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Meet
the Type Experts
Type
and Counseling
Joan
Hubbard
Applications
- Individual
Counseling/Psychotherapy
- Couples
Counseling/Psychotherapy
- Family
Counseling/Psychotherapy
- Group
Counseling/Psychotherapy
As
a marriage and family therapist I am constantly thinking
"systems," looking at the patterns of thinking
and behaving which have developed within a family system
over a period of years. Psychological type offers much to
the understanding of how family systems go awry. The conflict
generated by differences within a "coupleship"
which untended reach out and ensnare the children into alliances
and loyalty conflicts; the children who do not seem to "fit"
the family model; individuals who feel victimized by seeing
only limited, unappealing choices are examples of persons
who can experience positive growth and an opportunity to
encounter joy in their lives by increased understanding
of what shapes their belief systems and, therefore, their
behavior. The blending of the family histories and the ethical
use of psychological type are keys which open the door to
new understanding and new opportunities.
Learning
Opportunities for Professionals
Conferences offered by the Association of Psychological
Type (APT) and the Center for Application of Psychological
Type (CAPT) are excellent opportunities to attend a wide variety
of sessions based on both research and applications of psychological
type in clinical settings. CAPT also offers an annual "Using
Type in Counseling" program taught by Mary McCaulley,
Ph.D. who shares her years of research and experience. Depending
upon the level of expertise, a counselor/therapist might consider
attending a basic qualifying course to establish a good foundation
for understanding what the MBTI® can and cannot do, as
well as the ethics of its use.
Several
books provide case studies so that those wishing to integrate
psychological type into their practices can see how type
helps in conceptualizing a client problem and setting the
direction for therapy. A Casebook: Applications of the Myers-Briggs
Type Indicator® in Counseling by Judith A. Provost and
The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® in Counseling by Mary
H. MCCaulley are excellent examples. There are an increasing
number of "type" books available addressing issues
of relationships, families, grieving and loss, mothering,
etc. However, learning to use psychological type in a therapy
setting is most effectively done by the therapist's efforts
to continue increasing his/her own knowledge and experience
with type. The therapist offers clients this knowledge at
an appropriate time within the therapy setting to help clients
better understand their preferred approaches, as well as
their "stuck places".
Other
Resources
After
futile efforts to engage clients in some of the more lengthy
readings about type, I have come to realize that the most
effective reading suggestions are those that are presented
succinctly and address specific interest areas. Clients
have benefited from:
Corlett,
Eleanor S. and Millner, Nancy B. Navigating Midlife Consulting
Psychologists Press (CPP) 1993
Hirsh,
Sandra Krebs & Kummerow, Jean M. (1998). Introduction
to Type in Organizations (3rd edition) CPP
Lawrence,
Gordon D., People Types & Tiger Stripes. (3rd edition).
Center for Application of Pscyhological Type Center for
Application of Psychological Type (CAPT) 1996
Millner,
Nancy B., Creative Aging. CPP, 1998
Myers,
Isabel Briggs, Introduction to Type (6th edition). CPP,
1998
Page,
Earle C., Looking at Type. (4th edition) CAPT, 1998
Provost,
Judith A., Work, Play, and Type: Achieving Balance in Your
Life. CPP, 1990
Quenk,
Naomi, Beside Ourselves: Our Hidden Personality in Everyday
Life. Davies-Black Publishing, Palo Alto, CA.
Tieger
and Barron-Tieger. Do What You Are. Little, Brown. 1996
(2nd editon)
Bio
Joan P. Hubbard is a marriage and family therapist who has
been practicing in the field for 24 years. Couples' relationships
are of particular interest to her, and she has found the
MBTI® an invaluable tool for helping couples diffuse
anger, and begin to work on resolving problems. Ms. Hubbard
has presented M.A.P. (Marital Assessment Process) her model
for blending family histories and type dynamics to audiences
in both the type and family therapy communities. For the
past four years she has been APT's Interest Area Consultant
for Counseling and Psychotherapy, and writes an article
four times per year for the Bulletin of Psychological Type
.
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