APPLICATION : THERAPEUTIC TECHNIQUES AND

PROCEDURES

Early Emphasis on Reflection of Feelings

- Rogers’s original emphasis was on grasping the world of the

client and reflecting this understanding. As his view of
psychotherapy developed, however, his focus shifted away
from a nondirective stance and emphasized the therapist’s
relationship with the client.

- Many followers of Rogers simply imitated his reflective

style, and client – centered therapy has often been identified
primarily with the technique of reflection despite Rogers’s
contention that the therapist’s relational attitudes and
fundamental ways of being with the client constitute the heart
of the change process.

Evolution of Person – Centered Methods

- Rogers believes clients have the resourcefulness for positive

movement without the counselor assuming an active,
directive role. What is essential for clients’ progress is the
therapist’s presence, which refers to the therapist being
completely engaged and absorbed in the relationship with the
client.

- The therapist is empathically interested in the client and is

congruent in relation to the client.

- The therapist is willing to be deeply focused on the client in

order to understand the individual’s inner world.
 - Interventions such as listening, accepting, respecting,
understanding, and responding must be honest expressions by
the therapist.

- One of the main ways in which person-centered therapy has

evolved is the diversity, innovation, and individualization in
practice. As this approach has developed, there has been
increased latitude for therapists to share their reactions, to
confront clients in a caring was, and to participate more
actively in the therapeutic process.

- Cain believes it is essential for therapists to modify their

therapeutic approach to accommodate the specific needs of
each client.

- Person – centered therapists have the freedom to use a variety

of responses and methods.

- A guiding question therapists need to ask is, “ Does it fit ? ”

- Therapist congruence is basic to establishing trust and safety

with clients, and the therapy process is likely to be adversely
affected if the therapist is not full authentic.

The Role of Assessment

- It is not how the counselor assesses the client but the client’s
self- assessment.

- From a person- centered perspective, the best source of

knowledge about the client is the individual client.
 - It may not be a question of whether to incorporate assessment
into therapeutic practice but of how to involve clients as fully
as possible in their assessment and treatment process.

Area of Application

- The person – centered approach has been applied to working

with individuals, groups, and families.

- When people are in crisis, one of the first steps is to give

them an opportunity to fully express themselves.

- Sensitive listening, hearing, and understanding are essential.

- Heard and understood helps ground people in crises, helps to

calm them in the midst of turmoil, and enables them to think
more clearly and make better decisions.

- If the person in crisis does not feel understood and accepted,

he or she may lose hope of “ returning to normal ” and may
not seek help in the future.

- If counselors are lacking in the relationship and

communication skills, they will not be effective in carrying
out a treatment program for their clients.

- An effective person – centered therapist must be grounded,

centered, present, focused, patient, and accepting in a way
that involves maturity.

- Without a person – centered attitude or way of being mere

application of skills is likely to be hollow.
SUMMARY AND EVALUATION

Summary

- Person – centered therapy is based on a philosophy of human

nature that postulates an innate striving for self-actualization.

- Rogers’s theory rests on the assumption that clients can

understand the factors in their lives that are causing them to
be unhappy. They also have the capacity for self-direction
and constructive personal change.

- It is essential for the therapist to establish a relationship the

client perceives as genuine, accepting, and understanding.

- The therapist’s attitudes are more critical than are knowledge,

theory, or techniques.

- More than any other approach, person-centered therapy has

demonstrated that therapist empathy plays a vital role in
facilitating constructive change in the client.

Limitations and Criticisms of the Peron –Centered

Approach

- A potential limitation of this approach is the way that some

students-in-training and practitioners with a person –
centered orientation have a tendency to be very supportive of
clients without being challenging.
- A related challenge for counselors using this approach is to
truly support clients in finding their own way.

- Therapist authenticity and congruence are so vital to this

approach that those who practice within this framework must
feel natural in doing so and must find a way to express their
own reactions to clients.