Person-centered Therapy

Humanistic (Set 4)

Person who created it

Carl Roger

Human Nature

• Mind-body gestalt

• Phenomenalogical

  • Sensory knowledge of the world

• Rankian worldview

  • Each person creates their own reality

• Self-actualizing

  • Moving toward maturity and socialization

• Positive in nature

• An organism valuing the process of introjected values from others rather than the integrated values of own

Maladjustment

• Incongruence between the ideal self, the real self and experiences

• Experiences are not accurately symbolized

• Denies awareness of significant experiences

Counselor’s Role and Goals

• Goals for client:

  • Congruence between the real self, the ideal self, and experiences

  • Self actualization

  • A fully functioning person

  • Freedom to be oneself

• Goal for counselor:

  • Create a safe and accepting atmosphere

  • Congruence/genuineness

  • Unconditional positive regard

  • Empathy

Treatment Strategies

• Adopt client's perceptual field 

• Reflect content, feelings, perceptions

• Clarify

• Point out therapeutic movement

Unconditional Positive Regard:

accepting the client without judgment

Empathy

accurately understanding clients' feelings from their perspective

Congruence

counselor's authentic self in session

Self-actualization

realization of one's potential goal of therapy

Techniquess

• Active listening: Fully attending to the client's verbal and nonverbal messages

• Reflection: paraphrasing clients' feelings or statements

• Clarification:  helping the client understand and explore their experiences