Conditions in Client Centred Therapy
The Person-Centred approach trusts that human beings have an innate tendency to find fulfilment of their own personal potentials. By facilitating this, a Person-Centred Counsellor helps the Client recognise their own capacity for self-healing and personal growth.[1]
Believing
strongly that theory should come out of practice rather than the other way
round, Rogers developed his theory based on his work with emotionally troubled
people and claimed that we have a remarkable capacity for self-healing and
personal growth leading towards self-actualization. He placed emphasis on the
person’s current perception and how we live in the here-and-now. [2]
Central
to Rogers’ theory is the notion of self or self-concept. This is defined as
“the organized, consistent set of perceptions and beliefs about oneself.” It
consists of all the ideas and values that characterise ‘I’ and ‘me’ and
includes perception and valuing of ‘what I am’ and ‘what I can do’. [3]
Unlike
other therapies the client is responsible for improving his or her life, not
the therapist. This is a deliberate change from both psychoanalysis and behavioural therapies
where the patient is diagnosed and treated by a doctor. Instead, the client
consciously and rationally decides for themselves what is wrong and what should
be done about it. the therapist is more of a friend or counsellor who listens
and encourages on an equal level. If there are any techniques they are
listening, accepting, understanding and sharing, which seem more
attitude-oriented than skills-oriented. [4]
A
person enters person centred therapy in a state of incongruence. It is the role
of the therapists to reverse this situation. [5]
Core
Conditions[6]
Client-centred
therapy operates according to three basic principles that reflect the attitude
of the therapist to the client
1. Congruence
in Counselling
According to Carl Roger it is the most
important attribute in Counselling. It is also called genuineness. This means
that, unlike the psychodynamic therapist who generally maintains a ‘blank
screen’ and reveals little of their own personality in therapy, the Rogerian is
keen to allow the client to experience them as they really are. In short the
therapist is authentic.
2. Unconditional
Positive Regard
Rogers believed that for people to grow
and fulfil their potential it is important that they are valued as themselves.
This refers to the therapist’s deep and genuine caring for the client. The
therapist need an attitude of “I’ll accept you as you are.” The person-centred
counsellor is thus careful to always maintain a positive attitude to the
client, even when disgusted by the client’s actions.
3. Empathy
Empathy is the ability to understand what
the client is feeling. This refers to the therapist’s ability to understand
sensitively and accurately, though not sympathetically, the client’s experience
and feelings in the here-and-now.
An important part of the task of the person-centred
counsellor is to follow precisely what the client is feeling and to communicate
to them that the therapist understands what they are feeling.
Ten
tips for Client-Centred Counsellor[7]
1. Set
clear boundaries
2. The
client knows best
3. Act
as a sounding board
4. Don’t
be judgmental
5. Don’t
make decisions for them
6. Concentrate
on what they are really saying
7. Be
genuine
8. Accept
negative emotions
9. How
you speak can be more important than what you say
110. I
may not be the best person to help.
[1]
“what is Person-Centred Couselling”, (cited:21st November 2016).
Online: www.stepbystepcounselling.co.uk
[2]
Leod Mc Saul, “Person Centred Therapy”, (cited: 21st November 2016).
Online: www.simplypsychology.org
[3]
Ibid.
[4]
Ibid.
[5]
Ibid.
[6]
Ibid.
[7]
Leod Mc Saul, “Person Centred Therapy”
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