Values Clarification in Counseling and Psychotherapy: Practical Strategies for Individual and Group Settings

225 Pages·2013·1.248 MB·English

by  Howard Kirschenbaum

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ADVANCE PRAISE FOR VALUES
CLARIFICATION IN COUNSELING
AND PSYCHOTHERAPY
“Th is important book addresses an essential component of counseling and psychotherapy
that is too oft en overlooked in training programs and the professional literature. With clear
guidelines, and lots of clinical examples, Dr. Kirschenbaum demonstrates not only how to
help clients clarify their values on issues such as relationships, love and sex, work, money,
substance use, religion and spirituality, politics, and meaning in life, but also how to resolve
their confl icts around such values and thus promote clients’ living more consistently their
highest purposes. Deeply relevant to seasoned counselors and therapists as well as students,
this book not only provides practical instruction, but philosophically astute expositions of
what values are, their central role in human life, and how the values clarifi cation process can
be applied with multicultural sensitivity to diverse populations. It is highly recommended for
anyone who practices counseling or psychotherapy.”
andre marquis, ph.d., Associate Professor, Dept. of Counseling and
Human Development, Warner Graduate School of Education, University of Rochester;
author, Th eoretical Models of Counseling and Psychotherapy .
“Counseling and psychotherapy is by no means a ‘value free’ enterprise; both clients and
mental health professionals have preferred values and beliefs. Furthermore, both profession-
als and clients may need help in understanding and clarifying their values in the therapeutic
process. Dr. Kirschenbaum has developed an excellent book that not only helps mental pro-
fessionals develop the skills necessary to facilitate client value clarifi cation, but also assists
professionals in understanding and clarifying their own personal values, and thereby avoid-
ing the juxtaposition of those values onto clients in therapy.
richard e. watt s, ph.d., University Distinguished Professor of Counseling,
Sam Houston State University, immediate past editor of C ounseling and Values.
“It is not oft en that a book has the potential to truly modify what therapists and counsel-
ors do. Th is one does. Kirschenbaum presents a cogent and easily understood framework
for working on values in counseling and therapy sessions, along with numerous examples of
exercises that therapists and counselors can use in doing so. Th is book is a helpful, compre-
hensive, and insightful aid for working with clients’ values as an integral part of counseling
and therapy. It is an important resource that all counselors and therapists should read care-
fully and utilize its contents in their practice.”
david w. johnson, ed.d., Psychotherapist, Professor Emeritus, Dept. of
Educational Psychology, University of Minnesota, author,
Joining Together: Group Th eory and Group Skills, 8th edition .
“With this book, I fi nally have a resource on values clarifi cation to off er my students who are
contemplating their theoretical orientation. Dr. Kirschenbaum has infl uenced my integrated
approach to counseling and will continue to infl uence my students with this valuable book.
My students will be more prepared to provide mental health counseling services because
they will be armed with practical values clarifi cation strategies to complement the other
approaches that our program teaches.”
robert h. rice, jr., ph.d., Director of Clinical Internships, Mental Health
Counseling Program, St. John Fisher College
“ Dr. Kirschenbaum’s new book provides a fresh look at values clarifi cation and how concepts
can be applied in a variety of counseling and psychotherapy sett ings. Building on his seminal
work in the fi eld, Dr. Kirschenbaum provides many useful strategies that can be used in indi-
vidual and group work. It is a must read for practitioners who want useful tools for working
with client values, goal sett ing, decision-making, and action planning.”
lorraine j. guth, ph.d., Professor, Department of Counseling,
Indiana University of Pennsylvania
“Howard Kirschenbaum meets a vital and insuffi ciently addressed need in the fi eld of coun-
seling and psychotherapy by making relevant an issue important to all of our clients—the
values by which they live. He makes a compelling case that the process of values clarifi cation
and realization in action is critical to the client’s sense of self and functioning. To a large
degree, we are our values. Fundamental questions such as “What kind of person do I wish to
be? “How do I want to live?” “What is the meaning and purpose of my life?” and “What val-
ues do I want to guide my life?” are key to our clients’ making eff ective choices in their lives.
Kirschenbaum, one of the founders of the values clarifi cation movement, helps us understand
that clarifying values enables clients to identify their priorities, make informed choices, and
live with more conviction, meaning, and direction. Further, as clients clarify their values, they
live a more grounded life, improve their mental health, and oft en contribute to the well-being
of others as well. Th is book is conceptually sound, grounded in research, and convincing in
its message that all clients will benefi t from their therapists’ sensitivity to and willingness
to assist clients in sorting out and implementing their values. Perhaps the greatest strength
of Kirschenbaum’s book is its breadth and richness in providing practical guidelines for the
therapist to help clients address their values issues.”
david j. cain, ph.d., Psychotherapist, California, editor,
Humanistic Psychotherapies: Handbook of Research and Practice .
“Th is well-writt en text is rich with material about values clarifi cation, an eff ective technique
designed to help people in making life’s complicated decisions and choices. Th is book will
be a great resource for helping professionals in implementing values clarifi cation into the
counseling and psychotherapy process.”
k. dayle jones, Coordinator, Mental Health Counseling Program, University of
Central Florida, Orlando; Chair, ACA DSM-5 Proposed Revisions Task Force.
“I began using Values Clarifi cation with adolescent groups over 30 years ago, and now, as a
therapist and Counselor Educator, was excited to see this new work focusing on usage with
clients, students, and supervisees. Th e text is replete with strategies and case examples appli-
cable to a wide variety of populations. Kirschenbaum describes using values clarifi cation
not only from the obvious Person-Centered perspective, but also articulates connections
for usage from Cognitive Behavioral, Existential, Narrative, Solution Focused, and other
perspectives where the concordance might be initially less apparent. In the fi nal chapter,
Kirschenbaum att ends to the research citing the effi cacy of values clarifi cation, making this a
very comprehensive and accessible handbook.”
judi durham, ph.d., Department of Counseling & Family Th erapy,
Saint Joseph College, Connecticut; former President,
North Atlantic Association for Counselor Education and Supervision.
“An elegant presentation of how values clarifi cation, counseling, and psychotherapy can
merge to off er us powerful, practical new tools. A treatise both remarkably clear and wise.”
merrill harmin, ph.d., Professor Emeritus, Southern Illinois
University; author, V alues and Teaching .
“In my practice, in addition to providing my patients with relevant information, I fi nd that
asking good questions to help them clarify their values around health issues increases the
likelihood of bett er outcomes. Th is book provides valuable tools for helping professionals
to assist their clients to fi nd their authentic selves and ways to realize their intentions to live
healthier, fuller lives.”
mary miller, m.d., Internal Medicine, Connecticut, author,
Value Dilemmas for New and Expecting Parents .
“Th is book is a treasure trove of methods, tools, case studies, and theory, all with the most
practical hands-on ways to use them. It is fi lled with originality, creativity, and solid founda-
tional thinking. What a gift for a young counselor or therapist, and just as valuable to estab-
lished ones. It is the culmination of a lifetime of brilliant teaching, profound counseling, and
creative leadership Kirschenbaum has brought to the profession.”
sidney b. simon, ed.d., Professor Emeritus, Psychological Education,
University of Massachusett s, and coauthor of V alues Clarifi cation:
A Handbook of Practical Strategies .
“Dr. Kirschenbaum, one of the early developers of Values Clarifi cation, describes in clear
and accessible language how dozens of Values Clarifi cation strategies can be eff ectively used
in the practice of psychotherapy. Th ese strategies rapidly cast a sharp light on unconscious
areas of confl ict and inconsistency, and off er a path to their resolution. In my 35 years as a
psychotherapist, they have proved their usefulness over and over again.”
marianne preger-simon, ed.d., Psychotherapist, Whately, MA, author of
Heart by Heart: Mothers and Daughters Listening to Each Other
“Th e author draws upon his extensive professional experience and impeccable qualifi ca-
tions as one of the original authors who brought the values clarifi cation movement into
prominence in the 1970s. Th e current book clarifi es the history of the approach, process
of employing such a strategy in a professional sett ing, and outcomes of such a process,
while off ering a wealth of time-tested strategies along with suggestions for implementation.
Members of the helping professions will fi nd specifi c examples that relate to the topics of
marriage and family, substance abuse, pastoral healing, and geriatric health, among many
others. Readers will also likely gain valuable insights in the philosophical, theoretical, and
research domains that underlie the use of values clarifi cation strategies and the counseling
process.”
william e. herman, ph.d., Professor of Psychology,
State University of New York College at Potsdam.
“Th is is the most comprehensive, up-to-date, and practical book on values clarifi cation.
Straightforward examples and real-life applications make this book a must read for students
and professional helpers from diverse fi elds. As therapist-educator, I am thrilled to have a
resource that will support my students in discovering their inner selves.”
stephen p. demanchick, ph.d., Assistant Professor, Creative Arts Th erapy,
Director, Nazareth College Play Th erapy Center for Children and Families, Rochester,
NY; co-editor, Person-Centered Journal.
“Howard Kirschenbaum continues to build upon the body of knowledge concerning values
in education, human development, and the helping professions and has achieved the pinnacle
with this book. He has provided therapists with a wealth of knowledge and highly practical
applications to enhance the decision-making process for all of our clients. It is the single
most informative, balanced, and practical book on the subject of dealing with values issues in
counseling and psychotherapy that I have ever read.”
daniel m. linnenberg, ed.d., Assistant Professor, Counseling and Human
Development, University of Rochester; Pastor and Substance Abuse Counselor.
“For many years, I explored modes of eff ective, nonjudgmental pastoral counseling for
parishioners, who represented a broad spectrum of social sett ings. I have found the values
clarifi cation approach to be a useful, democratic, nonauthoritarian way of enabling my fellow
humans to discern core issues and to work towards solution that are ethically responsible and
existentially practical. Th is new book by Dr. Kirschenbaum will be of great practical help to
pastoral counselors of all faiths.”
the reverend j. t. leamon, Pastor Emeritus, United Church of Christ.
“Dr. Howard Kirschenbaum is the most qualifi ed person I know to write this book. His back-
ground in education, psychotherapy, group training, and writing is an unbeatable combina-
tion for helping therapists and counselors do their best work. Th is is a remarkable tool that
will enhance the skills of anyone in the fi eld of human growth.”
rabbi dov peretz elkins, ed.d., lecturer, consultant;
author, Clarifying Jewish Values .
“For 40 years I have called myself an applied psychologist. I deal with what comes my way in
many diff erent venues. Counseling, therapy, coaching, even consulting all bleed together on
a given day. I bring all the tools with me and use what works—what’s needed in the moment.
Values clarifi cation works for me in all these roles, adding texture and providing tools, strate-
gies, and ways of thinking that add meaning for my varied clients, whether students, business
leaders, physicians, or other professionals. Any student of human interaction and behavior
will love this book. It is a true gift for an eclectic like me.”
rodney napier, ph.d., Professor of Organizational Consulting and
Executive Coaching, University of Pennsylvania; President,
Th e Napier Group; author, Groups: Th eory and Experience, 7th edition .
“Dr. Kirschenbaum’s V alues Clarifi cation in Counseling and Psychotherapy provides the miss-
ing link for professional counselors to bett er understand how values clarifi cation is at the
center of addictions approaches, such as Motivational Interviewing and Stages of Change
theory. Too oft en unacknowledged in the addictions fi eld, values clarifi cation and values-
based decision making form the foundation of contemporary substance abuse counseling
and prevention approaches. Dr. Kirschenbaum reawakens addictions specialists’ awareness
of the essential emphasis upon values in clinical theory and practice.”
richard l. schnell, ed.d., Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus,
State University of New York at Platt sburgh; Former Chair,
NYS Board for Mental Health Practitioners; Former Treatment
Director of state-licensed substance abuse treatment agencies in New York.
“What a great resource! Th is book represents a very important contribution to an area of
practice that has been too long neglected. Values are truly the basis of so much we do and
think, yet they so oft en go unexamined. How many times have counselors thought that we
have covered all the ground and have reached that point in the therapeutic alliance where
action is warranted, only to hear, “Yes, but . . . ”? Th is is a clear indication that we may have
helped the client reach a cognitive understanding but missed the underlying values present
in the issues that must be addressed in any steps toward change. Th is book clearly addresses
that oft en overlooked and sometimes avoided crucial aspect of the therapeutic process. Th e
case examples really help bring it to life. Regardless of one’s approach, V alues Clarifi cation in
Counseling and Psychotherapy provides an excellent framework for greater success.”
e. h. mike robinson, iii, ph.d., Robert Heitzelman Eminent Scholar and Chair,
Department of Educational and Human Sciences, College of Education, University
of Central Florida; author, I ntroduction to the Counseling Profession ; past president,
Association for Spiritual, Ethical, Religious and Values Issues in Counseling.
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■ Values Clarifi cation in Counseling
and Psychotherapy
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Values Clarifi cation
in Counseling and
Psychotherapy
Practical Strategies for Individual
and Group Settings
Howard Kirschenbaum
3