Person-Centered TherapyPerson-Centered Therapy~ Carl Rogers ~~ Carl Rogers ~

Carl RogersCarl Rogers(1902-1987)(1902-1987)

The Founder of Person-Centered The Founder of Person-Centered Therapy Therapy

Introduced his revolutionary ideas in the 1940sIntroduced his revolutionary ideas in the 1940s

Ideas were in stark contrast to psychoanalysis Ideas were in stark contrast to psychoanalysis and directive approachesand directive approaches

Shifted focus of therapy from an emphasis on Shifted focus of therapy from an emphasis on technique to that of the relationship technique to that of the relationship

““The Quiet Revolutionary”The Quiet Revolutionary”

Client vs. PatientClient vs. Patient

Introduced the term “client”Introduced the term “client”

Believed in the equality of client and therapistBelieved in the equality of client and therapist

Rogers’ Central HypothesisRogers’ Central Hypothesis

“ “If I can provide a certain type of relationship, If I can provide a certain type of relationship, the other will discover within himself the the other will discover within himself the capacity to use that relationship for growth, capacity to use that relationship for growth, and change and personal development will and change and personal development will occur.” (Carl Rogers) occur.” (Carl Rogers)

Rogers’ Central IdeasRogers’ Central Ideas

Encouraged clients to reflect on their Encouraged clients to reflect on their experienceexperience

Believed it was necessary for nonjudgmental Believed it was necessary for nonjudgmental listening and acceptance to promote changelistening and acceptance to promote change

Rogers Focused on ResearchRogers Focused on Research Stated concepts as testable hypotheses and submitted them to Stated concepts as testable hypotheses and submitted them to

researchresearch

Recorded his sessions for the purpose of researchRecorded his sessions for the purpose of research

Defined his theory in operational termsDefined his theory in operational terms

Displayed a questioning stance and a deep openness to changeDisplayed a questioning stance and a deep openness to change

Feared institutionalization would lead to a narrow, rigid, and Feared institutionalization would lead to a narrow, rigid, and dogmatic perspective. dogmatic perspective.

Carl RogersCarl Rogers

““The therapist, author, and person were the The therapist, author, and person were the same man.” (Cain, 1987)same man.” (Cain, 1987)

Had a major impact on the field of Had a major impact on the field of psychotherapypsychotherapy

Other ContributionsOther Contributions

Now over 200 therapeutic approaches of Now over 200 therapeutic approaches of client-centered therapyclient-centered therapy

Innovations in Person-Centered Therapy:Innovations in Person-Centered Therapy: Virginia Axline made contributions to person centered therapy Virginia Axline made contributions to person centered therapy

with children and play therapywith children and play therapy Johnson and Greenberg applied the person-centered approach to Johnson and Greenberg applied the person-centered approach to

working with couples and families working with couples and families

AssumptionsAssumptions

People are trustworthy by naturePeople are trustworthy by nature They have the capacity to understand and They have the capacity to understand and

resolve their own problemsresolve their own problems They are innately resourceful and capableThey are innately resourceful and capable Clients can understand what is making them Clients can understand what is making them

unhappyunhappy

HumanismHumanism

An alternative to psychoanalytic and An alternative to psychoanalytic and behavioral approachesbehavioral approaches

Respect and trust the client Respect and trust the client Everyone has a natural potentialEveryone has a natural potential The person-centered approach rests on The person-centered approach rests on

humanismhumanism

Key ConceptsKey Concepts

CongruenceCongruence Unconditional Positive RegardUnconditional Positive Regard Accurate empathic understandingAccurate empathic understanding

Therapeutic GoalsTherapeutic Goals

Greater degree of independence Greater degree of independence Focus on the person, not the problemFocus on the person, not the problem Must first get through the masks clients wear Must first get through the masks clients wear

to get to the goalto get to the goal

Therapist Function and RoleTherapist Function and Role

Their role is to be an instrument for changeTheir role is to be an instrument for change Be present and accessibleBe present and accessible

Relationship between Therapist and Relationship between Therapist and ClientClient

Characterized by equalityCharacterized by equality Therapists are transparent, true to themselves, Therapists are transparent, true to themselves,

authenticauthentic

AssessmentsAssessments

Shy away from assessments and testsShy away from assessments and tests Shy away from case histories Shy away from case histories What matters is the client’s self assessmentWhat matters is the client’s self assessment

Incorporating Person-Centered Incorporating Person-Centered Therapy Across CulturesTherapy Across Cultures

• In the 1970s Rogers and his associates began forming In the 1970s Rogers and his associates began forming encounter group encounter group workshops which provided workshops which provided participants with multicultural experiencesparticipants with multicultural experiences

• Trained policymakers, world leaders, and groups in Trained policymakers, world leaders, and groups in conflictconflict

Northern Ireland- Protestants and CatholicsNorthern Ireland- Protestants and Catholics South African groups of conflict- Whites and BlacksSouth African groups of conflict- Whites and Blacks

Person-Centered Therapy Across Person-Centered Therapy Across CulturesCultures

• Person-Centered therapy is used in foreign regions Person-Centered therapy is used in foreign regions including: Australia, Japan, South America and Central including: Australia, Japan, South America and Central America America

• Models of the therapy have been blended with the Models of the therapy have been blended with the techniques of other cultures in these foreign regionstechniques of other cultures in these foreign regions

• Nobel Peace Prize Nominee Nobel Peace Prize Nominee

Cautions Toward Using Person-Cautions Toward Using Person-Centered TechniquesCentered Techniques

Cautions against making assumptions about Cautions against making assumptions about clients based on their cultural background.clients based on their cultural background.

No stereotyping !No stereotyping !

A therapist must hold off on judging the A therapist must hold off on judging the client’s cultural background too quickly. client’s cultural background too quickly.

Limitations to Multicultural Limitations to Multicultural Counseling Counseling

• Desire for more structure than is provided by person-Desire for more structure than is provided by person-centered therapycentered therapy

• The clinician does not tend to offer suggestions The clinician does not tend to offer suggestions

• Solutions is not found to be useful in some cultures Solutions is not found to be useful in some cultures

Limitations Continued…Limitations Continued…

• The stigma of mental health careThe stigma of mental health care

• Receiving therapy might be seen as a sign of weakness Receiving therapy might be seen as a sign of weakness or as taboo. or as taboo.

• Therapy might be a last resort for mostTherapy might be a last resort for most

Limitations to Multicultural Limitations to Multicultural CounselingCounseling

Direct vs. Indirect Styles of CommunicationDirect vs. Indirect Styles of Communication

• Person-centered Therapy is Person-centered Therapy is indirectindirect

• It is difficult to transfer core elements of the therapy It is difficult to transfer core elements of the therapy into actual practice in certain cultures. into actual practice in certain cultures.

• Direct- African American CulturesDirect- African American Cultures

• Indirect- Asian CulturesIndirect- Asian Cultures

Limitations to Multicultural Limitations to Multicultural CounselingCounseling

Collectivism vs. IndividualismCollectivism vs. Individualism

• Person-centered therapy isPerson-centered therapy is individual individual focusedfocused

• Some ethnic groups and cultures value collectivism Some ethnic groups and cultures value collectivism more than individualism. more than individualism.

• Collective- Native American CulturesCollective- Native American Cultures

• Individual- United States of AmericaIndividual- United States of America

Effective with:Effective with:

Anxiety disorderAnxiety disorder AlcoholismAlcoholism

Psychosomatic problemsPsychosomatic problems AgoraphobiaAgoraphobia

Interpersonal difficultiesInterpersonal difficulties DepressionDepression

CancerCancer Marriage and familyMarriage and family

(Corey)(Corey)

Why so effective…Why so effective…

Belief that the client is the central figure in Belief that the client is the central figure in therapy (Gurman & Messer, 1997)therapy (Gurman & Messer, 1997)

Optimistic and acceptingOptimistic and accepting Play therapy effective with children (Hunter, Play therapy effective with children (Hunter,

1993)1993)

Crisis InterventionCrisis Intervention

Unwanted pregnancyUnwanted pregnancy IllnessIllness Loss of a loved oneLoss of a loved one

Many times used by nurses because they are the Many times used by nurses because they are the first to interact with patientsfirst to interact with patients

Problems with Person Centered Problems with Person Centered TherapyTherapy

Borderline Personality DisorderBorderline Personality Disorder Modified versions of Person-Centered therapy may Modified versions of Person-Centered therapy may

be effective but none existbe effective but none exist Needs to recognize the disorder (not just focus on Needs to recognize the disorder (not just focus on

the person)the person)

SchizophreniaSchizophrenia– Needs to recognize the disorder Needs to recognize the disorder

(Van Blarikom, 2008)(Van Blarikom, 2008)

CriticismCriticism

Rogers is overly optimisticRogers is overly optimistic Concepts covered in therapy must generalize Concepts covered in therapy must generalize

to real lifeto real life Creates maladjustment in clientsCreates maladjustment in clients

Criticism…Criticism…

““Empathy only evolves if the therapist is Empathy only evolves if the therapist is genuinely genuinely interested in entering the client’s interested in entering the client’s world and actually is concerned about the world and actually is concerned about the client” (Kensit, 2000)client” (Kensit, 2000)

Criticism…Criticism…

““Although Rogers stresses that acceptance is Although Rogers stresses that acceptance is not the same as approval, where do we draw not the same as approval, where do we draw the line? Do we allow sociopathic criminals to the line? Do we allow sociopathic criminals to spend hours in therapy providing insight into spend hours in therapy providing insight into their morbid and inhumane delights without their morbid and inhumane delights without any form of direction or confrontation?” any form of direction or confrontation?” (Kensit, 2000)(Kensit, 2000)