Person-Centered Therapy

Question 1

Person-centered theory is the root of this subset of psychology:

Answer 1

positive psychology

Question 2

What makes person-centered therapy different than other forms of therapy?

Answer 2

It develops a non-directive client-centered approach to psychotherapy, it de-emphasizes pathology, and it focuses on the strengths and resources of the individual.

Question 3

In person-centered theory, what drives us as individuals?

Answer 3

The “self-actualizing root” we use to become our best selves.

Question 4

Which two psychologists are the faces of person-centered theory?

Answer 4

Carl Jung & Carl Rogers

Question 5

What does a “phenomenological perspective” mean?

Answer 5

What’s important is our own perception of reality, not reality itself.

Question 6

What are the core concepts of person-centered theory?

Answer 6

The organism, the organism’s phenomenal field, an innate need for attention, incongruence, and congruence.

Question 7

What is “the organism”?

Answer 7

The total individual - both our physical and psychological wellbeing.

Question 8

What is “the organism’s phenomenal field”?

Answer 8

Everything we experience, whether consciously or unconsciously; all of our choices, thoughts, interactions, behaviors, etc.

Question 9

Why is the organism’s phenomenal field important to understand?

Answer 9

Since this is what we are comprised of, it’s what we use for reference for moving forward or in terms of choices we make. (our internal frame of reference)

Question 10

What does Rogers say about our innate need for affection?

Answer 10

Humans have a need for positive regard - to be valued, to be loved, to be accepted, etc. We need this to survive and develop a healthy personality.

Question 11

Where does our innate need for affection come from?

Answer 11

This comes from our interactions with other individuals and our interpretations on how those interactions go. For example, through this, we learn what to do and what NOT to do to stay in someone’s good graces.

Question 12

What is incongruence, and where does it come from?

Answer 12

A disconnect between our ideal self & our true self; it’s the potential source of all of our psychological issues (anxiety, depression, poor coping skills). This stems from any kind of disconnect or how our perceptions become distorted.

Question 13

What happens when we’re in an incongruent state?

Answer 13

We believe what others want us to believe rather than we WE believe. This leads to us making choices based on what others want or believe.

Question 14

How can we remain congruent?

Answer 14

We can remain congruent by communicating an unconditional positive regard to ourselves and others. Love isn’t a condition; we don’t have to accept actions and behaviors of others, but just accept the person for who they are.

Question 15

What makes someone a Fully-Functioning Person/Individual? (FFP/FFI)

Answer 15

• Displays no defensiveness and no conditions of worth
• Only experiences unconditional positive regard from their key significant others and people in their life
• Also experiences a state of congruency between their own concept of self and their life experiences

Question 16

What are the key characteristics of a Fully-Functioning Person/Individual? (FFP/FFI)

Answer 16

• Open to all experiences & stimuli from their environment
• A true, positive nature
• Creativity, as well as a desire to help others reach their full potential

Question 17

What is the most influential aspect about person-centered therapy?

Answer 17

The relationship between the therapist and the client.

Question 18

Which theory laid the foundation for the importance of client-therapeutic relationships?

Answer 18

Person-centered theory

Question 19

What are the factors of an effective client-therapeutic relationship?

Answer 19

• Psychological contact (both see their time together as a relationship
• Incongruent client (there’s got to be a reason why the client is there)
• Congruent couselor/therapist (being genuine & healthy)
• Unconditional positive regard (accept each cleint for who they are)
• Empathy (sense the client’s private world as if it were yours)
• Communication of empathy (show the client that you’re on the journey with them)

Question 20

Therapeutic techniques for person-centered therapy:

Answer 20

• Acting listening
• Reflection of feeling
• Paraphrasing

Question 21

What is expressive arts therapy?

Answer 21

A derivative of Roger’s person-centered and creativity theory that extends the approach to spontaneous creative expression, which symbolizes deep and sometimes inaccessible deelings and emotional states.

Question 22

What are the principles of expressive arts therapy?

Answer 22

• All people have an innate ability to create.
• The creative process is transformative and healing.
• Personal growth and higher states of consciousness are achieved through self-awareness, self-understanding, and insight.
• Our feelings and emotions are an energy source than can be channeled into the expressive arts to be released and transformed.
• The unconscious leads us to express new facets and information about ourselves through art.
• Art forms stimulate and nurture each other, bringing us to an essence that is our life energy.
• A connection exists between our life force - our inner core, or soul, and the essence of all beings.
• As we journey inward to discover our essence, we discover our relatedness to the outer world, and the inner and outer become one.

Question 23

What is motivational interviewing? (MI)

Answer 23

MI is a humanistic, client-centered, psychosocial, and modestly directive couseling approach. It stresses client self-responsibility and promotes an invitational style for working cooperatively with clients to generate alternative solutions to behavioral problems.

Question 24

How does MI differ from person-centered therapy?

Answer 24

MI is deliberately directive, while staying within the client’s frame of reference.

Question 25

What is the main goal with MI?

Answer 25

To reduce client ambivalence about change and increase the client’s own motivvation for change.

Question 26

What are the 5 basic principles of MI?

Answer 26

1. Therapists must experience the world from the client’s perspective WITHOUT judgement or criticism.
2. Evoke and explore both discrepancies and ambivalence.
3. Reluctance to change is expected from clients, and therapists are respectful of that.
4. Therapists support clients’ self-efficacy, mainly by encouraging them to use their own resources to take action for successful change.
5. When clients show signs of readiness to change, therapists shift their focus towards strengthening the commitments and formulating a plan.

Question 27

What are the 5 Stages of Change?

Answer 27

1. Precontemplation stage
2. Contemplation stage
3. Preparation stage
4. Action stage
5. Maintenance stage

Question 28

What occurs in the precontemplation stage?

Answer 28

There is no intention of changing a behavior pattern in the near future.

Question 29

What occurs in the contemplation stage?

Answer 29

People are aware of a problem and are considering overcoming it. However, they have not made a commitment to take action to bring about change.

Question 30

What occurs in the preparation stage?

Answer 30

Individuals intend to take action immediately and report some small behavioral changes.

Question 31

What occurs in the action stage?

Answer 31

Individuals are taking steps to modify their behavior to solve their problems.

Question 32

What occurs in the maintenance stage?

Answer 32

People work to consolidate their gains and prevent relapses.

Question 33

Although person-centered therapy has benefitted many around the world and of different cultures, what are some shortcomings from a multicultural perspective?

Answer 33

• Clients want more structure than this approach provides.
• It’s difficult to translate the core therapeutic conditions into actual pracitce in certain cultures.
• Other cultures emphasize intimacy, connection, harmony with others, and towards what is good for the community. This differs from this approach’s concepts of self-actualization and autonomy.