Core Conditions
Identify Rogers’s core conditions and choose one to critically reflect.
During the 1950’s Carl Rogers developed three core conditions. These conditions continued to be developed by Rogers in the intervening years until his death in 1987. The aim of this essay will demonstrate an understanding of each condition and briefly discuss how they are applied in practice. The role of empathy will be reflected on and critically appraised.
Carl Rogers developed three core conditions, Emapthy, Congruence (realness) and Unconditional Positive Regard. These conditions are at the core of person centred counselling.The effectiveness of these conditions are based upon the counsellors skill, knowledge and application in practice, it is not something that can be turned “on and off”, but a way of being . To avoid unconditional positive regard, the counsellor has to act in a certain way when working with clients, demonstrating certain feeling for all humanity and have an awareness to always work within the conditions even during circumstances where there maybe interpersonal difficulties . Empathy is a process, not just something a counsellor will do. It involves sensing and perceiving how the client is feeling. It involves appropriate use of touch such as a hand on the clients shoulder, tone and pitch of the voice and in some instances it can be demonstrated through crying at times when the client does but equally having an awareness of boundaries within the session, meaning, the client not feeling that they are “coununselling” you. To demonstrate empathy the counsellor must also be aware of their own journey. In relation to recording this skill maybe at times to demonstrate.
Congruence, the next core condition was reffered to by Roger’s as the most important element as he beleived “it is the realness of the therapist in the relationship which is the most important element” (Mearns. D & Thorn. B, 2007, pg . 95). To be congruent, is to be
During the 1950’s Carl Rogers developed three core conditions. These conditions continued to be developed by Rogers in the intervening years until his death in 1987. The aim of this essay will demonstrate an understanding of each condition and briefly discuss how they are applied in practice. The role of empathy will be reflected on and critically appraised.
Carl Rogers developed three core conditions, Emapthy, Congruence (realness) and Unconditional Positive Regard. These conditions are at the core of person centred counselling.The effectiveness of these conditions are based upon the counsellors skill, knowledge and application in practice, it is not something that can be turned “on and off”, but a way of being . To avoid unconditional positive regard, the counsellor has to act in a certain way when working with clients, demonstrating certain feeling for all humanity and have an awareness to always work within the conditions even during circumstances where there maybe interpersonal difficulties . Empathy is a process, not just something a counsellor will do. It involves sensing and perceiving how the client is feeling. It involves appropriate use of touch such as a hand on the clients shoulder, tone and pitch of the voice and in some instances it can be demonstrated through crying at times when the client does but equally having an awareness of boundaries within the session, meaning, the client not feeling that they are “coununselling” you. To demonstrate empathy the counsellor must also be aware of their own journey. In relation to recording this skill maybe at times to demonstrate.
Congruence, the next core condition was reffered to by Roger’s as the most important element as he beleived “it is the realness of the therapist in the relationship which is the most important element” (Mearns. D & Thorn. B, 2007, pg . 95). To be congruent, is to be
Cited: Mearns.D and Thorn.B(2000). Person-centred therapy today. London: Sage Publications.