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Person centred therapy and other counselling theories
Person-Centered Therapy
Person centred therapy and other counselling theories
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In conclusion, Person-Centered therapy has been criticized in terms of having an overly optimistic view of individuals and not having a structured set of techniques. As previously mentioned, Rogers believed that the client had the power to choose the direction of the therapy and to ultimately find the solution to their underlying problem. With regard to the useful theory criteria, Rogers's theory has successfully generated research inside and outside the realm of psychotherapy, such as the field of education and positive psychology. Furthermore, because his theory is one of the few that is structured in an "if-then" framework, it lacks concrete empirical research. In addition, his work created a new atmosphere for the client and therapist and
While CBT has many advantages, it alone does not encompass all of the concepts I believe are necessary to tackle a client’s needs. Therefore, I draw upon concepts from various theories to assist clients in achieving their goals. Pulling from Reality therapy, a key concept I utilize is focusing on what the client is doing and how to get them to evaluate whether they’re present actions are working for them. CBT does use some form of this in the sense that one must examine and establish their cognitive misconceptions; however, I prefer to extract this concept from Reality therapy because CBT tends to do so by focusing on the past. I am a firm believer that while the past can shape who you are, it does little good to remain focused on it. Focusing on overt behavior, precision in specifying the goals of treatment, development of specific treatment plans, and objective evaluation of therapy outcomes all come from Behavior therapy (Corey, 2013, p. 474). Behavior therapy is highly structured much like that of CBT. By utilizing this aspect of Behavior therapy, I am better able to closely observe where a client is currently and where they are headed. Lastly, I pull from Person-Centered therapy as the final key concept of my counseling approach. PCT focuses on the fact that client’s have the potential to become aware of their problems and resolve them (Corey, 2013). This Person-Centered therapy concept has overlap with CBT as
Carl Rogers developed the person-centered theory of personality which states that all people strive to realize their full potential. People’s desire to fulfill their full potential according to Rogers, is the primary motive of humans. Based on this theory Rogers also developed a new method of therapy that was nondirective and focused on the client as a person and their own ability to work through their psychological barriers in a conducive and supportive environment. This method is called client-centered therapy (CCT). Alexandra Payne, Helen Liebling-Kalifani and Stephen Joesph in their article “Client-centered Group Therapy for Survivors of Interpersonal Trauma: A Pilot Investigation” (2007) explains how Roger’s person centered theory is useful in understanding post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and the use of CCT as a treatment in group settings. Payne et al.’s (2007) study reveals that the person-centered theory generates research and that approaching PTSD in this way expands an individual’s view of person-centered theory. Despite the lack of research using CCT as a therapeutic method to treat PTSD and the issues in the study regarding sample size, the application of Roger’s theory is a useful tool for therapists.
As the field of counseling continues to progress numerous theoretical orientations have been developed. One theoretical approach to counseling has been coined as person centered counseling or client centered therapy. This type of approach is commonly referred to as Rogerian psychotherapy. Rogerian therapy focuses on the empowerment of individuals with the inner self. These constructs are vital to ensuring and promoting a transparent and honest atmosphere which subsequently results in effective counseling. The behaviors that are found in client centered counseling are valuable as they motivate the client to explore their "hidden feelings" and become aware of where their feelings derive from. Being afforded the rare opportunity to see Rogers
Rogers wrote 19 books and many articles outlining his humanistic theory. Among his best-known works are Client-Centered Therapy (1951), On Becoming a Person (1961), and A Way of Being (1980) He continued to develop his theories In to the 50’s and was particularly concerned to validate his ideas through research, making a huge contribution to research in psychotherapy inspiring thousands of project in the 1960s, 70s and 80s to evaluate the effectiveness of counselling and psychotherapy. His particular contributing to contemporary culture was to put the individual, their experience and self-healing potential at the heart of the change process. This was a serious challenge to mainstream psychology at the time which was bust trying to convince the world that psychologists were the ‘experts’ on human behaviour. With his emphasis on human potential, Carl Rogers had an enormous influence on both psychology and education. Beyond that, he is considered by many to be one of the most influential psychologists of the 20th century. More therapists cite Rogers as their primary influence than any other
Person-Centred Counselling established its origins in the late 1940 during a conference when Carl Rogers gave a talk entitled ‘New Concepts in Psychotherapy’. The summarisation of the talk resulted in the theory that the client in a counselling relationship should be at the center of the relationship and lead the counselling process. The Client, in effect became the expert on their life and/or problems. The fundamental belief is that an individual is capable of change, growth and fulfillment (self-concept). Person-Centred counselling looks at ‘the here and now’ and how to make changes that affect the future. Person-Centred Counselling generated a system known as the ‘Core Conditions Model’ which emphasized three key components: Empathy, Congruence and Acceptance.
Trust can be difficult for many individuals. Allowing one to trust themselves they will find their way through life can be challenging. Person Centered approach has the ability to direct clients to choose their new path in life. “Humanistic psychology and client-centered approaches, developed initially by Carl Rogers (1957) using a strength-focused premise, the clients are considered as their own best experts and that they already have resources within themselves” (Csillik, 2015). “In client-centered approaches, the therapists address the person as a whole and do not focus their intervention exclusively on the problem behavior; the problem is considered from the clients’ point of view” (Csillik,
Person-centered therapy is a humanistic approach which is based on how individuals perceive themselves while they are conscious and not on the counselor’s interpretation of their unconscious thoughts or ideas. The core purpose of the person-centered approach is to aid the client's actualizing tendency (self-actualization is the belief that humans will follow what is best for them). Thus, this therapy aids personal growth and relationships of an individual which enables them to explore and use their own strengths and personal identity. A person-centered counselor will facilitate this process and will provide vital support.
The theory that serves as the foundation to my counseling values at this time is Carl Roger’s Person-Centered therapy. Person-Centered counseling has always fascinated me, and I am glad that I expanded my knowledge on it this semester. The video of Rogers and Gloria really captivated me and brought to life the characteristics of a Person-Centered counselor. Roger’s unconditional positive regard and true genuine disposition showed throughout the therapy session. Person-Centered counseling envelops the characteristics that every good counselor should possess. Carl Rogers’s conditions of therapy serve as my foundation for my counseling values. Having an unconditional positive regard where I practice acceptance and a positive, warm attitude towards clients will help foster the therapeutic environment (Smith, 2012). Unconditional positive regard will leave no room for judging my clients and instead cultivate an atmosphere of openness. Additionally, another condition of therapy that serves as a foundational value is therapist empathy. Rogers’s takes empathy a step further compared to other theorists, he defines it as the ability immerse into and “sense the clients private world as if it were his or her own” (Smith, 2012, p.239). This condition goes beyond just reflecting a client’s feelings; it goes further by the therapist gaining a sense of what the client’s world is like and how they process their feelings.
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).
The long-term goal of any counselling session is to aid the client in their overcoming and defeat of obstacles they may face through the facilitation of psychological tools and theories. The evolution of psychology over the last 100 years has seen numerous theories put forth for application to therapy in the clinical setting. Two widely used and well-founded methods include Behaviour Therapy and Person Centered Therapy. The dynamics of Behaviour Therapy were first discovered by the famous researcher and psychologist B.F Skinner, through his findings on operant conditioning (Lindsley; Skinner & Soloman, 1953). The behaviour modification component of Behaviour Therapy utilises techniques founded in Skinner’s discovery of operant conditioning, such as reinforcement; to both encourage adaptive and extinguish maladaptive behaviours (Öst, 2008). Carl Rogers, a famous and historical psychologist believed in a more self-directed approach to counselling, encouraging empathy, genuineness and non-judgemental caring. This approach was aptly named Person Centered Therapy, its foundation relying heavily upon the Rogerian hypothesis of one’s self actualising tendency towards the realisation of their full potential (Raskin & Rogers, 2000). Despite the diametrically opposed nature of both theories, the integration and synthesis of the best attributes of both behavioural methods and person-centred values would lead to a more efficient and successful counselling experience, for both the psychologist and client.
Rogers, C. (1959). A Theory of Therapy, Personality and Interpersonal Relationships as Developed in the Client-centered Framework. In (ed.) S. Koch, Psychology: A Study of a Science. Vol. 3: Formulations of the Person and the Social Context. New York: McGraw Hill.
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...
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 following case study is presented from the person-centred approach. As Corey, 2005 explains, person-centred therapy views assessment and diagnosis as an on-going evolution and not a formal process. This process involves interpersonal and intrapersonal learning that is designed to be a self-discovery. As each person is unique it is important to maintain that quality and not simply reduce it to a limited formal diagnosis. Here I a present the case study based on the life of Lester Burnham, a prominent character in the movie American Beauty (Cohen, Jinks and Mendes, 2006). This case study showcases person-centred therapy in practice, highlighting the core values and basic assumptions intrinsic to the approach.
In our counseling session, throughout the session we identify the helper was using person centered therapy to approach the issue. Person centered therapy (PCT) is developed by Carl Rogers was used to helps the helpee dealing with their own issue and developing helpee’s self-esteem. The theory of PCT also could actualize tendency that humans have the potential to discover the realization of their own personal abilities.