Carl Rogers Client Centered Approach - Research Paper Example

Client-Centered Approach: Personal Use in Counseling Practice Abstract The research contained herein explores the theoretical aspects of Carl Roger’s client- centered therapeutic process. A general background of the development of the client- centered model is explored in relation to its historical and theoretical foundational elements. Roger’s theories are then contextualized within the broader spectrum of therapeutic theory, including cognitive-behavioral, psychodynamic, and Gestalt therapy. Specific theoretical elements of Roger’s client-centered therapy are explicated, including the centrality of the therapist’s unconditional acceptance and empathic awareness. Therapeutic progress is considered in relation to the Rogerian model. Roger’s understandings of personality, as well as process elements associated with client-centered therapy are also examined. Finally, an integration of Roger’s client-centered theoretical models are incorporated into the writer’s personal practice. In all instances, sources have been obtained from contemporary peer-reviewed journals, and directly from Carl Roger’s published works. Background Client-Centered therapy was invented by Carl Rogers in the 1940s and 1950s. (Copper 2007) It is a form of therapeutic intervention and patient-therapist relation that emphasizes the individual agency of the patient in discovering the solving their problem. The underlining concept of client-centered therapy, or person-centered therapy as it has also been called, is the unconditional acceptance and kind regard the therapist has for the patient. It also understands that people can be trusted to make proper interventions in their lives without direct instructions from the therapist. Like Gestalt therapy, client-centered therapy is a humanistic psychology. Indeed, client-centered therapy is regarded as one of the founding therapies of the humanistic school of psychology. I. Theoretical Foundation The core theoretical foundation of humanistic psychologies is the existential emphasis on human agency, and Carl Roger’s client-centered therapy is no exception. While the client-centered therapeutic approach has been aligned with Gestalt therapy (Osatuke, Glick, Stiles, Greenberg, Shapiro, & Barkham 2005) in that they both emphasize holistic patterns and the individual’s free choice, it seems that the Rogerian perspective on individual agency is even more starkly existential than the Gestalt approach; the Gestalt approach acknowledges the challenge of competing modes of thinking, as well as more involved intervention by the therapist. Client-centered therapy also has a phenomenological understanding of the individual’s environment, as it contends that what one perceives of their situation, feelings, and environment is actually their reality. Rogers situates his therapy in direct opposition to the psychoanalytic model that emphasizes lengthy therapist involvement and the inability of the patient to recognize their problems because of repressive barriers. (Owens 2009) Rogers believes that the emphasis should be place nearly entirely on the patient, as they have the humanistic power of realizing their problems and overcoming them; in this regard the therapist acts more as a guide than a sage. Rogers (1961, pg. 184) himself states, If the therapy were optimal, intensive as well as extensive, then it would mean that the therapist has been able to enter into an intensely personal and subjective relationship with the client – relating not as a scientist to an object of study, not as a physician expecting to diagnose and cure, but as a person to a person. This is not to say that suggestions for progress are solely the responsibility of the client, but rather they are elements that are distinct to the particular situation rather than external or objective; as such it is the therapist’s emphatic and close-personal relationship with the client that is a contingent element for their therapeutic aid. In all instances, as Goodman, Morgan, Juriga, & Brown (2004) note, therapist control and direction is deemphasized according to the theoretical belief that such an approach de-empowers the client and creates a feeling of helplessness. II. Developmental Element Person Centered therapy locates personal growth in the process of self awareness. This means that as the client becomes aware of their maladjustment they have correspondingly overcome it. This is a belief that is similar to the Gestalt and cognitive approaches, but differs greatly with behaviorism. Client-centered development understands growth in a similar means to Gestalt therapy, but differs in significant ways. The two therapies acknowledge that there is a true or ideal self that must be actualized. Gestalt therapy understands that barriers to the self emerge as humans develop conflicting selves and interpretations of reality, whereas Client-entered therapy emphasizes a more simple formulation of the self, locating barriers to progress in maladjustments to current conditions. The understanding that there is a self that is actualized through understanding and personal development guides the therapy. Rather than teaching the patient about their dysfunction, the goal of client-centered therapy is to show the patient how to become aware of their dysfunctions. (Rogers 1989) The patient strives to gain methods of attaining self-awareness and means of accessing a more direct or true reality. This method empowers the patient with the ability to confront and work through future problems. For the therapist the goal is to create the proper atmosphere for these transformations to occur. Alternately, this process has been termed ‘experiencing’, as it refers to the creation of a positive experience in the therapy. The therapist strives to improve the individual’s self-esteem and leave them feeling more positive about their true self. Another goal of therapist has been termed ‘locus of evaluation’. (Rogers 1989) This is a concept whereby the therapist attempts to shift the patient’s comparisons to outside forces inward, taking increased personal responsibility for their actions. III. Process Element The process of client-centered therapy, as one might imagine, is just as reliant on the individual as it is the therapist. Patterson & Joseph, S. (2007) identify six core elements that must occur for personality change to occur. The first of these elements is that the patient and therapist are in psychological contact. This seems to indicate that rather than assuming the stolid objectivity of a psychoanalyst or psychiatrist, the therapist develops a direct empathetic connection with the patient. In this regard the therapist functions as a friend and it’s through this lens that they strive to imbue the patient with increased self-esteem and positive regard. One might consider the phenomenological implications of this, as the relationship understands the true nature of self-regard to be subjective. Another core condition for personality change is that the client is experiencing incongruency. (Rogers 1989) This is a Rogerian term indicating that the person’s ideal self and their actual self are in disproportion. The therapist then intervenes as a means of bringing the person into self-realization with their personal version of their self being integrated with the external and social version of the self. Through the successful realization of these personality elements the patient then develops congruency. While the client-centered approach is phenomenological it also stresses that the therapist have already attained congruency. This may seem to indicate that there is an objective sense of self that the therapist teaches the patient, but it can also be understood more along Eastern philosophic lines, where it’s not the objective realization of self that is conveyed but rather than the process by which the self is actualized and adjusted to its own individual phenomenological reality. The therapist must also have unconditional and positive regard for the patient. Indeed, this is one of the core techniques of client-centered therapy, as the therapist must create an open and accepting environment. This is similar to the core element of psychological contact between therapist and patient. The therapist must develop and empathetic understanding of the patient’s environment and situation to the extent that they are non-judgmental and caring. This is a unique technique as it is not the emphasis is not placed on whether the individual is making the right or wrong decision, but whether they are living up to their actual self. The implications for this final point are questionable, as it seems to imply that there is no objective morality that they client must adhere, as long as their reality follows their true self. While this concept is echoed among a wide-range of thinkers, including Nietzsche, and Emersonian Transcendentalism, one must consider Roger’s underlining foundations. One possible response to such a criticism would be that the fully actualized self functions in harmony with nature, so that morality is ultimately revealed in the process of discovering one’s true identity, and not through the social contract. IV. My Personal Approach As a student of psychology and therapeutic processes, I have personally been greatly influence by Carl Roger’s theories. My personal therapeutic approach would be greatly derived from his theoretic model. Of particular interest to me is Roger's application of theory to international relations as I would like to work internationally as well. Conflict resolution would be one of the areas applicable to international relations, for the individual and on a broader range as well. I would also like to utilize play therapy for children and intensive groups for those with depression, anxiety and/or phobias.   In considering the ways that I would incorporate the Rogerian therapeutic model into my own personal practice there are a number of overarching principles that I would establish. The atmosphere would fall in line with the principles of client-centered therapy and would allow for a caring, therapeutic relationship between client and therapist. There would be an ambiance of total acceptance and non-judgmental tactics. Clients would be informed that they have the power to reach their full potential. The principles of empathy, congruence and positive regard would be enforced and infused within the therapy at all times. The actualizing tendency of the person is constantly reinforced. My belief in therapeutic progress is associated with how the person feels or the internal locus of evaluation. This is a holistic approach wherein the client's subjective experience is very important, so gauging the client's world based on their phenomenological perspective is always important to gauge within therapy. Common sense terminology is utilized and the role of the therapist is that they facilitate the desire for client's self-discovery. From a more specific perspective my therapeutic approach would also follow the Rogerian model in a number of definitive ways. Rather than approaching the client therapist interaction from a didactic, or position of elevated knowledge, the best effort would be made to develop an empathic relation with the client. Osatuke, Glick, Stiles, Greenberg, Shapiro, & Barkham (2005) conducted a qualitative study that investigated the application of a client-centered approach to a woman named Margret who had experienced depression and withdrawal from her husband. While the particular client scenario is not an area I hope to specifically specialize in, I am drawn to this particular study as it demonstrates a means that I would incorporate core Rogerian values into my approach to the therapeutic process. In Margret’s case, the therapist identifies two perspectives that had been competing within Margret’s personal paradigm – the caretaker and the care-for-me perspective. In resolving these issues the therapeutic process functioned in a free form format with the therapists structuring the conversation on areas of particular emphasis made by the client. It’s notable that this differs from the cognitive-behavioral model, which is more highly structured and therapist led. Eventually the therapeutic process was successful in combining Margret’s competing perspectives, ultimately empowering her life. In terms of my own therapeutic process, I would incorporate much of the same methods as in Margret’s case. Namely, rather than didactically determining the client’s direction, my therapeutic process would leave room for client self-discovery. I believe that progress is an element of deep personal understanding rather than adherence to an external regimentation. As a result, the therapy sessions would follow the client’s emphasis, with my interventions occurring to aid the client in determining areas of their own personal malaise. While I don’t believe that even Rogers himself would emphasize a client-centered approach in the strictest sense of the term, in all instances a phenomenological interpretation of the therapeutic process as individualistic and supportive would be core guiding values. As I have a strong personal interest in applying client-centered therapy to child psychology I am particularly attuned to ways that such methods can be incorporated to accomplish these aims. Goodman, Morgan, Juriga, & Brown (2004) investigated the application of client-centered therapy on a child whose father had died in the 9/11 attacks. In their examination there are a number of elements that I would incorporate into my own practice for children suffering not only grief, but anxiety and depression as well. In this specific instance, the 9/11 tragedy had engendered a feeling of powerlessness within the client. The therapeutic process was successful in establishing a trusting client/therapist relationship that ultimately aided the client in assuming control of specific life elements, and increased decision making. Similar results were attained in aiding maltreated Brazilian children. Freire, Koller, Piason, da Silva, R. (2005). I would incorporate such an approach into treating anxiety and depression as well; I follow Rogers (1989) in believing these symptoms can be overcome through the empathic understanding client-centered therapy offers. In this respect, my approach to these issues would be to develop the client-patient relationship and adhere to an organically derived client led approach. Conclusion Ultimately, Carl Roger’s theory of client-centered therapy is notable as it emphasizes an approach to therapy founded in the individual. While the therapist remains an important element in the therapeutic process, they are deemphasized to encourage the client’s empowerment. The logical outcome of this is that the individual is generally capable of determining their own course of progress when given the support and understanding of the therapeutic professional. In these regards, I hope to develop my skills at supplying positive feedback and acceptance to the client. I also understand the importance of establishing means of developing deep and significant connections with the client, as it is only through this understanding that the therapeutic professional can be of meaningful aid. References Cooper, M. (2007). Person-centred therapy: the growing edge. Therapy Today, 18(6), 33-36. Freire, E., Koller, S., Piason, A., & da Silva, R. (2005). Person-Centered Therapy with Impoverished, Maltreated, and Neglected Children and Adolescents in Brazil. Journal of Mental Health Counseling, 27(3), 225-237. Goodman, R., Morgan, A., Juriga, S., & Brown, E. (2004). Letting the Story Unfold: A Case Study of Client-Centered Therapy for Childhood Traumatic Grief. Harvard Review of Psychiatry, 12(4), 199-212. Osatuke, K., Glick, M., Stiles, W., Greenberg, L., Shapiro, D., & Barkham, M. (2005). Temporal patterns of improvement in client-centred therapy and cognitive-behaviour therapy. Counselling Psychology Quarterly, 18(2), 95-108. Owen, I. (2009). Exploring the similarities and differences between person-centred and psychodynamic therapy. (Cover story). British Journal of Guidance & Counselling, 27(2), 165. Patterson, T., & Joseph, S. (2007). Person-Centered Personality Theory Support from Self- Determination Theory and Positive Psychology. Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 47(1), 117-139. Rogers, Carl (1989). The Carl Rogers Reader. Mariner Books. Rogers, Carl (1961). On Becoming a Person. Mariner Books. Read More