Who would study psychology if they didn't have some kind of problem?

Chapter 429 The Possibility of a Master of All Styles of Psychological Counseling

Avoidant attachment style.

Upon hearing this term, Bai Qinghua remained expressionless, while Chonghui seemed lost in thought.

Even Shi Qianqian, as if by conditioned reflex, subconsciously began to recall the relevant knowledge points.

Avoidant attachment style is a major type in adult attachment theory.

In the 1950s, British psychiatrist John Bowlby proposed the earliest attachment theory through his research on mother-child relationships.

This theory posits that a special emotional bond exists between infants and their caregivers, a bond that is an instinct of life and influences the infant's lifelong interpersonal patterns.

In the 1970s, American psychologist Mary Ainsworth further explored this emotional bond between infants and caregivers through the Strange Situation experiment.

The experiment was not complicated: first, the baby and mother were placed in an unfamiliar environment, then a stranger was brought into the environment, then the mother was removed from the environment, and after a period of time, the mother was brought back.

By repeating the above experimental process and observing changes in infant behavior under different situations, researchers ultimately summarized three types of infant attachment styles, including:

[Secure Attachment]: Infants of this type appear safe and comfortable throughout the entire process. They freely explore their environment when their mother is present; when their mother leaves, they show some degree of unease but continue to explore; when their mother returns, they actively seek physical contact and quickly regain their composure, continuing to explore.

[Rebellious Attachment]: Infants of this type exhibit high levels of anxiety and unease throughout the process. When the mother is present, they are unable to explore their environment and constantly focus on her; when the mother leaves, they experience distress and anxiety; after the mother returns, they both crave her comfort and show resistance towards her.

Avoidant Attachment: Infants with this type of attachment appear indifferent throughout the process. They explore their environment whether their mother is present or not; they do not feel anxious when their mother leaves; and they do not seek comfort when their mother returns.

Avoidant attachment personality is the main personality trait that infants with avoidant attachment develop into adults without intervention or education.

— All of the above information flashed through Chonghui and Shi Qianqian's minds in quick succession.

Actually, the term "avoidant attachment style" is a bit ambiguous here, because theories of "adult attachment" are generally applied to the field of "intimate relationships".

Using this to describe the client's performance in consultation with Nan Zhuren would be... well...

However, it's not entirely wrong for Nan Zhuren to use this to describe the social style of visitors, since intimate relationships are inherently a part of social interaction.

However, if we remove "attachment" and simply use the term "avoidant personality," it seems too heavy—because the term "avoidant personality" is usually used to describe personality disorders, which falls under the category of abnormal psychology.

At the same time, the term "avoidant attachment style" immediately evokes in professionals the exploration of early childhood experiences within family relationships during infancy.

Nan Zhuren's counseling style at this moment appears to be more psychoanalytic.

……

Nan Zhuren continued, "In subsequent consultations, he chose to avoid talking about his deeper problems, and only talked to me about the surface symptoms and some experiences that had a relatively minor impact on him."

"Once his personality traits have been identified, these behaviors become easier to understand; and when I learn more about him later, I'm also able to have a general template to analyze him..."

Bai Qinghua nodded and asked, "So you chose your counseling style because you saw this underlying characteristic in the client?" Nan Zhuren also nodded, "Teacher, you know I come from a cognitive-behavioral background and am usually quite humanistic. However, the efficiency of these two methods is relatively low for the current client, so I chose to use my current method after weighing the efficiency."

Chonghui and Shi Qianqian fell silent again upon hearing this.

Chonghui was alright, but Shi Qianqian was incredulous again and almost couldn't help but question Nan Zhuren again.

Because Nan Zhuren's statement above, like the previous series of "micro-expression analysis" descriptions, is just as unbelievable and defies common sense.

Normally, counselors specialize in a particular school of thought or technique, while only having a superficial understanding of other techniques.

This is because during consultations, in addition to examining the client, the counselor also checks the degree of match between their own skills and the client's problems; if it is confirmed that the client's problems cannot be solved by their existing skills and style, then the case will be transferred.

It's not that these counselors can't learn techniques from other schools of thought, but rather that they can't gain such a thorough understanding of their clients within one or two, or even two or three consultations. Mastering too many techniques might actually confuse them, leaving them unsure which style to use when dealing with their clients.

It would be better to stick to one style from the beginning and try intervening with clients using a specific technical style. If it works, continue; if not, change the person.

Nan Zhuren's performance is tantamount to saying outright that he is a kaleidoscope of consulting techniques.

He can identify the type of client shortly after the consultation begins, and thus select the most suitable consultation style for that client at that moment.

The ability to counter every move is practically a psychological version of the Nine Swords of Dugu!

With this ability, Nan Zhuren can handle almost all types of problems, except for some that cannot be solved due to a lack of life experience.

Is this possible?

Chonghui was amazed.

Shi Qianqian was amazed but also a little doubtful, and because of the reactions of her senior brother and teacher, she didn't dare to doubt for a moment.

Bai Qinghua had no time to observe the reactions of his two apprentices; his attention was now completely drawn to Nan Zhuren.

Even he hadn't imagined that a certain level of [micro-expression analysis] could have such a powerful effect.

It is possible to try to cultivate a "master of all schools of psychological counseling"!
Bai Qinghua's eyes gradually lit up as he looked at Nan Zhuren.

However, his expression and tone remained unchanged.

"Okay, you now know some of the client's personality traits, and that's why you've chosen your counseling style for this session."

"Based on the information you obtained during this consultation, what direction is the current issue that led him to seek consultation on?"

Nan Zhuren had already made a basic judgment on this issue.

(End of this chapter)