Person centered therapy was founded by American psychologist, Carl Rogers in the 1940’s and 1950’s. Roger’s person-centered approach (PCT) was a reaction against the deterministic and pathology based approaches of the time, and instead placed focus on the client and therapeutic relationship as being the most important factors contributing to change (Corey, 2015). Roger’s developed his therapy based on the assumptions that individuals are unique, have the capacity for self-initiated growth and self-actualization without direct guidance and intervention by a therapist (Corey, 2015). He also placed a specific emphasis on the client’s current perception and doesn’t tend to associate with past experiences. More importantly however, Roger’s proposed …show more content…
This is due to the fact that Rogers continually submitted testable theories to research. As a result, an abundance of research has been conducted over the last 70 years to examine Roger’s approach (Cain, 2010). A study by Gibbard and Hanley (2008) evaluated the effectiveness of person-centered therapy within a primary care counselling service. After receiving PCT therapy, 67% of patients showed significant and dependable improvements (Gibbard & Hanley, 2008). A further study to support the work of Roger’s was conducted through a meta-analysis design (Elliott & Freire, 2008). After the analysis of more than 180 scientific studies, it was identified that PCT contributes to significant client change in comparison. Additionally, the results indicated that PCT is clinically and statistically equivalent to other therapies (Elliott & Freire, 2008). Furthermore, a comparison study on depressed patients aimed to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of general practitioner care, PCT and cognitive-based therapy (CBT) (Ward et al., 2000). After four months, depressive symptoms were significantly lower among patients who received PCT or CBT (Ward et al., 2000). By 12 months, patients in all three groups had all improved equally, however PCT patients were more satisfied with their treatment
...tive regard. On the other hand, Person-Centered Therapy is suitable for most anyone who is open to the client-centered methods of treatment. Carl Rogers was a humanistic individual who believed everyone should be seen as equal; therefore this type of treatment could be used for males or females, heterosexuals or homosexuals, and individuals from all cultural backgrounds.
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
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
(2017). Person Centred Therapy - Core Conditions | Simply Psychology. [online] Available at: https://www.simplypsychology.org/client-centred-therapy.html [Accessed 8 Jun. 2017].
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.
Person-centered hypothesizes that client’s capacity to grow and self-actualize will be most facilitated and released when the therapist can create a psychological climate characterized by
I want to explore Client/Person Centered Therapy. This is a type of therapy that was pioneered by Carl Rogers. This therapy is different because as the name suggests it solely focuses on the client. 'In focusing on the client, the client’s feelings are deeply explored. The assumption is however, that the client was never able to have their feelings heard by the people surrounding them. Person Centered Therapy would allow the client to then be able to express their feelings openly. According to Strupp (1971), “psychotherapeutic relationship is in principle indistinguishable from any good human relationship in which a person feels fully accepted, respected, and prized” (p. 39). Thus, there must be a therapeutic alliance between therapist and client. This therapeutic alliance should creative an environment for the client in which the client feels the therapist is judgment-free. I find that Roger's theory to be interesting and seemingly affective. It makes sense that a change in a clients negative relationship patterns would allow freedom for the client to express themselves emotionally.
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 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.
In conclusion, the counselor found the appropriate theory to focus on, to work with the client. The client will work on trusting themselves so they can trust to find the right direction to life. The counselor use Person- Centered theory in order to help with the client’s current depression and anxiety. Once the client has work on her self-esteem she will be able to deal with depression and
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.
Currently, the person-centered approach focuses on the client being able to develop a greater understanding of self in an environment which allows the client to resolve his or her own problems without direct intervention by the therapist. Carl Rogers also emphasized the attitudes and personal characteristics of the
1. The person-centred approach to counselling is based on Rogers’s belief that every human strives for and can fulfill their own potential. Person-centred counsellors provide clients with three core conditions, congruence, empathy and unconditional positive regard, to facilitate client change. Although this approach is widely used and influences other therapeutic approaches, limitations have been raised about the suitability of the person-centred approach in cross-cultural counselling. Person-centred therapy assumes a universal “one size fits all” approach to the extent that all individuals are unique (Raskin, Rogers & Witty, 2014, p.136).
1. Person-centred counselling according to Carl Rogers is where the the therapy is client centred, uses a non directive approach and puts the client in charge of the therapeutic process. His quote “the good life is a process, not a state of being” (Rogers, 2004 p183-196) was the starting point for my journey into looking at the theory and concept behind this therapeutic approach. Learning outcomes I wish to demonstrate in this text my understanding of the development and function of personality and the process for therapeutic growth towards self- actualisation for the client when using the person centred approach. I will focus on the six conditions which are deemed to be necessary and sufficient to promote change in the client.