This essay will attempt to highlight and evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the three major theories of counseling within the module covered this term. The three approaches under discussion are psychodynamic, cognitive behavioral and humanistic. Psychodynamic theory originates from Sigmund Freud, a physician and philosopher (1856 - 1939) founded in 1900. Freud developed his ideas while working as a psychiatrist in Vienna, collecting information from his patients such as feelings, thoughts and early childhood experiences. Psychodynamic theory focuses on the unconscious mind. Freud's belief is that different mental forces operate in the mind. The unconscious mind can be described as an iceberg. The tip of the iceberg represents the part of the mind that is conscious, everyday thoughts. The iceberg just below the surface of the water represents the preconscious, thoughts and information that can be easily retrieved. And finally the base of the iceberg is the unconscious part of the mind where fears, traumas and bad experiences are contained, almost impossible to recover. Freud argued that slips of the tongue are repressed expressions made by the person unconsciously. The term used for this is a Freudian slip. Freud emphasized that early childhood experiences are important for the development of the adult personality, proposing that childhood development occurs in five stages; oral, anal. Phallic, latent and genital. The phallic stage is the most important stage containing the Oedipus complex. This is where the child (aged 4 to 6) possesses the parent of the opposite sex and wants to get rid of the parent of the same sex. Freud argued that if the conflict is not resolved in childhood, then it could cause... middle of paper... objectively detectable facts. This essay has discussed the three main approaches in counseling, examining both the strengths and weaknesses of each. It is clear that each theory is rooted in historical and cultural issues. Although the three approaches have the same initial focus, enabling clients to make their personal meanings conscious and bring them into a space of awareness. It is clear that there is no right or wrong approach, everyone has contributed to science and society. Works Cited PENNINGTON, D (2002), Introducing Psychology: Approaches, Topics and Methods MALAN, H, D, (1979), Individual Psychotherapy and the Science of Psychodynamics, OxfordGROSS, R, ( 2005 ), Psychology, The science of mind and behavior , London.Piotrowski, NA 2005, Psychology Basics, Salem Press, eBook Collection, EBSCOhost, viewed August 25 2011.