Person-Centered Therapy

Carl Rogers

1902-1987

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Biography

Child Guidance Clinic- Rochester1939 Published The Clinical Treatment of

the Problem Child Ohio State University – Professor 1939

1942 Published Counseling and Psychotherapy

Tapes and transcribes therapy sessions to study more objectively therapy process and outcome

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Biography U. of Chicago, Professor and Director

Counseling Center 1945 U. Wisconsin-Madison 1957

Research with hospitalized patients Higher levels of accurate empathy leads to more positive

outcomes Client's perception of the relationship is better predictor

of outcome than therapist's perception of the relationship

Center for Studies of the Person in California 1968

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Humanistic Psychology

Each of us has a natural potential that we can actualize and through which we can find meaning in life

Emphasizes the importance of the person's subjective experience Phenomenological approach – exploration

method that uses human experience as main source of data

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Human Nature: Main Concepts

Self-Actualizing TendencyBasic human drive toward growth, completeness,

and fulfillment Internal Locus of Evaluation

Events that enhance the self actualizing tendency are judged positively and vice-versa.

 Need for Positive Regard Feeling accepted by others 

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Human Nature: Main Concepts

Self-Concept/Self-RegardLearned through the perceptions of regard

and acceptance from others Conditions of Worth

Expectations or demands we perceive from others in order to receive their acceptance

These perceptions are internalized and sometimes are out of our awareness

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Psychopathology INTERNALIZED CONDITIONS OF

WORTH block the natural SELF-ACTUALIZING TENDENCY, creating a state of INCONGRUENCE between what we experience from within (internal locus) and what we believe we should be (conditions of

worth) To resolve the conflict, typically we distort or

block the experiences from within

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Anxiety State of uneasiness or tension that occurs when

the discrepancy between what I feel I need to be or do to be accepted and what I really want to do (internal locus of control) threatens to emerge Defense mechanisms are invoked to distort the

"experiencing" from within, so that the person can conform with internalized external expectations (perceived or real)

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Goal of Therapy Facilitate the client’s exploration of the parts of

themselves that they have denied or distorted, to promote the self actualization process

Given right therapeutic climate, clients willBecome more open to experienceAchieve self-trustDevelop an internal source of evaluationBe willing to continue growing

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Therapy Relationship: Three Conditions

Congruence or genuineness Agreement between the feelings and attitudes a

therapist is experiencing and his or her professional demeanor

(Un)conditional positive regard Nonpossessive caring and acceptance of the client

Accurate empathic understanding ability to deeply grasp the client's subjective

world

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Evolution of the Approach

Non-Directive Therapy

Client Centered Therapy

Person Centered Therapy

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Person Centered Therapy

Emphasizes:Therapy as a journey shared by two fallible peopleThe person’s innate striving for self-actualizationThe personal characteristics of the therapist and

the quality of the therapeutic relationshipThe counselor’s creation of a permissive, “growth

promoting” climate Being present in the relationship and focus on the

client’s immediate experience

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Interventions

Communicating EmpathyAttentive/Active listeningExpress understanding Openness to the client’s perspectiveTechniques

Reflection of feeling: explicit and implicit Paraphrasing and synthesizing

Motivational Interviewing Humanistic, client-centered, psychosocial, directive

counseling approach

Initially designed as a brief intervention for problem drinking

Promotes a collaborative process that focuses on solutions for behavioral problems – avoids a confrontational style

Emphasizes client’s abilities, strengths, resources, and competencies

Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy - Chapter 7 (15) ©2013 Brooks/Cole Cengage Learning

Motivational Interviewing Goal: reduce ambivalence and increase intrinsic

motivation to change

Reluctance to change - considered normal and expected part of the therapeutic process

Reflective listening, empathy, open-ended questions, non-confrontational approach to resistance, support

To increase motivation to change, reflect discrepancies between behaviors and values

Elicit and reinforce “change talk”

Stage of Therapy Process

• Pre-Contemplation No intention of changing Counselor: Nurturing Parent

• Contemplation Awareness of problem, no commitment to change Counselor: Socratic teacher

• Preparation Intend to take action; small changes Counselor: Coach

• Action Engaged in change process Counselor: Consultant

• Maintenance Consolidate gains and avoid relapse Counselor: Consultant

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Contributions Roger’s Theory Importance of the person of the counselor and

of the relationship in the therapeutic process

Initiated research in therapy process and outcome by taping sessions and studying the transcription of tapes

Research findings provide support for the importance of empathy in therapy outcome (Watson’s 2002 review)

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Limitations Therapeutic conditions are necessary but

not sufficient Lack of clear goals and structure Lack of challenge to clients Lack of guidance regarding behavioral

change