Utilizing the Person-Centered Therapy Approach - Literature review Example

Utilizing the person-centered therapy approach Utilizing the person-centered therapy approach Introduction Person-Centered Therapy (PCT) is founded on the Person-Centered Approach (PCA) which was coined by Carl Rogers (1902-1987) as a means to bring about a new paradigm of psychological counseling founded on growth, openness, and change in the processes of counseling. This paper will discuss the applicability of PCT in a cross-cultural setting. It will analyze the theoretical and philosophical underpinnings of PCA as an approach to counseling practice. It will also assess the criticism of the approach to identifying weaknesses and strengths through an investigation of literature. This paper will integrate a case of an individual who will be referred herein as James Howard in order to measure the efficacy of the Person-Centered Approach in a cross-cultural counseling setting. Suitable conclusion and recommendations on the method shall be made based on the evidence that will be presented. Key issues The goal of PCT is, to establish a person with regard to his or her individual attributes, such as social inclinations. This paper seeks to answer the question: who is James Howard, and how do his social-cultural attributes influence his way of thinking and behavior? In answering this question, a counselor also seeks to reorganize Howard’s thought processes and redirect his mental energies towards ideas and actions that would make a positive change in his current way of life in order to enhance his behaviour and general happiness. In my view, PCA can be considered imbalanced in the contemporary theory of individualism and personal liberty. There is a possibility that PCA functions at the expense of the collective good of individuals and may be seen as culturally limited (Humboldt & Leal, 2012). The actual practice of PCT has, however, proven that this approach can detach a counselor from a subjective frame of mind and immerse him or her in the personal experience of a patient, including within the specific cultural context. It has disproved the notion that pro-PCT counselors approach counseling with a closed mind frame given that its basic tenet includes respecting the personal integrity and autonomy of individuals, as well as the validity, authenticity, and uniqueness of their various experiences and world views (Humboldt & Leal, 2012). Philosophical, theoretical and underlying arguments of PCT PCA has envisioned human beings as individuals unique yet socially connected. In this regard, an individual is both autonomous and in solidarity with the rest of humanity. This means that he or she is a sovereign entity separate in thought and an action from others, as well as committed to the cultural expectations of the external society. Within these factors – autonomy vs. solidarity and sovereignty vs. commitment – an individual operates both as a uniquely differentiated person, as well as part of a social collective from which he or she cannot be removed completely. PCA, as an approach, has many relevant uses outside the realm of psychotherapy, such as in education. It has integrated aspects of congruence, empathy, and unconditional positive regard for learning and educational processes (Corey, 2012). This is, as well as in schools where it is used to help counsel troubled learners. Health care, as a concept, has undergone a paradigmatic shift from a pathogenic outlook to a broader concept of wellbeing that integrates the PCA. On account of this view, health is the aggregate of physical, mental, spiritual, and social well-being of an individual. An individual, in turn, operates within a given environmental context that has certain ramifications derived from the natural world, political environment, and the economy (Humboldt & Leal, 2012). The environmental conditions that face human beings commonly deliver hardships and trials, and the inherent nature of humankind is to adapt to the adverse conditions and eventually thrive. Individuals with personality disorders, conditions that cannot allow them to adapt to adverse situations, end up developing advanced mental illnesses (psychopathologies). Humboldt and Leal (2012) postulates that cognitive gaps between perceptions of the self and the realized experiences, known as sovereignty deficiencies, as well as those between the person and the social context, known as relationship deficiencies, are responsible for the psychopathologies. This view is supported by Cloninger, Zohar and Cloninger (2010) who assert that there is an active link between personality and mental illness or psychopathology. They say that, for mental health, people must face who they are and assess both the advantages and disadvantages of their current way of life in order to make positive changes that would enhance their functioning and overall happiness. The current focus on psychopathologies in contemporary clinical practice at the expense of more holistic perspectives has created a situation where therapists are merely dealing with the symptoms of mental illnesses rather than the root causes (Cloninger, Zohar & Cloninger, 2010). James Howard exhibits the traits of emotion and personality disorders that imply that he is prone to depression and self-destruction. He does not see the value of life and often thinks about committing suicide. In order to effectively treat Mr. Howard, it will be important to explore current and historical living conditions to unravel the source of his dissatisfaction with life, hence his self-destructive tendencies. According to Corey (2012), self-awareness is the cornerstone of person-centered psychotherapy. Howard was an excellent student in primary school, but this changed when his father committed suicide while in prison. During this time, Howard was still in secondary school. This may be the root cause of Howard’s deviant behavior. Anyone with a history of mood disorders or one whose parents committed suicide is may end up this way considering that these attributes are heritable (Cloninger, Zohar & Cloninger, 2010). The first step will be to have a candid talk with Howard about his self-destructive behavior and their historical connection within an environment of empathy, genuineness, and unconditional respect for his social and cultural experiences. The assumption is that environmental forces contributed to his current mental illness. Corey (2012) claims that PCA is rooted in the philosophical ideas of existentialism, which posits that individuals do not a have predefined essence but acquire character by engaging the world, suffering and fighting in it. The author acknowledges Rogers’ affirmation of clients’ self-awareness and inbuilt ability to solve their own problems as remarkably congruent with existential ideals. Therefore, Howard must acknowledge his power to change the circumstances, no matter how tragic or hard they seem, as a route to self-healing. This aspect of person-centered therapy is very important. It is based on the realization that the function of therapists is to make clients aware of their ability to make self-directed choices that would lead to sustainable lifetime satisfaction and psychological well-being (Corey, 2012). Crucial to this is the therapist’s ability to map out the client’s temperamental and personality development throughout his or her lifetime. This is possible through a formal questionnaire that will reveal the client’s personality type as well as therapy sessions to identify psychological markers that point to the current frame of mind. The focus on the wellbeing and functional capacity of the client rather than on the deficits or psychopathologies will empower Howard to make responsible choices about his current lifestyle choices and encourage self-confidence. However, in my view there could be significant inherent weaknesses regarding the use of a person-centered therapy in psychological counseling. One of these is its inoperability in cultures outside its presupposed occidental focus. While rejecting the notion of counselor-neutrality, Humboldt and Leal (2012), argue that behavior is culture-specific and needs to be understood from a cultural perspective. She argues that counselors routinely rely on social indicators steeped in specific cultural and value systems to judge the behavior of their clients. While this observation carries some merit, PCT allows the counselor to take the perspective of his or her client through phenomenological experiencing the others cultural perspective. Authenticity (congruence or genuineness) refers to the ability of the therapist to identify with and communicate the feelings that come out of the mutual experiencing (Corey, 2012). Conclusion In conclusion, PCT recognizes that there is more to good health than the absence of illness. This paper has established that individuals act within social and cultural contexts, such as created relationships. The establishment of a client’s current and historical temperamental and personality development is important in identifying the psychological causes for a given health problem and how to initiate proper treatment. It is apparent that the focus of PCT is to the wellbeing and functional capacity of a client. This is where the client can be integrated into the recovery process. It is, therefore, significant to apply PCT, especially if it integrates cultural knowledge and crucial individual experiences. References Cloninger, L. R., Zohar, A. H., & Cloninger, K. M. (2010). ‘Promotion of wellbeing in person centered mental health care.’ Focus, 8(2), 165-179. Corey, G. (2012). Theory and practice of counseling and psychotherapy. (9th ed.). Boston, MA: Cengage Learning. Humboldt, S., & Leal, L. (2012). Building bridges: Person centered therapy with older adults. European Journal of Business and Social Sciences, 1(8), 23-32. Read More