The Importance Of Nondirective Therapy

When comparing and contrasting the differences in the three approaches, I will review the relationship between client and counsellor. I will attempt to discover how the relationship is formed and how it is maintained during the therapeutic process. Once this has been established, I will then look at how the changes occur in the therapeutic relationship and which techniques will be used. I will compare and contrast the approaches of Carl Rogers, Sigmund Freud and Albert Ellis. I will look at how their theories have impacted on the counselling processes in modern times and throughout history.

The theories we learned provided a broad-based understanding of numerous factors related to the evolution of counseling and therapy theories and practices, along with new counseling and therapy skills. The important premise that underscores one of the central challenges of counseling and psychotherapy is that we are all in the same world, but each of us makes different sense of what we see and experience. That is, to understand the different ways that clients perceive their strengths and problems as well as the way they make meaning of the world in which they are situated.

Rogerian person-centered counseling is a unique psychological intervention, largely because the counselor does not maintain the same boundaries as other counselors do in connection with traditional counseling interventions. (Kirschenbaum & Jourdan, 2005). Other approaches presume a hierarchical counselor-client relationship and a directive role for the counselor. In Rogerian counseling, the counselor participates in exchanges but in a non-directive role. The strategy of Rogerian counseling, in part, is based on reflecting and paraphrasing, designed to establish a dynamic in which the client feels sufficiently accepted. In that regard, the counselor tries to communicate unconditional acceptance so that the client can communicate without any concern about that the counselor thinks of him or worrying about the counselor's approval (Kirschenbaum & Jourdan, 2005).

There are a many of factors, client or therapist focused that affect the counselor’s diagnosis or the client motivation to participate in the counseling process. The overarching correlation between influence of treatment and the client consideration to take part in the recovery process is the therapeutic alliance is key element of creating favorable results in psychotherapy (Lynch, 2012). This alliance begins during the client’s initial intake. Consequently, the information gathered is critical in determining the proper course of action for the client’s healing and transformation process with mental health issues. According to, Lynch (2012) a counselor’s experience does not invariably enhance the odds of forging favorable outcomes in

These correct conditions which are required within person centred therapy in order that the client can achieve self actualisation and personality change were outlined by Carl Rogers and he believed that if this 6 conditions were met, it would facilitate change within the client: Two persons are in psychological contact- both client and counsellor are present physically and psychologically. The client is in a state of incongruence, (which will be discussed in more detail) the communication of the counsellor’s empathetic understanding and unconditional positive regard is met at a minimal level. The last condition mentioned involves 3 other conditions, which are essential attitudes and qualities necessary for the counsellor to posses for successful therapy; empathic understanding, unconditional positive regard and congruence. (Rogers C, 1957).

The relationship between the therapist and the client is non-directive. The therapist is supportive, non-judgmental and does not work out what the client's problem is; this is the client's work. In other words, the therapist merely facilitates self-actualization by providing a climate in which clients can freely engage in focused, in-depth self-exploration (Person Centered Therapy, 2007).

In the event a counselor encounters a client in a dysfunctional state of equilibrium, it is important that they approach the situation in such a way that the client will be open to the intervention. To do this a counselor should calmly approach the client and first get their names. From there offering a brief introduction of themselves as the counselor, conveying empathy and being authentic, this will immediately establish a connection between the client and the counselor. Another important key factor in this phase of the intervention is that the counselor has to clarify their intent. In other words, informing the client of what to expect this allows the client to view the counselor as a means of support (James & Gilliland,

The optimal therapeutic alliance is achieved when both the counselor and the client come to the shared beliefs with regard to the goals of treatment and view the methods as effective and relevant (Ardito & Rabellino, 2011). Within this definition the relationship becomes a bond in which the client shares belief systems surrounding treatment goals and outcomes, rather than the concentration on conventional relationship ideology. Similar to the discussion of transference and countertransference, boundaries are established to protect the client and the counselor both inside therapeutic settings and outside of the treatment realm. In examples of clients and counselors that are involved in outside support groups, confidentiality is respected to protect the therapeutic process. In other circumstances, the counselor adheres to ethical codes and standards where by protecting the relationship by conducting meetings in a professional manner and maintaining personal information about the client as agreed upon in client consent.

Within psychology there are many different theories that counselors should get to know in order to figure out which theory fits their own personal style of counseling. Some counselors stick to one specific theory, but many take on an integrative approach and use multiple theories within their practice. The four psychological theories that I am focusing on in this paper are the contemporary psychodynamic, theory, cognitive behavioral therapy, person-centered therapy, and the family systems theory.

Carl Rogers introduced client-centred counselling; this approach is part of the humanistic movement. Client-centred counselling is a non-directive type of therapy, meaning that the counsellor does not set the goals, focus or direction of therapy. Rogers believed that with the three core conditions, empathy, congruence and unconditional positive regard, therapeutic change occurs allowing each individual to move towards a position of growth. As the counselling goes on, it can lead to the client’s increasing awareness of their conditions of worth allowing them to achieve self-actualisation. (Reeves, 2013).

The most important part of any therapy is the relationship that the counselor and the client is able to develop. Through the development of the client/counselor relationship we are able to support the client in working on the areas that need to be addressed while delivering a supportive and non-exploitive relationship (Frances, Miller, & Mack, 2011). However, while offering support to a client the client may begin to struggle with the accountability of their own emotions and behaviors; if the counselor is aware of possible implications, they will be better able to address the feelings and behaviors. The first issue that clinicians should be aware

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).

Licensed professional counselors have a unique occupation in that not only do they interact with their clients on a highly personal level, but they also momentarily share their client’s burdens, worries, and concerns. This vicarious aspect of counseling creates the possibility for a counselor to continue sharing the client’s troubles long after the session has ended. According to Norcross and Guy (2007), “The person of the psychotherapist is inextricably intertwined with treatment success” (p. 2) meaning that if we desire more positive outcomes than negative ones we must figuratively become one with our clients. Due to this fact, “self-care is not simply a personal matter but also an ethical necessity, a moral imperative” (p. 6). If we fail to leave work at work at the day’s end, then other facets of our lives are in jeopardy of becoming tainted.

As the counselor this non-helpful behavior was difficult at times because I didn’t not want to insert my own psychological process and believes into the therapy session and tell the client what I felt they should do rather than allowing them to reflect and come up with their own plan. The behavior I felt I was non-helpful or could improved on reading missed non-verbal cues from the client. Missing these subtle cues from the client could have lead to my misunderstanding the client both verbally and non-verbally. Missing these nonverbal cues was a communication error that could have helped identify and explain some of the clients feelings and issues. I felt at times I could has miss interpreted the clients nonverbal communication because I didn’t want to create a confrontational session. Its easy to understand the importance of how and why a counselor should observer the clients verbal and non-verbal cues to identify discepanices or incongruities in the clients communication and behavior but for me addressing it once I saw It could have been addressed in order to demonsrate a more helpful behavior and

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.