History and Theory Essay

Carl Rogers developed person centred therapy believing individuals design their own destiny and can successfully deal with their struggles and distresses as they have within them sufficient ability, though they may be unaware of the potential for growth and

Person-centred therapy came about through Roger’s theory on human personality. He argued that human experiences were valuable whether they were positive or negative so long as they maintained their self actualising tendency. Through one’s experiences and interactions with others Roger believed that a self-concept/regard was developed. Carl Rogers believed that a truly therapeutic relationship between client and counsellor depends on the existence, of three core conditions. The core conditions are important because they represent the key concepts and principles of person-centred therapy. These core conditions are referred to as congruence, unconditional positive regard and empathy. Congruence is when the therapist has the ability to be real and honest with the client. This also means that the therapist has to be aware of their own feelings by owning up to them and not hiding behind a professional role. For example, a therapist may say ‘I understand where you are coming from’’ to the client. However the therapist has expressed a confused facial expression while saying this. The clients can be become aware of this and may feel uncomfortable in expressing their feelings, which might impact their trust and openness towards the therapist. Therefore the major role of the therapist is to acknowledge their body language and what they say and if confusion happens the therapist needs to be able to

Person Centred Counselling was developed by Carl R. Rogers (1902-1987), a leading American psychologist who was along with Abraham Maslow a major theorist of Humanistic Therapy which developed in the 1950. It is sometimes called the third force distinct from psychoanalyzes and behaviourism. It proposed that therapy could be simpler, warmer and more optimistic and that the client himself has the solution to his difficulties and can access this deeper

Carl R. Rogers constructed the person-centered theory by his influences of Elizabeth Davis and Frederick Allen who studied under Jessie Taft as well as Otto Rank and John Dewey (Patterson, 2007; Walsh, 2010). Influenced by Jessie Taft, Rogers adopted an optimistic view of people, individuals are capable of recreating themselves and are not the end products of their past (Patterson, 2007; Walsh, 2010). Otto Rank advocated that treatment of a client be centered around that client and that therapist be more emotionally involved within the process. Third Rogers was influenced by John Dewey who helped him understand and develop his position that self-actualized people live in harmony rather then conflict (Patterson, 2007; Walsh,

Person Centered Therapy was established by Carl Rogers, a noted psychologist in the 1940s. This style of therapy deviated from the customary model of the therapist as professional and moved rather toward a nondirective sensitive method that empowers and encourages the client in the therapeutic fashion. The concept is Humanistic in nature which affirms the client’s anatomy, psyche, and soul. It provides clients the freedom to achieve self- realization. Cognitive Behavior Therapy understands personal functioning to be the result of continuous reciprocal interaction between behavior and its social conditions. Therapist used their own life experiences to developed theories that can be conformed to help others. Integrating theories has proven

Carol Roger, the father of the humanistic movement in psychotherapy. The theme in this therapy is a nonjudgmental listening and acceptance of the client, the scientific term would be unconditional positive regard. Roger was born on January 8th 1902 in Oak Park Illinois. He grew up in a very strict and religious family. As a young boy Carl Rogers was shy and very studious.He first attended University of Wisconsin as an agricultural science major. Later on ended up transferring to Union Theological Seminary in Chicago. In 1942 Rogers became one of the first therapist to record & transcribe therapy sessions precise, a practice that is now commonly done. Rogers’s client –centered therapy is among the most prominent and widely used techniques in today’s society. In 1987 Rogers was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize because of his humanistic causes. (McLeod, 2015)

Carl R. Rogers constructed the person-centered theory by his influences of Elizabeth Davis and Frederick Allen who studied under Jessie Taft as well as Otto Rank and John Dewey (Patterson, 2007; Walsh, 2010). Influenced by Jessie Taft, Rogers adopted an optimistic view of people, individuals are capable of recreating themselves and are not the end products of their past (Patterson, 2007; Walsh, 2010). Otto Rank advocated that treatment of a client be centered around that client and that therapist be more emotionally involved within the process. Third Rogers was influenced by John Dewey who helped him understand and develop his position that self-actualized people live in harmony rather then conflict

The client-centred model, also sometimes referred to as person-centred, was developed by Carl Rogers around the middle of the twentieth century. Carl R. Rogers is known as the father of client-centred therapy. Throughout his career, he dedicated himself to humanistic psychology and is well known for his theory of personality development. He began developing his humanistic concept while working with abused children. Rogers attempted to change the world of psychotherapy when he boldly

Corey (2009a) discusses the human nature aspect of person centered theory, stating ‘Rodgers believed people are trustworthy, resourceful, capable of self understanding and self-direction, able to make constructive changes, able to live effective and productive lives, therefore they will be able to manage their own problems in due time through treatment’(p.169). Corey (2009a) elaborates on the human nature of psychoanalytic theory stating Freud felt people’s behavior was influenced by

Rogers believed people have the capability of self-healing and personal growth which can lead to self-actualization. Self-a the

Psychotherapy Networker conducted a survey in 2006 (as cited in Corey, 2009) identifying Carl Rogers as the single most influential psychotherapist of the past quarter century. Using humanistic psychological concepts, Rogers formulated a person-centered approach to therapy. According to Corey (2009), he believed that people are trustworthy and have the potential to understand themselves and find their own solutions to problems without the therapist 's intervention.

Person-centered theory used in psychotherapy emphasizes the importance of resolving issues or problems in the individual by the individual autonomously. Carl Rogers popularized the person-centered theory with the goal of psychotherapy for the therapist to aide the client to their own particular path of growth with no specific interventions. For example the therapist should not use any guiding questions or statements unless they were paraphrasing what the client, interpretations or analysis. Using the person-centered theory the focus of therapy remained on behavior and experiences that occurs in the present instead of reflecting on how childhood experiences from the past has lead to distress. This is a different approach used than in psychoanalysis. He strongly believed psychological distress occurred because of incongruence with organismic valuing processing and self-concept.

Introduction Theorist Carl Rogers exemplified the person-centered approach to therapy in his work. His tenacity and focus on the need for a positive client-therapist relationship led him to develop this approach. His impact on both theorists and practitioners forced them to look at other ways of working with their clients. .Similar to the Golden Rule of doing unto others, Rogers believed that if people treated and cared for each other they would develop a great sense of self-respect. From this self-respect they in turn would treat others the way they would like to be treated.

The father and founder of “Client” centered therapy, Rogers wrote books on the subject of listening to his patients, and allowing them to determine the rate of treatment on their own time line. Rogers was the first to use the term client, instead of the patient, and his “people centered theories” were groundbreaking at the time they were introduced.

Rogers’s person centred theory and aspects of its practice have been subjected to quite some criticism over the years. Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson (2012), In his book ‘against therapy’ confronts the core conditions of person centred therapy by arguing that a therapist is only able to superficially suspend his judgement because the session is limited to a certain time duration. He, further suggests that in this manner, the therapist is not truly himself with the client or else he would judge the client the way he judges everyone else outside his office. However Masson acknowledges that this “all accepting” pretence under which the client is treated may prove helpful but entirely goes against entirely the core value of person centred therapy which is genuineness.