This paper deals with my preference for Brief Time Limited Treatment vs. open ended treatment vs. open-ended or extended treatment.
If I were to enter counseling I would prefer this treatment because it deals with the presenting problem quickly and would not require me to continue to come back and stay in treatment for an extended period of time. I am a person who prefers to deal with the problem head on and not draw it out through continue discussion of my family background and how this effects me today. I feel that this type of treatment promotes mindfulness and keeping me focused on what is pertinent in my life.
However, the obvious limitations of this type of therapy would be that in the future I would not be able to engage in counseling again without changing therapist. I would have to start again perhaps, with a new therapist with whom I have no rapport and who is not familiar with my case.
Open-Ended treatment would allow me to discontinue treatment when necessary such as during a latent period in my life. When a life crisis arises again I could start back up with a therapist who would understand my case and history without having to repeat these details again. Limitations with this type of therapy would be that there is no formal set goal of termination. I feel that this is so necessary as I have experience so many clients who are dependent on their case managers and clinicians to make most decisions in their life.
Extended therapy would not benefit me if there were long standing and chronic problems in my life such as alcoholism, personality disorders or other mental health issues.
This is a good type of therapy would that allow me to have the constant support of my clinician while continuing to work on my treatment goals. I would have someone who could keep me focused on regular intervals. The pitfall of this type of therapy would be that I would become dependent on having this clinician to be there whenever a life crisis arises. This is not a practical expectation as it would not allow me to gain the necessary coping skills to navigate life on my own with always having a therapist to be there.
I feel strongly that termination needs to be a part of any clinician treatment plan as it teaches the client that important message that life is not permanent and change is acceptable and necessary as a normal part of life.
In conclusion, counseling is a good life skill to utilize when life becomes overwhelming. The obvious limitation would be a desire to not foster dependence rather independence with the result being solid life coping skills.
