PSY FPX 6730 Assessment 4 Theoretical Foundations 

Introduction

The owner of Company A Tech Solutions has requested assistance from a consultant to implement a new organizational model and to provide training for the employees so that the new and existing teams could work together seamlessly. There have been some modifications at Company A Tech Solutions during the past few months. The company has expanded from being completely an online firm to also working from a shop. They also included an added department among their employees to assist with the work of the customers. Upon these additions, the owner had discovered that there was internal tension between the two departments, causing miscommunications and tension in the organization. Due to poor organizational communication, these issues with the employees were unknown to the management. Teamwork and employee motivation have also been mentioned as the areas that need to be addressed.

Case Study

At the transition period from the online support team vs. the physical support team from the recent unprecedented change that has faced the firm, the majority of the workers are not aware of what exactly their roles entail, especially because the majority will be working under the same premises and operations managers are carrying additional responsibilities. The staff of the organization did not embrace the change, according to the owner of the organization. Nevertheless, Company A Tech Solutions has seen an increase in customers since its opening, which meant that it gained about 15% of profit during the first month compared to the median revenue that the organization had before the store opened.

With increasing internal grievances, the company owner is apprehensive that if the customers sense there is hostile tension among the employees, the company would become hostile to accepting tech repair. All final decisions in this small-firm company are taken by its owner, to whom all employees are subordinate. This person requested the aid of a consultant and was eager to implement beneficial changes as rapidly as possible, and therefore, they hired a consultant. This way, we can find out more about the current organizational configuration as well as the desired ultimate outcome of their communication.

PSY FPX 6730 Assessment 4 Theoretical Foundations 

Although the owner is well aware of the day-to-day activities of the company, they have left the management of the divisions to two managers, one handling online support and the other handling in-person support. As managers, they sit with their teams to enable day-to-day activities and make sure all customers are well catered for. Since the owner has employed a consultant to help the managers and employees focus in a more positive direction, they may be hesitant to give information if they feel that it would make them appear as though they are not doing their job. The support staff can also give guidance to the consultant if management does not wish to share information because they feel unsupported already. In cases where employees already feel unsupported or are without guidance, we could perhaps be able to give helpful advice.

Consulting: Theories and Their Basis in Evidence

Being a consultant, application of behavior theories is required in order to thrive because the model of behavior provides direct guidelines and a problem-solving approach in the formation, attainment, and evaluation of goals (Davis et al., 2015). In the case of Company A Tech Solutions, the proper use of employing behavioral theories becomes crucial, as it will aid not only the consultant but also Company A employees to learn better what kind of behavioral adjustments must occur so that they may further the organization. Davis et al. (2015) say “the application of theory is advocated as an integral step in intervention design and evaluation” (p. 323).

It is challenging to implement behavior change strategies in interventions, but theoretical justifications for behavior change implementation imply that behavioral intervention knowledge is important (Davis et al., 2015). Public sector practice tends to prefer increased dependence on individual and interpersonal determinants over more comprehensive social and environmental determinants of behavior in creating change and implementing interventions (Davis et al., 2015). Therefore, theories of behavior are critical to applying change within the organization that will support better interpersonal communication and a stronger organizational foundation.

PSY FPX 6730 Assessment 4 Theoretical Foundations 

The first of these theories, which will help us with the Company A Tech Solutions case, is that of the Gestalt Theory. A concentration of one’s own experience is key to Gestalt theory, underpinning the process of changing an organization (Nevis, 2010). Gestalt theory, originating in the 1920s, was informed by modern thinking and outlined based on field theory with the hypothesis that each person’s experience stems from their contact with their environment (Chidiac, 2013). To address perception, Chidiac (2013) explains how Gestalt Psychotherapy Theory offers a perspective “that could advance thinking and practice concerning such new and emerging aspects” (p. 458). By allowing your employees to experience your company, Gestalt Theory will lead the consultant and the management in building a stronger organization for Company A Tech Solutions. 

PSY FPX 6730 Assessment 4 Theoretical Foundations 

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) has been viewed as a psychopathology model based on an organized system of beliefs, which, when activated, can influence cognitive processes such as memory and attention (Hyland & Bodusek, 2012, p. 107).

As it was mentioned in an article by Hyland and Bodusek (2012), the rationale for using CBT is to identify a fundamental belief system explaining numerous assumptions and attitudes a person has so that therapists can guide the person to processes that have the ability to facilitate positive change and allow the client to modify their beliefs in order to modify behavior. Patients or clients will be provided with exercises through which they can learn coping skills that will help them change their behaviors, feelings, and thoughts (Hyland & Bodusek, 2012). Through helping Company A Tech Solutions change negative habits in the company and enabling them to learn improved practices through the application of CBT, the consultant can help the company, as well as management, to enhance.

The majority of consultants, according to Kilburg and Donohue (2011), take one and/or multiple of the theoretical foundations’ central principles and incorporate them into their theory of what are the best practices in consulting with organizations and their needs since the theoretical foundations of consulting establish fundamental pillars in leadership.

Gestalt and CBT share general concepts, unlike client-centered therapy and psychoanalysis. The idea is that effective leadership originates from the personality traits and ability of the followers, leaders, and other organization members by using past behaviors to guide and detect solutions to future problems (Kilburg & Donohue, 2011).

PSY FPX 6730 Assessment 4 Theoretical Foundations 

Beidas et al. (2013) state that behavioral therapists “dismiss the concept of the unconscious, rather than working towards changing the target behavior instead of trying to determine what the initiating events were.” The importance of Beidas et al.’s (2013) article is to signal that patients, or even clients, are aided with the learning of coping skills, where they will be capable of learning to modify their thinking, maladaptive feelings, and acting. Unlike other psychotherapies, behavior and cognitive therapy are directive; while behavior therapists do not explain things to determine the problem but employ behavior assessment methods to correct the behavior and may include environmental variables (Beidas et al., 2013).

Whereas the majority of individuals see cognitive behavioral therapy and Gestalt therapy as highly similar psychological modalities, there are some important differences in the approaches utilized for helping clients achieve goals within both modalities (Kellogg, 2004). Gestalt is an open-ended type of therapy that deals with issues as they arise, whereas CBT is highly structured, where clients are encouraged to discuss a specific issue in CBT terms, which is typically considered a short-term approach (Kellogg, 2004). According to Kellogg

(2004), the most effective, evidence-based therapy methods for a wide variety of psychological difficulties can be utilized on organizational development as well as making clients see maximum effectiveness when combined and utilized in consultation as here.

Synthesis of Consulting Theories

Although Company A Tech Solutions is not an aged company, it is changing on a large scale that is affecting the entire organization. Gestalt theory and cognitive behavioral therapy can help consultants understand the way that they have already learned to accommodate changes within their organizations and how they can learn to accommodate changes in the future. Tsoukas and Chia’s (2002) article focuses on how changes need to be embraced by the organizations, and in addition to it, they need to react to what is currently prevailing because a firm whose organizational culture is opposed to adjusting according to changing circumstances will collapse. Since environments in which an organization operates might become dynamic at any time, the organization itself must become adaptive too, as an organization is a pattern constructed, formed, and evolving out of change (Tsoukas & Chia, 2002).

Change may only be initiated by observing what happens in the here and now. By leading a client to notice his feelings due to some circumstances or setting, one can discover what can drive the transformation of their reactions or behavior and lead their clients to realize that the self is something dynamic and is a product of the setting within which they are (Tsoukas & Chia, 2002). Because of a negative experience with adjusting workers to this current change, the owner of Company A Tech Solutions has been hesitant to implement other changes for fear of resistance. Managers in some cases may not know the effect of the way they feel about change on other workers.

PSY FPX 6730 Assessment 4 Theoretical Foundations 

They can be assisted with this by a Gestalt coach. Moreover, aspects of CBT can also be applied within organizational coaching in order to make for an improvement in the culture for change. Egeland et al. (2019) are of the belief that changes in mind within an organization influence people to change their thoughts in different ways. Similarly, as Gestalt’s theory allows the organization to adapt to change, cognitive behavior coaching may empower the managers and owners with fact-based decision-making and not assumption-based (Egeland et al., 2019). In addition to helping them escape outmoded methods, CBT can help them understand what new methods can do for them; further, it can help them identify and change restrictive beliefs and establish effective behaviors (Block, 2011).

Consulting Guidelines

In creating a successful change plan, consulting should instead serve as an advisor to help guide and mentor individuals as necessary. One method is to employ a whole-client method (Block, 2011). As Block (2011) describes, a whole-client method is intended to address a problem through involving most of the people who will be impacted or need to change in redefining the issue, setting goals, selecting alternatives, and deciding on the most fitting method. The people who have to adapt and succeed in the long term are those who make choices regarding what is best for them and what they need to do. This is paramount in consulting since they are the ones who will make choices on what is best. Applying objectivity and willingness to obtain clients to encounter issues they were not ready to confront previously are the duties of consultants (Block, 2011).

Conclusion

Thus, it is essential that the consultant implement Gestalt Theory and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy to efficiently assist the owner of Company A Tech Solutions. Both will be useful in helping the consultant and owner bring in an organizational structure and train employees further in a holistic manner. Lastly, the two processes will allow the consultant to use techniques to help the owner and Company A Tech Solutions achieve their ultimate objective of having an organized entity with employees who can effectively communicate with each other.

PSY FPX 6730 Assessment 4 Theoretical Foundations 

Hyland, P., & Boduszek, D. (2012). Resolving a difference between cognitive therapy and rational emotive behavior therapy: towards the development of an integrated CBT model of psychopathology. The Mental Health Review, 17(2), 104-116.

Kellogg, S. (2004). Dialogical Encounters: Contemporary Perspectives on “Chairwork” in Psychotherapy. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, Practice, Training, 41(3), 310.

Kilburg, R. R., & Donohue, M. D. (2011). Toward a “grand unifying theory” of leadership: Implications for consulting psychology. Consulting Psychology Journal: Practice and Research, 63(1), 6.

Nevis, E. C., P.H.D. (2010). Commentary I. A Poetics of Practice: Organizational Consulting from a Gestalt Perspective. Gestalt Review, 14(3), 301-304.

Tsoukas, H., & Chia, R. (2002). On organizational becoming: Rethinking organizational change. Organization Science, 13(5), 567-582.