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Guidance and Counseling

Notes Thorne prefers the term psychological case handling’ to ‘psychotherapy’ for the reason that the
effectiveness of the psychotherapeutic methods has so far not been convincingly demonstrated. The
former term is broader and more comprehensive and includes all activities not necessarily confined
to psychotherapy alone.
Self Assessment

Fill in the blanks :
(i) _____ counseling, represents a middle status between the two extremes directive and non
directive approaches.
(ii) In eclectic counseling _____ and coordinating methods are used.
(iii) In the beginning of counseling, _____ are used and the counselor remains passive.
(iv) The more importance is assigned to the _____ and treatment in eclectic counseling.

15.7 Summary

• Eclectic counseling is defined as the synthesis and combination of directive and non-directive
counseling. It represents a middle status between the two extremes represented by the ‘non-
directive’ technique on one hand and the ‘directive’ technique on the other. In eclectic counseling,
the counselor is neither too active as in the directive counseling nor too passive as in the non-
directive counseling. He just follows the middle path between these two.

• Assumptions of Eclectic Counseling: (1) In general, passive methods should be used whenever
possible; (2) Active methods may be used with specific indications; (3) In the early stages
when the client is telling his story. passive techniques are usually the methods of choice. This
permits emotional release; (4) Until simple methods have failed, complicated methods should
not be attempted; (5) All counseling should be client centered.
• Characteristic of Eclectic Counseling: (1) In this, objective and coordinating methods are used;
(2) In the beginning of counseling, client-active methods are used and the counselor remains
passive; (3) In this, more importance is assigned to the job efficiency and treatment; (4)
In this, the principle of low expenditure is emphasized.
• Steps in Eclectic Counseling: The leading exponent of the Eclectic counseling Thorne, suggested
the following in the process;
(i) Diagnosis of the cause.
(ii) Analysis of the problem.
(iii) Preparation of a tentative plan for modifying factors.
(iv) Securing effective conditions for counseling.
(v) Interviewing and stimulating the client to develop his own resources and to assume its
responsibility for trying new modes of adjustment.
• Disadvantages of Eclectic Counseling: (1) Some people are of the view that eclectic counseling
is vague, opportunistic and superficial; (2) Both directive and non-directive counseling cannot
be mixed together; (3) In this, the question arises how much freedom should be given to the
client ? For this there is non-definite rule; (4) The problem with an eclectic orientation is that
counselors often do more harm than good if they have little or no understanding about what
is helping the client.
• Therapeutic Implications of Eclectic Counseling: 1. All psychopathological or disturbed
conditions are examples of disorders of integrations and the goal of all methods of psychological
counseling is to strengthen and improve the quality of the integrative process, thus fostering
higher levels of self-actualizations; 2. The therapist has to assess whether the client has the

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