Carl Rogers Narrative Person Centered

Person-Centered

1. Name and Brief Description of Key Figure (See, & Kamnetz, 2004)

Carl Rogers is known to have pioneered the person-centered psychotherapy and counselling. He began his career in the year 1928 as a clinical psychologist and worked with children in Rochester. He came up with theories of psychotherapy which were meant to assist various professions including teaching, social work, conflict resolution and parenting as well. An approximate of 200 organizations in the world have made steps to continue Carl Rogers’ work on person centered counseling. Carl Rogers is considered to be one of the most influential psychologists in America. In his career years, Carl Rogers worked in various universities in major states of America including Ohio, Chicago, California and New York. His career lasted from the year 1939 to 1987. The major goal of Carl Rogers in his career was to counter the current views in psychiatry and counselling. He believed that many people had approached counselling wrongly and therefore provided the person-centered approach to help solve the relevant issues in the society.

2. Key Points (See, & Kamnetz, 2004)

a). Structure of personality - Personality consists of three concepts including self-image, ideal self, and self-worth. Carl Rogers’ approach is person-centered and assists individuals to self-actualize so as to reach their full potential.

b). Conscious and Unconscious- Carl Rogers’ theory of person-centered therapy (PCT) is concerned with the conscious part. The theory is based on the immediate reality of a client. The conscious part is directly attached to a person and it goes further to deepening and expanding connection within an individual and hence enabling a person to find their own answers.

c). Ego defense mechanisms- For Carl Rogers, there are only two ego defense mechanisms including denial and perceptual distortion. Of all the theorists on personality, Carl Rogers is considered to have the most elegant theory of defensiveness.

3). View of the Person

The different theorists have their own views on evaluating psychological problems. All the theories aim at ensuring that an individual is aware of their full potential and can actualize themselves. One thing to note, however, is that despite all the arguments on behavior and personality, an individual is required to also make efforts towards a better life.

Healing comes from within and one may develop a mindset of getting better. People need to maintain their own independence and seek help only when they have hit rock bottom.

4). Counselling Techniques (See, & Kamnetz, 2004)

g). Free association- This is a counselling technique in psychoanalytic therapy. This technique allows individuals to write and talk about the things that come to their mind. In this technique, the therapist is required to ask a question or make a statement and the client is supposed to utter out the words that first come to their minds. This technique is embraced in the hope that repressed memories will emerge out of free association. The importance of free association technique is that it is capable of unveiling words and thoughts that would have gone uncovered.

h). Dream Analysis- In psychoanalysis, dreams represent an individual’s desires, their wish, fulfilment or conflicts. Dreams contain both latent and manifest content. Manifest content may be described as the content from the dream as the patient remembers it. On the other hand, latent content is the symbolic meaning within the dream.

i). Analysis and Interpretation of Resistance - This is a basic procedure in psychoanalysis. It is believed that when most patients feel uncomfortable, they may withhold vital information. It is a therapist’s responsibility to know when a patient is withholding information and how to ease them out during counselling.

j). Setting clear boundaries- For Carl Rogers, the PC approach requires the therapist to set clear boundaries to ensure a healthy relationship with the patient.

k). Acting as a sounding board- Listening is a key part in psychotherapy. The best therapists are the best listeners.

l). Refraining from judgment- A person centered approach requires one to avoid being judgmental. Most clients who seek therapy battle with guilt and self-pity. Judging them reduces their self-worth and makes them feel as if they are not good enough.

m). Avoid making decisions for patients. Advising patients is one thing and giving them advice is another. The patient is responsible for making their own decisions.

n) Be genuine- Trust is the only binding factor between a patient and their therapist. When the patient stops trusting the therapist, then the therapy sessions may not be helpful.

5. Counseling Relationship and brief description of counseling process

Psychoanalysis is a talk therapy which is used by individuals with chronic, emotional and mental health issues and helps patients get better life adjustment. For psychoanalysis to take place and be beneficial to the patient, then the therapist many need to build rapport with the patient. To prevent resistance, the therapists should make the environment conducive for the patient at all times. Friendship would be a good start. A patient needs a therapist who is not judgmental, one who listens and relates with everything about the patient.

The therapist also needs to be well informed and have the ability to interpret the patient’s feelings, emotions and attitudes accurately. That would be the only way a solution can be found.

The counselling process using the person-centered approach requires the use of the tenets of PC. One of the principles that need to be considered is treating people with dignity, compassion and respect. When a patient is set for counselling, they lose their independence. They are more dependent on their counsellor than anyone else. A counsellor is responsible for the further promotion of the dignity of such an individual. Dignity is maintained through acts of compassion, empathy and respect. Respecting a patient’s traits makes them feel valid.