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Block 2 Approaches to Assessment in Counselling

Unit 3 The Person Centered Approach To Assessment And Counselling

1) Describe the basic concepts of person-centered therapy?

Person-centered therapy is based on several core concepts:

• Unique Perception: Each individual has a unique way of perceiving the world, and their subjective experience is the most important factor in understanding their behaviour.
• Rational and Trustworthy Nature: People are inherently rational and trustworthy, and any deviations from this are due to a state of imbalance.
• Self-Actualisation Tendency: Individuals have an innate drive to grow, develop, and reach their full potential. This is a key motivating force in life.
• Self-Concept and Ideal Self: The self-concept is how an individual sees themselves, while the ideal self is how they would like to be. Incongruence between these can lead to problems.
• Positive Regard: The need for acceptance, respect, and love from others. This can sometimes conflict with the self-actualisation tendency.
• Conditions of Worth: These are external standards of behaviour or values that an individual adopts in order to gain positive regard from others, often at the expense of their true self.
• Congruence: A state of being genuine and authentic, where one's inner experience matches their outward expression. This is a necessary quality for the counsellor.
• Empathy: The ability to understand and feel with another person, sensing their private world as if it were one's own, without losing the "as if" quality.

2) Discuss the role of self-actualisation and condition of worth in human growth and problems?

• Self-actualisation is the inherent motivation for a person to reach their maximum potential and it directs a person towards full growth. It is a driving force for development and is more influential than environmental factors.
• Conditions of worth arise when a person compromises their self-actualisation tendency in order to gain positive regard. The person incorporates the values of others, ignoring their own. This can lead to incongruence, where a person's internal ideas of self-worth and experiences are inconsistent. This incongruence creates problems, and a person may lose touch with their real self.

3) What is meant by positive regard? Explain.

Positive regard is the need for acceptance, respect, and love from others. It is the feeling that a person is valued and appreciated by those around them. In person-centered therapy, it is important for the counselor to provide unconditional positive regard, accepting the client without any conditions or expectations. This means valuing the client regardless of their thoughts, feelings or behaviours.

4) Discuss the relationship between self-concept and the ideal self. Why is congruence between concept of self and ideal self is important?

• Self-concept is how an individual perceives themselves, while the ideal self is how they would like to be.
• Congruence between the self-concept and ideal self is important for a person's psychological well-being. When there is a significant gap or incongruence between how a person sees themselves and how they want to be, it can lead to problems. The more congruence between the inner and outer view, the more comfortable the client is with themself.

5) What is the organismic valuing process?

The organismic valuing process is how an individual gives value to experiences based on their self-actualisation tendency. If an experience is consistent with the individual's self-actualisation, they will give it positive value, and vice versa. This means that different people may value experiences differently depending on their own unique self-actualisation.

6) Write personality theory of Carl Roger with suitable examples?

Carl Roger's personality theory, also known as the client-centered or person-centered theory, focuses on the individual's subjective experience and their drive towards self-actualisation. Key components include:

• The Developing Infant: The infant begins with an organismic valuing process and a natural tendency toward self-actualisation. As a child develops, they begin to internalise conditions of worth based on the positive regard they receive.
  • Example: A child who is praised for being quiet may begin to view being quiet as a condition for receiving love, and suppress their natural outgoingness.
• The Self-Concept: This develops as the child experiences the world and incorporates others' values. It's a reflection of how the person perceives themselves.
  • Example: A child who consistently receives criticism may develop a negative self-concept, believing they are not good enough.
• Conditions of Worth: These develop when a person internalizes the expectations of others to gain positive regard. This can lead to a person acting in ways that don't align with their self-actualisation.
  • Example: A person who is told they should be a doctor may suppress their true interest in art, feeling that only by becoming a doctor will they be valued by their family.
• Fully Functioning Person: This is the ultimate goal of growth and development, a person whose behaviour is fully in line with their self-actualization tendency.
  • Example: A fully functioning person is open to new experiences, accepts their own feelings, lives in the present, makes free choices, trusts themselves, and is creative.

7) What is a fully functioning person? Discuss in the context of Carl Rogers theory.

A fully functioning person is someone who is living in accordance with their self-actualisation tendency, and is in congruence with themselves. In the context of Carl Roger's theory, they exhibit the following characteristics:

• Open to experience: They are receptive to both positive and negative experiences.
• Accepting of one's own feelings: They acknowledge and embrace all of their emotions.
• Living in the present: They are focused on the here-and-now, rather than dwelling on the past or worrying about the future.
• Make free choices and act spontaneously: They are not constrained by external expectations but are driven by their inner values.
• Trusting self: They rely on their own internal sense of what is right for them.
• Creative and non-conforming: They are not afraid to be different and are innovative. These individuals are also described as having a need for privacy, a sense of justice and humour, a sense of brotherhood with all people, and personal integrity.

8) What are the qualities of a self-actualised person?

A self-actualised person demonstrates the qualities of a fully functioning individual. They are open to experience, trusting of themselves, have an internal locus of evaluation, and are willing to grow. They also have a need for privacy, a sense of brotherhood, a sense of justice, a sense of humor, creativity, and personal integrity.

9) What are the therapist’s qualities?

In person-centered therapy, the therapist needs to possess certain qualities for effective counseling. These include:

• Congruence/Genuineness: The therapist must be genuine, real and authentic with their client. They should not act with a professional facade but be transparent.
• Unconditional Positive Regard: The therapist accepts the client completely without any conditions or judgements.
• Empathy: The therapist must be able to understand and feel with the client, putting themselves in the client's shoes. The counselor should sense the client's private world as if it were their own.
• Respect as an equal: The therapist views the client with respect.
• Openness: The therapist is open to their own experiences in the counseling relationship.
• Non-judgemental: The therapist does not evaluate the client with reference to their behaviour but rather believes in them as a good human being. The therapist must be caring, respectful, optimistic, curious and persistent.

10) Describe the counseling process of person-centered therapy in detail.

The person-centered therapy process is focused on facilitating the client's growth through a specific therapeutic relationship. Key steps in the process are:

• Initial Meeting: The client and counselor meet and a relationship is formed.
• Incongruence: The client is experiencing a state of incongruence that has resulted in a problem.
• Therapist's Qualities: The counselor expresses unconditional positive regard and understands the client's problem with empathy.
• Sharing Experiences: The counselor shares their experiences of positive regard and empathy.
• Client Perception Change: The client's perception of these qualities changes them positively.

The counselor provides a nurturing atmosphere where the client feels comfortable to express their thoughts and feelings. The goal of the therapy is to assist the client in becoming a fully functioning person. The client is encouraged to become aware of any masks they are wearing, or social roles they are performing that are not in line with their real selves. They are made aware of alternative behaviours, and can choose which behaviours to adopt. The process focuses on the person's growth, not on their problems.

11) Discuss the essentials of person-centered counseling.

The essentials of person-centered counseling are:

• A belief in the client's capacity to change: This approach puts great faith in the client’s ability to solve their own problems.
• The therapeutic relationship: The quality of the relationship between the client and the counsellor is considered the key to change.
• The counsellor's qualities: The counsellor must be genuine, show unconditional positive regard and empathy.
• Focus on growth not problems: The aim is to support the client's personal growth, rather than address specific issues.
• Non-directive approach: The therapist does not direct the counseling and respects the client's autonomy.
• Client-led approach: The client is encouraged to lead the discussion of their problems and choose their course of action.
• Avoidance of techniques: The therapy focuses on the qualities of the counsellor rather than the techniques of counseling.

12) State briefly the steps in client-centered counseling process.

The steps in the client-centered counseling process include:

• The client and counselor meet.
• The client is in a state of incongruence, which is the source of a problem.
• The counselor expresses positive regard for the client.
• The counselor understands the client's problem with empathy.
• The counselor shares their experience of positive regard and empathy.
• The client's perception of these qualities changes them positively.

13) What are essential qualities of a counselor in person-centered approach?

The essential qualities of a counselor in person-centered therapy are:

• Congruence or genuineness: The therapist is authentic, real, and transparent with the client.
• Unconditional positive regard: The therapist accepts and values the client without any conditions.
• Empathy: The therapist understands and feels with the client, experiencing the client's world as if it were their own.
• Respect for the client as an equal: The therapist treats the client as an equal, not as someone needing to be fixed.

14) "Counseling relationship leads to better changes in client" illustrate in context with person centered approach.

In person-centered therapy, the quality of the relationship between the client and counselor is paramount for bringing about change. The theory posits that a genuine, positive relationship can change the person for the better. When a client experiences the counselor’s genuineness, unconditional positive regard, and empathy, they begin to accept themselves, become more aware of their own feelings, and start to move towards self-actualisation. It is through this relationship that a client is able to deal with problems that they previously found difficult to cope with. This relationship helps the client to understand their own worth and value. The relationship is a shared journey where both the client and counsellor learn.

15) Describe the role and functions of counsellor in person-centered approach.

In person-centered therapy, the counselor’s role is to act as a facilitator for change. They do not give advice or interpret the client's behavior, but rather:

• Create an atmosphere of acceptance: The counselor provides an environment where the client feels safe to explore their experiences and relationships.
• Be genuine and open: The counselor is genuine and open to their own experience in the counseling relationship.
• Provide unconditional positive regard: The counselor accepts the client as they are, without judgment.
• Listen with empathy: The counselor tries to understand the client's perspective and feelings.
• Not manage, control or regulate the client: The counselor does not control the client but gives importance to the client's ability to work on their problems.
• Avoid asking too much detail of history, leading or probing questions, making any interpretations, or evaluating the client's ideas or plans. The counselor becomes a role model of a fully functioning person for the client.

16) Discuss various applications of person-centered approach of counseling.

The person-centered approach is applied in a variety of settings including:

• Counseling and Psychotherapy: It is used for individual counseling and psychotherapy.
• School counseling: It can be used in school settings for counseling students.
• Pastoral counseling: It can be used in religious settings to provide guidance and support.
• Marital and family counseling: It can be used to improve communication and relationships within families and couples.
• Play therapy and speech therapy: It is also used in these specific therapies.
• Human relations training: It is used to train professionals in communication and interpersonal skills.
• Small groups: It can be applied to facilitate positive interactions in small groups.
• Institutional change: It can be used to promote positive changes within organisations. The principles of person centered therapy are used extensively to facilitate interpersonal relationships by developing positive regard, genuineness, and empathic understanding among people.

17) How does psychotherapy differ from counseling?

While the terms are often used interchangeably, there are some key distinctions between psychotherapy and counseling:

• Focus: Counseling typically focuses on specific, present-day issues and provides guidance and support for problem-solving and coping strategies. Psychotherapy delves deeper into underlying emotional and psychological issues, exploring past experiences and patterns to facilitate long-term change.   
• Duration: Counseling is often shorter-term, addressing immediate concerns. Psychotherapy tends to be a longer process, addressing more complex and deeply rooted issues.   
• Goals: Counseling aims to provide support, guidance, and practical solutions for specific problems. Psychotherapy aims for deeper self-understanding, personality change, and resolution of long-standing psychological issues.   
• Theoretical approach: Counselors may use various approaches, but psychotherapy often draws on specific theoretical frameworks like psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioral, or humanistic approaches.   

However, there's significant overlap, and both involve a therapeutic relationship, communication, and techniques to improve mental and emotional well-being.   

18) Evaluate person-centered approach of counseling.

The person-centered approach has both strengths and limitations:

• Strengths:
  • Focus on the client: It emphasises the client’s potential for growth and self-direction.
  • Emphasis on empathy: Research indicates that empathy is a powerful determinant of client progress.
  • Client satisfaction: The client is more satisfied because they discover their own solutions to their problems.
  • Development of self respect: The unconditional positive regard from the counsellor can increase the client's self-respect.
• Limitations:
  • Simplicity and complexity: Although the approach appears simple, it requires significant skill and experience from the counsellor. The concepts can also be more complex than they first seem.
  • Non-directive nature: The non-directive principle can limit the counsellor's ability to give suggestions that would save time and energy for the client.
  • Difficulty being genuine: It is difficult for counsellors to be genuine all the time.
  • Self-actualisation: There is criticism regarding why self-actualisation does not work when problems develop.
  • Overemphasis on relationship: The approach is criticised for overemphasising the importance of the therapeutic relationship, assuming it is the primary mechanism for change.

19) Compare person-centered approach of counseling with other approaches of counseling.

Compared to other approaches:

• Psychodynamic approach: The psychodynamic approach emphasizes the past and repressed unconscious materials, while the person-centered approach focuses on the present and the client's subjective experience. The psychodynamic approach is more focused on the therapist's analysis and interpretation of the client's issues whereas the person-centered approach focuses on the client’s capacity to change with their own effort.
• Cognitive approach: Cognitive approaches emphasize thinking patterns and their influence on behaviour and feelings, while the person-centered approach is more focused on the individual’s subjective experience. Cognitive therapies encourage specific techniques to correct thinking, whereas the person-centered approach is more about the counsellor's qualities.
• Narrative approach: The narrative approach is based on the idea that people's problems are shaped by cultural and social stories. While both the narrative and person-centered approaches value the client's perspective, person-centered therapy is more focused on the therapeutic relationship, whereas the narrative approach is focused on exploring stories and meanings. Unlike other approaches the person-centered approach gives less emphasis to therapeutic techniques.

20) What is meant by a non-directional approach of counseling? Explain with the help of salient features of person centered approach.

A non-directional approach to counseling, as exemplified by person-centered therapy, means that the counselor does not direct the client or the counseling process. Instead, the counselor facilitates the client's self-exploration and growth, allowing the client to lead the process. 

Key features of the person-centered approach that demonstrate this include:

• Client-led: The client is given autonomy and takes the lead in the therapy sessions.
• No advice or interpretation: The counselor does not offer advice, solutions or interpret the client's behaviour.
• Emphasis on empathy and unconditional positive regard: The therapist's primary task is to provide a supportive environment, not to give direction.
• Focus on the client's subjective experience: The therapist respects the client's unique perspective and helps them make choices.
• Avoidance of techniques: The approach focuses on the qualities of the counsellor rather than specific techniques.
• Trust in the client: There is a belief that the client is capable of making their own decisions.