Person Centered Therapy

APPLICATION : THERAPEUTIC TECHNIQUES AND PROCEDURES Early Emphasis on Reflection of Feelings - Rogers’s original emphasis was on grasping the world of the client and reflecting this understanding. As his view of psychotherapy developed, however, his focus shifted away from a nondirective stance and emphasized the therapist’s relationship with the client. -

Many followers of Rogers simply imitated his reflective style, and client – centered therapy has often been identified primarily with the technique of reflection despite Rogers’s contention that the therapist’s relational attitudes and fundamental ways of being with the client constitute the heart of the change process.

Evolution of Person – Centered Methods - Rogers believes clients have the resourcefulness for positive movement without the counselor assuming an active, directive role. What is essential for clients’ progress is the therapist’s presence, which refers to the therapist being completely engaged and absorbed in the relationship with the client. - The therapist is empathically interested in the client and is congruent in relation to the client. - The therapist is willing to be deeply focused on the client in order to understand the individual’s inner world.

- Interventions such as listening, accepting, respecting, understanding, and responding must be honest expressions by the therapist. - One of the main ways in which person-centered therapy has evolved is the diversity, innovation, and individualization in practice. As this approach has developed, there has been increased latitude for therapists to share their reactions, to confront clients in a caring was, and to participate more actively in the therapeutic process. - Cain believes it is essential for therapists to modify their therapeutic approach to accommodate the specific needs of each client. -

Person – centered therapists have the freedom to use a variety of responses and methods.

- A guiding question therapists need to ask is, “ Does it fit ? ” - Therapist congruence is basic to establishing trust and safety with clients, and the therapy process is likely to be adversely affected if the therapist is not full authentic.

The Role of Assessment - It is not how the counselor assesses the client but the client’s self- assessment. - From a person- centered perspective, the best source of knowledge about the client is the individual client.

- It may not be a question of whether to incorporate assessment into therapeutic practice but of how to involve clients as fully as possible in their assessment and treatment process.

Area of Application - The person – centered approach has been applied to working with individuals, groups, and families. - When people are in crisis, one of the first steps is to give them an opportunity to fully express themselves. - Sensitive listening, hearing, and understanding are essential. - Heard and understood helps ground people in crises, helps to calm them in the midst of turmoil, and enables them to think more clearly and make better decisions. - If the person in crisis does not feel understood and accepted, he or she may lose hope of “ returning to normal ” and may not seek help in the future. -

If counselors are lacking in the relationship and communication skills, they will not be effective in carrying out a treatment program for their clients.

- An effective person – centered therapist must be grounded, centered, present, focused, patient, and accepting in a way that involves maturity. - Without a person – centered attitude or way of being mere application of skills is likely to be hollow.

SUMMARY AND EVALUATION Summary - Person – centered therapy is based on a philosophy of human nature that postulates an innate striving for self-actualization. - Rogers’s theory rests on the assumption that clients can understand the factors in their lives that are causing them to be unhappy. They also have the capacity for self-direction and constructive personal change. - It is essential for the therapist to establish a relationship the client perceives as genuine, accepting, and understanding. - The therapist’s attitudes are more critical than are knowledge, theory, or techniques. - More than any other approach, person-centered therapy has demonstrated that therapist empathy plays a vital role in facilitating constructive change in the client.

Limitations and Criticisms of the Peron –Centered Approach -

A potential limitation of this approach is the way that some students-in-training and practitioners with a person – centered orientation have a tendency to be very supportive of clients without being challenging.

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A related challenge for counselors using this approach is to truly support clients in finding their own way.

- Therapist authenticity and congruence are so vital to this approach that those who practice within this framework must feel natural in doing so and must find a way to express their own reactions to clients.