Applied Theoretical Orientation Paper Stephen Robbins Eastern University Client-Centered Therapy In stark contrast to the previous theories of therapeutic treatment, Carl Rogers’ client-centered therapy offers a warmer and more positive framework to view individuals and their mental health. Client-centered therapy asks us to reconsider the detachment of psychoanalysis, and forget the rigidity of behaviorism. Early in his development of this new theory, Rogers strayed from previously accepted theories of directive therapy arguing: “the counselor and his interpretations become something to be feared” (Rogers, 1942, p. 196). Rogers’ work strives to remind us that the client is a person. This person’s identity is much less about …show more content…
Rogers believed that a healthy personality came from experience, and therefore one must be able to stay present in the moment in order fully engage in the experience. Not being totally present in situations would often result in a loss of being able to accept changes in their environment and decreased coping skills. In his view, Rogers (1961) says that in a therapeutic relationship with a client-centered therapist, “the individual will reorganize himself at both the conscious and deeper levels of his personality in such a manner as to cope with life more constructively, more intelligently, and in a more socialized as well as a more satisfying way” (p. 36). As a client moves from a state of defensiveness which restricts their ability to be open to experience, they begin to develop an ability to cope with an environment which is constantly changing. They no longer need to rely on previously formed constructs to interpret reality: they are more able to integrate themselves with change while remaining open to new experiences and …show more content…
In developing a more accepting attitude toward themselves, they begin opening up to new life situations and experiences. Once their self-regard improves and they begin to trust themselves more, they care more for themselves than the values and opinions of those around them. In this way, they have moved from an external locus of evaluation to an internal locus of evaluation. This restructuring of the client’s personality helps them view themselves with a more accurate and realistic lens. When a client reaches a point of growth like this, they become more comfortable with freely exploring and living their subjective experience (Rogers, 1959, p. 97). This serves for the client to view and act in a way that is healthier and more congruent with themselves. It can also liberate them from the anxiety that stemmed from the inability to fully understand themselves and the world around
While CBT has many advantages, it alone does not encompass all of the concepts I believe are necessary to tackle a client’s needs. Therefore, I draw upon concepts from various theories to assist clients in achieving their goals. Pulling from Reality therapy, a key concept I utilize is focusing on what the client is doing and how to get them to evaluate whether they’re present actions are working for them. CBT does use some form of this in the sense that one must examine and establish their cognitive misconceptions; however, I prefer to extract this concept from Reality therapy because CBT tends to do so by focusing on the past. I am a firm believer that while the past can shape who you are, it does little good to remain focused on it. Focusing on overt behavior, precision in specifying the goals of treatment, development of specific treatment plans, and objective evaluation of therapy outcomes all come from Behavior therapy (Corey, 2013, p. 474). Behavior therapy is highly structured much like that of CBT. By utilizing this aspect of Behavior therapy, I am better able to closely observe where a client is currently and where they are headed. Lastly, I pull from Person-Centered therapy as the final key concept of my counseling approach. PCT focuses on the fact that client’s have the potential to become aware of their problems and resolve them (Corey, 2013). This Person-Centered therapy concept has overlap with CBT as
Learning about Client Centered Therapy has opened my eyes to counseling. Roger’s theory of actualizing tendency and theory of self expanded my knowledge of my own self-concept as well as counseling. Rogers explained that every person has an innate drive to self-actualize. In many instances, loved ones put conditions for worth on him/her, which causes incongruence for the person. He/she begins to loose trust in his/her organismic valuing process. By understanding this concept, I am more inclined to stay true to my organismic valuing process. I have trust in my innate ability to lead myself in direction to self-actualizing. It may be challenging when others put conditions of worth on me, but understanding the concept may help me stay true to
As this book points out, and what I found interesting, the therapeutic relationship between therapist and client, can be even more important than how the therapy sessions are conducted. A therapists needs to be congruent. This is important because a client needs a sense of stability. To know what is expected from him or her while being in this transitional period of change. In some cases this congruency may be the only stability in his life, and without it, there is no way of him trusting in his t...
Theoretical orientation: This can also mean ways that a counselor practices. Different theoretical orientations tend to emphasize different values, such as rationality, individual autonomy, spirituality, and so on. For you, what are the links between your values and moral position, and the theories of counseling that have meaning for you?
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
As the field of counseling continues to progress numerous theoretical orientations have been developed. One theoretical approach to counseling has been coined as person centered counseling or client centered therapy. This type of approach is commonly referred to as Rogerian psychotherapy. Rogerian therapy focuses on the empowerment of individuals with the inner self. These constructs are vital to ensuring and promoting a transparent and honest atmosphere which subsequently results in effective counseling. The behaviors that are found in client centered counseling are valuable as they motivate the client to explore their "hidden feelings" and become aware of where their feelings derive from. Being afforded the rare opportunity to see Rogers
Roger Theory reflects on a counseling method is a humanistic style, Rogers' Client-Centered Therapy (RCCT), or otherwise known as the `Pure' Client-Centered Therapy (non-directional). There is supportive (see Gerwood, 1993; Davison and Neale, 1994, Todd and Bohart, 1994), aversive (see Brown and Smart, 1991; Quinn, 1993; Ryan, 1995) and mixed (see Horvath and S...
Sharf, R. S. (2008). Theories of Psychotherapy and Counseling: Counseling and Cases (5thed.). Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole
His contributions to human behavior have changed many of the theories that preceded him, and his theory contributed to many theories that followed. I want to explore Client/Person Centered Therapy. This is a type of therapy that was pioneered by Carl Rogers. This therapy is different because as the name suggests it solely focuses on the client. ' In focusing on the client, the client’s feelings are deeply explored.
Corey, C. (1991). Theory and Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy (4th ed.). Pacific Grove, California, USA: Brooks/Cole Publishing Company. (Original work published 1977)
Seligman, L., & Reichenberg, L. W. (2014). Theories of Counseling and Psychotherapy, Systems, Strategies, and Skills (4th Edition). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education, Inc.
This therapy is based off of Carl Rogers’s belief that everyone strives to be the best they can be, and reach their maximum potential. He explains a therapist has to encourage certain characteristics in order to reach a certain
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.
I think the major technique is focusing on the person and not the problem which would help the client to achieve independence and allow the client to cope with current and future problem they may face. Another major technique is the client determines the course of directions of therapy. Another technique is the person-centered therapy which is a non-directive which allows the client to be the focus of the therapy session without the therapy giving advice.
McCarthy, C. J. & Archer, J., Jr. (2013). Theories of counseling and psychotherapy. San Diego: Bridgepoint Education, Inc. ISBN: 9781621781059