Person Centered Therapy
Question: The topic chosen for your assignment is on Person centered therapy.
Write in 3 equal parts the following:
Briefly describe the key concepts.
Explain the strengths and weaknesses of this therapy.
How do you feel about the approach of this therapy?
Answer: Psychotherapy Networker conducted a survey in 2006 (as cited in Corey, 2009) identifying Carl Rogers as the single most influential psychotherapist of the past quarter century. Using humanistic psychological concepts, Rogers formulated a person-centered approach to therapy. According to Corey (2009), he believed that people are trustworthy and have the potential to understand themselves and find their own solutions to problems without the therapist 's intervention. Rogers was of the belief that the client should be seen as the expert and take ownership of their issues with the therapist merely guiding them in their journey. Person-centered therapists believe that people’s problems stem from a discrepancy between their self-concept and reality arising out of a need for approval and acceptance from others. This brings about feelings of anxiety, making them try to uphold their self-concept by denying or distorting reality (SparkNotes Editors, 2005). According to Rogers, to create a climate promoting growth and allowing progress and realisation of individuals ' maximum potential, the therapist should possess attributes of congruence, unconditional positive regard and accurate empathic understanding (Corey, 2009). In doing so, therapists and their clients are able to build a relationship built upon trust. Congruence is a genuineness or an ability to be real with the client (Corey, 2009). When one is congruent, one 's thinking, feeling, and being are all in sync or, as Cornelius-White (2007) states, one portrays “sincerity free from pretense” (p. 232). This shows the counsellor to be as human as the client, thus allowing the client to be real with the therapist and themselves (Corey, 2009). One
Write in 3 equal parts the following:
Briefly describe the key concepts.
Explain the strengths and weaknesses of this therapy.
How do you feel about the approach of this therapy?
Answer: Psychotherapy Networker conducted a survey in 2006 (as cited in Corey, 2009) identifying Carl Rogers as the single most influential psychotherapist of the past quarter century. Using humanistic psychological concepts, Rogers formulated a person-centered approach to therapy. According to Corey (2009), he believed that people are trustworthy and have the potential to understand themselves and find their own solutions to problems without the therapist 's intervention. Rogers was of the belief that the client should be seen as the expert and take ownership of their issues with the therapist merely guiding them in their journey. Person-centered therapists believe that people’s problems stem from a discrepancy between their self-concept and reality arising out of a need for approval and acceptance from others. This brings about feelings of anxiety, making them try to uphold their self-concept by denying or distorting reality (SparkNotes Editors, 2005). According to Rogers, to create a climate promoting growth and allowing progress and realisation of individuals ' maximum potential, the therapist should possess attributes of congruence, unconditional positive regard and accurate empathic understanding (Corey, 2009). In doing so, therapists and their clients are able to build a relationship built upon trust. Congruence is a genuineness or an ability to be real with the client (Corey, 2009). When one is congruent, one 's thinking, feeling, and being are all in sync or, as Cornelius-White (2007) states, one portrays “sincerity free from pretense” (p. 232). This shows the counsellor to be as human as the client, thus allowing the client to be real with the therapist and themselves (Corey, 2009). One
References: Colman, A. (Ed). (2009). Oxford dictionary of psychology. (3rd ed.) New York, USA: Oxford University Press. Corey, G. (2009). Theory and practice of counselling and psychotherapy. (8th ed.) Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole Publinshing. Cornelius-White, J. H. D. (2007). Congruence: An integrative five-dimension model. Person- Centered and Experential Psychotherapies, 6 (4). 229 – 239. doi: 1477-9757/07/04229-11 SparkNotes Editors. (2005). SparkNote on Personality. Retrieved January 6, 2011, from http://www.sparknotes.com/psychology/psych101/personality/ .... (2005). SparkNote on Psychological Treatment. Retrieved January 6, 2011, from http://www.sparknotes.com/psychology/psych101/treatment/