Carl Rogers Person Centered Approach: Course Analysis

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I will first give a brief history of the person centered approach, exploring Carl Rogers person centered (or client centered) counselling theory and how this differed from other theories at the time. I will then go on to explore Roger’s six necessary and sufficient conditions for therapeutic growth with specific focus on what are known as the ‘core conditions’. These conditions were put forward by Rogers as crucial for continued development. Throughout the essay I will be exploring how I believe this course (Introduction to Counselling Skills) has impacted on my own ability to offer counselling skills in my interpersonal relations and I will also begin to evaluate the use of these skills in a work environment. I will reflect on the difference …show more content…

I do not work in an environment that requires the use of counselling skills in a large way although I do feel I have been able to make use of the improved listening skills I feel I have. I work in a small office and never interact with patients physically but I do interact with them on the telephone. I have been able to use active listening and empathy to try to begin to relate to the patients more. I now notice in their voice when they are feeling stressed or upset and try to use a calming tone and to let them know that I have heard them and that I am going to try and do everything I can to help them. As Culley and Bond said “Active listening means that you are listening with purpose and communicating that you have listened.’ (Culley & Bond, 2004 p29). I have also become aware of just how different my role is from that of a counsellor. I have learnt that sometimes it is about knowing when to and when not to use counselling skills, sometimes it is not appropriate. We recently had some conflict in our office and it would have been very inappropriate to step in and start offering to help. I believe that both parties would have felt quite offended as they are higher up the managerial ladder than me and it might have made them look weak in front of other members of staff. What I was able to do was when they came to me privately was offer them a space to sit and discuss their feelings about the incident without offering an opinion or any judgement on what had occurred. I am glad that they trusted (perhaps somehow sensing the growing empathy within) me enough to know that I would provide that for them and that it would be confidential. I believe that this speaks to perhaps my growing use of the three core conditions especially openness, sincerity and

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