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Person-Centered

(Humanistic)Therapy

C6436 Individual Counseling

Theory and Practice

James J. Messina, Ph.D.

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Carl Rogers 1902-1987 Born Oak Park, Illinois Fourth of six children Fundamental religious practices, little social

mixing, belief virtue Hard Work Solitary boy, outstanding student Studied in Seminary, became child psychologist

influenced by Adlers concepts of work with

children and families Emphasized taking personal responsibility for

ones own life In his life: questioning stance, deep openness to

change, courage to go into unknown places

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Humanism

Philosophical movement that emphasizes worth

of the individual and the centrality of human

values Attends to matters of ethics & personal worth

Gives credit to the human spirit

Emphasis on creative, spontaneous & active

nature of humans-optimistic

Human capacity to overcome hardship & despair

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Nondeterministic

Rogers like the Existentialists would argue that it is

an oversimplification to view people as controlled by

fixed physical laws

People cannot be viewed simply as cogs in a vast

machine

Encouragement of therapy that considers individual

initiative, creativity, & self-fulfillment Focus on active, positive aspects of human growth

and achievement

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Self-Actualization

Innate process by which a person tends

to grow spiritually and realize potential

Through self-exploration person couldlive in harmony with nature and all of

humanity by integrating various psychic

forces to become whole person Selfish drives could be explored,

understood & integrated with the spiritual

aspects of human

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The Experiencing Person

Important issues must be defined by individual-

special concern are discrepancies between what

a person thinks of himself & total range of things

he experiences

People tend to develop in a positive direction,

that unless thwarted, they achieve their potential

Belief in natural goodness of people-Rousseau Inner self-control is better than forced, external

control

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Human Potential Movement

Begun in 1960s-Rogers ended his life inthis movement-His special focus Peace &Racial Harmony

Use small group meetings, self-disclosure,& introspection

People realize their inner potentials

Encounter groups, massage, meditation,consciousness raising, communing withnature, organic food

E.g.: Environmental concerns, Quality

Circles, Team self-management

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Person-Centered Therapy

A reaction against the directive andpsychoanalytic approaches

A reaction against Medical Model calledclients rather than patients

People are essentially trustworthy, vastpotential for understanding selves, & resolving

their own problems without direct interventionby therapist & are capable of self-directedgrowth if involved in therapeutic relationship

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Rogers Challenged Traditional

Models of Therapy

He questioned assumption that thecounselor knows best

He questioned validity of advice, suggestion,persuasion, teaching, diagnosis &interpretation

He challenged belief that clients cannotunderstand & resolve their own problems withdirect help from experts

He questioned focus on problems rather than

on people in therapy

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Person-Centered Therapys

Emphasis

Therapy as a journey shared by two falliblepeople

The persons innate striving for self-actualization

The personal characteristics of the therapistand the quality of the therapeutic relationship

The counselors creation of a permissive,growth promoting climate

People are capable of self-directed growth if

involved in a therapeutic relationship

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Necessary Conditions from Therapist

to Client Attitudes more important than knowledge

Congruence - genuineness or realness, in

relations between therapist & client -being

oneself in the therapeutic relationship with

client Unconditional positive regard- acceptance

and caring, but not approval of all behavior

Accurate empathic understanding understanding of clients frame of references,

ability to deeply grasp the clients subjective

world & communicate this to the client

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Six Conditions(necessary and sufficientfor personality changes to occur)

1. Two persons are in psychological contact

2. The first, the client, is experiencing incongruency

3. The second person, the therapist, is congruent or

integrated in the relationship4. The therapist experiences unconditional positive

regard or real caring for the client

5. The therapist experiences empathy for the clients

internal frame of reference and endeavors tocommunicate this to the client

6. The communication to the client is, to a minimaldegree, achieved

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Congruence & Genuineness

Therapist is real, genuine, integrated &authentic during therapy-model human

being struggling for realness Therapist has no false front, match of

inner & outer expression of experience Therapist can openly express feelings,

thoughts, reactions & attitudes present inrelationships with client

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Unconditional Positive Regard

Therapist communicates deep & genuine

caring for client as a person

Caring is unconditional-no evaluation orjudgment of clients feelings, thoughts or

behaviors

Caring does not come from need ofreciprocal caring of therapist by client

Acceptance & recognition of clients right

to have own beliefs & feelings

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Accurate Empathic

Understanding

Therapist understands clients experience &

feelings as revealed in interaction

Therapist tries to sense clients subjective

experience in here and now Sense the others feelings as if my own

Capable of reflecting the experience of client

back to client-encourages client to be morereflective

Encourages clients own understanding &

clarification of beliefs and worldviews

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Process of Therapy

1. Clients communications about externals & not self

2. Client describes feelings but not recognize or ownthem personally

3. Client talks about self as an object in terms of pastexperiences

4. Client experiences feelings in present-just describesthem with distrust & fear

5. Client experiences & expresses feelings freely in

present-feelings bubble up6. Client accepts own feelings in immediacy & richness

7. Client trusts new experiences & relates to othersopenly & freely

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The Therapist

Focuses on the quality of the therapeuticrelationship

Serves as a model of a human beingstruggling toward greater realness

Is genuine, integrated, and authentic,without a false front

Can openly express feelings and attitudesthat are present in the relationship with theclient

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Techniques used in Person

Centered Therapy

Listening

Accepting

Respecting

Understanding

Responding