Carl Rogers

Person-Centered
Theory

Client Centered vs. Person Centered

Client-centered
Referred to
Rogers’ approach to therapy in which the client (not the patient) is assumed to be responsible for changing his or her personality.

Client Centered vs. Person Centered

Person-centered
Referred to the
Rogerian
Theory of Personality.

Two Basic Assumptions

Formative Tendency
And
Actualizing Tendency

Formative Tendency

The tendency of all matter to evolve from simpler to more complex forms.

Formative Tendency

The tendency of all matter to evolve from simpler to more complex forms.

Formative Tendency

The tendency of all matter to evolve from simpler to more complex forms.

Actualizing Tendency

The tendency to move toward completion or fulfillment of potentials.

Actualizing Tendency

Each person operates as a complete organism.

Actualization Tendency needs a particular environment.

•Empathy
(Active listening)
•Acceptance
(Unconditional positive regard)
•Genuineness
(congruence)

Empathy
(Active listening)

Empathy
(Active listening)

Acceptance
(Unconditional positive regard)

Empathy
(Active listening)

Congruence

A complete human being with feelings of joy, anger, frustration, confusion, etc.

Congruence

To be real or genuine, to be whole or integrated, to be what one truly is.

Congruence and Incongruence

Congruence

Incongruence

Unconditional Positive Regard:
Approval granted regardless of a person’s behavior.

Conditional Positive Regard:
Approval, love, or acceptance granted only when a person expresses desirable behaviors and attitudes.

Rogers’ Idea of Congruence
X = Idealized Self

Y = Self Concept

X

Y

No overlap might imply little or no satisfaction with oneself (no or low self – esteem).
Degree of overlap represents a degree of satisfaction with one’s own self.

Rogers’ Idea of Congruence
X = Idealized Self

X

Y = Self Concept

Y

As the ideal-self begins to coincide with...
Degree of overlap represents a degree of satisfaction with one’s own self.

Y=

Rogers’ Idea of Congruence
X = Idealized Self

X

Y = Self Concept

Y

what an individual perceives as their actual self,...
Degree of overlap represents a degree of satisfaction with one’s own self.

Rogers’ Idea of Congruence
X = Idealized Self

X

Y = Self Concept

Y

they are beginning to allow what Rogers called self-approval,
Degree of overlap represents a degree of satisfaction with one’s own self.

Rogers’ Idea of Congruence
X = Idealized Self

Y = Self Concept

X Y

or Positive Self-Regard.
Degree of overlap represents a degree of satisfaction with one’s own self.

Rogers’ Idea of Congruence
X = Idealized Self

Y = Self Concept

XY
X

Total overlap might imply a high level of satisfaction with oneself (elevated or high self-esteem).
Degree of overlap represents a degree of satisfaction with one’s own self.

Awareness

“The symbolic representation of some portion of our existence”
Necessary for the self concept and ideal self to exist.

Awareness
Three Levels

1st Level
Many experiences are ignored or denied.
Habituation, reaction formation.

Awareness
Three Levels

2nd Level
Experiences accurately symbolized.

Awareness
Three Levels

3rd Level
Experiences perceived in a distorted form.
(Cognitive dissonance)

Stages of Therapeutic Change

Can be placed on a continuum from most defensive to most integrated.

Stages of Therapeutic Change

Stage 1) Rigid and resistant to change.
Doesn’t see any problem.
Refuses to own personal feelings or emotions.

Stages of Therapeutic Change

Stage 2) Slightly less rigid.
Still refuse to recognize their own feelings.
May talk regarding feelings in objective manner.

Stages of Therapeutic Change

Stage 3) Talk little more freely.
But feelings at distance, not here and now.
In future or past tense.

Stages of Therapeutic Change

Stage 4) Begin