Rogers’ Person-Centered Theory When developing his theory, Carl Roger’s biggest idea is that “people have a fundamental tendency to develop in healthy directions” (Cloninger, 2013, p. 269). Rogers (1961) theorized an actualizing tendency which is evident in all humans – “the tendency to express and activate all the capacities of the organism, or the self” (p. 351). He described that these tendencies not only include biological needs, but “higher” human motivations as well – like complexity and social responsibility (Cloninger, 2013). Rogers summarizes that a self-actualizing person is in touch with their organismic valuing process, which is the “inner sense within a person, which guides him or her in the directions of growth and health” (Cloninger,
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He described that there are two different selves involved in the development of an individual; the ideal self and the real self. Roger’s recognizes that, mainly during therapy, that individuals experience discrepancy between the two (known as incongruence). The ideal self is “what a person feels he or she ought to be like” (Cloninger, 2013, p. 273). The real self is different, because “it contains a person’s true or real qualities, including the actualizing tendency, and leads to health” (Cloninger, 2013, p. …show more content…
Empathic understanding is the therapist’s ability to understand the experience of the client (Cloninger, 2013). This approach allows the therapist to know the clients pain, and seeks to obtain empathy. This often involves paraphrasing what the client says during therapy, to reassure the client that the therapist understands them. Research on Client-Centered Therapy. Roger’s insists that upon three conditions (unconditional positive regard, congruence, and empathic understanding) required for successful progress in therapy. He also presents that, as long these conditions are present, progress will be made regardless in of the therapist orientation. Research done by Keijsers, Schaap, and Hoogduin (2000) found this to be true by analyzing therapists of different orientations in session with clients. They found that progress was still made, regardless of the therapist’s
He described that there are two different selves involved in the development of an individual; the ideal self and the real self. Roger’s recognizes that, mainly during therapy, that individuals experience discrepancy between the two (known as incongruence). The ideal self is “what a person feels he or she ought to be like” (Cloninger, 2013, p. 273). The real self is different, because “it contains a person’s true or real qualities, including the actualizing tendency, and leads to health” (Cloninger, 2013, p. …show more content…
Empathic understanding is the therapist’s ability to understand the experience of the client (Cloninger, 2013). This approach allows the therapist to know the clients pain, and seeks to obtain empathy. This often involves paraphrasing what the client says during therapy, to reassure the client that the therapist understands them. Research on Client-Centered Therapy. Roger’s insists that upon three conditions (unconditional positive regard, congruence, and empathic understanding) required for successful progress in therapy. He also presents that, as long these conditions are present, progress will be made regardless in of the therapist orientation. Research done by Keijsers, Schaap, and Hoogduin (2000) found this to be true by analyzing therapists of different orientations in session with clients. They found that progress was still made, regardless of the therapist’s