Person Centered Therapy

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The second attitude that the person centered therapist needs to effectively communicate is unconditional positive regard, meaning a “deep and genuine caring for the client” (Corey, 2009, p. 174). In the words of Roger (1961) “the more acceptance and liking” felt by the therapist towards the client, “the more [the therapist] will be creating a relationship which [the client] can use (p. 34). However, it is made clear that it is not always possible for therapists to genuinely feel unconditional care for and acceptance of the client at all times. Although, if the therapist have only a slight sense of respect for the client, or actively dislike them, the therapeutic process is not likely to “be fruitful” (Corey, 2009, p. 175).

Thirdly, one of the main tasks of the therapist is to accurately understand the client’s feelings and experience during the therapy session. This core quality, accurate empathic understanding implies that the therapist will posses the ability to have a “deep and subjective understanding” of the clients feelings and will sense these feelings as their own without “becoming lost in those feelings,” and are then able to reflect the experiences of the client (Corey, 2009, p. 175). According to Corey (2009), “accurate empathy is the cornerstone of the person-centered approach” and is a way for therapists to hear the meanings expressed by the client that may be at the edge of their own consciousness (p. 175). Many Rogerian followers touted reflection as the primary technique of person centered therapy, despite the fact that Roger’s view that the therapists fundamental attitudes and way of being with the client is tantamount to the change process (Corey, 2009, p. 176). Thus, in utilizing the three core qualities, the person centered therapist strives to encourage the client’s “self-direction with a sense of independence” conducive to creating a non-threatening relationship (Eremie & Ubulom, 2016). According to Corey (2009), the philosophy of the person centered therapy is based on the assumption that “clients have the resourcefulness for positive movement without the counsellor assuming an active, direct role” (p.176).

Therefore, the person centered approach can be applied to a vast variety of individuals, groups and families. According to Bozrath, Zimring, and Bausch (2002), person centered therapy has shown to be effective in a “wide-range of client problems including anxiety disorders, alcoholism, psychosomatic problems, agoraphobia, interpersonal difficulties, depression, cancer and personality disorders” (Corey, 2009, p.178). The effectiveness of therapy is based on the client; their involvement, evaluations and desire to resolve their problems. Corey (2009) also cites that the basic philosophy of this approach can be applied to educational settings whereby teachers become facilitators of learning rather than controlling managers (p. 178). Additionally, Lent (2001) believes that the person centered approach can provide a template for “establishing a productive environment for learning and development,” and applies it to the possibility of improving the success of “job readiness programs for those individuals moving from welfare to work” (p. 31). Furthermore, as pointed out by Corey (2009), the person centered approach can especially be applied to crisis intervention, including; illness, loss of loved ones, unwanted pregnancy, disaster etc by people in helping professions and first responders. Tursi and Cochran (2006) stated that an advantage of the person centered relational framework is seen when working with individuals who have experienced tragedy. Clients are allowed to struggle through emotions and become less affected by fully realizing their feelings towards said tragedies, instead of the therapist labelling their thoughts as irrational (p. 394). The person centered approach has also been applied in programs training professionals and paraprofessionals who work in many different settings. People who do not have advanced psychological education are able to benefit from the person centered approach, in that it is easy to comprehend and translate the therapeutic conditions in personal and professional environments (Corey, 2009, p. 179).

Despite the comprehendible philosophy and framework of the person centered theory, there are a few criticisms and limitations. According to Nye (1981), the person centered approach is seen as too general and lacks clearly defined terms of techniques (as cited by Eremie & Ubulom, 2016, p. 49). It was also found that the person centered approach depends on the client being bright, determined, insightful, educated and self-directed for the most effective results of counseling, determining that the approach itself is “overly optimistic” (Eremie & Ubulom, 2016, p. 49). Prochaska & Norcross (2007:160) noted that this theory neglects the actual behavior and functioning of the client, favoring their subjective experience (as cited by Eremie & Ubulom, 2016, p. 49). Corey (2009) also found that a lot is expected in terms of the therapist as a person, which can be seen as personal limitations (p. 191).

Conclusively, the basic belief by Roger’s in human’s trustworthiness, potential for self-actualization and innate need to self-direct can be considered the foundation of the person centered approach to counseling. The goals of a person centered therapist are different from other approaches to psychotherapy and counseling in that the client’s independence, growth and integration is strived for, not by specific techniques and guidelines, but by the counselors ability to act as a facilitator to the process. This is done by creating a warm, permissive atmosphere in which acceptance, empathy, genuineness and reflection of feelings are conducive to a non-threatening relationship. Due to the adaptable nature of the fundamental philosophy upheld by the person centered approach, the applicational opportunities are vast, including work with individuals and groups for a variety of reasons. However, the generality, lack of techniques. expectations of the counsellor as a person and the perceived requirement of a certain personality type exhibited by clients are a few limitations and criticisms to Roger’s person centered approach. Regardless, the core conditions described in the person centered framework are applicable to any psychological orientation in regards to counseling. The quality of the therapeutic relationship is the foundation to styles of counseling (Corey, 2009, p. 180)

References

Cherry, K. (2016, June 24). How Does Client-Centered Therapy Work? Retrieved October 17, 2016, from https://www.verywell.com/client-centered-therapy-2795999 McLeod, S. A. (2015). Person Centered Therapy. Retrieved