Psychodynamic Counseling: A Perceptual Analysis

Improved Essays
In order to cope with the negative emotions resulting from incongruence, the client relies on the utilization of defense mechanisms. The two mechanisms described in PCT are perceptual distortion and denial.These are defined as the reinterpretation of reality to make it less threatening to one’s ideal-self concept and the refusal to acknowledge an unpleasant situation by disregarding reality, respectively (Rogers, 1942). Based on the information provided, the client has used both defense mechanisms to protect his self-concept. The client uses perceptual distortion to rationalize the failure of his last relationship. The client believes the relationship ended due to “ no one wanting to be around him very long” when, in fact, it was because of …show more content…
Rogers (1961) referred to the counseling relationship as a “shared journey” and both participants are equal. Due to the nature of this approach, the counselor is seen as a non-expert while the client is an expert in his experiences. This relationship dynamic allows the client to express himself in a non-threatening environment and awakens the client's ability to resolve his current challenges without direct intervention. Carl Rogers (1961) postulated six conditions that are “necessary and sufficient” to create a growth-inducing environment. According to this theory, the client and counselor must be in a therapeutic relationship where the client is experiencing incongruence in his life. Next, the counselor must demonstrate congruence, show unconditional positive regard, and utilize empathy to understand the client’s subjective view of the world. Lastly, the client must be able to acknowledge the counselor’s unconditional positive regard and empathic understanding of his challenges for change to occur. Although all of these conditions are important, Roger’s stated the three most important conditions are the ability for the counselor to be congruent, show unconditional positive regard, and demonstrate empathy. These conditions allow the client to be open to experiences; increase positive self-regard, and accept the counselor’s unconditional positive regard, respectively (Corey, …show more content…
For progress to occur, the counselor must create a therapeutic environment based on the core therapeutic conditions. If this atmosphere exists, a client can access and enable his potential for growth. Even though the phases are incremental, Roger’s acknowledged that all clients are unique and approach the process differently. Due to this fact, not all clients enter treatment at the same stage; resolve all challenges before advancing to the next stage; or progress to the final

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    This is accomplished by the client’s need to resolve frustration of unsettled feelings from incongruences in their lives (Henderson & Thompson, 2011). The counseling process continues with the counselor being genuine, accepting, and empathetic in order to help the client self-examine, understand where they are and where they would like to be, and act towards a goal (Henderson & Thompson,…

    • 750 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    This writer has worked with many individuals in which have made significant progress, and this writer has felt that they were ready for termination, however, the client for whatever reason did not. This writer has learned the importance of when this happens to explore and identify what is preventing the client from being ready and working with them to overcome this. An example of this might be a client not wanting therapy to end because it is the one constant support in their life. Helping a client connect to a natural support of some sort is necessary in this situation so that the client can transition out of therapy. This writer is aware though, that the situation is not always as black and white as this, and that is where she finds the challenge arise.…

    • 720 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    I agree with your statement of embracing the philosophy that views each client and situation as individual and unique. I have several friends who had negative counseling experiences during their childhood. They mentioned the counselor not relating or understanding them. Our professional philosophy should include positive reinforcement.…

    • 186 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Great Essays

    Client perception between the counsellor and client is also another crucial aspect in counselling. This can cause problems in counselling as the client has to aware of the counsellors unconditional positive regard and empathy towards them. If the client is unable to establish this unconditional positive regard and empathy being displayed by the counsellor then this may result in them being unwilling and reluctant in being fully honest and truthful with the counsellor and thus hinder both the communication and the therapeutic alliance between them (Rogers, 1957;…

    • 2431 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Erik Erikson, a psychoanalyst, developed his theory of social development in 1950 (revised in 1963) (MacCoby, 2002). Erikson’s model includes eight distinct stages of psychosocial progression through a life span (Hutchinson, 2015). For instance, each phase contains an age specific tasks which allow them to develop emotionally and socially (MacCoby, 2002). Specifically, when a person meets the challenges of a stage they progress, but if they are unsuccessful, they may difficulty in the following stages (Hutchinson, 2015). ).…

    • 1388 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The main key philosophies of counseling professions are wellness, resilience, and prevention, which provide counselors the ability to evaluate, to form a connection between the concept and understanding of ideas, and to provide growth and wellness to develop a treatment plan for each clients. Wellness, resilience, and prevention are the three key philosophies that are constantly evolving as the years go by. According to Myers and Sweeney (2008), wellness is the paradigm for counseling that provides several strength-based solutions to limit dysfunction and increase growth in every aspect of the client. Wellness is the main results that every counselor want to reach with all their clients. Assuring wellness to all clients cannot only assure clients…

    • 1103 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    In this assignment I will look at Rogers’ s six conditions and why they are considered necessary and sufficient for therapeutic change. I will also consider the implications of this theory for counsellor education. After a short amount of time studying Person Centred Counselling the understanding of how the six conditions are necessary and sufficient is starting to emerge and become a real part of my conscious actions and way of being. Each of the six conditions come with their own difficulties as a student counsellor and although we may use empathy and listening skills in our day to day life, until we look more closely, we do not appreciate how we are often in life, and our relationships, not actually listening or being empathetic when…

    • 2311 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    This innate motivation within the client creates a desire that allows the person to become his or her own teacher and leads back to that very path where they want to go and becoming the person they really want to be. Throughout the book developing one’s self and helping others realize there potential is one of the main goals throughout the book. According to Rogers a person feels good when in the process of developing themselves, at an early stage in the therapist-client relationship a good feeling of congruence should be established. Rogers defined congruence as ‘’an accurate matching of experience and awareness’’. A therapist practicing person centered therapy must feel accepting, honest and open with there client, so that there reactions fully show an accurate awareness of his or her feelings and there…

    • 1517 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    ABSTRACT In this essay I will be discussing the role and impact of the counsellor in helping to facilitate transformative change in the life of the client. I will be making reference to each stage of Egan’s skilled helper module, paying particular attention to stage one, before expanding into the overall development of the relationship. The essay will then go further to explain the important elements that must be considered when helping clients set goals and then lastly what factors to consider when ending the counselling sessions. Overview of Egan’s Three Stage Model Egan’s model is a framework in which the counselling process can take place that has an insightful effect in the way counsellors work with clients by identifying different stages…

    • 1518 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Great Essays

    Postmodern Theory

    • 1458 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Since, clients and therapists must collaborate towards a common goal, they must each agree to work together to achieve the desired outcome of the therapy. In addition, change also occurs depending on the therapists’ stance. For instance, having hope for clients who feel hopeless can encourage change. Remembering that as therapists we must build on strengths not deficits; thus being optimistic when clients have lost hope, can motivate clients to be hopeful that problems have solutions and that things will and do get better. It is also important to recognize that change cannot be forced onto a client, but that the decision to enter therapy is the first to step towards…

    • 1458 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    153). I have to be defined by the knowledge I have acquired over years of research and practice. I to have high standers in education, ethics, and personal growth, because of the dedication to a lifelong learning. Because life is constantly changing, a counselor finds ways to impact society and provides scientific evidence to prove theories. I will need to be aware of changes to learn new concepts to improve the life of clients.…

    • 752 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Author Alfred Adler, Austrian psychiatrist, was born in February 7, 1870. Adler was the second of seven children. While growing up, Adler suffered from physical ailments which included rickets and pneumonia. True to his theory on birthing order, Alder was always competitive with his older brother. Alfred Adler was already a part of the medical field.…

    • 917 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    EDU 701 Counseling Theory and Practice Assignment 1 Essay Name: Gulshan Kumar ID: 2012009572 Lecturer: Dr Sarita Deshpande Guidance and Counseling are referred to as two contradicting factors that enable an individual to solve his problems and achieve psychological, social, educational and professional compatibility; it involves interactive relationship that takes place between the Counselor and its client. Olayinka (1972) defined it to be “a process whereby a person is helped in a face-to-face relationship” while Makinde (1983) explained counseling as “an enlightened process whereby people help others by encouraging their growth”.…

    • 1365 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    After completing the final counselling video for this class, there was a great sense of relief. Looking at the first video and comparing it to the last one, there was improvement. Beginning with my first video I was quite nervous and did not feel like I was equipped to properly assist my client. An item that really stood out to me in my first session was that I asked questions that did not give my client much opportunity to speak. As the counsellor I felt I had to keep speaking because awkward silence was a sign that I was not doing my job properly.…

    • 827 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays