Client Centered Theory

Paper Summary:

This paper reviews and discusses Carl Roger's client-centered theory. According to the paper, the most important characteristic a therapist can hold is one of empathy. The paper further discusses how Roger's approach is based on humanist theories in which the human must be considered first and foremost as a human and not as a scientific machine.

Outline:
Abstract
Introduction
Discussion
Examples
Analysis
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"This practice of treating each person as an individual means that the therapist must respond to each and every individual based on the client's needs (Pollack, 1993). This does not mean, however, that each client should be treated different. In each case of therapy, self actualization is the goal, and there are different methods and different levels necessary to achieve this (Bozarth & Brodley, 1991). But there are three key factors which the therapist should use to and they are: "congruency (or genuineness), unconditional positive regard, and empathic understanding of the client's internal frame of reference" (Bozarth & Brodley, 1991). Already discussed, congruency is important because a client will notice if a therapist is not genuine. Positive regard is the notion that the client shall not be judged by the therapist, as humans are positive, and thus the therapist should be unconditional in the positive regard of the client. Lastly, the therapist must try to understand the emotions of the client, and help to bring forth the reasons those emotions exist. In the end, this means according to Rogers that the client is moved "forward in a constructive direction without intervening and assuming therapeutic expertise" (Bozarth & Brodley, 1991). In other words, the therapist should reflect and maintain a positive attitude, and let the client move towards self actualization. The therapist is responsible to treat each person as an individual within these guidelines in order to help the client."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Bozarth, Jared D., & Brodley, Barbara Temaner. (1991). Actualization: A Functional Concept in Client-Centered Therapy. Handbook of Self-Actualization, Vol. 6, 45-60.
• Bugental, J.F.T. (1964). The Third Force in Psychology. Journal of Humanistic Psychology, Vol. 4, No. 1, 19-25.
• Pollack, N. (1993). Client Centered Assessment. Pub Med, 47, 298-301.
• Rogers, Carl R. (1951). Client-Centered Therapy: Its Current Practice, Implications, and Theory. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company.
• Rogers, Carl R. (1959). A theory of therapy, personality and interpersonal relationships, as developed in the client-centered framework. In S. Koch (ed.). Psychology: A study of science. N.Y.: McGraw Hill.

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