person-centered therapy

Carl R. Roger’s person-centered theory

 remains one of the most popular in the fields of psychology, counseling, and education. 

Person centered approach

This approach was a major deviation from the psychoanalytic and behavioral models for working with people that were predominant in the early part of the 20th century.

psychoanalytic and behavioral

Person-centered approach was a major deviation from the (2) models for working with people that were predominant in the early part of the 20th century.

20th

Person-centered approach was a major deviation from the psychoanalytic and behavioral models for working with people that were predominant in the early part of the____ century.

core principle of person-centered theory

• people were viewed as fully in charge of their lives and inherently motivated to improve themselves. 

• responsibility for personal behaviors and the choice to change them were seen as belonging fully to the individual

• a way to view and deal with human beings that did not rely on other people (counselors, psychologists, parents, teachers, etc.) as the primary directors of change

• fully in charge

• inherently motivated

• Core principle of person- centered theory 

  •  people were viewed as _________ of their lives and_______ to improve themselves. 

• responsibility for personal behaviors

• choice to change

• Core principle of person- centered theory 

  • ___________ and the __________ them were seen as belonging fully to the individual

did not rely

• Core principle of person- centered theory 

  • a way to view and deal with human beings that _______on other people (counselors, psychologists, parents, teachers, etc.) as the primary directors of change

person- centered theory

• It was further assumed that no matter what that phenomenological view of the world was, all people were continually attempting to actualize their best and most productive selves.

phenomenological perspective

• Rogers saw all individuals as having inherent qualities that made growth possible; attempting to change basic personality characteristics or behaviors was not necessary. 

• He believed that people saw the world from their own unique perspective

inherent qualities

• phenomenological perspective 

  • Rogers saw all individuals as having ________ that made growth possible; attempting to change basic personality characteristics or behaviors was not necessary. 

  • He believed that people saw the world from their own unique perspective

person-centered theory

• Criticism in what theory: Some argue that people often act in ways harmful to themselves and others, challenging Roger’s optimistic view. 

carl rogers

who believed that these thoughts and actions were primarily reflections of a distorted view of oneself and the world, distortions caused by trying to meet the expectations of others rather than trying to actualize one’s own self.

reflections of a distorted view of oneself and the world

Rogers believed that these thoughts and actions were primarily_______________ distortions caused by trying to meet the expectations of others rather than trying to actualize one’s own self.

person centered theory

theory that emphasizes the origins of Rogers’s beliefs, their development into a major helping process

person centered theory

theory that emphasizes an examination of the essential ingredients of that process serve as a foundation in helping process

person centered theory

theory emphasizes the counselor’s role in providing interventions and the methods used to carry out that role will then provide the practical base for beginning to implement the process.

person-centered approach

 The _________ to counseling implies great confidence in each client. 

1902

carl rogers was born in what year?

carl rogers

who was the first to intentionally and creatively subject therapeutic processes to rigorous scientific study, contributing greatly to the professionalism of counseling and psychotherapy?

great confidence

 The person-centered approach to counseling implies____________ in each client. 

confidence

arises out of a belief that all people have an innate motivation to grow in positive ways and the ability to carry out such a growth process.

highly positive view of human nature

______________ varies widely from other theories that view human nature as evil, negative, or a nonissue.

positive view of human nature

Such __________ is essential for the person-centered practitioner because clients are given major responsibilities in the direction, style, and content of the helping relationship.

given major responsibilities

Such a positive view of human nature is essential for the person-centered practitioner because clients are ____________ in the direction, style, and content of the helping relationship.

Five Key Beliefs about People (person centered perspective)

•  (a) People are trustworthy

• (b) people innately move toward self-actualization and health

• (c) people have the inner resources to move themselves in positive directions

• (d) people respond to their uniquely perceived world (phenomenological world)

• (e) there is an interaction of these key beliefs with external factors and activating them in supportive environments foster optimal development. 

trustworthy

• Person-centered counselors must treat their clients as __________, or there will be no reason to allow them to take a leadership role in the helping relationship.

natural characteristics

• People are Trustworthy

  • Words such as good, constructive, and trustworthy describe _______of human beings, although people also appear to take actions that demonstrate the opposite. 

Inappropriate Actions 

• occurs when an individual’s ideal self does not match the real self.

Inappropriate Actions 

• defensive thoughts and actions to protect themselves from having to observe that they are not living the lives they believe they should or recognizing this discrepancy. 

Inappropriate Actions 

• Such actions are not deceitful as much as they are direct actions that reflect conflicting perceptions of the person’s world.

people are trustworthy

• All individuals are trying to improve and to act in the world as they see it in as honorable manner as possible

movement toward actualization

•  Human beings are viewed by the person-centered theorist as always striving to obtain the best of themselves. 

• They seek any means to develop all of their abilities “in ways that maintain or enhance the organism”

  •  This is the driving force in the positive development of the individual. 

• moves the individual away from control by others based on conditions of worth and toward autonomy and self-control.

• This energy source is also seen as potentially more influential than environmental factors (socioeconomic status, hunger, and danger) which also affect how the individual perceives or seeks self-actualization.

striving to obtain the best of themselves

• Movement toward actualization

  • Human beings are viewed by the person-centered theorist as always ____________

maintain or enhance

• movement toward self actualization

  • They seek any means to develop all of their abilities “in ways that______ or _________ the organism”

    •  This is the driving force in the positive development of the individual. 

environmental factors

This energy source that’s striving to obtain the best of themselves is also seen as potentially more influential than ________ (socioeconomic status, hunger, and danger) which also affect how the individual perceives or seeks self-actualization.

movement toward self actualization

• This energy source is also seen as potentially more influential than environmental factors (socioeconomic status, hunger, and danger) which also affect how the individual perceives or seeks self-actualization.

perceives or seeks self-actualization

movement toward self actualization - this energy source that’s striving to obtain the best of themselves is also seen as potentially more influential than environmental factors (socioeconomic status, hunger, and danger) which also affect how the individual___________

inner resources

• Person- centered theory assumes people have the capacity to carry out their motivation for positive growth 

• Holding the belief that people have the motivation to grow in positive directions does not automatically mean that counselors will also have confidence in a client’s ability to follow through on that motivation.

• The person-centered approach emphasizes a belief that this ability to grow in positive directions is available to everyone.

• Person-centered theory emphasizes that these potential differences in degree of change and overcoming obstacles are not as important as people’s beliefs that they can accomplish great things on the journey to improve.

motivation to grow in positive directions

• Holding the belief that people have the __________ does not automatically mean that counselors will also have confidence in a client’s ability to follow through on that motivation.

person-centered approach

emphasizes a belief that this ability to grow in positive directions is available to everyone.

Person-centered theory

emphasizes that these potential differences in degree of change and overcoming obstacles are not as important as people’s beliefs that they can accomplish great things on the journey to improve.

principle of human potential

• People always have much more potential than they use most of the time.

• Success lies in the journey, not society in achieving a predefined goal

more potential

•  Principle of Human Potential 

  • People always have much ________ than they use most of the time.

journey

•  Principle of Human Potential 

  • Success lies in the _______, not society in achieving a predefined goal

Person centered counselors 

• can demonstrate confidence in these principles allow the necessary creative ideas and actions to emerge that can expand potential options and encourage growth in new directions.

individually perceived world

• events will be perceived differently by different people, explaining variation in reactions and behaviors 

• differences in perception contribute to conflicts between people, cultures and relationships. 

• Cultural background

• environmental

(2) factors play major parts in how individuals’ perceptions and reactions can become very different

• multicultural counseling competencies

• AN INDIVIDUALLY PERCEIVED WORLD

  •  Person centered practitioners must understand themselves, be genuine and strive to understand their client’s experiences

  • Practitioners should use active empathy broadly to effectively engage with diverse clients and meet ___________

external factors

A person-centered view of human development gives attention to_________ that affect psychological development in addition to critical internal forces. 

infants

Even as ______ , people make choices that induce growth and actualize potential, rejecting experiences harmful to their well being

naturalistic ways of making choices

• These __________ become confused as the developing person recognizes that other individuals may provide or withhold love on the basis of how well the person assimilates values and behaviors set by others. 

  • This recognition can move individuals away from using their own best judgment to make personal choices and promote an alternative method that requires taking actions based on the presumed desires of others.

presumed desires of others

•  These naturalistic ways of making choices become confused as the developing person recognizes that other individuals may provide or withhold love on the basis of how well the person assimilates values and behaviors set by others. 

  • This recognition can move individuals away from using their own best judgment to make personal choices and promote an alternative method that requires taking actions based on the presumed desires of others.

unconditional positive regard

condition of worth

Two Theoretical Concepts used to explain the aspect of development: 

unconditional positive regard

• individual who are given and recognize it trust themselves as positive human beings

unconditional positive regard

• encourages self-examination, personal improvement and confidence in one’s own growth 

unconditional positive regard

• conveyed that although they will make errors of judgment and behavior, they will also strive to examine themselves continually and be able to take actions for their own improvement because they are good people.

unconditional positive regard

Encourages individuals to seek personal development with confidence in becoming increasingly effective human beings.

condition of worth

•  love or approval is given only when individuals meets others expectation 

condition of worth

•  developing persons to de value their inherent potential for choice making and growth

condition of worth

• begin looking for directions and decisions that originate from external sources instead of trusting their more natural internal reactions to their environment

condition of worth

• moves individuals away from confidence in their ability to run their own lives and toward seeking validation based on the lives and expectations of others

No two people see the world exactly alike

PERSON- CENTERED THEORY CONSTRUCTS MUST BE PERCEIVED BY PRACTITIONER:

• Practitioners must recognize that whatever they personally believe reality to be will be different from the client’s perspective and that each client will have a unique perspective.

• each client has a unique perspective: counselor’s reality is not universal 

• understanding the  client’s phenomenological world is essential for effective counseling 

empathetic understanding

PERSON- CENTERED THEORY CONSTRUCTS MUST BE PERCEIVED BY PRACTITIONER:

• critical to the person-centered approach because it refers to understanding the client’s world from the client’s point of view.

emphatic understanding

PERSON- CENTERED THEORY CONSTRUCTS MUST BE PERCEIVED BY PRACTITIONER:

• requires counselors to set aside their biases, understand both verbal content and underlying feelings, and convey this understanding clearly

empathic understanding

PERSON- CENTERED THEORY CONSTRUCTS MUST BE PERCEIVED BY PRACTITIONER:

• supports multicultural and cross- cultural counseling by enabling adaptation to client culture and experiences 

People Make Simple Mistakes in Judgment

PERSON- CENTERED THEORY CONSTRUCTS MUST BE PERCEIVED BY PRACTITIONER:

• Individuals sometimes make ineffective choices to conform to others’s expectation (conditions of worth) rather than their own positive, growth oriented nature

Place Confidence in the Client

PERSON- CENTERED THEORY CONSTRUCTS MUST BE PERCEIVED BY PRACTITIONER:

• Counselors must trust clients' innate tendency toward growth, even if mistakes occur.

• Clients are treated as capable and effective human beings, contrasting with models that see client difficulties as deficits requiring correction.

The Perceived World of the Client May Not Approximate the World Sought

PERSON- CENTERED THEORY CONSTRUCTS MUST BE PERCEIVED BY PRACTITIONER:

• Counseling often arises from conflict between the client's perceived world and the world they naturally seek.

• Incongruence occurs when clients act based on others' expectations, leading to internal and relational conflict.

Congruent

individuals trust their own view of the world and their natural positive tendencies.

congruent individuals

• Others usually respond positively to congruent individuals because their actions tend to be beneficial both personally and socially.

congruent individuals

• When they make mistakes, congruent individuals can evaluate others’ reactions and adjust their behavior for both the present and future.

• They are not perfect, but they can learn from mistakes without devaluing themselves or others.

low anxiety

high anxiety

• In person-centered theory, congruence vs. incongruence explains anxiety: (2)

Low anxiety

happens when the perceived self matches actual experience (congruence)

High anxiety

arises when a person’s self-perception does not align with reality (incongruence)

increase the client’s congruence

• Person-centered therapy aims to ________ rather than directly trying to reduce anxiety.

Person-centered theory

views individuals as growth-oriented and naturally capable, similar to a bean seed that already contains the potential to grow.

GOALS OF COUNSELING AND PSYCHOTHERAPY

• Movement from incongruence to congruence is the cornerstone person-centered goal.

• People try to perceive more accurately their own positive nature and use it more effectively.

• They accept strengths and weaknesses, reducing distortions in their view of the world.

• This leads to greater accuracy between how they see themselves and their interactions.

• Clients become more flexible and creative as they free themselves from stereotypes and conditions of worth.

• They see a wider range of potential, gain confidence, and feel enthusiastic about new aspects of life.

• Freedom to trust feelings and thoughts helps overcome helplessness, powerlessness, and inability to make decisions.

• Increased self-empowerment is the most noticeable outcome

Process of Change or Process of Growth

• Clients begin to drop protective masks and recognize strengths and weaknesses as real and changeable.

• Develop an internal locus of control, directing their lives rather than relying on others.

• Acceptance of human fallibility fosters ongoing learning and Improvement rather than striving for perfection.

• Increases clients' confidence in evaluating themselves, making decisions, changing, and learning from errors, reducing anxiety and dependence on external guidance.

• Clients' perception of the world becomes more balanced, integrating others' views while prioritizing their own, leading to greater personal responsibility.

active listening

• Requires attentive, interactive listening face the client, maintain eye contact, lean forward, and use appropriate body language

active listening

• Reflecting content and feelings turns observations into a holistic understanding.

• Helps clarity misunderstandings and fosters joint discovery of client experiences.

Reflection of Content and Feelings

• Counselors identify and reflect both spoken words and underlying emotions.

• Over time, it can recognize themes or hidden feelings expressed by the client.

• Acts like a mirror, allowing clients to revise and expand their self-perceptions.

Immediacy

interactions relating directly to the immediate situation between client and counselor.

immediacy

• Provides here-and-now feedback, more valuable than past reflections.

• Current feelings of client and counselor are most therapeutic.

• Useful statements: “Your words express calmness, but your hands are shaking,” “Your statements make me feel…”

• Nonimmediacy statements: “Why did you feel that way?” are less useful.

• Here and now allows reactions to be verified, checked, and explored immediately

genuineness and self disclosure

• Counselors must know themselves, explore values, beliefs, and biases, and maintain congruence.

• Self-disclosure should be ethical, relevant, and supportive, not shifting focus to the counselor.

• Enhances trust and authenticity in the therapeutic relationship, including cross-cultural contexts.

• metaphor

• humor

• confrontation

• interpretation

• directedness.

• Rogers used his own thoughts and personality creatively:

relationship development model

• Rogers’______________ is used as a foundation for cognitive, behavioral, or emotional approaches.

non-client centered interventions

• Avoids diagnostic labeling, rigid treatment planning, or over-directing clients.

• Assessment is a collaborative process to understand client needs and guide goals (Sharf, 2015).

• New counselors may struggle with traditional questioning or analysis due to academic training, but growth in trust and experience is essential for adopting the approach.

Assessment

is a collaborative process to understand client needs and guide goals (Sharf, 2015).

• apparent simplicity

• limited guidance on confrontation

• high reliance on trust

• lack of fallback techniques

• challenges for new practitioners

Apparent simplicity

Limitation:

• Concepts are few and straightforward, which can dull overconfidence.

• Early-session techniques like listening and reflecting relying only on surface-level interactions can become nondirectional, and ineffective.

Limited guidance on confrontation

Limitation:

• Person-centered theory allows for appropriate confrontation, but provides few specific guidelines on when, where, or how to confront effectively.

High Reliance on Trust

Limitation:

• Counselors must have strong confidence in the positive motivation and abilities of client, which can be difficult with clients who have extreme negative behaviors or histories (e.g. violent or criminal behavior) 

lack of fallback techniques

Limitation

• Few alternative strategies or structured activities exist if a counselor lacks sufficient personal knowledge, awareness, or confidence.

• Other counseling theories may provide more tactical tools to support clients when the relationship alone is insufficient

challenges for new practitioners

Limitation:

• Pressure to "do the right thing" may interfere with genuineness and ability to be fully present.

• Requires ongoing self-exploration and practice to maintain effective person-centered interventions.