PersonCentered Therapy PersonCentered Therapy Carl Rogers Fundamentalist upbringing

Person-Centered Therapy

Person-Centered Therapy Carl Rogers – Fundamentalist upbringing – Trained theology and clinical psychology His therapy was a reaction to directive therapies (e. g. , psychoanalysis, behavior therapy) Based on a philosophy of human nature as an innate striving to better oneself

Theory of Personality Human beings are whole organisms One primary drive – SELF ACTUALIZATION – Humans inherently strive to develop optimal capacities to serve and maintain the organism Basic needs Tension reduction Relating to others Cultural engagement

Theory of Personality Organismic Valuing Process – We naturally value those things that help us actualize Self-concept – We differentiate experiences that are us vs. those that belong to others – Self-experiences form together to yield a unified concept of self. – Development of SC leads to need for POSITIVE REGARD

Positive Regard to Conditions of Worth Need for PR, to be loved, prized, valued, becomes the most potent in developing person. Parents and community place CONDITIONS of WORTH on those behaviors that lead to PR. People’s SC then begins to mirror the way people give out PR ----- Selfregard

Psychopathology Related to degree of conditionality – Experiences consistent with worth are allowed in ones that aren’t are distorted Distortion leads to INCONGRUENCE – Discrepancy in Self vs. Experience Leads person to be more “fractured” than whole and distorts what people see as a worthy avenue of actualization Symptoms manifest as people attempt to prevent threatening experiences coming into awareness

Person-Centered Therapy is a permissive, non-directive climate Phenomenological approach: seeing and understanding others from their reference, perception Therapist: creates a growth promoting environment, non directive, not the expert, non controlling, caring, accepting, genuine. Client: remove obstacles that are blocking growth

Person-Centered Therapy GOALS OF THERAPY Work through distortions that create incongruence Lessen the impact of conditions of worth Become more “here and now” Become more actualized – – Open to experiences Trust themselves Realistic Self-evaluation Continue growing

Therapeutic Relationship Rogers speaks of six conditions that comprise the TR – Relationship – Vulnerability Motivates and maintains the relationship – Genuineness Congruence/No deception of client or self – Unconditional Positive Regard Caring – reduces conditions of worth – Accurate Empathy Perceive and reflect the clients inner world and perceptions Bracket our own feelings and perceptions – Perception of Genuineness Client has to see all these things in therapist

Change Processes Consciousness raising – Happens through reflection, organization and attention allocation toward emotional experience Surrogate information processes Cartharsis – Positive regard leads to safety – Therapist “follows the affect. ”

Therapeutic Content Intrapersonal – Distortion or denial of experiences – Conflict between ideal and real self Fulfillment – Self-actualization

Person-Centered Therapy STRENGTHS Empathy Phenomenological approach Reflection Increase self-understanding Genuine Unconditional positive regard and acceptance

Person-Centered Therapy WEAKNESSES Client is not challenged Too simplistic No interventions/techniques Undirected Not all clients are able to find their own answers Not much research on theory and practice Theory has not evolved much since the 1960’s

Motivational Interviewing Client centered and directive Resolve ambivalence Four principles – Express empathy – Roll w/resistance – Develop discrepancy – Support self-efficacy

MI: Basic Strategies Open questions Affirmation Reflections – Parrot – Rephrase – Meaning – Feeling Summary

MI: Processes of Change Same as Rogers – Consciousness raising – Catharsis Selective reinforcement of CHANGE Talk – Desire – Ability – Reasons – Need – Commitment