Rogers: Father of Humanistic Movement Carl Rogers is the father of the humanistic movement in psychotherapy PERSON-CENTERED His core theme in therapy is non-judgmental listening & acceptance of the client, better known as unconditional THERAPY positive regard His therapeutic approach is known as the Person Centered Therapy, which is based on the concepts of humanistic psychology & shares many of the concepts of Psychology 460 Existentialism Both of these concepts share the idea that the client can Counseling and Interviewing make positive & constructive choices Sheila K. Grant, Ph.D. His approach is also based on the theory that people are "trustworthy" and can solve their own problems without direct intervention from the therapist Carl Rogers: Bio Carl Rogers: Bio Carl Rogers was born January 8, 1902 in Oak Rogers founded client-centered psychotherapy & Park, Illinois in a very strict, religious family pioneered in the development of scientific methods for studying psychotherapeutic He was a shy, studious boy outcomes & processes He enrolled in agricultural science at the In 1942 Rogers became 1st therapist to record & University of Wisconsin, but transferred to Union transcribe therapy sessions verbatim, a practice Theological Seminary in Chicago now standard Disillusioned, he withdrew and entered the He published his ideas & clinical results in Teachers College at Columbia University, a several books, including On Becoming a Person hotbed for liberal, social ideas which made him a well-known figure in American psychology Carl Rogers: Bio Carl Rogers: Bio Rogers taught at the University of Chicago, Ohio State Carl Rogers died February 4, 1987 University, & the University of Wisconsin at Madison "Experience is, for me, the highest authority. The Rogers's client-centered therapy is among the most touchstone of validity is my own experience. No other influential & widely employed techniques in modern U.S. person's ideas, and none of my own ideas, are as clinical psychology authoritative as my experience. It is to experience that I This is the type of therapy cliched by phrases such as must return again and again, to discover a closer "how do you feel about that?" from the psychologist approximation to truth as it is in the process of becoming in me. Neither the Bible nor the prophets --neither Freud Bob Newhart, another Oak Park native, portrayed a Rogerian-style psychologist on the original "Bob Newhart nor research –neither the revelations of God nor man -- Show“ can take precedence over my own direct experience. My experience is not authoritative because it is infallible. It is In his later years Rogers championed humanistic causes the basis of authority because it can always be checked in including racial harmony, and world peace. He was new primary ways. In this way its frequent error or nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1987 fallibility is always open to correction." 1 Person-Centered Therapy Carl Rogers: Bio (A reaction against the directive and psychoanalytic approaches) Rogers plays an important historical role in Challenges: the development of psychology and The assumption that “the counselor knows psychotherapy best” The validity of advice, suggestion, persuasion, He was one of the first, if not the first, teaching, diagnosis, psychologist to propose a comprehensive and interpretation theory about psychotherapy The belief that clients cannot understand and resolve their own problems without direct Prior to Rogers, almost all forms of therapy help centered around psychiatry and The focus on problems over persons psychoanalysis Person-centered theory Questions: Carl Rogers OVERVIEW In what ways would you say that you SELF-DIRECTED GROWTH have been the architect of your life? In the people you have known best, have THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE HELPER AND THE CLIENT you recognized a “self-actualizing” tendency? FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPT IS TRUST Is it hard for you to have confidence in THE “ACTUALIZING TENDENCY” IS PRESENT another person’s ability to find their own IN EVERY HUMAN way, with you serving as an ally instead of INDIVIDUALS ARE ARCHITECTS OF THEIR a guide? OWN LIVES Person-Centered Therapy Key Concepts Emphasizes: Rogers believes that, under nurturing Therapy as a journey shared by two fallible conditions a client will be able to move people forward & resolve their own issues Person’s innate striving for self-actualization One can direct one’s own life Personal characteristics of therapist & the Congruence – both the therapist’s and the quality of therapeutic relationship client’s Counselor’s creation of a permissive, “growth promoting” climate Unconditional positive regard People are capable of self-directed growth if Accurate empathetic understanding involved in a therapeutic relationship 2 A Growth-Promoting Climate A Growth-Promoting Climate Congruence - genuineness or realness Congruence - genuineness or realness Unconditional positive regard- The helper does not deny his or her own feelings: acceptance and caring, but not approval the opposite of hiding behind a professional mask. “I find that I am closest to my inner, intuitive self, of all behavior when I am somehow in touch with the unknown in me, when perhaps I am in a slightly altered state of Accurate empathic understanding – consciousness…Then simply my presence is releasing an ability to deeply grasp the client’s and helpful.” (Rogers) subjective world Thought: Rogers’ language is somewhat strange here, but can you conceptualize a more “mystical” dimension to helping Helper attitudes are more important than someone? Have you ever had this experience of being attuned knowledge to your intuitive self as a helper or just a friend? A Growth-Promoting Climate A Growth-Promoting Climate Unconditional positive regard- Accurate empathic understanding – acceptance and caring, but not an ability to deeply grasp the client’s approval of all behavior subjective world Helper attitudes are more important than Related Terms: knowledge Acceptance of the other’s reality with kindness Empathy is a consistent, unflagging Non-possessive caring appreciation of the experience of the other. Prizing It is active attention to the feelings of the Non-judgmental attitude client Q: Have you ever “prized” someone? Could you consistently “prize” a client, even if that person seemed to be without many It involves warmth and genuineness strengths or successes in life? Six Core Conditions Basic Characteristics (necessary & sufficient for personality changes to occur) In the Person Centered approach the 1. Two persons are in psychological contact focus is on helping the client discover 2. The first, the client, is experiencing incongruency 3. The second person, the therapist, is congruent or more appropriate behavior by developing integrated in the relationship self-awareness & 4. Therapist experiences unconditional positive regard ways to fully "encounter reality" or real caring for the client 5. Therapist experiences empathy for the client’s Through this encounter the client gains internal frame of reference and endeavors to insight of themselves & the world communicate this to the client 6. Communication to the client is, to a minimal degree, achieved 3 The Therapist The Therapist Therapists are used as instruments of change but are not to direct the change in client The Therapist must be: congruent Therapist helps develop an environment in able to approach client with unconditional positive which the client can grow regard Through attitudes of genuine caring, respect, demonstrate accurate understanding and empathy and understanding the client is able to let Focuses on the quality of the therapeutic their defenses down & become more self- relationship aware Serves as a model of a human being struggling toward greater realness Therapist reflects client’s view of the world Is genuine, integrated, and authentic, without a (Phenomenological approach) false front Can openly express feelings & attitudes that are present in the relationship with the client INCONGRUENCE Therapeutic Process Main focus is on the person & not on the person's problems This allows the client to reconnect with his/herself. Client is assisted in therapy so that they can deal with current problems as well as problems that develop in the future Focuses on helping a person become aware of IDEAL SELF their true self & develop congruency REAL SELF Basic assumptions about the Client’s Experience client’s process… SELF-REGARD the focus is to help the Through therapy client is able to let down person feel significantly more positive his/her defenses & become more true to LOCUS-OF-EVALUATION clients tend to him/her selves worry too much about what others think; the They gain perception into themselves, goal is to have the client be less dependent on which allows them to better understand & other, externalized values and standards, i.e. accept others other’s evaluations of the client EXPERIENCING rather than a rigid mode, the goal is to have an attitude of openness 4 Limitations to Summary statements… Person-centered Therapy Helper is to be present & accessible, in the Therapist could become so dogmatic in moment-to-moment interchange application of reflective approach that they Focus is on the phenomenological world of fail to be real with client & the client irritate them by repeating their words in an attempt to make reflective statements Helper should strive to be as transparent & honest as possible Discounts