Counseling Therapy and the HCAP Model Term Paper

Abstract

The High Capacity Model of Resilience and Well-being (H-CAP) illuminates the factors that promote psychological resilience: Hope, Commitment, Accountability, and Passion. An in-depth review of the H-CAP quality of passion reveals poignant lessons therapists can apply when working with clients. In particular, the quality of passion can be played out within the realm of narrative therapy. The theory behind narrative therapy involves the ubiquitous use of metaphor and meaning-making through personal life stories, and how people interpret the experiences and events that comprise their lives. Through self-awareness and self-analysis, the client can overcome obstacles and triumph over adversity via the application of H-CAP principles like passion. Passion and narrative therapy can be woven into a Biblical approach to psychotherapy, with clear clinical implications for a diverse clientele.

Review of Factor

Passion is one of the four main factors that comprise the H-CAP model of psychological resilience. The other three factors include Hope, Commitment, and Accountability. While all four of these essential qualities are necessary for psychological healing and resilience, passion is one that many individuals may struggle with as they seek meaning and purpose in their lives. Passion is defined by the value one places on any goal, ideal, or activity (Barclay & Barclay, 2017). Without passion, a person’s sense of purpose and energy may fade, leading to a lack of motivation. Passion can be integrated into the other three H-CAP components by providing fuel for hope, commitment, and accountability.

However, research shows that passion can be cultivated in appropriate as well as dysfunctional ways. For example, harmonious passion is proportionate to one’s identity and life goals, whereas obsessive passion refers to situations where the person’s sense of self-worth or identity is tied to a certain drive or desire (Barclay & Barclay, 2017). Obsessive passion can be considered inauthentic, such as the pursuit of a parent’s goals rather than seeking one’s own inner drive and interests. A therapist can help guide clients towards understanding the difference between obsessive passion and harmonious passion, via the quest for the authentic self. Passion is also what motivates the client to seek therapy and to persist even when therapy uncovers uncomfortable emotions or memories. With passion, the person has the determination to set new goals and reach them through persistence and perseverance. Therefore, passion can be critical for the success of the therapeutic relationship.

The counselor learns to identify signs of obsessive passion in clients and differentiate those behavioral patterns from harmonious or authentic passion. Some of the signs of obsessive passion include a lack of self-fulfillment in spite of taking decisive action, reliance on ego defense mechanisms, and low self esteem (Barclay & Barclay, 2017). Rigidity and inflexibility in one’s approach towards career or relationships can also signal the application of obsessive, rather than harmonious passion. A client might never have learned about or experienced harmonious passion, but through therapy can better ascertain the root causes of unhappiness or lack of fulfillment.

Unlike obsessive passion, harmonious passion means alignment between all aspects of oneself. Harmonious passion allows for spiritual fulfillment and self-actualization “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also,” (Matthew 6:21). From a Biblical perspective passion takes on a whole new meaning, epitomizing the life story of Jesus. Empirical research links the psychological quality of passion to achievement and performance outcomes, as well as psychological resilience (Fletcher & Sarkar, 2012). Passion is also one of the known qualities of high achievers and those who attain maximal success in their chosen career path, making this factor one of the most important to cultivate in clients seeking life coaching (Sarkar & Fletcher, 2014). Because passion creates the mindset necessary to push through obstacles or to overcome setbacks, this essential factor helps clients to redirect energies after a failure and plot new and constructive courses of action.

Narrative Theory and Narrative Therapy

Narrative therapy is an action-oriented approach to counseling grounded in multiple theoretical orientations. Strongly focusing on discursive practices in the clinical setting, narrative therapy involves helping the client iterate all aspects of the life story, including suppressed and painful events (Flaskas, 2018). By encouraging some distance and detachment, the therapist helps the client distinguish between events and the core self, allowing for the emergence of an inner protagonist who can be viewed as the hero of one’s life story. During narrative therapy, the client may experience significant breakthroughs that permit deeper understanding and compassion for the self (Goncalves, Ribeiro, Silva, et al., 2015). The client observes the past as if watching a television show or movie, gradually unfolding the life story with a greater sense of objectivity that allows one to analyze areas of strength and weakness. From there, the client is empowered with the motivation to help the protagonist of the story—the self—do whatever it takes to achieve personal goals and dreams.

Narrative therapy has proven useful in a number of different clinical settings and various client populations, including children who have experienced trauma (Dallos & Vetere, 2014). Likewise, research has revealed the efficacy of narrative therapy among clients with eating disorders and addictions (Pugh, 2015). A variation of narrative therapy called time perspective therapy has also been shown to be effective when working with clients suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (Sword, Sword, Brunskill, et al., 2013). With the innumerable benefits of using narrative therapy with clients, counselors can help stimulate a long-term program of intervention. Narrative therapy does require insight, persistence, and a willingness delve deep into unconscious myth-making and cognitive schemas that impede personal progress or fulfillment (Pugh, 2015). Similarly, narrative therapy enables clients to discover new paths, to externalize problems, and to better envision a new way of being.

Linked with symbolic interactionism, constructivism, and cognitive theories of the self, narrative therapy helps clients to break down their life story and self-concept into their constituent parts. Problematic persons can be construed as antagonists who can help the person become stronger and more resilient, while allies are perceived as important social resources the client can leverage on the path towards healing and wellness. A person can learn how to become unstuck using narrative therapy, seeing how patterns become ingrained and habitual. Seeing the story for what it is, the client can then write a new vision for the future. Narrative therapy encourages both cognitive and emotional distance, encouraging one to stop misidentifying with setbacks and instead view the self as being strong and able to overcome adversity. The process of storytelling in narrative therapy can also be useful for developing compassion towards difficult people, and to cultivate a new sense of self.

Narrative therapy may use different techniques such as journaling, verbal…