Current Psychotherapies Humanism and Person-Centered Therapy Rebecca Lawthom [email protected]

Current PsychotherapiesCurrent PsychotherapiesHumanism and Person-Centered Humanism and Person-Centered

TherapyTherapy

Rebecca Lawthom Rebecca Lawthom [email protected]@mmu.ac.uk

Who can we thank for the Humanistic Theory?

Carl Ransom Rogers (1902-1987)-

American theorist most closely associated with the humanistic theory. Some times called “The Founder of Humanism.”

Abraham Maslow

(1908-1970)

Born and raised in Brooklyn,

New York and attended

University of Wiscosin.

Also one of the found fathers of

the Humanistic theory.

What defines the Humanistic Theory ?

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

People are inherently good and try to make morally right decisions.

Perceptions of your experiences is a result of your own view rather than environment.

Focus on “self”, the individual. Nurture over nature.

Decisions are goal-oriented , and organism has a natural tendency to strive, actualize and enhance individual’s experience.

This idea of a human’s journey to self actualization is best described in Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

Key Points and TermsKey Points and Terms

Developed by Carl Rogers.Developed by Carl Rogers. Also termed Client-Centered.Also termed Client-Centered.

Humanistic, or Phenomenological TherapyHumanistic, or Phenomenological Therapy The person is viewed as creative, responsible, The person is viewed as creative, responsible,

developing individualdeveloping individual By providing a therapeutic atmosphere which By providing a therapeutic atmosphere which

is real, caring, and non-judgmental the person is real, caring, and non-judgmental the person can develop their full potentialcan develop their full potential

ChallengesChallenges

PC PC challengeschallenges:: The The assumptionassumption that that ““the counsellor knows best”the counsellor knows best” The The validityvalidity of advice, suggestion, persuasion, teaching, of advice, suggestion, persuasion, teaching,

diagnosis, and interpretationdiagnosis, and interpretation The The beliefbelief that clients cannot understand and resolve that clients cannot understand and resolve

their own problems without direct helptheir own problems without direct help The The focusfocus on problems over persons on problems over persons

EmphasizesEmphasizes

Emphasizes:Emphasizes: Therapy as a Therapy as a journeyjourney shared by two people shared by two people The person’s The person’s innate striving for self-innate striving for self-

actualizationactualization The The personal characteristics of the therapistpersonal characteristics of the therapist The The quality of the therapeutic relationshipquality of the therapeutic relationship

EmphasizesEmphasizes

Emphasizes:Emphasizes: The counsellor’s creation of a permissive, The counsellor’s creation of a permissive,

“growth promoting” climate“growth promoting” climate People are capable of People are capable of self-directed growthself-directed growth if if

involved in a therapeutic relationshipinvolved in a therapeutic relationship Person-Centered Therapy is a form of Person-Centered Therapy is a form of

humanistic therapyhumanistic therapy

Roger’s Basic AssumptionsRoger’s Basic Assumptions

Rogers believed in an Rogers believed in an actualizing tendencyactualizing tendency in all in all human beingshuman beings

Represented movement towards the realization of Represented movement towards the realization of the individual’s full potentialthe individual’s full potential

Viewed as part of a formative tendencyViewed as part of a formative tendency Formative tendencyFormative tendency represents movement represents movement

toward order, complexity and interrelatednesstoward order, complexity and interrelatedness Seen across aspects of nature including the stars, Seen across aspects of nature including the stars,

crystals, microorganisms and humanscrystals, microorganisms and humans

Basic Requirements for the Basic Requirements for the Therapeutic Environment (Therapist)Therapeutic Environment (Therapist)

Genuineness/CongruenceGenuineness/Congruence Correspondence between the therapist’s thoughts and Correspondence between the therapist’s thoughts and

their behaviortheir behavior Unconditional Positive RegardUnconditional Positive Regard

Therapist’s regard/attitude remains unaltered regardless Therapist’s regard/attitude remains unaltered regardless of the client’s choicesof the client’s choices

EmpathyEmpathy Profound interest and care for the client’s perceptions and Profound interest and care for the client’s perceptions and

feelingsfeelings

Basic Requirements for the Basic Requirements for the Therapeutic Environment (Therapeutic Environment (ClientClient))

Self-conceptSelf-concept At therapy onset, self regard/self-esteem often lowAt therapy onset, self regard/self-esteem often low Improvement correlated with success in therapyImprovement correlated with success in therapy

Locus-of-EvaluationLocus-of-Evaluation At therapy onset, focus on what others thinkAt therapy onset, focus on what others think Progress associated with internal locus-of-evaluationProgress associated with internal locus-of-evaluation

ExperiencingExperiencing At therapy onset, rigid At therapy onset, rigid Success related to flexibilitySuccess related to flexibility

Distinctive Components of Distinctive Components of Person-Centered TherapyPerson-Centered Therapy

Therapist’s Therapist’s attitudeattitude can be can be necessarynecessary

ANDAND sufficientsufficient conditions for change conditions for change Therapist needs to be Therapist needs to be immediately immediately

presentpresent and accessible to clients and accessible to clients

Distinctive Components of Distinctive Components of Person-Centered TherapyPerson-Centered Therapy

Intensive, continuous focus on Intensive, continuous focus on client's client's phenomenological worldphenomenological world

Process marked by client’s ability to Process marked by client’s ability to live fully live fully in the momentin the moment

Focus on Focus on personality changepersonality change, not structure , not structure of personality of personality

Comparing Person-Centered Therapy Comparing Person-Centered Therapy with Psychoanalysiswith Psychoanalysis

LanguageLanguage – – Common Sense (PC)Common Sense (PC)Esoteric (Psychoanalysis)Esoteric (Psychoanalysis)

How toHow to UnderstandUnderstandTheThe individualindividual – – Subjective Interpersonal (PC)Subjective Interpersonal (PC)

Objective intrapersonal Objective intrapersonal (Psychoanalysis)(Psychoanalysis)

EmphasisEmphasis – – Purpose (PC)Purpose (PC)Causality (Psychoanalysis)Causality (Psychoanalysis)

CharacterizationCharacterization Of the individualOf the individual – – Holistic (PC)Holistic (PC)

Reductionistic (Psychoanalysis)Reductionistic (Psychoanalysis)View of HumanView of HumanNatureNature – – People are basically good (PC)People are basically good (PC)

People are bad (Psychoanalysis)People are bad (Psychoanalysis)

Comparing Person-Centered Therapy Comparing Person-Centered Therapy with Psychoanalysiswith Psychoanalysis

Role of Role of Therapist – Therapist – Facilitate self discovery (PC)Facilitate self discovery (PC)

Interpretation for the pt Interpretation for the pt (Psychoanalysis)(Psychoanalysis)

View of View of TransferenceTransference – – Not central to the client’s ability Not central to the client’s ability

to change (PC)to change (PC)Fundamental to the change Fundamental to the change process (Psychoanalysis)process (Psychoanalysis)

PresentationPresentationOf Therapist – Of Therapist – A caring person who is willing to A caring person who is willing to

listen (PC)listen (PC)Authority, teacher (Psychoanalysis)Authority, teacher (Psychoanalysis)

Difference between PC Therapist and Difference between PC Therapist and Behavior TherapistBehavior Therapist

PC would argue that behavioral changes occur PC would argue that behavioral changes occur

through through internalinternal factors whereas factors whereas behavioral therapy sees behavior changing behavioral therapy sees behavior changing through through externalexternal factors. factors.

History of PC TherapyHistory of PC Therapy Carl Rogers was born 1902, Oak Park Illinois Carl Rogers was born 1902, Oak Park Illinois Family emphasized strong work ethic, responsibility and the fundamentals of religion. Family emphasized strong work ethic, responsibility and the fundamentals of religion. Graduated 1924 from University of WisconsinGraduated 1924 from University of Wisconsin Started at the Union Theological Seminary then transferred to Teacher’s College, Columbia Started at the Union Theological Seminary then transferred to Teacher’s College, Columbia

UniversityUniversity Worked for 12 years at a Child-Guidance CenterWorked for 12 years at a Child-Guidance Center In 1939 published In 1939 published Clinical Treatment of the Problem ChildClinical Treatment of the Problem Child Offered professorship at Ohio State UniversityOffered professorship at Ohio State University 1940 Rogers presented 1940 Rogers presented Some Newer concepts in PsychotherapySome Newer concepts in Psychotherapy at the University of at the University of

Minnesota (viewed by most as the birth of Client-Centered Therapy)Minnesota (viewed by most as the birth of Client-Centered Therapy) Published Published Counseling and Psychotherapy Counseling and Psychotherapy in 1942in 1942 During WWII served as Director of Counseling Services for the US OrganizationsDuring WWII served as Director of Counseling Services for the US Organizations Served as head of University of Chicago Counseling Center (12 years)Served as head of University of Chicago Counseling Center (12 years) In 1957, Rogers published classic paper on “necessary and sufficient conditions” for therapy.In 1957, Rogers published classic paper on “necessary and sufficient conditions” for therapy. Rogers died in 1987Rogers died in 1987

Current Status of PC TherapyCurrent Status of PC Therapy

Special interest of Rogers was application of Special interest of Rogers was application of his theory to international relationshipshis theory to international relationships

Since 1982 Biennial International Forums on Since 1982 Biennial International Forums on PC approachPC approach

Workshops at Warm SpringsWorkshops at Warm Springs Person-Centered Review Person-Centered Review began to be began to be

published in 1986 (renamed published in 1986 (renamed The Person-The Person-Centered Journal)Centered Journal)

Theory of PersonalityTheory of Personality19 Propositions19 Propositions

1. 1. Individual is centerIndividual is center of a continually changing of a continually changing world of experienceworld of experience

2. Organism reacts based on 2. Organism reacts based on their realitytheir reality3. Organism reacts as an 3. Organism reacts as an organized wholeorganized whole4. Organism has one basic tendency – 4. Organism has one basic tendency – actualizationactualization5. 5. Behavior is goal directedBehavior is goal directed based on perception of based on perception of

realityreality6. 6. Emotion accompanies and facilitatesEmotion accompanies and facilitates goal directed goal directed

behaviorbehavior


7. Best point to understand behavior is from 7. Best point to understand behavior is from the the individual’s frame of referenceindividual’s frame of reference

8. Part of the perceptual field is 8. Part of the perceptual field is differentiated differentiated as the selfas the self

9. Self is formed through 9. Self is formed through interactioninteraction10. 10. ValuesValues come from experience and come from experience and

introjection from othersintrojection from others


11. Experiences are integrated, ignored, or 11. Experiences are integrated, ignored, or denieddenied

12. 12. BehaviorBehavior is generally consistent with is generally consistent with self self conceptconcept

13. Behaviors inconsistent with self concept can 13. Behaviors inconsistent with self concept can occur but are seen as occur but are seen as “not owned“not owned””

14. Psychological maladjustment comes from 14. Psychological maladjustment comes from denied experiencesdenied experiences


15. Psychological adjustment occurs when 15. Psychological adjustment occurs when experiences are experiences are assimilatedassimilated

16. Experiences inconsistent with self-concept 16. Experiences inconsistent with self-concept are perceived as are perceived as threatsthreats

17. Under the right conditions inconsistent 17. Under the right conditions inconsistent experiences can be experiences can be examined/assimilatedexamined/assimilated


18. When the individual integrates in all of their 18. When the individual integrates in all of their experiences they are experiences they are more more understanding of othersunderstanding of others

19. As experiences are integrated an 19. As experiences are integrated an internal internal locus-of-evaluation developslocus-of-evaluation develops

Roger’s Theory of Roger’s Theory of Personality SummarizedPersonality Summarized

Behavior is best understood through the Behavior is best understood through the individual’s reality (individual’s reality (perceptionperception of of experiences)experiences)

For social purposes, reality is defined as For social purposes, reality is defined as common perceptionscommon perceptions across individuals across individuals

Personal growth occurs through Personal growth occurs through decreased decreased defensivenessdefensiveness


Self actualization is the organism’s one, Self actualization is the organism’s one, basic basic tendencytendency ( (Rogers believed an organism has Rogers believed an organism has one basic tendency and striving which is to one basic tendency and striving which is to actualize, maintain and enhance the actualize, maintain and enhance the experiencing organism experiencing organism


Experiences inconsistent with self concept are Experiences inconsistent with self concept are threatsthreats leading to increased leading to increased rigidityrigidity

Therapy allows the individual to accept and Therapy allows the individual to accept and integrate all of their experiencesintegrate all of their experiences

In Roger's personality theory, In Roger's personality theory, behaviorbehavior is is defined as defined as a goal directed attempt to satisfy a goal directed attempt to satisfy an organism's needsan organism's needs

Other ConceptsOther Concepts

Experience is the Experience is the private worldprivate world of the of the individualindividual

RealityReality basically refers to the private basically refers to the private perceptions of the individual; perceptions of the individual; For social For social purposespurposes, reality consists of perceptions that , reality consists of perceptions that have a high degree of commonality among have a high degree of commonality among individualsindividuals

Other ConceptsOther Concepts

Self is the Self is the organized gestaltorganized gestalt of “I” and “me” of “I” and “me” According to Rogers, According to Rogers, the center of an the center of an

individual's worldindividual's world of experience is the of experience is the individualindividual

The process by which an individual becomes The process by which an individual becomes aware of an experience is known as aware of an experience is known as symbolizationsymbolization

Other ConceptsOther Concepts In ambiguous situations individuals tend to In ambiguous situations individuals tend to

symbolize experiences in a manner consistent symbolize experiences in a manner consistent with with self conceptself concept

Carl Rogers would view neurosis as the result Carl Rogers would view neurosis as the result of of incongruenceincongruence between the real self between the real self and and the ideal self.the ideal self.

All humans had an All humans had an actualizing tendencyactualizing tendency, , which he saw as a part of the which he saw as a part of the formativeformative tendency of the world tendency of the world

Rogerian View of PsychotherapyRogerian View of Psychotherapy

Implied Therapeutic ConditionsImplied Therapeutic Conditions Client and therapist must be in Client and therapist must be in psychological psychological

contactcontact Client must experience Client must experience distressdistress Client must be Client must be willing to receive conditions willing to receive conditions

offered by therapistoffered by therapist

Process of PC TherapyProcess of PC Therapy Therapy begins at first contactTherapy begins at first contact In the first interview, a person centered In the first interview, a person centered

therapist will go where the client goes therapist will go where the client goes For Carl Rogers, empathy, unconditional For Carl Rogers, empathy, unconditional

positive regard, and congruence positive regard, and congruence (genuineness) were the 3 basic (genuineness) were the 3 basic requirements to create a therapeutic requirements to create a therapeutic environmentenvironment

Process of PC TherapyProcess of PC Therapy Respect shown immediately for clientRespect shown immediately for client In addition to the basic requirements of the In addition to the basic requirements of the

therapeutic environment for the therapist, therapeutic environment for the therapist, Rogers believed the client must focus on Rogers believed the client must focus on self-self-conceptconcept, , locus-of-evaluationlocus-of-evaluation and and experiencingexperiencing

Therapy’s length is determined by client (In Therapy’s length is determined by client (In person centered therapy termination is person centered therapy termination is decided by the client)decided by the client)

Process of PC TherapyProcess of PC Therapy Quick suggestions and reassurances are avoidedQuick suggestions and reassurances are avoided EmpathyEmpathy - Understanding another individual by - Understanding another individual by

"living" in their internal frame of reference "living" in their internal frame of reference Person centered therapists believe that empathy, Person centered therapists believe that empathy,

unconditional positive regard, and congruence are unconditional positive regard, and congruence are necessary and sufficient conditions for therapeutic necessary and sufficient conditions for therapeutic changechange

Process of PC TherapyProcess of PC Therapy CongruenceCongruence - a correspondence between - a correspondence between

the thoughts and the behavior of a the thoughts and the behavior of a therapist therapist

Client centered therapy focuses most Client centered therapy focuses most heavily on the heavily on the presentpresent

A successful person centered therapy A successful person centered therapy outcome would be defined by outcome would be defined by the the client's evaluation that therapy was client's evaluation that therapy was beneficial beneficial

Therapist Role and FunctionTherapist Role and Function Function: to be present and accessible to Function: to be present and accessible to

clients, to focus on immediate experience, to clients, to focus on immediate experience, to be real in the relationship with clientsbe real in the relationship with clients

Through the therapist’s attitude of genuine Through the therapist’s attitude of genuine caring, respect, acceptance, and caring, respect, acceptance, and understanding, clients become less defensive understanding, clients become less defensive and more open to their experience and and more open to their experience and facilitate the personal growthfacilitate the personal growth

Therapist Role and FunctionTherapist Role and Function Role: Therapist’s attitude and belief in the inner Role: Therapist’s attitude and belief in the inner

resources of the client, not in techniques, facilitate resources of the client, not in techniques, facilitate personal change in the clientpersonal change in the client

Use of self as an instrument of changeUse of self as an instrument of change Focuses on the quality of the therapeutic Focuses on the quality of the therapeutic

relationshiprelationship Serves as a model of a human being struggling Serves as a model of a human being struggling

toward greater realnesstoward greater realness Is genuine, integrated, and authenticIs genuine, integrated, and authentic Can openly express feelings and attitudes that are Can openly express feelings and attitudes that are

present in the relationship with the clientpresent in the relationship with the client

Therapy GoalsTherapy Goals

helping a person become a fully functioning helping a person become a fully functioning personperson

Clients have the capacity to define their goalsClients have the capacity to define their goals an openness to experiencean openness to experience A trust in themselvesA trust in themselves An internal source of evaluationAn internal source of evaluation A willingness to continue growingA willingness to continue growing

Client’s Experience in TherapyClient’s Experience in Therapy Incongruence: discrepancy between self-Incongruence: discrepancy between self-

perception and experience in perception and experience in realityrealityanxietyanxietymotivation to helpmotivation to help

As clients feel understood and accepted, their As clients feel understood and accepted, their defensiveness is less necessary and they defensiveness is less necessary and they become more open to their experiencesbecome more open to their experiences

Therapeutic relationship activates clients’ self-Therapeutic relationship activates clients’ self-healing capacities healing capacities

Relationship between Relationship between Therapist and ClientTherapist and Client

Emphasizes the attitudes and personal Emphasizes the attitudes and personal characteristics of the therapist and the quality characteristics of the therapist and the quality of therapeutic relationship. of therapeutic relationship.

Therapist listening in an accepting way to their Therapist listening in an accepting way to their clients, they learn how to listen acceptingly to clients, they learn how to listen acceptingly to themselves.themselves.

Relationship between Relationship between Therapist and ClientTherapist and Client

A central variable related to progress in A central variable related to progress in person-centered therapyperson-centered therapy is the relationship is the relationship between therapist and clientbetween therapist and client

A person-centered therapist is a facilitatorA person-centered therapist is a facilitator

Therapeutic TechniquesTherapeutic Techniques

It is not technique-orientedIt is not technique-oriented The therapeutic relationship is the primary The therapeutic relationship is the primary

agent of growth in the clientagent of growth in the client Therapist’s presence: being completely Therapist’s presence: being completely

engaged in the relationship with clients. engaged in the relationship with clients. The best source of knowledge about the client The best source of knowledge about the client

is the individual clientis the individual client Caring confrontations can be beneficialCaring confrontations can be beneficial

ApplicationApplication

individual counseling, group counseling, individual counseling, group counseling, businesses, international relations, businesses, international relations, community development education, marriage community development education, marriage and family …and family …

A variety of problems: anxiety, crisis A variety of problems: anxiety, crisis intervention, interpersonal difficulties, intervention, interpersonal difficulties, depression, personality disorder…..depression, personality disorder…..

Contribution from a Contribution from a Multicultural PerspectiveMulticultural Perspective

ContributionsContributions Has reached more than 30 counties and has been Has reached more than 30 counties and has been

translated to 12 languagestranslated to 12 languages Reduction of racial and political tensions… Reduction of racial and political tensions…

LimitationsLimitations Some people need more structure, coping skills, Some people need more structure, coping skills,

directedness directedness Some may focus on family or societal expectations instead Some may focus on family or societal expectations instead

of internal evaluation of internal evaluation May be unfamiliar with people in different culturesMay be unfamiliar with people in different cultures

Contribution of PC TherapyContribution of PC Therapy

ContributionsContributions Active role of responsibility of clientActive role of responsibility of client Inner and subjective experienceInner and subjective experience Relationship-centeredRelationship-centered Focus on therapist’s attitudesFocus on therapist’s attitudes Focus on empathy, being present, and respecting Focus on empathy, being present, and respecting

the clients’ valuesthe clients’ values Value multicultural contextValue multicultural context

Summary and Evaluation Summary and Evaluation

LimitationsLimitations Discount the significance of the pastDiscount the significance of the past Misunderstanding the basic concept: e.g., Misunderstanding the basic concept: e.g.,

reflecting feelings. reflecting feelings. People in crisis situations often need more People in crisis situations often need more

directive intervention strategies. directive intervention strategies. Client tend to expect a more structured approach. Client tend to expect a more structured approach.

Bozarth’s (1998) Summarization of Bozarth’s (1998) Summarization of Research on PsychotherapyResearch on Psychotherapy

According to Bozarth's summarization of research on psychotherapy, the According to Bozarth's summarization of research on psychotherapy, the most consistent variables affecting therapy are empathy, unconditional most consistent variables affecting therapy are empathy, unconditional positive regard and congruence (genuineness) positive regard and congruence (genuineness)

Effective psychotherapy predicated on:Effective psychotherapy predicated on: Relationship between therapist and clientRelationship between therapist and client Internal and externalInternal and external

Type of therapy, technique, training and experience of therapists are Type of therapy, technique, training and experience of therapists are largely irrelevant largely irrelevant

Clients who receive psychotherapy improve more than those who do notClients who receive psychotherapy improve more than those who do not Little support that specific treatments are best for particular issuesLittle support that specific treatments are best for particular issues Most consistent variables related to effectiveness are empathy, Most consistent variables related to effectiveness are empathy,

genuineness, and unconditional positive regardgenuineness, and unconditional positive regard

Documents

Current Psychotherapies Humanism and Person-Centered Therapy Rebecca Lawthom [email protected]