Choice Awareness: A Systematic, Eclectic Counseling Theory

This book presents choice awareness as an eclectic counseling theory. The five choice principles of CREST are listed as Caring, Ruling, Enjoying, Sorrowing, and Thinking/Working. The focus is on providing the counselor with a direct and concise approach which will enable clients to make more effective choices and to exercise more responsibility in their lives. The first part of the book explores the nature of choices and sets forth the idea of creating a spa-like condition in counseling. The suggestion is that the counseling office, like the spa, should be a place where clients can seek relaxation and engage in positive, self-sustaining activities. Major options available to the counselor in working with clients are also clarified. Counselors are encouraged to help their clients examine their long range goals; to invest time and energy so they might achieve the kinds of relationships they want in their lives; and to discover the meaning their lives can have. The second part of the book considers the five CREST choices available to human beings. Suggestions are made regarding which current counseling theories fit the choice awareness schemata. The third part provides illustrations of how choice awareness may be integrated into specific counseling processes. Changing a life script, maintaining desirable body weight, enhancing self concept, child counseling, counseling older persons, and a group counseling process are all discussed. Illustrative case studies are included. (LLL)