Chapter 8. Stage 2: Applying Strategies
CHAPTER REVIEW
Chapter 8 examines the six steps involved in applying strategies during the second stage of the
helping relationship. The six steps are: 1) mutual acceptance by helper and helpee of defined
goals and objectives; 2) planning of strategies; 3) use of strategies; 4) evaluation of strategies; 5)
termination; and 6) follow-up.
Chapter 8 concludes the discussion of the first and second dimensions of the human
relations counseling model: the relationship building and strategy planning and implementation
of the first dimension; and the use of effective communication skills necessary to accomplish the
tasks of the first two stages.
MAJOR TEACHING OBJECTIVES
1. To help students broaden their experience of different strategies and deepen their sensitivity
to the selection of appropriate strategies for different clients in different treatment settings
1. Expand Exercise 8.8 by discussing with students how they say “goodbye” to important
people in their lives. How have they said “goodbye” to friends at camp, best friends who
2. Ask students what self-help books they have read lately. What did they find helpful? What
3. Ask students to role-play a situation where a client is terminating counseling. The client asks
4. Ask students to consider when it might be appropriate to have very long-term clients.
5. Have students rate which strategies they think they will use. Which ones do they think they
will avoid? Why? This can be done as an entry in their journal.
COMMENTS ON EXERCISES IN THE BOOK
Exercises in this chapter give students the opportunity to plan, choose, use, and evaluate a variety
INTERNET ACTIVITIES
1. Have students look up “brief therapy” on the Internet. What definitions did they find? Which
theories were discussed?
BOOKS AND FILMS THAT MIGHT BE USEFUL FOR THIS CHAPTER
1. If students are interested in learning more about specific strategies of a particular theoretical
model, have them review the reading lists at the end of chapters 5-8 in the textbook.
2. The videotape Art of Integrative Counseling and Psychotherapy by Gerald Corey and Robert
Haynes provides examples of strategies, evaluation, and termination. This can also be found
3. Ask students to evaluate how closely the strategies demonstrated by the therapists in the
videotapes Three Approaches to Psychotherapy I (Rogers, Perls, Ellis), II (Rogers, Shostrom,
4. The DVD that accompanies Interviewing in Action in a Multicultural World, 4th edition by
1. If you propose a technique that a helpee refuses to do:
2. Evaluation of strategies:
3. What factors have an impact on the use of strategies:
4. One gets a sense of how a client will handle the termination process by:
5. Evaluation of goal attainment in the termination process of a successful relationship:
6. Follow-up:
7. Ms. Souza’s therapist used:
8. Bibliotherapy involves:
9. The counselor and Rory met with his brothers. What step was this?
10. Martha entered counseling to decide if she wanted to have a baby. What step was it when
each session ended with a behavioral contract?
11. Ji-hun was
12. Ellen was referred to
ESSAY QUESTIONS
1. How might you handle counseling when it becomes clear that the agreed upon objectives
3. Is it ethical for a helper to try out a strategy he/she has never used before? Explain.
4. What might be two evaluative criteria for a client who tells you she hates herself but would
7. Discuss pros and cons of extending termination over several weeks or months.
9. Ms. Souza’s behavior change of going to the market was not generalized to other situations.
10. How did the counselor work with Rory’s (the 17 year old with drug problems) family?
11. How did Martha, the woman who was deciding about a baby, use Gestalt strategies in her
12. How did the counselor work with cultural and gender issues in her therapy with Ji-hun?
13. Discuss the use of homework and referral to outside experts and support groups with Ellen
14. Discuss the following: “The steps in applying strategies can be viewed only within the