MATCHING YOUR GOALS AND PROBLEMS WITH MOST
PROMISING THERAPIES
§1 Personal Development Goals
These may involve either (§1.1) adding new skills or qualities or (§1.2) subtracting habits or undesirable traits.
§1.1. There are basically two different approaches to achieving the first goal:
* You identify a specific skill or personality trait you would like to develop—see Table 1, §3. For example, you may want to develop a stronger success-identity (§3.9), improve your communication skills (§3.6), gain a stronger sense of life's purpose (§3.8), or become more assertive (i.e., overcome a degree of shyness, §3.1). For references to recommended therapies for these goals, see §3 below. For vocational counseling and therapy: H, I, M
* Alternatively, you decide to approach self-development with a desire for broad-spectrum improvements. Therapies with this orientation are not especially concerned with highly specific behaviors or problems but attempt to treat the whole person so that self-esteem is gradually increased, as are a sense of satisfaction in daily living, enjoyment of others, and a feeling of being at ease with them.
Primary therapy (judged to be generally
more effective): A, B
Secondary therapy (somewhat less effective): J
§1.2. Refer to §3 below.
§2 Disorders Usually First Noticed in Childhood or Adolescence