Counseling Theories in Rogers Client Centered Therapy Humanism and Their Rationale - Coursework Example

Counseling Theories in Rogers Client Centered Therapy Humanism and Their Rationale Counseling Theories in Rogers Client Centered Therapy Humanism and Their Rationale Rogers client centered therapy is also referred as Person centered therapy. Psychologist Carl Rogers developed it between 1940s and 1950s. Saylor (2011) observes that human psychology theory of humanism uses phenomenology and existentialism philosophies. McLeod (2007) indicates that humanist, humanistic and humanism terms are used in psychology to study people and their unique characteristics. Humanism psychology is used to study the person as a whole. Humanistic psychologists observe human behavior as the people are doing them. Carl Rogers’s Theory of Personality According to Carl Rogers, the goal of person-centered therapy is to assist people realize themselves by improving their attitudes, their behaviors, and their well-being. Personality theory explains widely what constitutes people and their behaviors. This essay will explore Carl Rogers’s humanistic theory of personality. Humanistic theory was developed because of a rebellion against psychologies such as behaviorist and psychodynamic. Humanistic theory assumes that people have freedom to do what they want (McLeod, 2007). This theory also assumes that people are generally good and have an urge to make the world that they live in better. Humanistic theory assumes that human values are central and emphasizes that all human beings are worthy, active, and creative. This theory assists people to overcome their hardships, their pains, and desperations. McLeod (2007) adds that humanistic theory of personality is qualitative. It makes use of research methods and rejects experiments. Qualitative research uses open-ended questionnaires, interviews that are unstructured, as well as unstructured observations. Qualitative research uses case studies to find out how people think and feel. This is because human beings are different from animals simply because they have conscious and are able to reason and talk. Humanistic theory indicates that human behaviors can only be understood through studying human beings and not animals (Mcleod, 2007). Human psychology should be used to understand human behavior individually rather than understanding the average performance of the whole group. Limitations of Humanistic Theory Humanistic theory has various limitations, for instance, it ignores biology and is unscientific. This is because it uses subjective concepts rather than objective to measure self-actualization (Mcleod, 2007). Theory of humanism ignores the unconscious mind. It uses qualitative data to compare human behavior. Reitan (2013) observes that, according to Rogers, the society views people based on their degree of worth. This explains that our society has various expectations of how certain people should behave and they reward them accordingly. A good example is that employers reward people with money after doing the work given. Carl Rogers explains that people struggle to maximize their potential. Rogers called this the actualizing tendency. He explained that actual tendency destructions result in mental illness. Mental illness is based upon self worth. Rogers argue that self worth of psychotic individuals is negatively skewed. Saul (2007) adds that mentally sick individuals could live well in the world, if there were no stigmas. This is because mentally ill people undergo self-denial that destroys their self worth. Pescitelli (2015) indicates that Rogers viewed people as subjects of dignity and great interest rather than objects and that their behaviors are rational. Rogers’s humanism theory of personal development argues that human beings exist in a changing world and at the centre of many experiences. Rogers believes that clients heal best when they are encouraged to focus on their own understanding of their current issues other than focusing on somebody’s point of view. Rogers believes that therapists aim at improving people’s condition by being genuine, clear, and warm to their clients. According to Rogers, people improve from inside themselves. Client-centered therapy is non-directive since therapists permit the clients to express themselves fully in the discussion without steering them in any direction. This therapy is also empathetic because therapists regard their clients positively, accept and support them (Kendra, 2015). Rogers postulates that the therapists should remain non-directive in that they should not pass any judgment regarding the feelings of the clients. The therapists should not offer solutions or direct the clients on what to do. Instead, the client should control his actions with freedom according to their understanding, attitudes and behaviors. Kendra (2015) indicates that these resources can be improved only if the counselors improve the psychological attitudes and mentality. This is because people’s behaviors are shaped by the way they perceive their current situation. Rogers derived this theory from his encounters with mentally troubled individuals. He believed that their condition could improve only when they personally practice to heal themselves through practicing self-actualization. According to McLeod (2008), Rogers’s client centered therapy concentrates on self-concept. These are beliefs and perceptions about one self. Client centered theory deals with personal ideas, values attributes, and individual values. This theory concentrates on the present condition of a person and their capabilities. Rogers believes that people’s self-concept is the main component that controls their experiences. Rogers listed six conditions that help change people’s personality. These are clients’ relationship, their vulnerability to any anxiety, genuineness of the therapist, how the client perceives the genuine nature of the therapist, the positive regard of the therapist to the client and the therapist’s accurate empathy (Kendra, 2015). Rogers’s therapy concentrates on assisting the clients to trust themselves and have faith in their thoughts. Their feelings should also be accurate having knowledge of their present freedom. This will help them to participate fully in the world through contributing to other people’s lives. Rogers argues that the way people view themselves is different from the way others view them. Confident people have high self-esteem while those who are shy have low self-esteem. For example, some people, who are interesting to others, may consider themselves boring depending on the way they view others (Kendra, 2015). Carl Rogers explained that clients are people who are undergoing therapy sessions. This is because clients and the therapists require being closer and opening to each other. Rogers explains that therapists are equal with clients (Kendra, 2015). With this understanding, the clients will be able to open to their counselors without fear. Client centered therapy is different from other therapies since it aims at improving the client’s life and not the therapist. The client decides what is wrong or right and what should be improved in his life. In this case, the work of the counselor is to help the client understand his condition and learn how to improve it. Rogers believed that people’s conditions could be improved when they focus on the present and the future than when they focus on the past (McLeod, 2008). Humanism theory assists clients to focus on personal growth so that they can actualize themselves personally. The counselor helps the client to accept and understand the techniques taught, through listening and sharing them. Rogers indicates that clients who are in a state of incongruence are assisted to come out of it by their counselors. Rogers comments that everybody should benefit from this theory and become a potentially competent individual. According to Kendra (2015), personal centered theory increases self worth and reduces incongruence level that exists between ideal and actual self. As a result, the client functions fully. Principles for client-centered therapy Genuine Client-centered therapy operates when the client is genuine with the counselor. The relationship and the contact between the client and the therapist should be positive (Kendra, 2015). This will improve the perception of the client and the therapist. In this theory, the counselor does not hide his experiences and openly shares them with the client. Therapists are also in a position to teach their clients on how to be genuine. Unconditional Positive Regard Client centered theory is operational when there is unconditional positive regard provided by the therapist to the client. This aspect explains that successful people value themselves. The therapists genuinely care for the client as he approves some of client’s actions (Kendra, 2015). The therapist accepts the clients who agree to certain expectations, as he/she is regardless of what they are experiencing. The counselor aims at maintaining a positive attitude to the client regardless of whether there are some disgusting actions. Through this process, the client feels free to express his emotions with no rejection. Empathy Therapists demonstrate their empathy through understanding the client internal feelings. In this condition, the therapist carefully listens and understands the client’s experiences, as they follow their story. Through this principle, therapists act as mirrors to client’s thoughts and feelings. The clients are assisted in understanding their thoughts, emotions, and perceptions (Kendra, 2015). Client Incongruence This condition exists between the experiences of the client and his level of awareness. Client perception The clients have minimal understanding of the therapist’s unconditional positive regard and his empathetic understanding. Person centered-therapy is positive and optimistic to human behaviors and nature, which is the most important part that contributes to success in people’s lives (McLeod, 2008). Person centered therapy considers people and emphasizes on the counselor and the client being genuine to each other. Rogers argue that people who live a good life aim at fulfilling their potential in every stage of life. He believes that people who undergo various life experiences allow their personality and their self-concept to grow. Traits of Fully Functioning Individuals Rogers based fully functioning individuals depending on the following traits; Open to any experience and do not defend any change. They also appreciate any moment in life and live it to its fullest. They trust themselves when making any judgment and choices. They have freedom to make any choice and do not restrict themselves from any life situation (Boundless, 2015). They are able to adapt quickly to any situation in life and do not conform to every life situation. They are also careful with their actions when dealing with other people. This makes them constructive and responsible. Most of them are rich and learn from experiences (Boundless, 2015). Rogers believed that people know what causes imbalance in their psychological lives. He also believes that people know what they want and how to regain it from deep down their hearts. Psychotherapy is a process through which individuals are assisted to make their personal changes to achieve their full potential (Boundless, 2015). Theory of personality indicates that people desire to be the best in their lives. Self-actualization stage is a driving force that helps people realize their full potential in life. Infants aim at self-actualization, which is to be fed and clothed. Personality theory explains people’s ideal world. This concentrates on what people would have become if they had lived in an environment where they are being regarded positively. Example is what life condition they would have been in if their parents would have loved and appreciated them (Dagmar, 2015). Rogers argue that such people would be healthier and more successful in their lives. They would have attained self-actualization faster. Rogers explained that self-concept explains how others shape people’s own perceptions. According to Rogers, self is the most important concept in humanistic theory. It is based on people’s life experiences, evaluation of self, and their attitudes (Dagmar, 2015). Positively regarded people (mostly by their parents) possess good values, and develop self worth. Individuals, who grow up believing that others are more significant than they are, develop incongruence between themselves and their experiences. Self worth and self-concept are interrelated in that they guide people’s behavior towards other people. This theory argues that some people believe that their opinion is inferior to that of their friends. This affects most people’s decision-making and lowers their self-esteem (Schneider, Bugental and Pierson, 2001). At the same time, they do not trust their feelings that affect their self-actualization. Development of Incongruence between Self and Experience Rogers argues that most people desire to be approved by their parents who make them struggle to please them and as a result, they feel loved. However, incongruence may set in when the children’s behavior do not meet the expectations of their parents. The children feel less appreciated and less loved (McLeod, 2015). By doing this, they are experiencing incongruence between their experiences and their self. This then leads to psychological maladjustment that blocks growth that leads to self-actualization. Rogers explains that positive regard is a condition where people are appreciated because of making positive differences to other people. Congruence between self and experience may exist when some individuals experience unconditional love and they do not feel their worth (McLeod, 2015). Reintegration process occurs when people are understood by other people, are positively appreciated, and experience empathetic feelings. According to Dagmar (2015), humanism theory of personality has several key features, which are actualizing tendency, self, self-actualizing tendency, organismic valuing, and conditions of worth, fully functioning person and the self. Actualizing Tendency Rogers argues that human beings have actualizing tendencies that have a goal of maintaining and leading them to their destinations. All living things have this tendency. According to Dagmar (2015), actualizing tendencies cannot be destroyed without destroying the living organism. This tendency is creative, motivates human beings, and seeks pressure. This theory concludes that each human being has a goal of fulfilling their potential. Self The conscious and unconscious mind records all experiences in every moment of a person’s life. This section develops and matures as the person develops. Self develops as people interact with others and becomes aware of various functions (Dagmar, 2015). Peculiar and social human being experiences build the self. Self-actualizing Tendency Self-actualizing tendency is related to self. This is the actualization of the mind to the experience. This stage helps a person to realize who he is. The need to be positively regarded by other people such as ones parents, connect to the development and connection between self-concept and self-actualization (Dagmar, 2015). This identifies and accepts the behaviors that are acceptable and go hand in hand with self-concept. Organismic valuing and conditions of worth Important people in somebody’s life, such as their parents, have a great impact on people’s lives. As parents regard their children positively and unconditionally, they make the children accept the appreciated values and own them. The valuing process excels when experiences are valued depending on the optimal enhancement of the organisms, as well as the self (Dagmar, 2015). The experiences that match with the conditions put forward by the self are perceived while those that do not are discarded. This leads to incongruence between the self and the actual experience. This condition may result in confusion (Dagmar, 2015). Anxiety result from threatening experiences that come in people’s minds without them being aware; these discriminating experiences arrive when the mind is not aware. Fully Functioning Person and the Self Positively appreciated individuals are able to optimally develop and function fully. Fully functioning individuals are open to any experience, trust themselves, and have freedom to express their feelings (Dagmar, 2015). Rogers argue that good life is a process and a direction. Individuals who may be short of optimal childhood change through humanism theory. Rogers comment that it is possible to accept one self and change personality since it is an important part of human growth. Rogers explains that concepts of “I” and “me” are conceptual gestalt characteristics. Rogers’s humanism theory explains that they are fluid changing processes that are organized and consistent in people’s lives. According to Dagmar (2015), Rogers believes that change in one aspect could destroy the whole picture in the mind. Self-actualization refers to the facts about a person. Conclusion Carl Rogers developed theory of personality to assist individuals to function fully and become holistic individuals. Through this theory, human beings are open to new experiences and feelings. They are not restricted to their own concepts. People are also not afraid to make any decision that is based on their own experiences. They are able to trust their feelings by doing what is right. People also take advantage of rising opportunities by using their creativity. By doing this, they find it easy to adapt to new life situations. References Boundless. (2015). Boundless psychology: Rogers’s theory. Retrieved from https://www.boundless.com/psychology/textbooks/boundless-psychology-textbook/personality-16/the-humanistic-perspective-78/rogers-theory-308-12843/ Dagmar, P. (2015). Carl Rogers theory. Retrieved from http://pandc.ca/?cat=carl_rogers&page=rogerian_theory Kendra, C. (2015). Client-centered an analysis of Carl Rogers’ Theory of personality therapy. Retrieved from http://psychology.about.com/od/typesofpsychotherapy/a/client-centered-therapy.htm Mcleod, S. (2007). Humanism. Retrieved from http://www.simplypsychology.org/humanistic.html Mcleod,S. (2008). Person centered therapy. Retrieved from http://www.simplypsychology.org/client-centred-therapy.html Reitan, A. (2013). Humanistic theory and therapy, applied to the psychotic individual. Retrieved from http://brainblogger.com/2013/02/24/humanistic-theory-and-therapy-applied-to-the-psychotic-individual/ Saylor. (2011). Humanistic psychology. Retrieved from http://www.saylor.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Humanistic-Psychology.pdf Schneider, K., Bugental, J., & Pierson, J. (2001). The handbook of humanistic psychology. U.S.A: Sage publications, Inc. Read More