Congruence is also called genuineness. Congruence is the most important attribute in counseling, according to Rogers. This means that, unlike the psychodynamic therapist who generally maintains a “blank screen” and reveals little of their own personality in therapy, the Rogerian is keen to allow the client to experience them as they really are. Rogers, C. (1951). Client-centered Therapy: Its Current Practice, Implications and Theory. London: Constable. Central to Rogers” (1959) theory is the notion of self or self-concept . This is defined as “the organized, consistent set of perceptions and beliefs about oneself.” It consists of all the ideas and values that characterize “I” and “me” and includes perception and valuing of “what I am” and “what I can do.” Person-Centred Counselling in Action continues to inform and inspire my doctoral students and lead them to a deeper, much more nuanced understanding of the Person-Centred approach. Moreover, the book has been invaluable in instilling many of the core principles that enable them to become skilled practitioners, mindful of what the therapeutic relationship really means' - The self-concept does not always fit with reality, though, and how we see ourselves may differ greatly from how others see us.

Person-Centred Counselling in Action - Google Books Person-Centred Counselling in Action - Google Books

Person-centred counselling originated in 1930’s and 40’s from the work of the American psychologist Carl Rogers. Rogers came to believe that as it is the client who is hurting, then ultimately it is the client themselves who holds the answers about how best to move forward. At the time, this approach was a departure from others forms of counselling which relied on clients being advised, guided or somehow influenced on which direction to take. Using the person centred approach, it is the counsellor’s job to help the client connect with their own inner resources enabling them to find their own unique solutions. Sheila Haugh, Senior Lecturer MSc Person Centred Contemporary Psychotherapy and Applications, Metanoia, London The person-centered counselor is thus careful to always maintain a positive attitude to the client, even when disgusted by the client’s actions. Empathy His view differs sharply from the psychodynamic and behavioral approaches in that he suggested that clients would be better helped if they were encouraged to focus on their current subjective understanding rather than on some unconscious motive or someone else’s interpretation of the situation. Why Person-Centred Therapy?This important Fourth Edition maintains the book's accessibility, clarity and verve whilst incorporating new developments in the approach. John McLeod joins authors Dave Mearns and Brian Thorne to contribute an exciting new chapter on research relevant to the person-centred field. This fourth edition has all the strengths of the previous editions but includes a new chapter on recent developments in person-centred theory and practice, as well as a chapter on developments in research by John McLeod. The chapter on research, which comes at the end of the book, is an excellent explanation of why person-centred practitioners must both be informed by and engage with research, which will totally convince the doubters (like me). Instead, the client consciously and rationally decides for themselves what is wrong and what should be done about it. The therapist is more of a friend or counselor who listens and encourages on an equal level. It is now 25 years since the first edition of Person-Centred Counselling in Action appeared, offering the definitive exposition of the theory and practice of the person-centred approach. Since then the book has supported and inspired hundreds of thousands of trainees and practitioners worldwide.

Person-centred counselling in action - Open Library Person-centred counselling in action - Open Library

This refers to the therapist’s deep and genuine caring for the client. The therapist may not approve of some of the client’s actions, but the therapist does approve of the client. In short, the therapist needs an attitude of “I’ll accept you as you are.” Referring to features of humanistic psychology, explain how Joyce’s situation may affect her personal growth. [8 marks]. How Is Person Centered Therapy Different from Other Therapy Techniques?

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Rogers noticed that people tend to describe their current experiences by referring to themselves in some way, for example, “I don’t understand what’s happening” or “I feel different to how I used to feel.” Brian Thorne is Emeritus Professor of Counselling at the University of East Anglia, Norwich where he was previously director of counselling and of the Centre for Counselling Studies. He is also a co-founder of the Norwich Centre and continues to work there as a professional fellow. It is now 25 years since the first edition of Person-Centred Counselling in Action appeared, offering the definitive exposition of the theory and practice of the person-centered approach. Since then the book has supported and inspired hundreds of thousands of trainees and practitioners worldwide. Rogers, C. (1959). A Theory of Therapy, Personality and Interpersonal Relationships as Developed in the Client-centered Framework. In (ed.) S. Koch, Psychology: A Study of a Science. Vol. 3: Formulations of the Person and the Social Context. New York: McGraw Hill.

Person-Centred Counselling in Action - Audible UK Person-Centred Counselling in Action - Audible UK

This substantially revised Third Edition provides an excellent introduction to the theory and practice of person-centred counselling while incorporating exciting new developments in the approach. An important part of the task of the person-centered counselor is to follow precisely what the client is feeling and to communicate to them that the therapist understands what they are feeling. Rogers (1961) rejected the deterministic nature of both psychoanalysis and behaviorism and maintained that we behave as we do because of the way we perceive our situation. “As no one else can know how we perceive, we are the best experts on ourselves.” The discussion of empathy, acceptance and congruence is central and should be required reading for all trainees working to understand the richness of these core concepts... outstanding' - Counselling and Psychotherapy, The Journal of the British Association for Counselling and PsychotherapyBrian Thorne is Emeritus Professor of Counselling at the University of East Anglia, Norwich where he was previously Director of Counselling and of the Centre for Counselling Studies. He is also a Co-founder of the Norwich Centre and continues to work there as a Professional Fellow. Empathy is the ability to understand what the client is feeling. This refers to the therapist’s ability to understand sensitively and accurately [but not sympathetically] the client’s experience and feelings in the here and now. This fourth edition has been a very worthwhile endeavour. If this is to be Mearns and Thorne's last work of this type then it will be a lasting legacy for all counsellors and psychotherapists for some time to come and not just person-centred practitioners,. The updates are seamless and form a coherent state of the art presentation of person-centred theory and practice. Both novice and experienced therapists will find much to gain from reading this book, even if they have read previous editions. The addition of John McCleod's chapter strengthens this edition even further. Research on Person Centred Counselling is a comprehensive and in-depth introduction to the reasons for research, approaches to research and research on person-centred counselling itself. A highly commendable book' - Person-Centred Counselling in Action, Fourth Edition will be an invaluable resource for those embarking on their first stages of training. Well-established practitioners and even seasoned scholars will continue to find much to interest and stimulate them.

Person- Centred Counselling in Action by Dave Mearns Person- Centred Counselling in Action by Dave Mearns

Rogers strongly believed that therapists should be warm, genuine, and understanding for a client’s condition to improve. The starting point of the Rogerian approach to counseling and psychotherapy is best stated by Rogers himself:

Dave Mearns is formerly Director of the Counselling Unit and Professor of Counselling at the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow. Dave is author or co-author of four other counselling books published by SAGE: Person-Centred Counselling in Action, Second Edition, Experiences of Counselling in Action, Person-Centred Counselling Training and Person-Centred Therapy Today: New Frontiers in Theory and Practice. Because the person-centered counselor places so much emphasis on genuineness and being led by the client, they do not place the same emphasis on time and technique boundaries as a psychodynamic therapist. A person-centered counselor might diverge considerably from orthodox counseling techniques if they judged it appropriate. Her colleagues described her plans as ‘ridiculous,’ and her parents, who are very proud that their daughter is a teacher, have told Joyce that they will not speak to her again if she does leave teaching to become a dancer. Joyce is beginning to feel sad and miserable. Unlike other therapies, the client is responsible for improving his or her life, not the therapist. This is a deliberate change from psychoanalysis and behavioral therapies, where the patient is diagnosed and treated by a doctor. Consequently, the self-concept is a central component of our total experience and influences both our perception of the world and our perception of ourselves. For instance, a woman who perceives herself as strong may behave with confidence and see her actions as actions performed by someone who is confident.