Egan's Three Stage Counselling Model

3. A critical discussion of Egan’s model

3.1 Introduction: The Skilled Helper

Gerard Egan proposed a three stage counselling model, his model of helping is based on managing problem situations by means of spotting and developing opportunities (Egan, 2010, pp. 64 -65). Egan’s model ultimately helps clients ask and answer themselves the following four fundamental questions: What’s going on? What do I need or want? How do I get there? How do I make it all happen? Egan turned these fundamental questions into a three stage model driven by an action arrow, which provides the framework for the helping process. Egan’s proposed Action Arrow represents both the broad and specific actions necessary to produce desired changes. The three stages of this problem-management and opportunity development approach to helping are: the current picture, preferred picture, and the way forward. Each stage consist of three tasks the helper must perform in order to assist the client in reaching hr or her goals (Egan, 2010, p. 70).

Various authors such as Cutts (2011), Shorrock (2011), and Wosket (2006) have critically discussed, evaluated and scrutinised Egan’s model, clearly indicating the limits, benefits and shortcoming of this model. For the purpose of this discussion each stage and corresponding task of Egan’s model is discussed, furthermore a critical discussion is included from the perspective of various authors, highlighting the model’s limits, benefits and shortcoming.

3.2 Stage