Person-Centered TherapyPerson-Centered Therapy

Person-Centered TherapyPerson-Centered TherapyCarl RogersCarl Rogers– Fundamentalist upbringingFundamentalist upbringing– Trained theology and clinical psychologyTrained theology and clinical psychology

His therapy was a reaction to His therapy was a reaction to directive therapies (e.g., directive therapies (e.g., psychoanalysis, behavior therapy)psychoanalysis, behavior therapy)Based on a philosophy of human Based on a philosophy of human nature as an innate striving to better nature as an innate striving to better oneselfoneself

Theory of PersonalityTheory of PersonalityHuman beings are whole organismsHuman beings are whole organismsOne primary drive – SELF One primary drive – SELF ACTUALIZATIONACTUALIZATION– Humans inherently strive to develop Humans inherently strive to develop

optimal capacities to serve and maintain optimal capacities to serve and maintain the organismthe organism

Basic needsBasic needsTension reductionTension reductionRelating to othersRelating to othersCultural engagement Cultural engagement

Theory of PersonalityTheory of PersonalityOrganismic Valuing Process Organismic Valuing Process – We naturally value those things that We naturally value those things that

help us actualizehelp us actualize

Self-conceptSelf-concept– We differentiate experiences that are us We differentiate experiences that are us

vs. those that belong to othersvs. those that belong to others– Self-experiences form together to yield Self-experiences form together to yield

a unified concept of self.a unified concept of self.– Development of SC leads to need for Development of SC leads to need for

POSITIVE REGARDPOSITIVE REGARD

Positive Regard to Conditions of Positive Regard to Conditions of WorthWorth

Need for PR, to be loved, prized, Need for PR, to be loved, prized, valued, becomes the most potent in valued, becomes the most potent in developing person.developing person.Parents and community place Parents and community place CONDITIONS of WORTH on those CONDITIONS of WORTH on those behaviors that lead to PR.behaviors that lead to PR.People’s SC then begins to mirror the People’s SC then begins to mirror the way people give out PR ----- Self-way people give out PR ----- Self-regardregard

PsychopathologyPsychopathologyRelated to degree of conditionalityRelated to degree of conditionality– Experiences consistent with worth are allowed Experiences consistent with worth are allowed

in ones that aren’t are distortedin ones that aren’t are distortedDistortion leads to INCONGRUENCEDistortion leads to INCONGRUENCE– Discrepancy in Self vs. ExperienceDiscrepancy in Self vs. ExperienceLeads person to be more “fractured” than Leads person to be more “fractured” than whole and distorts what people see as a whole and distorts what people see as a worthy avenue of actualizationworthy avenue of actualizationSymptoms manifest as people attempt to Symptoms manifest as people attempt to prevent threatening experiences coming prevent threatening experiences coming into awarenessinto awareness

Person-Centered TherapyPerson-Centered TherapyTherapy is a permissive, non-directive Therapy is a permissive, non-directive climateclimatePhenomenological approach: seeing and Phenomenological approach: seeing and understanding others from their reference, understanding others from their reference, perceptionperceptionTherapist: creates a growth promoting Therapist: creates a growth promoting environment, non directive, not the environment, non directive, not the expert, non controlling, caring, accepting, expert, non controlling, caring, accepting, genuine.genuine. Client: remove obstacles that are blocking Client: remove obstacles that are blocking growthgrowth

Person-Centered TherapyPerson-Centered TherapyGOALS OF THERAPYGOALS OF THERAPY

Work through distortions that create Work through distortions that create incongruenceincongruenceLessen the impact of conditions of worthLessen the impact of conditions of worthBecome more “here and now”Become more “here and now”Become more actualizedBecome more actualized

– Open to experiencesOpen to experiences– Trust themselvesTrust themselves– Realistic Self-evaluationRealistic Self-evaluation– Continue growingContinue growing

Therapeutic RelationshipTherapeutic RelationshipRogers speaks of six conditions that comprise the Rogers speaks of six conditions that comprise the TRTR– RelationshipRelationship– VulnerabilityVulnerability

Motivates and maintains the relationshipMotivates and maintains the relationship– GenuinenessGenuineness

Congruence/No deception of client or selfCongruence/No deception of client or self– Unconditional Positive RegardUnconditional Positive Regard

Caring – reduces conditions of worthCaring – reduces conditions of worth– Accurate EmpathyAccurate Empathy

Perceive and reflect the clients inner world and perceptionsPerceive and reflect the clients inner world and perceptionsBracket our own feelings and perceptionsBracket our own feelings and perceptions

– Perception of GenuinenessPerception of GenuinenessClient has to see all these things in the therapistClient has to see all these things in the therapist

Change ProcessesChange Processes

Consciousness raisingConsciousness raising– Happens through reflection, Happens through reflection,

organization and attention allocation organization and attention allocation toward emotional experiencetoward emotional experience

Surrogate information processesSurrogate information processes

CartharsisCartharsis– Positive regard leads to safetyPositive regard leads to safety– Therapist “follows the affect.”Therapist “follows the affect.”

Therapeutic ContentTherapeutic Content

IntrapersonalIntrapersonal– Distortion or denial of experiencesDistortion or denial of experiences– Conflict between ideal and real selfConflict between ideal and real self

FulfillmentFulfillment– Self-actualizationSelf-actualization

Person-Centered TherapyPerson-Centered TherapySTRENGTHSSTRENGTHS

EmpathyEmpathyPhenomenological approachPhenomenological approachReflectionReflectionIncrease self-understandingIncrease self-understandingGenuineGenuineUnconditional positive regard and Unconditional positive regard and acceptanceacceptance

Person-Centered TherapyPerson-Centered TherapyWEAKNESSESWEAKNESSES

Client is not challengedClient is not challengedToo simplisticToo simplisticNo interventions/techniquesNo interventions/techniquesUndirectedUndirectedNot all clients are able to find their own Not all clients are able to find their own answersanswersNot much research on theory and practiceNot much research on theory and practiceTheory has not evolved much since the Theory has not evolved much since the 1960’s1960’s

Motivational InterviewingMotivational Interviewing

Client centered and directiveClient centered and directive

Resolve ambivalenceResolve ambivalence

Four principlesFour principles– Express empathyExpress empathy– Roll w/resistanceRoll w/resistance– Develop discrepancyDevelop discrepancy– Support self-efficacySupport self-efficacy

MI: Basic StrategiesMI: Basic Strategies

Open questionsOpen questions

AffirmationAffirmation

ReflectionsReflections– ParrotParrot– RephraseRephrase– MeaningMeaning– FeelingFeeling

SummarySummary

MI: Processes of ChangeMI: Processes of ChangeSame as RogersSame as Rogers– Consciousness raisingConsciousness raising– CatharsisCatharsis

Selective reinforcement of CHANGE TalkSelective reinforcement of CHANGE Talk– DesireDesire– AbilityAbility– ReasonsReasons– NeedNeed– CommitmentCommitment

Commitment Language Pattern A inCommitment Language Pattern A in

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