Counseling Theory

Richard D. Parsons, Ph.D. is a Full Professor in the Counselor Education Department at West Chester University.  Dr. Parsons has over 45 years of university teaching in counselor preparation programs. Prior to his University teaching Dr. Parsons spent 9 years as a school counselor in an inner-city high school.Naijian Zhang, PhD, is a licensed psychologist in Pennsylvania and tenured full professor in the Department of Counselor Education at West Chester University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Zhang has over 20 years’ experience of clinical practice and teaching in counseling psychology, higher education/student affairs, and language programs at college and university and was also a university administrator (Acting Department Chair, Graduate Coordinator). He has authored, coauthored, and edited over 40 articles, book chapters, and books. His most recent books include Field Experience: Transitioning from Student to Professional in 2015, Counseling Theory: Guiding Reflective Practice in 2014, Becoming a Skilled Counselor in 2013, Rentz’s Student Affairs Practice in Higher Education and Psychology in 2016, and Multicultural and Diversity Issues in Student Affairs Practice: A Professional Competency-Based Approach in 2019. Dr. Zhang is also the co-editor of the book series Counseling and Professional Identity which consists of 23 counseling books and editor of the book series, American Series in Student Affairs Practice and Professional Identity (11 volumes). Dr. Zhang was Vice President, President, and Past-President of the Association of Chinese Helping Professionals and Psychologists – International. He is a recipient of the Travel Award from the American Psychological Association (APA) and the Outstanding Research Award and Outstanding Service Award from the American College Personnel Association (ACPA). Currently he is teaching in a full load of graduate courses and seeing clients in his private practice. In addition, Dr. Zhang frequently gives presentations and conducts counseling training workshops internationally.

• Part I: The Value of Theory to Reflective PracticeChapter 1: Theory and the Reflective Practitioner - Richard D. ParsonsChapter 2: Multicultural Considerations: Within and Beyond Traditional Counseling Theories - Dong XieChapter 3: Case Conceptualization: The Case of Y-Chun - Naijian Zhang and Richard D. ParsonsPart II: Theories and Their ApplicationsChapter 4: Freud and Psychoanalytic Theory - Faith DeveauxChapter 5: Individual Psychology: Alfred Adler - Robyn L. Trippany-Simmons, Matthew R. Buckley, Kristin Meany-Walen, and Tiffany Rush-WilsonChapter 6: Existential Counseling and Psychotherapy - Mark B. Scholl, Michael Walsh, and Michelle PerepiczkaChapter 7: Carl Rogers and Client-Centered Counseling - Marjorie C. Witty and Ray AdomaitisChapter 8: Gestalt Therapy - Joseph Spillman and Christina M. RosenChapter 9: Cognitive-Behavioral Theories - Julia Y. PorterChapter 10: Behavior Theory - Barbara C. Trolley and Christopher SiutaChapter 11: Reality Therapy - David A. Scott and Hannah G. BarfieldChapter 12: Solution-Focused Therapy - Brandé Flamez and Joshua C. WatsonChapter 13: Relational-Cultural Theory in the Context of Feminism - Kristi B. Cannon, Jason Patton, and Stacee L. ReicherzerChapter 14: Family and Couples Therapy - Rebecca M. GoldbergChapter 15: Seeking Integration - Adam Zagelbaum, Maureen Buckley, Shana Friedman, and Kalia GurneeChapter 16: East Meets West: Integration and Complementation - Michael G. Laurent and Shengli Dong