Person Centered Therapy - Theories of Counseling - Lecture Notes, Study notes of Psychotherapy

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Person-Centered Therapy

Rogers developed PCT in the 1940’s Subjective view of human experience, emphasize client resources for becoming self-aware and resolving blocks to personal growth Client is at center of therapy Rogers expected the theory and practice to evolve over time

Key Terms Accurate empathic understanding- understanding the client’s subjective world without losing one’s identity

Congruence- matching inner experiences with external expressions

Humanistic psychology- Third force of therapy that emphasizes freedom, choice, values, growth, self-actualization, becoming, spontaneity, creativity, play, humor

Self-actualizing tendency- growth force within us, leads to full development of one’s potential, trusted to identify and resolve problems in a therapeutic relationship

Therapeutic conditions- necessary for client change to occur. Therapist congruence/genuineness, unconditional positive regard/acceptance and respect, and accurate empathic understanding

Unconditional positive regard- nonjudgmental expression and respect for people as humans; acceptance of a person’s right to his/her feelings

Philosophy and Basic Assumptions Positive view of humanity People innately strive toward becoming fully functioning Therapist beliefs and attitudes in the inner resources of the client that create the therapeutic climate for growth. Clients’ self-healing activated as they become empowered Clients actualize potential for growth, wholeness, spontaneity, inner-directedness. Client primarily brings about change, not the therapist

Key Concepts Clients have resources for positive movement Client has capacity to resolve life problems without interpretation and direction from therapist Fully experience the present moment Learn to accept oneself Decide on ways to change Views mental health as a congruence between what one wants to become and what one actually is.

Therapeutic Goals Climate of safety and trust so that client becomes aware of blocks to growth Client needs to move toward openness, greater self-trust, more willingness to evolve, and living by internal standards Aim of therapy is to assist in the growth process which enables clients to cope with present and future problems.

Therapeutic Relationship Attitudes and personal characteristics of therapist and quality of client-therapist relationship are prime determinants of the outcomes of therapy Genuineness, non possessive warmth, caring, acute empathy, unconditional acceptance of and respect for client, permissiveness, communication of attitudes to client Effective therapy- combination of therapist and client with inner and external resources of the client Client is able to translate his/her learning in therapy

Techniques and Procedures Techniques are secondary to therapist attitudes Minimizes directive techniques, interpretation, questioning, probing, diagnosis, and collecting history. Maximizes active listening and hearing, reflection of feelings, and clarification

Applications Individual and group counseling Student-centered teaching and learning Parent-child relations and human relations training labs Anxiety disorders, alcoholism, psychosomatic problems, agoraphobia, interpersonal difficulties, depression, cancer, personality disorders Well suited for early phases of crisis intervention Administration and management and systems and institutions

Contributions Broke away from traditional psychoanalysis, active role and responsibility of client Account for person’s inner and subjective experiences Therapeutic process is relationship-centered (not technique-centered) Role of therapist attitudes Empathy, being present, respecting values, attitudes and skills Applied in a multicultural context

Limitations Therapist is a possible danger Core conditions are centered on therapist’s values and attitudes (not skills) Limited use with nonverbal clients Ahistorical approach Discounts significance of the past Main limitation is the misunderstanding of the basic concepts and their practical applications