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TOPIC 4 : Person-Centered Theory a.k.a. Humanistic or Rogerian Therapy

Edu3043-Topic 4-Person Centered Theory

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  • TOPIC 4 :Person-Centered Theorya.k.a. Humanistic or Rogerian Therapy

  • Contents

  • Person-Centered Therapy (A reaction against the directive and psychoanalytic approaches)Challenges:The assumption that the counselor knows bestThe validity of advice, suggestion, persuasion, teaching, diagnosis, and interpretationThe belief that clients cannot understand and resolve their own problems without direct helpThe focus on problems over persons

  • OverviewFounder : Carl Rogers. Born in Oak Park, IL-1902. Trained at University of Wisconsin and Columbia University. His educational background was in agriculture, science, philosophy, theology, education and psychology. Fundamental shift in theory from helper-to-client to person-to-person.

  • Person-Centered TherapyEmphasizes:Therapy as a journey shared by two fallible peopleThe persons innate striving for self-actualizationThe personal characteristics of the therapist and the quality of the therapeutic relationshipThe counselors creation of a permissive, growth promoting climatePeople are capable of self-directed growth if involved in a therapeutic relationship

  • Major philosophies and nature of humansHuman beings are essentially rational, constructive, positive, independent, realistic, cooperative, trustworthy, accepting, forward moving and full of potential. Humans, like all organisms, naturally tend toward actualization of their full potential. (Gilliland & James, 1998)Experience is key to Rogerian theory. Because each persons perception of his or her own experience is unique, the client is the only expert on his or her own life.

  • (Gilliland & James, 1998)Major constructsActualizing tendency. The inherent tendency of the person to develop in ways that serve to maintain or promote growth.Conditions of worth. A persons worth is conditional when his or her self-esteem is based on significant others valuation of experience.Congruence. The state of consonance among the persons acting, thinking and feeling states. When experiences are wholly integrated into the self-concept.Empathic understanding. One perceives as if one were the other person but without ever losing the as if condition.

  • Major constructsExperience (noun). All the cognitive and affective events within the person that are available or potentially available to his or her awareness.Experience (verb). To receive the impact of all the sensory or physiological events happening at the present moment.Genuineness. The state where there is no difference between the real and the perceived selves.Organismic valuing process. The process whereby experiences are accurately perceived, constantly updated, and valued in terms of the satisfaction experienced by the person.(Gilliland & James, 1998)

  • Major constructsPositive regard. The perception of the self-experience of another person that leads the individual to feel warmth, liking and respect for the acceptance of that person.Positive self-regard. A positive attitude toward the self that is not dependent on the perceptions of significant others.Self-actualization tendency. The tendency of the person to move toward achieving his or her full potential.Self-Concept. The persons total internal view of self in relation to the experiences of being and functioning within the environment.(Gilliland & James, 1998)

  • Major constructsSelf-Experience. Any event in the individuals perceptual field that he or she sees as relating to the self, me, or I.Unconditional Positive Regard. The individuals perception of another person without ascription of greater or lesser worthiness to that person. It is characterized by a total rather than a conditional acceptance of the other person.Unconditional self-regard. The perception of the self in such a way that no self-experience can be discriminated as being more or less worthy of positive regard than any other self-experience.(Gilliland & James, 1998)

  • (Walker & Brokaw, 2005)The SelfAccording to Rogers, the Self:Is organized and consistentIncludes ones perceptions of all that comprises I or meIncludes the relationship among I or me an other people and features of life, as well as the value and importance of these relationshipsIs available to consciousness but it is not always conscious at any given momentThe shape of the self is constantly changing, yet always recognizable

  • A self actualized person has the following characteristicsOpen to experienceAware of all experienceDeal w/change in creative waysSocially effectiveLives existentiallyLives in the here and nowTrusts self

  • Major personality constructsPersonality theory has not been of major concern to person-centered therapists, rather the manner in which change comes about in the human personality has been the focus. (Gilliland & James, 1998)Each person is unique and has the ability to reach his or her full potential. Once the self-concept is formed, two additional needs are acquired: the need for positive regard from others the need for positive self-regard

  • Nature of maladaptivityRogerian theory speaks primarily of incongruence as the primary maladaptivity. Maladaptivity relates to the blocks that are put in the road to actualization. (Gilliland & James, 1998)Also, external locus of control and looking to others for worth are seen as maladaptive.

  • Major goals of counselingThe central focus of counseling is the clients experiencing of feelings.

  • A Growth-Promoting ClimateCongruence - genuineness or realnessUnconditional positive regard- acceptance and caring, but not approval of all behaviorAccurate empathic understanding an ability to deeply grasp the clients subjective worldHelper attitudes are more important than knowledge

  • Major techniques/strategiesThe most important technique in person-centered counseling is the establishment of the relationship between client and counselor as one of mutual trust and safety. The relationship is the beginning, the main event and the end of the counseling. The counselor deals directly, in the here and now, with the clients feelings and experiences rather than intellectualize about the experiences. Person-centered theory is a phenomenological approacheach person is unique.

  • Six Conditions (necessary and sufficient for personality changes to occur)1. Two persons are in psychological contact2. The first, the client, is experiencing incongruency3. The second person, the therapist, is congruent or integrated in the relationship4. The therapist experiences unconditional positive regard or real caring for the client5. The therapist experiences empathy for the clients internal frame of reference and endeavors to communicate this to the client6. The communication to the client is, to a minimal degree, achieved

  • Major roles of counselor and clientBecause of the essential nature of the relationship, the major role of counselor is to create an atmosphere of genuineness, unconditional positive regard and empathic understanding and to reflect content to the client. The reflection may include the counselors own feelings so long as they are genuine and the counselor owns them as his or her own. The challenges for the counselor lie in his or her willingness to also be changed by and grow through the counseling relationship and to be open and transparent to the client.

  • Major roles of counselor and clientThe clients role is to do, think, say or feel whatever they are experiencing in the moment. Within the atmosphere of unconditional positive regard, the client will be able to experience his or her feeling about the experiences and the incongruence in his or her life and will by nature, know and choose the course toward growth and actualization.

  • The TherapistFocuses on the quality of the therapeutic relationshipServes as a model of a human being struggling toward greater realnessIs genuine, integrated, and authentic, without a false frontCan openly express feelings and attitudes that are present in the relationship with the client