Person-Centred Therapy Approach

Introduction
This essay will compare and contrast the Person-Centred and Cognitive-Behavioural approaches to the understanding of and working with fear and sadness. It will do this by first summarising the basic theory of person centred Therapy and Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy and how each theory interprets the causation of fear and sadness. This essay will then use a short paragraph to discuss the relationships and therapeutic alliance within Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy and person centred Therapy. This essay move on to examining the techniques used both in Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy and person centred Therapy. This essay will finally look at the essay writer’s preferred Therapy approach.
Summary of Person-Centred Therapy
The development
In particular, within the Person-Centred Therapy model, which believes that the therapeutic relationship is the ‘catalyst for therapeutic change’ (Dykes p.107 2010). Though Rodgers cited six conditions for therapeutic change, he believed that only three of these qualities or core conditions (Dykes p. 114-115 2010) where necessary and sufficient to achieve change. One of these core conditions is the ability to have unconditional positive regard for the client. Rodgers described this as a non-possessive caring of the client (Dykes p.116 2010). Where the Therapist is able to offer the client a non-judgemental accepting attitude towards whatever the client may feel (Dykes p.116 2010) it is hoped that this acceptance of who they are will promote congruence within the client and allow there organismic-self free (Dykes p.118 2010) and through this transform from either sadness or fear. However person centred Therapist have become dismayed that this core condition along with the other two (empathic understanding, congruence) are now being taught as extra techniques to counselling theory which can be taught in two hour workshops (Dykes p.122 2010). Nevertheless, research has shown that Cognitive-Behavioural Therapists are just as competent and show high levels of emotional and empathic support along with displaying unconditional positive regard (Langhoff et al. 2008). It could be argued that CBT Therapists need to show more empathic understanding and unconditional support to foster cooperation in their clients (Langhoff et al. 2008) especially in times of heightened emotional