Introduction: Reasons for Choosing Meng as Identifying Client & Person-Centered as Therapeutic Approach
With the presenting problems of staying away from home and school, fighting and lying, we can tell that the underlying problems of Meng might be very emotional-driven. As a 12-year-old, Meng is now somewhere in-between childhood and adolescence, experiencing the start of puberty as a time of emotional volatility with self-concept as a forefront issue to deal with. One of the most enduring observations of adolescence is that it is a time of heightened emotions (Arnett, 1999). An American psychologist Stanley Hall even coined "storm and stress" to describe adolescents’ distress and instability like conflict with parents, mood disruptions, and risky behavior (Taylor, 2009). Moreover, Erik Erikson who had articulated the eight stages of psychosocial development also proposed that adolescents have to resolve the “identity crisis” during the fifth stage, Identity versus Role Confusion, representing the adolescents’ struggle to find a balance between developing a unique, individual identity while still being accepted and fitting in others’ expectations (Gross, 1987).
In the case, Meng is experiencing difficulties in meeting up the expectations from himself as well as his parents, and indulging himself in the game arcade that he would be feeling more lost and insecure. Whilst person-centered therapy is an approach that concerned with human development of the self, with the appreciation to individual uniqueness, this therapy would be useful in helping Meng to accept and be genuine with his real self.
Integrating Basic Assumptions, Theoretical Concepts and Therapeutic Process & Techniques in Meng’s Case
Underlying Problem (I): Self...
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...l self, as well as between his perceived self and the actual experiences, thus reacting defensively like fighting, staying away from school and home, which further distort his self-concept.
Intervention Strategies that Focusing on Self-Concept & Incongruences
Person-centered hypothesizes that client’s capacity to grow and self-actualize will be most facilitated and released when the therapist can create a psychological climate characterized by
(a) a genuine acceptance of the client as a person of unconditional worth; (b) a continuing, sensitive attempt to understand the existing feelings and communications of the client, as they seem to the client, without any effort to diagnose or alter those feelings; and (c) a continuing attempt to convey something of this empathic understand to the client.
This is a hypothesis, as well as technique in person-centered therapy.
Psychotherapy integration is best explained as an attempt to look beyond and across the dimensions of a single therapy approach, to examine what one can learn from other perspectives, and how one’s client’s can benefit from various ways of administering therapy (Corey, 2013). Research has shown that a variety of treatments are equally effective when administered by therapist who believe in them and client’s that accept them (Corey, 2013). Therefore, one of the best aspects of utilizing an integrative approach is that, in most cases, if a therapist understands how and when to incorporate therapeutic interventions, they usually can’t go wrong. While integrating different approaches can be beneficial for the client, it is also important for the
The authors of the article suggested that future studies should account for the client’s desires to please the therapist and have a larger sample size. The authors concluded that “it appears that a form of being-with and being-for the client cultivates a well-balanced and open human relationship where the core uncertainties and existential concerns about the meaning of the world and of being-in-the-world can not only be addressed but challenged” (Oliveira, Sousa, and Pires, 2012, p. 301). Challenging the client about how they react to the world provides a positive change in the client during therapy.
In Erickson’s psychosocial stage theory, one of the main components he focused on is the development of the ego identity. Ego can be defined as the conscious sense of self that is developed through interaction. According to Erickson, our ego is constantly changing due to the new and different interactions that we have on a daily basis. We can either hinder or strengthen our ego identity by the interactions we experience. Erickson believed that a hindered ego or an ego that isn’t developed can lead to a person feeling an inadequacy as well as losing the meaning of life. However, if a person’s ego is strengthened and mastered a person will feel accomplished as well as the sense of belonging. This feeling can also be referred to as the ego strength or ego quality. During the times of ego identity, the person’s potential of growth is high, however, the potential of failure is also present.
Erickson’s Psychosocial Theory is comprised of eight developmental stages ranging throughout the lifespan from infancy to adulthood (Boyd, 2015). However, Erikson puts significant emphasis on the adolescent stage, feeling it is a crucial period for developing an individual’s identity (McLeod, 2013). Erikson maintains that the task of adolescence is to resolve this identity crisis (Rageliene, 2016). Erikson’s theory is hierarchical, meaning that later stages are based on the outcomes of earlier stages, therefor it is rather complex (Markstrom, 1998). During each of these stages, an
Next, I am going to discuss the person-centred interventions I exercised through the therapeutic process with my client in session four. Within this I am going to explore how these interventions impacted my client’s responses and how I could improve my skills in future sessions.
An individuals sense of self-importance or self-esteem can go a long distance in determining their perspective of themselves and their world around them. Erik Erikson, a developmental psychologist, highlights the importance of how the role of society and culture can affect an individual's ego. Erikson’s theory on the development of human beings discusses how a person’s level of confidence influences their ability to solve problems in society. Erikson believed that a persons potential in trusting others, or how a person views themselves personally is affected by how their confidence levels developed throughout certain stages of their life (McLeod, Saul). In order to expand on Erikson's ideas of the development of the human ego, he created a model that represents eight stages of development that occurs in a person's lifespan. In this model, the first five stages take place up to adulthood and the other three stages take place into and after adulthood. The progression and development of these stages is dependent on the previous stage (Davis & Clifton, 1995).
This approach emphasizes the importance of the potential of humans and sought to make up for the missing component of conscious in the psychodynamic approach. The humanistic approach oriented psychologist has the belief that human behavior is guided by intent and the individual’s set of values (Association, 2014). Those who subscribe to this orientation believe there are both an unconscious and a conscious element to determining behavior. The unconscious element is considered to be the individual’s application of learned norms and experience, while the conscious element is applied by making deliberate choices and decisions. A humanistic oriented practitioner will use differing types of therapy such as client-centered therapy, Gestalt therapy, or existential therapy (American Psychological, 2015). Client-centered therapy or person-centered therapy was developed by Carl Rogers and places the client as the leader of the therapy. This approach allows for the growth and better understanding of self within the individual, as they solve their own problems, while the therapist is there to provide empathetic support (Australian, 2010). Gestalt therapy focuses on the responsibility of the individual for their current situation and considers relationships, environment, and social experiences occurring, and influencing behavior (Polster & Polster, 2010). This process consists of the practitioner acting as a guide and offer advise in helping the client to deal with their current issue. Existential therapy consists of allowing an individual the ability to live with their issues within their own existence (Price, 2011). This means a therapist uses this type of therapy to assist clients with understanding what the present problem is and learning to deal with the consequences of that issue in their every day life. With
To explain, the client should not be inferior to the counselor; the environment should be two people discussing an issue and ways to make a difference. A therapist should occasionally share similar experiences; therefore, sessions should make clients feel comfortable. To add, the client should feel safe due to the positive atmosphere the therapist brings to the session. The goal is to finally give the client a chance to be heard, regularly people are muted and feel like they are insignificant to society. Similarly, to Person-centered therapy where communication with the client is unconditionally positive. The therapist needs to genuinely care about the client needs for them to fully express themselves successfully. Furthermore, clients should be encouraging to make their own choices which model how to identify and use power responsibly. Hence, this will help the client feel more confident in everyday life when making a meaningful
The assumption is however, that the client was never able to have their feelings heard by the people surrounding them. Person Centered Therapy would allow the client to then be able to express their feelings openly. According to Strupp (1971), “psychotherapeutic relationship is in principle indistinguishable from any good human relationship in which a person feels fully accepted, respected, and prized” (p. 39). Thus, there must be a therapeutic alliance between therapist and client. This therapeutic alliance should creative an environment for the client in which the client feels the therapist is judgment-free.
Person-Centered Therapy is an optimistic theory that is categorized in the humanistic approaches to therapy. PC therapy believes that human beings are intrinsically good, and are motivated to be the best that they can be (Carver & Scheier, 2008, p. 346). The theory embodies respect for individuals and values of tolerance and understanding (Brodley, 2007, p. 140). As the name implies the client is responsible for his or her own growth and improvement (Carver & Scheier, 2008, p.344). Rogers' stated that the main assumption of his approach is that “individuals have within themselves vast resources for self-understanding and for altering their self-concepts, basic attitudes, and self- directed behavior” (Rogers, 1980, p.115). One of the underlying assumptions, and main motivation, of Person-Centered Therapy is that human beings possess an innate tendency to grow and meet their full potential, or to self-actualize. Self-actualization is the inherent motivation to reach our highest potential, both emotionally and intellectually (Kosslyn & Rosenberg, 2004, p. 464). Self-actualization moves one towards autonomous behavior and self-sufficiency, it enriches one’s life and enhances their creativity. It also promotes congruence, wholeness, and integration of the person. Rogers describes self-actualizing people as the fully functioning person (Carver & Scheier, 2008, p.322).
The therapist tries to provide the client with a safe, responsive, and caring relationship to develop self-exploration, growth, and healing. (Corey, pg. 177) Person-centered therapy core is that all humans are trustworthy and positive. That people can make changes in the way they live and have effective lives, and try to strive toward self-actualization. The reason for this therapeutic type is to strive towards the right growth conditions for the client, and to help a client move forward and fulfill their creative nature. The main theorist behind person-centered therapy is humanistic psychologist Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow.
Person-Centred Counselling established its origins in the late 1940 during a conference when Carl Rogers gave a talk entitled ‘New Concepts in Psychotherapy’. The summarisation of the talk resulted in the theory that the client in a counselling relationship should be at the center of the relationship and lead the counselling process. The Client, in effect became the expert on their life and/or problems. The fundamental belief is that an individual is capable of change, growth and fulfillment (self-concept). Person-Centred counselling looks at ‘the here and now’ and how to make changes that affect the future. Person-Centred Counselling generated a system known as the ‘Core Conditions Model’ which emphasized three key components: Empathy, Congruence and Acceptance.
Initially, Erikson’s stages described a child’s developmental growth during each period. Learning about Erikson and the limitations of each period made me realize that one has to treat separate children differently in every stage. Also, Erikson explains that each stage can affect a child negatively or positively depending on the caregiver and others around the child. Of course Erikson also says not everything one does can be perfect. Learning the complexity of each stage a child enters affects the next. Therefore, raising a child is extremely difficult because one has to adjust to their needs before one’s own. It made me realize that raising a child according to Erikson is not an easy task; even one mistake can lead to consequences. For instance, during the Identity versus Role Confusion a teenager begins to wonder who they are as a person and how to fit into society. If a child comes out of this stage knowing his/her identity then adulthood would not be difficult whatsoever. On the other hand, if teenagers do not know their identity then they would enter adulthood confused about themselves. This identity vs. role confusion role has taught me to appreciate and understand teenagers better therefo...
Reflecting on the Person-Centered Therapy, it is similar to the Existential Therapy because it focuses on the client/therapist relationship, where the therapist needs to be totally genuine, empathetic and non-judgmental toward their clients in order to gain the client’s trust. I like the fact that the Person-Centered Therapy views the client as their best authority on their own experience, and being fully capable of fulfilling their own potential for growth. I also like the fact that the therapist is non-directive, does not give advice and there is no specific technique involved. Person Centered Therapy can basically develop their own technique as their relationship develop with the client.
Kohut believed development of the “self”, being a new adaptation to Freud’s id/ego/superego theory, took place within three axes: the grandiosity axis, the idealization axis, and the alter ego-connectedness axis. The grandiosity axis refers to the child’s ability to preserve a positive outlook upon life and maintain a balanced self-esteem. A normal, healthy adult possesses the ability to pursue ambitious endeavors, present commitment to worthwhile tasks, and retain assertiveness, if this particular axis is well developed; essentially, this axis is the embodiment of the child’s sense of self-worth. The idealization axis coincides with the wants and desires of a person. The ability to sustain a well-balanced goal system is the key to the development of the idealization axis; a normal, ...