Humanistic Client-centered therapy

1. Humanistic (Client-centered) therapy

2. Rooted in phenomenology A person’s subjective perception of the world is more important than the real world. Mention overlap with CBTMention overlap with CBT

3. Psychological incongruence; discrepancies between Self-image and ideal self-image Self-image and actual self Subjective perception of world and the real world

4. Primary principles: Holistic approach to self Focus on the person's good qualities; emphasis on psychological health rather than psychopathology

5. Abraham Maslow Self-actualization: reaching one's full potential His theory contends that as humans meet 'basic needs', they seek to satisfy successively 'higher needs' that occupy a set hierarchy. Maslow studied exemplary people such as Albert Einstein, Jane Addams, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Frederick Douglas rather than mentally ill or neurotic people, writing that "the study of crippled, stunted, immature, and unhealthy specimens can yield only a cripple psychology and a cripple philosophy" the four lower levels are grouped together as deficiency needs, while the top level is termed being needs. While our deficiency needs must be met, our being needs are continually shaping our behaviour. The basic concept is that the higher needs in this hierarchy only come into focus once all the needs that are lower down in the pyramid are mainly or entirely satisfied. His theory contends that as humans meet 'basic needs', they seek to satisfy successively 'higher needs' that occupy a set hierarchy. Maslow studied exemplary people such as Albert Einstein, Jane Addams, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Frederick Douglas rather than mentally ill or neurotic people, writing that "the study of crippled, stunted, immature, and unhealthy specimens can yield only a cripple psychology and a cripple philosophy" the four lower levels are grouped together as deficiency needs, while the top level is termed being needs. While our deficiency needs must be met, our being needs are continually shaping our behaviour. The basic concept is that the higher needs in this hierarchy only come into focus once all the needs that are lower down in the pyramid are mainly or entirely satisfied.

6. Carl Rogers: "Rogerian therapy" Unconditional positive regard i.e., warmth, genuineness, and empathy therapist accepts client regardless of whatever s/he does or says ("no strings attached") focus on genuineness: therapist is "congruent"; expresses real reactions to clients Elements of unconditional positive regard have been deemed non-specific elements of the therapeutic process Common factors from first therapy lecture

7. Rogerian therapeutic techniques: Paraphrasing Reflection Open-ended questions Interpretation element shared with psychoanalytic therapy Optional Activity: Practicing reflection Find a partner and practice Rogerian reflection for about 5 minutes. Talk about a simple issue and try not to ask questions. Show first part of video when Rogers describes the therapy and the theory behind it. Then show the overhead summarizing his main points. 2. Show second part of video - therapy session (We showed at least the first 8 minutes, through the first long silence at least). One option is to show this clip, stop and discuss, then show more of the video after the discussion. Things for students to watch for in the video: -How does his practice coincide with the theory? -How does Cathy respond to Rogers? 3. Class discussion -General thoughts/reactions -The long silences...was Cathy uncomfortable? -When might silences be useful in therapy? When would they be less appropriate? -Did you like Rogers' style? -Did he seem to meet the goals in therapy that he set out for himself? -Would this type of therapy work for serious psychopathologies (e.g., severe OCD, as seen in the video tape on 6/6)? -Who is a good candidate for client-centered therapy? -Cathy’s issue is relationships...would this therapy work for her?Optional Activity: Practicing reflection Find a partner and practice Rogerian reflection for about 5 minutes. Talk about a simple issue and try not to ask questions. Show first part of video when Rogers describes the therapy and the theory behind it. Then show the overhead summarizing his main points. 2. Show second part of video - therapy session (We showed at least the first 8 minutes, through the first long silence at least). One option is to show this clip, stop and discuss, then show more of the video after the discussion. Things for students to watch for in the video: -How does his practice coincide with the theory? -How does Cathy respond to Rogers? 3. Class discussion -General thoughts/reactions -The long silences...was Cathy uncomfortable? -When might silences be useful in therapy? When would they be less appropriate? -Did you like Rogers' style? -Did he seem to meet the goals in therapy that he set out for himself? -Would this type of therapy work for serious psychopathologies (e.g., severe OCD, as seen in the video tape on 6/6)? -Who is a good candidate for client-centered therapy? -Cathy’s issue is relationships...would this therapy work for her?

8. Variants of humanistic therapy Existential therapy Logotherapy Gestalt therapy

9. Existential therapy Based on a school of philosophy known as existentialism Jean-Paul Sartre Existentialism: deals with questions of human existence meaning of life, self-determination Focus of existential therapy Here and now Self-determination we are in control of our own actions

10. Logotherapy developed by Viktor Frankl Primary principle: how do people find meaning in their lives? Contribution (what they give) Experience (what they take) Attitude in response to a challenge (e.g., "courage under fire") techniques Paradoxical intention: encourage client to demonstrate a behavior s/he has been trying to avoid; mock symptom Dereflection: used to treat hyper-reflection, or excessive self-observation Paradoxical intention: if problem behavior is two siblings fighting; schedule a daily fight between the twoParadoxical intention: if problem behavior is two siblings fighting; schedule a daily fight between the two

11. Gestalt therapy "Gestalt" is German for pattern or whole refer back to holistic nature of the humanistic therapies Developed by Fritz Perls Underlying principles and techniques Emphasis on individual responsibility Idea of polarity false distinction between different aspects of self hinders acceptance of self as an entity Insight reflects Perls's psychoanalytic training Confrontation sets Gestalt therapy apart from less directive Rogerian therapy

12. Efficacy of Rogerian therapy Research has not proven it to be any more effective than other types of therapy, but a large body of empirical evidence supports the usefulness of warmth, empathy, and genuineness in the therapeutic setting.