Roger's Concept Of Unconditional Positive Regard In Client-Centered Therapy

Counselors should not be imposing their value or beliefs on their clients. Likewise, Lichtenberg, Goodyear, Hutman, and Overland (2016) demonstrate that counseling pays particular attention to people’s strengths and diversity (p. 222). The AMHCA Code of Ethics (2015) emphasizes the counselor-client relationship through respecting the client. The history of counseling takes into consideration not only credentials and training needed to be a counselor but also reaching out to the

Through my work in counseling, I will aspire to be respectful of and sensitive to my client’s developmental needs and therapeutic goals. It is imperative for counselors to recognize that the counseling process can be intimidating for many clients. I will draw from a variety of

The main focus of this essay has to be on the three ‘core conditions’, as utilised by the counsellor to promote a positive movement in their client’s psychology. They are intended for maintaining a focus on the client’s personal growth, and detract from the therapist’s own outside world. The three core conditions are the professional apparatus or tool-kit of the therapist, and the use of each is a skill in itself but the combined forces of all three in an effective manner requires an abundance of skill or experience. These are, as have already been mentioned, congruence, unconditional positive regard and empathy. They are separate skills but are intrinsically linked to each other. If used correctly, they can guide the client to a state of self-realisation, which could lead to the development of a healing process.

Unconditional Positive Regard is a theory by Carl Rogers applicable both for psychotherapy and in interpersonal relations. It recognizes a universal need for positive regard by others to all persons under various situations. It requires that all individuals as counselors should respect, accept and appreciate others without judgments. It is somehow different from unconditional love since it doesn’t require care for or liking. It only calls for acceptance of individuals whether you are fond of them or not. Unconditional positive regard shouldn’t be taken to mean being nice, friendly, or delightful with other people. Unconditional positive regard is more of a feeling towards others. As such, it ensures that a therapist has a genuinely deep caring for a client regardless as to whether He/ She approves or not, the actions of his clients. It is an attitude of accepting individuals as they are.

Person-Centered Therapy (PCT) embodies a humanistic approach, which is intended to increase a person’s feelings of self-worth, and reduce the level of incongruence between the ideal self and the actual self (Gelso, Cepeda & Davenport, 2006). This critical analysis is meant to examine various approaches and skills counselors/therapists would use when applying a ‘person-centered’ type of therapy. This analysis briefly outlines what PCT is, but focuses more heavily on the various approaches used by social workers throughout the therapeutic relationship. More specifically, PCT approaches such as, counselor/client congruence, empathic understanding, and unconditional positive regard are the main approaches highlighted in this analysis as they play an integral role in the counseling relationship.

Unconditional positive regard - a concept developed by the late psychologist Carl Rogers back in the 1960's. Unconditoinal positive regard is to accept and respect others without judgement and I would argue a determining factor in the rapport building process; it is a key element of our work as therapists, both 'in the office' and out in the field of our adventure therapy programs.

This complete acceptance, without judgement and criticism, is important for a client to start to value and accept themselves. In order for a therapist to be able to show unconditional positive regard, they need to know, accept and value themselves and be in touch with their own values and morals. I think that the more a therapist is accepting of who they are themselves, the better they will be able to accept and respect their clients.

Dual relationships and the ethical behavior that revolves around boundaries with clients present a multitude of very complicated situations to counselors where a clearly defined course of action is not always evident. Aside from no accord amongst mental health professionals and boundary issues being unavoidable at times, recognition and prediction of potential benefits or pitfalls correlated with dual relationships can prove to be troublesome as well (Remley & Herlihy, 2010). For most cases, it is best if an outline is used to discern when it is appropriate for a counselor to breach the client-counselor boundary.

As a future therapist, I am required to obtain a strong understanding of the laws and ethics of the practice of therapy. Furthermore, it is necessary to develop an awareness of my own personal beliefs, values, and attitudes, and recognize the potential influence they bear when seeing clients of differing or opposing values. By addressing these issues of countertransference, I am able to practice as an ethical, legal, and competent therapist. In this paper, three personal values including, the value of being on time, higher education, and acting with compassion, are defined, originated, and explored in the context of my life and how the ways in which they present the possibility for countertransference. After incorporating specific codes and

There are many values this writer wishes to incorporate into a counseling relationship. The fundamental values this writer wishes to incorporate are: flexibility, self-awareness, self-regulation, and empathy. The ability to be flexible and alter what one does in order to fit the client’s needs is crucial to establishing and maintaining a therapeutic relationship. Flexibility can be demonstrated in many different ways, such as the way the therapist interacts with the client, the tone of voice that is utilized, down to the way the therapist provides material to the client. In being flexible, treatment is able to remain focused on the client and his or her needs (Egan, 2014).

This paper will explore the concept of dual relationships between counselors and clients and the ethical implications of such relationships. In addition to presenting several examples of dual relationships, this paper will also explore how ethical decisions must be made to avoid potentially harmful or exploitive relationships in therapy as well understanding how different interactions between counselor and clients can be understood from an ethical standpoint, as well as how reviewing these ethical dilemmas may shape my future career as a counselor.

In a therapist role I know how important unconditional positive regard is. So, if it is possible for therapists to experience unconditional positive regard towards clients, what would be the best way to express this to a client? Is it in what you say? Would it be appropriate to say, “I accept you completely and totally as the person you are”? Or “I value you as a whole person no matter what you’ve done.” This would be the direct approach but could this lead to problems because expressing too much positive regard could be overwhelming to clients? Is it in your persona, your body language, and your expressions to show your openness? Clients may react by wanting to break down therapy boundaries. If they are hearing such positive, loving statements

Among the three main approaches to insight therapy (psychoanalysis, client-centered, or group therapy), the one that l believe has the most reasonable way to deal with psychological problems, is client-centered therapy. Client-centered therapy is an insight therapy that emphasizes providing a supportive emotional climate for clients, who play a major role in determining the pace and direction of their therapy (pg. 459). According to Carl Rogers, the man who devised client-centered therapy, three elements were necessary to promote positive changes in therapy: Genuineness (honest communication), Unconditional positive regard (therapist remains supportive, non-judgmental) and Empathy (therapist understands issues from client’s point of view) (pg. 460). In following these three elements, client and therapist were working together equally and helped client become more aware of themselves and even feel more comfortable with their therapist and the idea of therapy. Some people don’t seek help because they feel therapy might be too intimidating for them or it’s a step that they fear having to take. I can agree with this, because from my personal experience, l had pushed off therapy for so long because l was afraid to admit that l needed it.

Another beneficial theme of the book is values and the helping profession. A therapists’ values are part of who they are and it is difficult to ignore them. A complicated issue counselors have is keeping their values from influencing the client and realizing that their task is to help clients identify their beliefs and apply their values to solving problems (Corey et al., 2010). A good point made in this book was for a therapist and client to clarify their values. This way they both have an understanding of each other’s values and could be able to recognize when value imposition is occurring. If value conflicts are occurring during therapy it would be a good idea to refer the client to someone who can better understand where the client is coming from. If referral is the only way, then perhaps the counselor should explore their values and involvement in therapy.

As everybody is different and comes from different backgrounds, therefore give us all different values and beliefs, it is important to have an effective client-counsellor relationship based on four main areas of duty of care 1. Helper competence, 2. Client autonomy, 3. Confidentiality, 4. Client protection (Nelson-Jones, 2008). There will be times throughout the sessions with clients that your own values and belief creep in, and you do make judgement, therefore you as a counsellor have to know and acknowledge this happen and understand why it is happening.