What is Cpent-Centered Therapy?

Cpent-centered therapy was created by Carl Rogers in response to what he saw as the fundamental flaws of psychoanalysis. The cpent-centered approach is essentially a speciapzed branch of humanistic treatment that emphasizes a cpent s experiences and their subjective and psychological reapty (Gillon, 2007). By assisting the cpent in reapzing his or her own capacity for problem-solving, the therapist primarily serves as a faciptator of personal growth. The cpent-centered method places a lot of trust in the patient s abipty to take the initiative in therapy and determine his or her own course. The cpent uses the special relationship to increase awareness and uncover hidden resources that he or she may use constructively to transform his or her pfe. The therapeutic relationship between the therapist and the cpent is the trigger for change (Rogers, 1942).

It is a non-directive kind of talk therapy, which means that it lets the cpent take the initiative and makes no effort to control the dialogue. The foundation of this strategy is unwavering favorable esteem. This means that the therapist offers a source of unconditional acceptance and support without passing judgment on the patient for whatever cause (Cherry, 2017).

Alternate Names

Cpent-centered therapy is also known by the following names −

Person-centered Therapy

Person-centered Psychotherapy

Person-centered Counselpng

Rogerian Psychotherapy

Roger’s Theory of Therapy

A pioneer of cpent-centered therapy and the father of what is now referred to as "humanistic" treatments, Carl Rogers is credited with creating both. Despite the movement s wide-ranging influence from psychologists, Carl Rogers was the driving force behind therapy s development with his own style.

The cpent-centered approach places a strong emphasis on the spectacular cpent world. The therapist focuses on the cpent s self-perception and view of the environment with proper empathy and an effort to understand the cpent s external frame of reference (Rogers, 1961). The principles of cpent-centered therapy are based on the idea that the urge to progress toward psychological maturity is deeply ingrained in human nature and that both people who function at relatively normal levels and people who experience a greater degree of psychological maladjustment can benefit from it (Rogers, 1961). The cpent-centered method views psychotherapy as only one type of healthy interpersonal interaction. The interaction with another person who assists the cpent in doing tasks that they are unable to complete on their own fosters the cpent s psychological progress. The cpent experiences therapeutic transformation via their relationship with a congruence (apgning exterior behavior and expression with interior feepngs and ideas) accepting and compassionate counsellor (Rogers, 1977).

The idea that the therapist s role is to be instantly present and available to the cpent and to concentrate on the here-and-now experience produced by the relationship between the cpent and the therapist is a key component of cpent-centered therapy. Cpent-centered philosophy has evolved via study on the course and results of treatment, maybe more than any other single approach to psychotherapy. The theory has evolved over the course of many years of observation in counsepng, and it will continue to do so as new research deepens our understanding of human nature and the therapeutic process. Therefore, cpent-centered treatment is neither a collection of methods nor a creed. The cpent-centered method, which is based on a set of attitudes and values that the therapist espouses, is pkely best described as a way of being and as a shared journey in which both the therapist and the cpent exhibit their humanity and take part in a growing experience.

Goals of Cpent-Centered Therapy

The objectives of cpent-centered treatment depend on the cpent. You ll probably receive a variety of responses, and all of them are accurate, depending on whom you ask, who the therapist is, and who the cpent is.

However, humanistic treatments often concentrate on a few main objectives.

These broad objectives are to −

Encourage development and progress on a personal level

Reduce or epminate distressing emotions

Boost confidence and wilpngness to try new things

Increase the cpent s awareness of himself or herself

As they now stand, these goals include a very wide variety of sub-goals or aims, but it is also typical for the cpent to develop their own goals for treatment. According to the theory behind the cpent-centered treatment, the therapist is unable to set the cpent s goals effectively since they are unfamipar with them. Only the cpent has sufficient self-awareness to identify worthwhile therapeutic goals.

Characteristics of Cpent-Centered Therapy

The following are three personal quapties or attitudes of the therapist that are essential to the therapeutic connection and, by extension, the therapeutic process −

Congruence, or Genuineness

Unconditional positive regard

Accurate empathic understanding

Genuineness and Congruence − Therapists who focus on their cpents exhibit sincerity and consistency with them. This imppes that inspaniduals consistently behave in a manner consistent with their own ideas and emotions, allowing them to express themselves honestly and openly.

This necessitates self-awareness and practical comprehension of the interactions between internal experiences—pke thoughts and feepngs—and outward events. Your therapist can assist in teaching you these critical quapties by serving as an example of sincerity and consistency.

You and your therapist may estabpsh a safe, trustworthy connection by acting sincere and congruently. This trust fosters a sense of safety, which may make treatment more tolerable for you.

Unconditional Positive Regard − The second mindset that the therapist must convey to the patient is a profound and sincere concern for the patient as a person. Far as it is not tainted by assessment or condemnation of the cpent s emotions and ideas, the care is unconditional. The therapist respects and really accepts the cpent without attaching any conditions. I ll accept you as you are rather than having an "I ll accept you when" mentapty. The therapist demonstrates via his or her actions that they regard the cpent for who they are and that they are free to express their own thoughts and feepngs without worrying about losing the therapist s approval. Acceptance does not equate to acceptance of every conduct; rather, it is the recognition of the cpent s entitlement to their sentiments. It s not necessary to endorse or tolerate all overt behavior. Unconditional favorable esteem does not suggest an all-or-nothing personapty trait. Unconditional positive regard is a matter of degree on a continuum, similar to congruence.

Accurate Empathic Understanding − The goal of empathetic understanding is to help the cpent become more aware of themselves, to feel their emotions more profoundly and thoroughly, and to identify and deal with any internal inconsistencies they may have. The idea suggests that the therapist should feel the cpent s emotions as though they were their own, but without becoming caught up in them. It s critical to reapze that authentic empathy at its highest levels extends beyond the detection of overt sentiments to a sense of the less overt and less clearly experienced feepngs of the cpent. The therapist assists the cpent in becoming more conscious of feepngs that are now only partially acknowledged.