The Person Centered Therapy - Assignment Example

Background/Literature review: Carl Rogers is one of the pioneers of the person centered therapy, and it isconsidered as an important work in the humanistic school that deals with psychotherapies (Richard, 2007). Rogers was able to affirm that individual personal experiences act as a standard and basis for therapeutic and living effect (Willard, 2009). Rogers identifies six important conditions that are necessary for purposes of producing personality changes in a client (Barkham, 2010). These six conditions are, vulnerability to anxiety, genuineness, relationship, the perception of the client regarding the genuineness of the therapist, accurate empathy, and the unconditional positive regard that a client has towards a therapist (Roemer and Orsillo, 2009). The use of the person centered therapy contrasts greatly with a dispassionate position which may be intended for other therapies. These other therapies may include the extreme behavioral therapies that are used for purposes of changing the behavior of the clients (Law, 1998). Roemer and Orsillo (2009) explain what this concept of eating disorders is. In their view, eating disorders are behavioral eating habits of an individual, which is driven by the fear of becoming too fat (Dobson, 2001). These activities or behavior involves a situation whereby an individual eats too much, or too little (Hughes, 2010). Furthermore, it may involve a situation whereby an individual uses harmful methods, for purposes of removing calories from his or her body. Casemore and Tudway (2012) explain that some of the most notable eating disorder, that can be treated by the use of person centered therapy are, Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa. Bulimia Nervosa is one of the eating disorders that contribute to the weight gain of an individual (Godt, 2002). Its symptoms include worrying too much about the weight of an individual, having a sense of guilt, feeling tired, and normal, despite the attempts of an individual to lose weight. This type of an eating disorder is normally caused by an aspect referred to as bingeing (Hughes, 2010). This is a situation whereby an individual keeps on consuming junk food, despite knowing its harmful effects. Anorexia Nervosa on the other hand involves eating minimal food substances, with the intention of losing some calories (Clinton, 2001). This is a situation whereby an individual is involved in engaging in a body activity that is harmful, and hence it is necessary to initiate a psychological process that can help them overcome this behavior (Kolt, 2004). In as much as this area of eating disorders is well researched, there are gaps that explain the best techniques that can contribute in treating this disorder. Some of the treatment option includes the use of the cognitive behavioral therapy, and the Maudsley approach (Buhl, 2002). The main aim of the cognitive behavioral therapy is to identify the unhelpful thinking of a patient, and help him or her change their behaviors. The Maudsley approach involves the use of the family members, to help in reforming the behavior of the patient (Godt, 2002). This approach is somehow similar to the person centered approach, which normally seeks to enlist the help of a patient to solve their problems (Buhl, 2002). Strengths and Limitations of this Research: The major strength of this research will fall on the need of effectively analyzing the efficiency of using the person centered approach for purposes of treating an individual with eating disorders. It will analyze its efficiency, and the various approaches used by this process. The only limitation in this research would amount to funding. This is because the research will use primary methods, which require money for funding. Research Questions, Aims and Objectives: This research has two three major aims. These aims are, To understand the concept of person centered therapy, and how it is applied in treating a person with eating disorders. To understand the various eating disorders, and come up with a solution on how to solve them. To understand the role of the patient in this therapy session and how they can contribute to the success or failure of the project. By carefully analyzing these aims, we can denote that this research will be analyzing the concept of person centered therapy, and its application in treating an individual with an eating disorder. These types of disorders are normally difficult to change, and hence it requires a considerable level of input from patients, for purposes of solving this problem. Hence the need of using the person centered approach. Based on these facts, the following are the objectives of this research, To look at various literature and writings, which explain then concept of person centered approach. To critically evaluate these literatures, looking at opposing and supporting views and coming up with an accurate information regarding this concept of person centered therapy. To come up with an appropriate answer touching on the effectiveness of person centered therapies in diagnosing and treating eating disorders. The following are the questions that this research aims at answering, What is person centered therapy? How effective is this therapy in treating people with eating disorders? What are the competing therapies used to treat people with eating disorders? By answering these three questions, then chances are high that the aims and objectives of this research will be met. Methodology: This research will use a combination of secondary and primary methods of collecting data. Secondary data is the kind of information that is collected by another person, as opposed to the user of the information. Some of the common sources of secondary data include organizational records, books, journals, censuses reports, etc. Analysis of the secondary data saves time, which could have been used by the researcher to collect the information under consideration. Furthermore, the use of secondary data is of great importance, and this is mainly because it enables a researcher to collect information that adequately talks about past changes and developments. Primary research comprises of a collection of an original data that is collected and analyzed by the researchers. This research is always carried out after the researcher gained an insight concerning the project, and this is through analyzing the various literature contained in secondary research. It is possible to accomplish this style of data collection through a variety of methods, and these methods includes the use of observations, questionnaires, market research, physical sciences, etc. Ethical Issues: One of the ethical issues to consider includes is notifying the participants of the research, on the intention of the researcher, and where the data would be used. This would help in instilling confidence, amongst the population of this research (Kothari, 2004). Another ethical issue to consider includes how to avoid plagiarism, while collecting data. This will mostly apply on secondary data, where the researcher will provide citations on any borrowed word used. Furthermore, the researcher will not distort any information collected, for purposes of suiting his or her beliefs. Participants: The major participants of this research will include professors and psychologists who have used this style of therapy, or have knowledge of it. The sampling technique in use is the probability sampling technique. Under this technique, the professors and psychologists experts have an equal chance of being invited for an interview. The only factor in consideration would be the time they have in granting an interview. When using surveys, the sampling technique used includes the non-probability sampling technique. This is because not everybody will have a chance to fill the surveys, but people who have knowledge on Methods: Data Collection While undertaking this research, the researcher will use both primary and secondary methods of research. Under the primary methods of research, the researcher would use interviews and surveys for purposes of collecting data (Creswell and Clark, 2007). In using an interview, the researcher will look for prominent scholars on psychology, and prepare a series of questions aimed at providing an answer on the effectiveness of person centered therapy, in regard to diagnosing and treating an individual with a eating disorder. Furthermore, the researcher will also aim at interviewing psychologists who have used this type of therapy, for diagnosing and treating people with eating disorders (Samuels, 2009). Interviews is an important aspect of data collection, mainly because it enables a researcher to collect an in-depth data regarding this concept of person centered therapy, and its effectiveness in treating and diagnosing an individual with a eating disorder. One of the major disadvantages that the researcher is likely to get while undertaking this process is the difficulty in getting an interview (Creswell and Clark, 2007). This is because the psychologists and the scholars normally have a busy schedule, which makes it difficult for them to have enough time to grant an extensive interview. The use of surveys is also an important method in collecting data. The researcher will mainly use an online survey, for purposes of collecting information regarding this topic. The surveys will be placed on websites responsible for providing information regarding psychology, and the different methods of psychological treatments. One notable method of data collection that would not be used is the use of questionnaires. This is because it is normally difficult for an individual to know whether the information provided is valid or not. This is because it is difficult to know the truthfulness of a respondent. The secondary methods in use, includes the use of books, journals, and newspaper articles. The researcher will have to look for various materials that talk about the person centered therapies, and their effectiveness of treating disorders. The areas where the researcher will find books and journals, includes the library (Creswell and Clark, 2007). The researcher will use government and university libraries, for purposes of getting the relevant books and materials to use in answering the questions of this research. The books of concern would include ones that are written by famous scholars on psychology, and other professionals who have used the person centered therapies, to treat patients who have various social and eating disorders. The journals that the researcher would use, are psychological journals. The researcher will mostly be concerned with journals contained in the Jstor database, and this is because they are reliable, and they have been reviewed by a panel of experts, who are well versed with the issues they discuss. Methods: Data Analysis While analyzing this data, the researcher will have to look at the consistencies that occur between the primary and the secondary data collected. It is important to explain that any inconsistencies that may be reached while analyzing data would mean that one of the information under consideration is not accurate. This would therefore mean that the information under consideration cannot be used for purposes of answering the research questions (Creswell and Clark, 2007). Furthermore, during this process, the researcher will have to group the various results of the data collected in sections. For example, the ones collected through an interview, in one section, and the ones collected through surveys in another section. This would enable to researcher to carefully analyze and come up with the results of each section, and compare them with one another for purposes of finding consistency (Kothari, 2004). Based on this fact, the major criteria used while analyzing this data, is whether the information under consideration is consistent or not. Dissemination: While disseminating this information, the researcher will have to consider the people who would benefit from it. The information collected from this research will benefit psychology students, and also provide some insight on people willing to use person centered therapy on treating clients with eating disorders. To disseminate this information, the researcher will use reports and journals to communicate the results of this research. Reports will be written to the sponsors of this project, while peer reviewed journals will make the results of this information to be accessible to different professionals, and people seeking information concerning this subject. Bibliography: Barkham, M. (2010). Developing and delivering practice-based evidence a guide for the psychological therapies. Chichester, West Sussex, UK: Wiley-Blackwell. Buhl, C. (2002). Eating disorders as manifestations of developmental disorders: Language and the capacity for abstract thinking in psychotherapy of eating disorders. European Eating Disorders Review, 138-145. Top of Form Bottom of Form Casemore, R., & Tudway, J. (2012). Person-centred therapy and CBT siblings not rivals. Los Angeles: Sage. Clinton, D. (2001). Expectations and Experiences of Treatment in Eating Disorders. Eating Disorders, 361-371. Creswell, J., & Clark, V. (2007). Designing and conducting mixed methods research. Thousand Oaks, Calif.: SAGE Publications. Top of Form Bottom of Form Dobson, K. (2001). Handbook of cognitive-behavioral therapies (2nd ed.). New York: Guilford Press. Top of Form Bottom of Form Donohue, W. (2001). A history of the behavioral therapies founders personal histories. Reno, Nev.: Context Press. Godt, K. (2002). Personality disorders and eating disorders: The prevalence of personality disorders in 176 female outpatients with eating disorders. European Eating Disorders Review, 102-109. Top of Form Bottom of Form Hughes, R. (2010). Rights, risk and restraint-free care of older people person-centred approaches in health and social care. London: Jessica Kingsley. Top of Form Bottom of Form Kolt, G. (2004). Psychology in the physical and manual therapies. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone. Kothari, C. (2004). Research methodology methods & techniques (2nd rev. ed.). New Delhi: New Age International (P). Top of Form Bottom of Form Law, M. (1998). Client centered occupational therapy. Thorofare, NJ: SLACK. Top of Form Bottom of Form Top of Form Bottom of Form Richard, D. (2007). Handbook of exposure therapies. Amsterdam: Elsevier/AP. Top of Form Bottom of Form Roemer, L., & Orsillo, S. (2009). Mindfulness- and acceptance-based behavioral therapies in practice. New York: Guilford Press. Samuels, W. (2009). Research in the history of economic thought and methodology a research annual. Bingley: Emerald JAI. Top of Form Bottom of Form Willard, H. (2009). Willard & Spackmans occupational therapy (11th ed.). Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Read More