Chapter 7 Person Centered Corey, Theories And Practices In Counseling

Front 1

Contributor

Back 1

Carl Rogers revolutionized the field ofpsychotherapy by proposing a theory that centered on the client as the primaryagent for constructive self-change. He believed that people are trustworthy, have vast potential for understandingthemselves& resolving their own problems without direct intervention, and are capable of self-directed growthHe hoped that person-centered would evolve and was open to it changing anddeveloping

Front 2

Fourstages of development.

Back 2

1stperiod (1940’s) nondirectivecounseling - arevolutionary alternative to the directive & interpretive approaches. Thischallenged the idea that “counselor knows best” and puts the emphasis on theclient’s inherent power 2ndperiod (1950’s) client-centered therapy-Puts an emphasis on how people behave from their own frame of reference. 3rdperiod (late 1950’s-1970’s) –This period addressed the necessary &sufficient conditions of therapy. Client-centered therapy was applied toeducation & named Student-centeredlearning.4thperiod (1980’s-1990’s) – Rogers’ continued to widen his scope & directedhis efforts to politics & his efforts related also to the achievement ofworld peace.

Front 3

Viewof human nature

Back 3

Rogers believed that humans that peopleare trustworthy, resourceful, capable of self-understanding &self-direction, able to make constructive changes, and able to live effective& productive livesActualizing Tendency: is a directional process ofstriving toward realization, fulfillment, autonomy, & self-determination-This is an ongoing process rather than adestination. -Clients are the experts on their owninner experiences

Front 4

Therapeutic Goals

Back 4

Person-centered therapy puts the focuson the person ratherthan the person’s problems. The therapist assists in the growth process so theclient can better cope with their problems as they are identified.

Four Main Goals:•openness to experience •trust in themselves• internal source of evaluation•willingness to continue growing

Front 5

Therole of the therapist

Back 5

The role of the therapist is rooted intheir ways of beingand their attitude,not in techniques, knowledge, or theories designed to get the client to “dosomething.”

The therapist is:•genuine & caring•respectful & accepting•supportive & understanding Itis through these traits that the client is able to loosen their defenses &rigid perceptions & move to a higher level of personal functioning. Person-centered therapy believesthat the client heals themselves, create self-growth, & are activeself-healers.

Front 6

Techniques

Back 6

There are no techniques are basic to person-centeredtherapy; “being with” clients & entering imaginatively into their world ofperceptions & feelings is sufficient for facilitating the process ofchange. There is no one way to practice person-centered therapy because thetherapist needs to truly be themselves. Traditional assessments are used less frequently withperson-centered therapy because the emphasis is put on the client’s ability toself-assess. Person-centered therapy can be applied to individuals, groups, & families.It is an easy therapy to understand, but can be very difficult to put intopractice. The therapist must be grounded, centered, genuine, respectful,caring, present, a focused listener, patient, and accepting.

Front 7

Techniques

Back 7

Crisis Intervention – Person-centered therapy isespecially helpful in cases that involve unwanted pregnancies, illness,disastrous events, or the loss of a loved one. When in a crisis beingunderstood and accepted helps to ground, calm, and lead to clearer thinking inpeople. Group Counseling – Person-centered therapy puts theresponsibility for the direction of the group on its members, sees thetherapist more as a facilitator, & encourages members to have attitudes ofgenuineness, acceptance, and empathy. 3