Relational Depth In Counselling

This essay relates theoretical understanding to a role play in which one person is the counsellor and the other the client. The first section of this essay is the transcript of the role play. The second section applies Rogerian Theory of Personality and various Existential ideas. In the third section, the perspective of relational depth will be evaluated within the counselling relationship. Lastly, some conclusions will be drawn as to the effectiveness of Person Centred, existential ideas and development of relational depth.
My client at a young age could have been taught that homosexuality is wrong this could be seen as an introjecting value (Rogers, 1951). When she was attending the Catholic all-girls school, she was ‘confused’ about who she was attracted to. At the time, she felt she would be rejected because homosexuality is considered a sin within her religion; she also assumed her parents would reject her too. As a result of this she felt she did not have anyone to confide in thus, she became angry. Despite the introjecting value (Rogers, 1951), she entered into a same-sex relationship (M2a). By her own admission, this relationship was ‘toxic’ (M2a) perhaps because she could not reconcile between her feelings and the implicit introjecting value (Rogers, 1951) she had in her mind. It could also be possible that she
This small gesture maintains client autonomy, allows them to control the sessions and establishes them as the expert in their lives. This reflects the establishes boundaries and the overall attitudes of the person-centred counsellor. This helps the development of relational depth as the client, upon first entering the room in the second session, may still have preconceived ideas on what a counsellor should do. The gesture of handing the session to the client also helps to establish a trusting relationship (Mearns and Thorne,