A Way of Being by Carl Rogers

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A Way of Being by Carl Rogers In the book by Carl Rogers, A Way of Being, Rogers describes his life in the way he sees it as an older gentleman in his seventies. In the book Rogers discusses the changes he sees that he has made throughout the duration of his life. The book written by Rogers, as he describes it is not a set down written book in the likes of an autobiography, but is rather a series of papers which he has written and has linked together. Rogers breaks his book into four parts. In Part I, of A Way of Being, Rogers discussed his own personal experiences and perspectives, on life to include relationships, philosophies, and what it means to look back at the way things were and what has become of them now. Rogers also in section one discusses reality and the ideas of whether or not we need "a" reality, and what exactly that reality is and how it develops in our respective views. In the second part of the book Rogers speaks of his ideas of his theory of the person-centered approach to therapy. This is the part of the book that I felt really spoke to me. Person-centered theory is a lot of what I would like to do. I enjoy the ideas and concepts that Rogers presents in his theory. I think that it is extremely important to be able to take into consideration not only the diagnosis of the patient/client with whom you are working, but that it is more important to be able to take the time to sit back and to listen to them. I have realized in the year that I have been working in the psychiatric hospital how important it is for the patient/client to just sit back and listen to what it is they're saying to you. This however does not mean I am only hearing their words, but that I am listening at a much deeper level and actually he... ... middle of paper ... ...sire for authenticity and in another point it talks about the desire for wholeness. Theses two "desires" as Rogers calls them are important to me in regards to what I am looking for and the way I am hoping to help my clients see themselves. All in all, I must say that I believe Rogers lead an incredible life. I think his works are amazing and I treasure the theory which he has provided for our world. I find great interest in the person-centered theory and what it stands for which was in my opinion Rogers greatest accomplishment. It is incredible to look back now and to realize that prior to Rogers the idea of listening to the client and actually hearing what they were saying and not just the vocal words which were spoken was almost non-existent. I am must state that I am very glad to live in the world post Rogers development, in which this idea is no longer foreign.

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