Counseling psychology is the school of thought that I identify with the most. As I transition to graduate school and begin a social work program, my ultimate goal is to become an independent counselor. There are five primary reasons I chose counseling which I will explain in the pages to follow. First, the closest alternative I considered to counseling psychology was clinical psychology, but I am less interested in working consistently with clients who suffer from severe mental illness. Currently, I have extensive experience working with folks who face these obstacles on a daily bases and am looking forward to advocating for increasing the quality of their care and depth of the services they receive, especially here in Idaho, but professionally …show more content…
First, social exchange theory is regularly used in counselling psychology. The theory, developed by sociologists George Homans and Peter Blau and psychologists John Thibaut and Harold Kelley, suggests that relationships are built and maintained with mutual exchange of rewards and costs. The theory is illustrated using an equation that says the interaction of outcomes equal rewards minus costs, with interactions that are positive are rewards and interactions that are negative are costs. This theory, combined with the Gottman Ratio, which suggests that a healthy relationship is built most effectively if a 5:1 ratio of positive interactions is maintained is an easy to understand useful mythology in counseling psychology. Social exchange theory provides a quantifiable method that can help people to maximize there relationships, which is an important component to having lasting happiness. In addition, the theory provides good insight to the nature of feeling …show more content…
Person centered therapy also encourages their clients to use their understanding of themselves opposed to relying on a psychologist own interpretation of the situation to solve their issue. Another key concept in person centered therapy is making use of unconditional positive regard, which is not matter what the client says or does they can count on the therapist will always be warm and excepting of them. The effectiveness of person centered therapy give real insight into human nature and the need for people to feel acceptance from another person. It is especially interesting that the acceptance as a baseline skill is taught to aspiring counselors, illustrating the importance of Carl Rogers’s philosophy. In addition, I will be implementing this philosophy in my career as a
This approach emphasizes the importance of the potential of humans and sought to make up for the missing component of conscious in the psychodynamic approach. The humanistic approach oriented psychologist has the belief that human behavior is guided by intent and the individual’s set of values (Association, 2014). Those who subscribe to this orientation believe there are both an unconscious and a conscious element to determining behavior. The unconscious element is considered to be the individual’s application of learned norms and experience, while the conscious element is applied by making deliberate choices and decisions. A humanistic oriented practitioner will use differing types of therapy such as client-centered therapy, Gestalt therapy, or existential therapy (American Psychological, 2015). Client-centered therapy or person-centered therapy was developed by Carl Rogers and places the client as the leader of the therapy. This approach allows for the growth and better understanding of self within the individual, as they solve their own problems, while the therapist is there to provide empathetic support (Australian, 2010). Gestalt therapy focuses on the responsibility of the individual for their current situation and considers relationships, environment, and social experiences occurring, and influencing behavior (Polster & Polster, 2010). This process consists of the practitioner acting as a guide and offer advise in helping the client to deal with their current issue. Existential therapy consists of allowing an individual the ability to live with their issues within their own existence (Price, 2011). This means a therapist uses this type of therapy to assist clients with understanding what the present problem is and learning to deal with the consequences of that issue in their every day life. With
I also have become passionate for person-centered therapy. As I start to work with students I will need to help the student to emphasis on how they act in their world with others, how they can move forward in a constructive directions, and how they can successfully deal with obstacles that are blocking their growth. The student may be dealing with obstacles from within themselves and outside of themselves. As the counselo...
I know as I further my education in the counseling field my philosophy of counseling will change. For myself, I feel that I am still young and learning about myself and my surroundings. In my eyes to be suitable to help others I need to continue to grow as a person myself both professionally and mentally. I want to be able to move forward and develop new distinctions and aspects to my philosophy of counseling as time goes on. I hope to continue my growth in understanding of what it means to be a good therapist or counselor by using good theories and techniques to help future clients.
In the second part of the book Rogers speaks of his ideas of his theory of the person-centered approach to therapy. This is the part of the book that I felt really spoke to me. Person-centered theory is a lot of what I would like to do. I enjoy the ideas and concepts that Rogers presents in his theory. I think that it is extremely important to be able to take into consideration not only the diagnosis of the patient/client with whom you are working, but that it is more important to be able to take the time to sit back and to listen to them. I have realized in the year that I have been working in the psychiatric hospital how important it is for the patient/client to just sit back and listen to what it is they're saying to you. This however does not mean I am only hearing their words, but that I am listening at a much deeper level and actually he...
First, there must be two persons in psychological contact. The first person must be experiencing incongruence, client. The second person is congruent, therapist. The therapist will experience unconditional positive regard for the client, as well as empathic understanding of the client’s internal frame of reference, while attempting to communicate this to the client. The communication of the unconditional positive regard and empathy must be minimally achieved. Therefore, the therapist provides a session, in which the client is free to discuss any topic. The therapist will respect and value what the client says and attempts to enter the client’s world. The therapist will put no conditions of worth onto the client. Rogers did not have techniques, but rather conditions that he stated were necessary for change. If a person feels their believes are being respected, he/she will begin to act upon the organismic valuing process, working towards becoming a fully functioning person and self-actualization. Rogers described a fully functioning person as someone who is open to experience, living in the moment, trusting in his own judgment, free to make choices, are creative, reliable and constructive, and living a life that is rich and full. Rogers also stated that an individual is not in a constant state of fully functioning, he/she will experience
My specialization is to work as a therapist in a prison setting and provide social change to them and society. This all started to interest me is when I reflect on what I had learned through my own struggle in life. It then got me thinking about working with clients who have been misdiagnosed. With that said I see a career as a counselor in mental health can be both challenging and stimulating. I hope to continue to work in an area where I can provide counseling and have a positive impact on those I serve and contribute relevant experience and educational background to a challenging counseling position. The reason I choose this is because it fits my personal goal to help those who have struggled in making choices such as myself because either the lack of support through social or family influence. As a professional is to assist those in the prison setting find acceptance and closure to why they have done what they have done while conducting counseling sessions with prison inmates. Due to societies thoughts most of the inmates have had too little discipline or too much, they come fro...
To explain, the client should not be inferior to the counselor; the environment should be two people discussing an issue and ways to make a difference. A therapist should occasionally share similar experiences; therefore, sessions should make clients feel comfortable. To add, the client should feel safe due to the positive atmosphere the therapist brings to the session. The goal is to finally give the client a chance to be heard, regularly people are muted and feel like they are insignificant to society. Similarly, to Person-centered therapy where communication with the client is unconditionally positive. The therapist needs to genuinely care about the client needs for them to fully express themselves successfully. Furthermore, clients should be encouraging to make their own choices which model how to identify and use power responsibly. Hence, this will help the client feel more confident in everyday life when making a meaningful
Person-Centered Therapy is an optimistic theory that is categorized in the humanistic approaches to therapy. PC therapy believes that human beings are intrinsically good, and are motivated to be the best that they can be (Carver & Scheier, 2008, p. 346). The theory embodies respect for individuals and values of tolerance and understanding (Brodley, 2007, p. 140). As the name implies the client is responsible for his or her own growth and improvement (Carver & Scheier, 2008, p.344). Rogers' stated that the main assumption of his approach is that “individuals have within themselves vast resources for self-understanding and for altering their self-concepts, basic attitudes, and self- directed behavior” (Rogers, 1980, p.115). One of the underlying assumptions, and main motivation, of Person-Centered Therapy is that human beings possess an innate tendency to grow and meet their full potential, or to self-actualize. Self-actualization is the inherent motivation to reach our highest potential, both emotionally and intellectually (Kosslyn & Rosenberg, 2004, p. 464). Self-actualization moves one towards autonomous behavior and self-sufficiency, it enriches one’s life and enhances their creativity. It also promotes congruence, wholeness, and integration of the person. Rogers describes self-actualizing people as the fully functioning person (Carver & Scheier, 2008, p.322).
Carl R. Rogers theorized that through providing a certain kind of relationship with the client, one in which empathy, unconditional positive regard and congruence were present, the client would “discover within himself the capacity to the relationship for growth, and change and personal development” . As a counselor empathy is essential as it allows me to enter my clients internal frame of reference, while still retaining a problem-solving stance. Entering the client’s internal frame of reference means I must consider the emotions and thoughts of the client, it is similarly vital not to get lost in the internal frame of reference as this creates the distinction between sympathy and empathy. Unconditional positive regard, also called acceptance is essential as it plays a role in creating a helping relationship in which the client feels safe to express any negative emotions or thoughts, while being...
The therapist tries to provide the client with a safe, responsive, and caring relationship to develop self-exploration, growth, and healing. (Corey, pg. 177) Person-centered therapy core is that all humans are trustworthy and positive. That people can make changes in the way they live and have effective lives, and try to strive toward self-actualization. The reason for this therapeutic type is to strive towards the right growth conditions for the client, and to help a client move forward and fulfill their creative nature. The main theorist behind person-centered therapy is humanistic psychologist Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow.
A career that I have been interested for a very long time is in Psychology, which is to be a Counseling Psychologist. To be a Counseling Psychologist research is needed to receive a clear understanding of this specific career. For example, it is valuable to know what are the job requirements/duties, being paid hourly or salary, and if it is required to relocate. However, it is very important for me to know does it fit my personality, the exact year of graduation, what schools will I attend, how long it would take to complete my education and how much will my education cost. These are all-important material to be familiar with and are a journey that I am ready to take and experience.
Counseling is considered therapy for individuals or groups of people who are experiencing personal issues or problems that are affecting their well-being. The many roles of counseling include individual counseling, couples counseling, group counseling, and coaching. The settings include private practice counseling, mental health centers, crisis center counseling, and university counseling centers who all offer many counseling services. Counseling is one of the many helping professions similar to psychologist, psychiatrist, social workers, and family therapist which all involving overseeing the well-being of individuals and groups of people. Counselors work closely with schools, health care facilities, and private agencies to provide counseling services to those individuals. Counseling is not only for people who have been diagnosed with mental disabilities and illnesses but for anyone who is currently or has experienced a traumatic experience in their lifetime. It is a therapy that everyone should take advantage of to ensure their mental
Reflecting on the Person-Centered Therapy, it is similar to the Existential Therapy because it focuses on the client/therapist relationship, where the therapist needs to be totally genuine, empathetic and non-judgmental toward their clients in order to gain the client’s trust. I like the fact that the Person-Centered Therapy views the client as their best authority on their own experience, and being fully capable of fulfilling their own potential for growth. I also like the fact that the therapist is non-directive, does not give advice and there is no specific technique involved. Person Centered Therapy can basically develop their own technique as their relationship develop with the client.
The person-centred theory it is an approach that emphasize on a person’s subjective point of view (Weiten, 2014). The approach is concerned chiefly with one’s own interests, well-being, etc. Basically the self or self-concept (Rogers, 1959). Rogers (1959) state the person-centred approach, as an approach that apply the person-centred approach to the therapy situation; and to understand human relationship in different areas of life such as psychotherapy and counselling (client-centred therapy), education (student-centred learning) organization and other group setting (Rogers, 1959).