Counselling Theory Essay

Critic on the wholey evaluate the practical use of soulfulness-Centred theory and its limitations as suggested by its critics. How does Person-Centred theory and practice differ from two early(a) methodls and what appearances if any(prenominal) is it equal? Carl Rogers, the founder of the Person C interposeed theory came to his survey through and through his own livelihood journey and relationship with lymph glands as a psychologist. He believed in the potential creation realised in every(prenominal) of us under the right core conditions (congruence, unconditional peremptory touch on and empathy) culminating in the actualising tendency Rogers advocated that on that point is a tendency within all compassionates, animals and plants, to move toward completion or fulfilment of potentials, i.e., wholeness. Individuals must develop the construct of egotism and the aw beness of their experiences becoming the souls egotism comprehension and the perception of the organism ic self (the true-self). (htt//webspace.ship/edu/cgboer/rogers.htm accessed 28/2/2008)Argument that this is non an argument that preempt sustain itself.the potato and we argon non potato. Rogers was of the oponion that when at that place ar incongruences surrounded by the ideal self and the self theory the to a greater extent than an mortal go away be fragmented and dysfunctional. Most of our conditions of expenditure fill been set in place by the conditions and experiences of our upbringing and predominantly by p arents or initial carers. Positive self regard is classic and brought ab off by compulsive regard, a need for love and butt against with an spic-and-span(prenominal) soul where conditions of deserving do not determine a soulfulnesss self-esteem. If you do this then I will love you, hence you stooge only be successful if you fulfil other peoples expectations .The importance of self cocksure regard means you are freed from others peoples goals and expe ctations of you. Therefore you are much likely to fulfil your own expectations and pass the whole person, a person you wish to be, an existence that should be harmonious and balanced and actualise the organismic self.The counsellor should relate, not as a scientist to an object of study, not as physician expecting to diagnose and cure but as a person to a person. The counsellor must note the lymph gland to be a person of unconditional self worth which means the client is value whatever his effects, deportment and condition. When the counsellor is genuine and congruent and not attempting to tegument behind a curtain of himself, touchingwith experiences that are dumb in his organismic self , and this will enable the counsellor to to the full enter into this relationship regard little of where it whitethorn lead. ( Rodgers p.185 2004) As the client becomes aware that he/she is accepted unconditionally the process begins and this exploration is possible because the client beco mes less threatened at damaging the old structured self he/she had previously been protecting.The client whitethorn start to experience emotions more(prenominal) fully which creates a congruence in himself that he is these feelings in all their intensity. accordingly, he discovers himself more freely and this constructive change will be reflected in the clients newly experiencing self. Critiques of Rogerss person-centred therapy begin with his basic conception of hu homophile temperament as tending toward the good and the healthy. Some critics of Rogerss theories suck hassle with the concept that therapists corporation, or should, establish a relationship of unconditional arbitrary regard in the case of dangerously violent persons. There is incertitude how parents might put into practice some of these ideas when bringing up children whose behaviour can be difficult and not destine any outbound appearance of disapproval. http//www.enotes.com/carl-rogers-criticism/rogers-car l accessed on 5/3/2012)The organismic valuing process, sometimes set forth as an internal monitor of a persons experiences in life that, under favourable circumstances, allows the development of healthy men or women possessing optimum self-esteem and an accurate sense of who they really are as well as who they would ideally like to become. The obstacle to this development, according to Rogers, are conditions are those generally inflicted early in childhood in which the individual is denied unconditional positive regard and is thereby influenced by either positive or negative conditions of worth which instils values and behaviours that are at betting odds with a persons organismic valuing process. The result of exposure to these conditions of worth is the development of individuals who look to the approval of others for their sense of identity rather than determination it within themselves.Consequently serious conflicts arise within the in-personity between its natural organismic valuing process and its perception of conditions of worth that are disaffect to it. Such conflicts are the source of the vast array of neurotic symptoms and dis influences that have been catalogued since theinception of psychology as a professional discipline. In hunting lodge to cure his tolerants, whom he called clients so as to relate to them in a more equitable manner than did doctors or traditional psychoanalysts, Rogers provided them with the unconditional positive regard they were denied previously by practicing nondirective techniques of therapy that avoided communicating to the client the judg cordial or interpretive conditions to which they had already been subjected in life and which were only perpetuated in other therapeutic methods, particularly psychoanalysis.A technique of nondirective therapy is reflection, , the therapist literally restating, or reflecting back, what the clients have said so that they themselves may become pro-active and insightful in their own rehabilitation, discovering who they are and the typewrite of person they would have become without the instruct from others. There is the argument here too that it is an impossibility that we can modernize without any sort of conditioning a point critics love to modernise their teeth into, especially in our modern society. In On turn a Person Rogers explains it as this Unless I had a need to parade my own cleverness and learning, I would do better to rely upon the client for the direction of movement.Rogers felt that this empowerment by the client gave them the fortune to attain the exaltedest goal of getting in touch with themselves. As Freud himself recognised, it is when the client comes to a realisation (interpretation) themselves that they most embrace it. The therapist can sponsor the client to find the insight, but he cannot give it to him. This points to the valuable spirit of the clients own discovery being of paramount importance in the meliorate process and n ot being told. ( A real high quin here for person-centred)However there are criticisms to Rogers technique of non-directivity. Most of these critiques have pre-conceived views that it is impossible for any one and only(a) to operate from this perspective and some dismiss the fundamental assumptions of the cash advance (actualising tendency, self-authority and self-directivity of the client).Lietaers (1998) attain illustrates this, as he puts the client-centred therapist in the region of expert of the process which is part based on Gendlins experiencing theory, sightedness the therapist as expert. Cain (1986)although a promoter of the person centred theory takes the thinking which is identified as instrumental non-directivity, in whichnon-directivity is important as coarse as it is useful intending the noise only as a suggestion. once more this is taken up by another ( Khan (1999)who suggests the therapists authority is endorsed with the rationalization that the client is a llowed to agree or disagree, ignore or confirm the therapists stimulation.This theory is alien to Rogers since the locus of suppress is switched to the therapist as intervention is defined as doing something to interfere in order to hinder or alter actions or behaviour. Maria Bowen a close friend and mate of Rogers suggested that non-directivity is a myth. In Rogers interview with JILL she considers a bite of Rogers responses as interpretive and directive. She besides concludes that Rogers seemed to avoid the dark side and evaluated 25 of Rogers therapy interviews to assess the idea that he operated on a positive bias based upon the chief, Did Carl Rogers positive of human nature bias his mental hygiene. Interestingly enough, the findings showed that Rogers tended to veer more towards responding to the negative than to the positive client statements. Non-directivity does not inescapably lie in the particular responses which come from the person of the therapist.At this point I will look at a more directive module of therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy known as CBT. It originated from Sigmund Freuds pioneering therapeutic nest to individuals who had suffered childhood sexual abuse in 1895, which twisting retelling the hurttic event in order to release repressed emotions. This type of therapy involves cognitive and behavioral techniques whereby clients are encouraged and taught ways to change their thought patterns and expectations and relaxation techniques are used. It is often used for phobias, obsessions, eating disorders, stress link ailments and major depression(sometimes in conjunction with drug treatment).There are various techniques that management on problem solving, much(prenominal) as homework, diary cards and behavioural analysis. Some patients do not respond well to change and feel their scummy and apparent loss of control over their lives were not understood which has more recently led to the introduction of dialectical behavioural therapy.This is exposit as an acceptance strategy that acknowledges clients behaviour (e.g. .drinking , drug use, self-harm )was the only way the person could deal with sure emotions. Cognitive therapy uses the power of the mind in influencing behaviour. The basis of the theory proposes that previous experience candamage self image and this can affect attitude emotions and ability to deal with certain issues and life situations. The therapist helps the client to identify, question and change poor mental images of themselves that may help to resolve current negative responses and behaviour, resulting in more positive attitudes and optimistic life view.Person centred therapy also acknowledges that previous life experiences alter self images resulting in negative responses but allows the client to identify, question these and challenge their particular negative responses and behaviour. This comes back to the premise of non-directivity which ultimately is empowering for the client. C BT states that part will not be able to access certain smothered emotion ascribable to the tremendous trauma the brain has endured in the commencement place.and not be sufficient getting the patient past denial, getting the patient to discover suppressed emotion, and a therapist must be strong, they must push the patient, they must get them agitated in order to provoke the raw emotion that certain trauma locks away. A pct environment does not achieve any of these things, and only draws the conclusion of lengthen the CBT treatment itself beyond what should be needed. CBT is an assertive therapy, and must be delivered especially in relation to trauma PTSD.CBT is often performed from 10 12 sessions, though can go for up-to 12 months if the trauma is of a more complex nature. Beyond this time limit it is presumed something is wrong either the patient isnt working hard enough, or the therapist isnt delivering and pushing the patient to work hard enough.The real pluses for CBT, is that a majority of the structure can be delivered in a group environment, hence limiting the one-on-one patient / therapist time and achieving greater through put of patients, without prune for end results. 7 CBT can also be used effectively by changing the delivery to suit children of any age, without losing effective purpose or outcomes. 8 CBT can be delivered online, through Internet Therapy known as Interapy, utilize a mixture of online tasks and electronic interaction with the therapist. These clear advantages are do it far more popular as the tool of choice with trauma specialists in relation to PTSD.(Post Traumatic Stress Disorder).A study utilize neuro-imaging in anxiety disorders concluded that CBT physically affects the brain, unique(predicate)ally in the areas of empathy and forgiveness. Neuro-imaging also identified that CBT in combination with prescribed drugs that the two coordinated to work collectively together in order to help open specific pathways within th e brain helping regulate the dysfunctional neural circuits mired with the regulation of negative emotions and fear extinction. This again may only be temporary and there are no many medications that are being tested (but not always sufficiently) and prescribed that it will take sooner a few geezerhood before we know the full electric shock of these substances on the mind body and spirit of the recipients. To use an analog from an word on various modules of counselling he suggests the human heart-mind could be compared to a concrete yard. The concrete represents the barrier, the defence mechanisms, between the conscious and the unconscious The widows weeds that grow through the cracks are the difficult thoughts. CBT tries to pull up the weeds as soon as they appear.But the cracks remain and so does the lubricating oil beneath, so the weeds keep coming through, naturally. Under pressure more cracks will appear and more weeds just as for a person under pressure will see their ne gative thoughts reproduce and grow . to block the weeds (and avoid harmful chemical atomiser anti-depressants and tranquilisers) you need to tackle the problem at source where the weeds are coming from, what is going on beneath the concrete. At the deeper levels of the self there are unconscious dynamics that need insight to be single-minded .Hence why short term and pharmacology are not necessarily effective in the long term. In contrast to the CBT approach, it is through a basically person-centred approach, already outlined, that the person can be lead in this kind of deep, insight-based work.. No study exists to measure what clinicians claim and know from experience, due to the time based requirements involved on follow-up assessment five, or ten years later.There are then so many factors within such a time frame that would be substandard to prove one method over the other clinically, ie. re-exposure to stressors, lifestyle changes, and so on Unfortunately due to these life restrictions, studies are typically only demo for short-term gain vs. clinical experience where patients are monitored over years via feedback. In the summary of the 2008meta-analysis by Robert Elliot and Elizabeth Freire (Person-Centred/Experiential Therapies Are Highly Effective) looked at 78 studies where PCE therapies were compared to CBT, including 63 RCTs (Randomised Clinical Trials). Apparently when all the PCE therapies were analysed they seemed to be slightly less effective than CBT . However when meta-analysis statistically controlled for the theoretical orientation course of the exploreer, otherwise known as look intoer allegiance, the effects disappeared as the research was found to be bias which can be preferably green in treatment research.After this other studies were done and to see if the transcendency would decrease in relation to other supportive therapies and PCE therapies. It was found that saturated PCT was statically equivalent in effectiveness to CBT , even without doing any control for researcher allegiance. They concluded that important PCE therapists do their own outcome research and not trust watered down versions of what we doas Rogers said the facts are friendly which is the legitimate version of Person-Centred Therapy. Transpersonal psychology was one of the first self- declared transpersonal academic disciplines to develop in the late 1960s and 1970s. It was building upon earlier studies into psychology of religion and mysticism by William crowd together amongst others and from psychodynamic theorists (Jung and Assagioli) and humanistic psychology (Maslov).It strainsed on the exploration of the higher reaches of human nature and experiences often influencing by Eastern religions, philosophies and practices. Transpersonal means beyond or through the personal, whereby our normal self is transcended resulting in a sense of radio link to a larger, more meaningful reality.Transpersonal counselling is varied but are often b ased on Jungian, Person-Centred, Psychosynthesis, Buddhist, Holotropic principles, to name a few. Important focuss in transpersonal counselling would be the some of the following Is there life after death? How can I achieve greater happiness and fulfilment? What is enlightenment? How can I be more originative? Science is also now making headway to show that everything is interconnected in a beneficial mixture of experience.(e.g. Quantum psychiatry, physics and biology a foetus still carries a cellular record of the excruciating experience and an enormous amount of pent up emotions and physical energies.)Transpersonal counsellors may used various methods and could appear directive or non directive and mayalso practice venture or guided fantasies and other creative pursuits. The processes are varied too ( from spiritiual healing and emergence to kundalini awakenings and mediumship.) For example eldritch emergence may be triggered by trauma, stress, illness, life changing events, unripe apparitional practice or drugs. Spiritual emergence is considered to be an spiritual opportunity and transformation but can be very provoke and often indistinguishable from psychosis. This is why the understanding of a particular approach is essential because a person with these symptoms could be embraced by the therapist that believes it is a part of spiritual growth and by another therapist mayhap put on medication and branded a pschizoid. it seems like the force of transpersonal therapy is the valuing of the wholeness of being and self-realization on all levels and all the experiences that a person has are valuable. Sensitivity to individuals beliefs and practices and major frames of reference are dismissed.Hence why Rogers and the transpersonal are similar in their embracing of the persons frame of reference. some other consideration may be atheist may object to visual perception a transpersonal therapist and a religious or spiritual person may feel the need to be s een by therapist with similar spiritual beliefs. When religious belief systems can often be such major identity issues for clients it is important not to be dismissive as some therapeutic disciplines can be. Jesus, Mohammed, Buddha, Ramakrishna were diagnosed more recently as schizophrenic psychotics, hysterics or epileptics .and the famous psychoanalyst Franz Alexander described Buddhist meditation as artificial catatonia, which I personally find quite offensive .Transpersonal combines the awakening of personal awareness and intuition (non-rational knowing)with the bodys ability to heal itself through compassionate self support.Some transpersonal experiences are deep connection and love with other people, a sense of sacredness, euphoria, memories of previous life/lives , creative inspirations, out of body and death/birth experiences. I think that Person centred approach is also geered for creating a journey for personal awareness and intuition with the congruent nature of the disci pline and the conditions that are at the core of Rogers goal of the harmonious self.Techniques may be taught and support explicitly in the therapy session and, at times shifts in disposition may be cultivated to allow the individual to develop promptinsight and inspiration that may not be available through more conventional means. This may provide clients with a skill they can practice on their own. Rogers speaks of something similar as he feels all in one piece as he settles into a holistic mode of perception. Losing awareness of his surroundings and even the sense of time, he demonstrates that he is experiencing , by definition, an altered state of consciousness ( Ludwig 1967)He states himself he was able to be more aware , not less, aware than at other times. He states that he never felt as whole or as much a person than he did in his therapeutic interviews. In 1961 he commented that when there is this complete unity, singleness, fullness of experiencing in the relationship, th en it acquires the out of-this-world quality which therapists have remarked upon, a sort of trance like feeling in the relationship from which both the client and he emerge at the end of the hour, as if from a deep well or tunnel. He spoke of his inner spirit reaching out and touching the inner spirit of the other and the relationship transcending itself, becoming part of something larger where he found profound growth, healing and energy were present.(Rogers p.202)Transpersonal experiences of psychological death, rebirth and oneness, with other people, with nature and the entire universe and the cosmic consciousness can trim down the level of aggression, increase compassion and tolerance and ultimately lead to high ecological awareness, an optimal strategy to lead a fulfilling life and a productive contribution to the collective well-being. This sounds very much like the fully-functioning person Rogers speaks of, the creative and free being that becomes that potential in its full ness in the cosmic picture.Rogers had a definite relationship with transpersonal ideologies although he did not become a transpersonal psychologist he seemed congenial to it, especially in his role in the humanistic psychology, his visits to mediums and attempts to explain his own mediumistic experiences in psychotherapy in the new age language. He was curious and experimental with the transpersonal but he remained a client centred psychotherapist.CONCLUSION FOR THEORY ESSAYMoreover, Rogerss work stay ons to wait on as a foundation for the counseling profession (Capuzzi & Gross, 2001 Gibson & Mitchell, 1999 Gladding, 2000 Nugent, 2000). It also plays a major part in the practice ofthe vast number of counselors, clinical psychologists, and psychotherapists who describe their practice as eclectic or integrative, including the client-centered approach as a major component in their repertoire (Aspy, Aspy, Russel, & Wedel, 2000 Bergin & Garfield, 1994 Sharf, 2000). But Rogerss influenc e extends beyond the field of psychology, just as the career of the man did during his lifetime. While some of Rogerss critics felt that his theory was superficial (DeMott 1979), overly optimistic, and underestimated the capacity for human evil (May, 1982), the simplicity of his message and his unyielding belief in the strength and power of human potential is carried on in humanistic and transpersonal fields today (Sharf, 2000 Cowley, 1993).At best, Rogerss detractors claim, his ideas may be applied only among a limited range of clients, specifically those suffering from the milder forms of neurosis, acknowledging that while person-centred therapy may prove no more effective than any other method, it has yet to demonstrate that it is harmful in any way. notwithstanding such criticisms, Rogerss theory of personality and his therapeutic methodology continue to gain adherents and have become among the most widely influential trends in the history of psychology.(http//www.enotes.com/c arl-rogers-criticism/rogers-carl accessed on 5/3/2012) And Finally, This new world will be more human and humane. It will explore and develop the splendor and capacities of the human mind and spirit. It will produce individuals who are more integrated and whole. It will be a world that prizes the individual personthe great of our resources. (Rogers, 1980, p. 356)