NCJ Number
48934
Journal
International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology Volume: 22 Issue: 1 Dated: (1978) Pages: 11-20
Date Published
1978
Length
10 pages
Annotation
GENERAL INSIGHTS OF A PSYCHOLOGIST REGARDING THE PSYCHODYNAMICS OF PROBATIONERS ARE PRESENTED AND A VARIETY OF COUNSELING METHODS ARE SUGGESTED.
Abstract
IT IS NOTED THAT THE BEHAVIORAL DISORDERS OF PROBATIONERS ARE IDENTIFIED PRIMARILY IN TERMS OF DEFICITS--LACK OF ANXIETY, OF GUILT, OF IMPULSE CONTROL, OR RESPONSIBILITY, EMPATHY, AND MATURITY, TOGHETHER WITH A GENERALIZED DIFFICULTY IN MAINTAINING RELATIONSHIPS. THESE CHARACTERISTICS SET PROBATIONERS APART FROM OTHER COUNSELING CLIENTS TREATED WITH TRADITIONAL METHODS, AND THE TECHNIQUES FOR COUNSELING PROBATIONERS MUST DIFFER FROM THOSE EMPLOYED FOR NONPROBATION CLIENTS. TRADITIONAL COUNSELING METHODS ARE DESIGNED TO REDUCE CRIPPLING ANXIETY AND GUILT, BUT PROBATIONERS GENERALLY SUFFER FROM A LACK OF APPROPRIATE ANXIETY AND GUILT. ALTHOUGH GUILT AND ANXIETY REDUCTION ARE THE COUNSELING GOALS FOR MOST CLIENTS, PROBATIONERS REQUIRE GUILT AND ANXIETY 'MANAGEMENT'--THE ADMISSION OF GUILT AND ANXIETY INTO CONSCIOUS AWARENESS FOR USE IN DEVELOPING SELECTIVE CONTROL OVER CERTAIN BEHAVIOR. IN DETAILING COUNSELING APPROACHES THAT AID IN MOVING TOWARD THESE OBJECTIVES FOR PROBATIONERS, THE FOLLOWING TOPICS ARE DISCUSSED: INTUITIVE UNDERSTANDING VERSUS DIAGNOSTICS; CLIENTS' GOAL-SETTING TENDENCIES:TREATMENT OF THE CONSCIOUS VERSUS TREATMENT OF THE UNCONSCIOUS;VERBAL VERSUS NONVERBAL COUNSELING METHODS;SUPERVISION VERSUS AUTONOMY; STIMULUS-SEEKING NEEDS OF CLIENTS;RELATIONSHIP NEEDS OF CLIENTS;RELATIONSHIP NEEDS OF CLIENTS; AND CLIENTCOUNSELOR RELATIONSHIPS. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED.(RCB)