self loathing felt by an individual who has relapsed. They are often inclined to view their relapse as a “failure”, by gaining an understanding of the cycle of change they can come to the realisation that it is not an all or nothing situation and they can return to the action stage whenever they want. In a lot of cases however, they will revert to the pre-contemplation stage for an extended period of time before themselves or external circumstances again make them think about making changes and bring them again to the contemplation stage.[xi]</p>
<p><strong>Perceived Strengths and Weaknesses</strong></p>
<p><strong> </strong>Whilst generally viewed favourably, there are detractors of the wheel of change and of the Transtheoretical Model as utilized in Motivational Enhancement Therapy.</p>
<p>The strengths of the wheel of change are that it provides an excellent framework for the professional helper, allowing them to provide the appropriate interventions at the appropriate times. It also allows for the client to gain a better understanding of what is happening to them.</p>
<p>Detractors would say that it allows for a “soft” approach, whereby an individual could still be indulging their substance of choice, albeit at a reduced and less harmful level. Thereby claiming a success for the model that others would consider a failure.[xii]</p>
<p>Are you looking for career oriented counselling and<strong> </strong><a href="http://www.psychology.ie/">psychology Courses</a> in Ireland? Enroll today at ATI, a premier psychology and counselling training institute offers career oriented accredited <a href="http://psychology.ie/BA-Counselling-Psychotherapy.html">Counselling Psychotherapy</a> Courses. For more detail visit the official website of institute: Psychology.ie.</p>
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		<title>Counselling and Psychotherapy Courses</title>
		<link>http://blog.psychology.ie/counselling-and-psychotherapy-courses/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.psychology.ie/counselling-and-psychotherapy-courses/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 20 Mar 2010 06:34:02 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Addiction Studies]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Counselling Psychotherapy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Research]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[career in psychology]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[psychology degree]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.psychology.ie/?p=61</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[There are numerous career opportunities in the field of Counselling and Psychotherapy and earning a counselling and Psychotherapy degree will help lead you to enjoy great rewards. The degree enables you to obtain an above-average knowledge about people. In fact a Counselling and Psychotherapy degree is a degree where you get the chance learn the [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>There are numerous career opportunities in the field of Counselling and Psychotherapy and earning a counselling and Psychotherapy degree will help lead you to enjoy great rewards. The degree enables you to obtain an above-average knowledge about people. In fact a Counselling and Psychotherapy degree is a degree where you get the chance learn the detailed interpretation of human behavioural patterns.</p>
<p>These days many colleges in Ireland are offering different <a href="http://www.psychology.ie/">psychology courses</a>, but as student, you need to take a course that can meet the professional requirements for your area of interest. Your goal should not be only to fulfil the course requirements, but also create critical thought processing skills, develop research competence and gain a comprehensive knowledge of the subject, thereby ensuring that you can provide the highest standards in your academic and professional career.  If you are looking forward to a career in Counselling and Psychotherapy then the following courses should be considered:</p>
<p><strong>BA Counselling Psychotherapy</strong> &#8211; This course is ideal if you wish to pursue training in counselling or psychotherapy. Today the <a href="http://psychology.ie/BA-Counselling-Psychotherapy.html">BA in Counselling and Psychotherapy</a> is one of the most popular courses that provides the most effective counselling  skills required. It will also enhance work practices in areas such as human resources, nursing and teaching. The key advantages of choosing this course are that it provides a strong basic foundation along with counselling training that is utilised in the practice of psychotherapy. During this course, you will learn about the main areas of psychopathology and their symptoms. In addition to this, the course also assists in the carrying out primary research in the area of counselling and psychotherapy.</p>
<p><strong>BA Applied Addiction Studies</strong>- This three year course is another popular course and offered by training institutes in Ireland. It is a study program that offers a matchless learning experience by combining theoretical classroom teaching with real-world learning experiences. In fact, in recent times this course has played a vital role in promoting the most up-to-date understanding of addiction treatment currently available. The key study modules of this course are addiction and loss, behavioural addictions, understanding drugs, and drug and alcohol policy in Ireland. In addition to this, the major benefit of this course is you learn about different research methodologies in relation to the Addiction Treatment.</p>
<p><strong>Home Study</strong>- Talking in terms of short-term courses, this course has also  gained enormous popularity in recent times. The course offers a Comprehensive Foundation Program designed to inform, stimulate &amp; challenge you. Irrespective of previous educational or professional qualifications, the course is open to everyone. The program provides a comprehensive, accessible introduction into the fascinating world of psychology. It is the ideal course to increase your knowledge about how we think, learn and relate.</p>
<p><strong>Diploma in Therapeutic Group Work</strong>- This course is very popular among students who are looking to:<br />
1.Develop their counseling competence within an existing profession or role.<br />
2.Become a practicing counselor for example voluntary, agency, or private sectors</p>
<p>The most unique aspect of this course is that it integrates the opportunity to explore, practice and develop the counseling approach’s and self-knowledge through simple yet effective procedures like seminars, discussions and experiential work or research presentation in groups or pairs. Once you complete the course, you will have learned to identify organizational dynamics pertinent to groups and specific ethical considerations that must be considered while working with groups.</p>
<p>There are a large number of courses you can choose in the field of Counselling and Psychotherapy. The courses above are well recognized programs available  in Ireland.</p>
<p>Are you seeking a career in counselling and psychotherapy? ATI Training and Education, a premier institute accredited for providing <a href="http://www.psychology.ie/BA-Counselling-Psychotherapy.html">counselling psychotherapy training</a>. in Ireland. Browse the site Psychology.ie for getting more information about other career oriented <a href="http://www.psychology.ie/">psychology courses</a> and training programs in Ireland.</p>
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		<title>B.A. in Counselling and Psychotherapy &#8211; What to Look for in a Bachelors</title>
		<link>http://blog.psychology.ie/b-a-in-counselling-and-psychotherapy-what-to-look-for-in-a-bachelors/</link>
		<comments>http://blog.psychology.ie/b-a-in-counselling-and-psychotherapy-what-to-look-for-in-a-bachelors/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 20 Mar 2010 06:29:35 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Addiction Studies]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Counselling Psychotherapy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Research]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[career]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[psychology degree]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://blog.psychology.ie/?p=57</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Psychology is a field of study that has gained enormous popularity in almost every part of the world in last number of years. Obtaining a Counselling and Psychology degree offers plenty of diverse employment opportunities for example colleges, universities, public-sector organizations or market research firms as well as private practice. Depending upon aptitude and interest [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Psychology is a field of study that has gained enormous popularity in almost every part of the world in last number of years. Obtaining a Counselling and Psychology degree offers plenty of diverse employment opportunities for example colleges, universities, public-sector organizations or market research firms as well as private practice. Depending upon aptitude and interest you can specialize in the various fields of Counselling and Psychotherapy.</p>
<p>In recent times, there has been an increasing demand for psychologists in almost every sector and as a result many colleges and institutes are offering <a href="http://www.psychology.ie/">psychology degrees</a> and counselling degrees at graduate level. Besides this, many online schools have also started offering online bachelor degrees in psychology. Consequently you must be very careful about selecting any of these programs. Here are few important guidelines that you need to look for while selecting a bachelor program in Counselling and Psychotherapy:</p>
<p><strong>Costs</strong> – Find out how much the course is going to cost you. Not just for one year but for the full course if you are considering a degree course. Take into account the cost of books and any other expenses and budget for them. Beware if courses advertised seem to be excessively cheap. You get what you pay for. The <a href="http://www.psychology.ie/">Addiction Training Institute</a> can offer comprehensive training at competitive prices and deliver the highest standards and accreditation.</p>
<p><strong>Faculty base</strong> – You need to know that the standard of those who will be teaching you is up to the standard that you would expect of a top notch educational facility. The Addiction Training Institute provide information on all of it’s lecturing staff and the standard of that staff will not be beaten anywhere in Ireland.<br />
<strong> </strong><br />
<strong>Curriculum</strong><strong> – </strong>Curriculum is vitally important. The curriculum must be acceptable to the accrediting agency in the jurisdiction in which you are studying. In the case of Counselling and Psychotherapy topics must include such subjects as: Counselling Theory, Therapeutic Intervention Strategies, Client / Counsellor Relationships. Work Experience and many others. The Addiction Training Institute will provide you with all the information about the curriculum before you commit to the course and you can rest assured that the curriculum provided will always meet the requirements of the course.<strong> </strong></p>
<p><strong>Accreditation of a school</strong> – In any college or university, there are different types of accreditation, but the most important one is regional accreditation. These are the one’s that are recognized by the government and by employers. In Ireland HETAC and FETAC are the recognized accreditors in conjunction with recognized universities, colleges and Institutes. Addiction Training Institute degree courses are HETAC accredited and acceptable to all professional organizations and employers.</p>
<p>Apply for specialized and career oriented <a href="http://www.psychology.ie/">counselling degree courses</a> and training programs in Ireland at ATI, one of the premier institutes accredited for <a href="http://www.psychology.ie/BA-Counselling-Psychotherapy.html">Counselling Psychotherapy Courses</a>. Browse the site Psychology.ie to find more information.</p>
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