ABSTRACT
This chapter explains how understanding control can influence the conceptualisation and delivery of counselling and psychotherapy and what the formulation of conflict means in practice and the significance of recognising change as reorganisation. Perceptual control theory (PCT) provides an explanation of behaviour from the perspective of the person doing the behaving rather than the point of view of an observer, which means the PCT version of counselling and psychotherapy is inherently client-centred. In fact, more than client-centred, therapists whose work is informed by PCT principles describe their practice as client-led therapy, or client-perspective therapy. The chapter describes the Method of Levels (MOL) therapy based on the three PCT principles. Control, conflict, and reorganisation are the three essential principles for effective and efficient counselling and psychotherapy. The principle of controlling perception or controlling outcomes is particularly important when considering people who come for counselling and therapy.
