Running head: THEORIES CONCEPTUALIZATIONS 1-4
Jake Fields
Liberty University
EDCE 505: Theories Conceptualizations 1-4
THEORIES CONCEPTUALIZATIONS 1-4
Theoretical Views
Name of theory: Person-Centered Therapy
Founder of the theory: Carl Rogers
View of human nature (include innate capacities/capabilities and motivational constructs):
• Person-centered therapy assumes that humans are trustworthy and that they can
understand themselves and resolve their own problems within a therapeutic relationship. With
this, person-centered therapy sees people as capable of “self-directed growth if they are involved
in a special kind of therapeutic relationship” (Corey, 2017 p. 165). This style of therapy
emphasizes the capability of a person to self-heal.
• View of pathology/maladjustment (how do individuals develop dysfunction/mental
illness): Regarding the development of dysfunction as it relates to person-centered therapy, a
lack of congruence with the client can lead to a difficulty experiencing their self-perception.
According to an article on person-centered therapy and child development, “when care,
acceptance, and understanding are not available, people may lose contact with themselves and
resort to facades and pretenses. These facades and pretenses, created by a client, demonstrate an
incongruity between client self-perceptions and their experience, which might lead to anxiety
and personal vulnerability” (Boyer, 2016 p. 344).
View of well-functioning individual:
• The person-centered approach emphasizes the clients ability to “engage their own
resources to act in their world with others. Clients can move forward in constructive directions
and successfully deal with obstacles…” (Corey, 2017 p. 171). Well-functioning individuals will
have a higher level of congruence, allowing them to succeed in this style of therapy.
View of the change process:
THEORIES CONCEPTUALIZATIONS 1-4
• Corey’s text explains five stages of change that apply to this person-centered approach to
counseling. The first stage is the precontemplation stage, where there is no short-term intent to
change behavior patterns (Corey, 2017). This is followed by the contemplation stage where the
client may be aware of a problem but are not committed to take action (Corey, 2017). The third
stage is the preparation stage, where “individuals intend to take action immediately and report
some small behavioral changes” (Corey, 2017 p. 184). The action stage is where the client is
taking the necessary steps to modify their behavior to solve their own issues. The last stage is the
maintenance stage, where clients prevent relapse and work to “consolidate their gains” (Corey,
2017 p. 184).
Roles and Goals
Counseling relationship/counselor role:
• The role of the counselor is a significant factor in the meaning of person-centered
therapy. According to Corey, the therapist uses “themselves as an instrument of change by
encountering clients on a person-to-person level” (Corey, 2017 p. 171).
• Regarding assessment, it is important to focus on the client’s self-assessment rather than
an assessment of the counselor on the client (Corey, 2017).
• Assessing the therapeutic relationship between the counselor and client, an overarching
theme for this approach is the unconditional positive regard for the client (Corey, 2017). This
characteristic allows for the therapist to practice empathetic communication, which is also very
important (Corey, 2017).
• The therapist should practice listening fully and empathetically to the client.
Counseling goals:
THEORIES CONCEPTUALIZATIONS 1-4
• Roger’s belief of the therapeutic goals for a person-centered approach is to “assist clients
in achieving more independence and integration so they can better cope with problems as they
identify them” (Corey, 2017 p. 171).
• Another key fundamental goal of person-centered therapy, is respecting the client’s
autonomy. According to research, it is important for the therapist to understand that “human
beings may want and need different things, and that an individual’s distinctive wants and needs
should be given precedence over any generalized theories that another holds about them”
(Cooper & McLeod, 2010 p.214).
Key Concepts:
• Self-Concept: Person-centered therapy encompasses the client’s ability to assess their
self-conception, and their capability of discovering their own goals (Corey, 2017).
• Core conditions in counselor-client relationship: The therapist shows unconditional
positive regard for their client. There must be an environment of positive empathetic
communication and understanding from the therapist to the client (Corey, 2017).
• Client’s subjective experience: The counselor should create a climate “conductive to self-
exploration” so that “clients have the opportunity to explore the full range of their experience”
(Corey, 2017 p. 172). This reiterates the importance for the client to experience their own
feelings, behaviors, beliefs, and perspective (Corey, 2017).
• Importance of Empathy: According to Roger’s research, the more that the therapist
expresses feelings of care, acceptance, and valuing of the client, the better the chance for
successful therapy (Corey, 2017). These feelings are encompassed in this idea of showing
empathy towards the client. If a counselor shows great empathy, it will allow for the client to
gain a greater sense of self.
THEORIES CONCEPTUALIZATIONS 1-4
• Emotion-focused therapy: This type of therapy helps clients with their ability to develop
awareness for their emotions (Corey, 2017). With self-awareness being a staple in person-
centered therapy, the focus on the emotional ability of the client is very important to the
therapist.
(Cover the key concepts noted in the instructions sheet for the respective theory).
Techniques and Diagnosis/Appraisal Instruments/Approaches
Major techniques: Corey emphasizes the early technique of reflection. Roger’s focus on
reflection involves listening and understanding the client’s worldview, in order to build a
relationship with them. Corey later says that there are no basic techniques to practicing person-
centered therapy, other than being with the client and “entering imaginatively into their world of
perceptions and feelings” (Corey, 2017 p. 176).
Assessment of need for treatment planning: The person-centered approach to counseling does
not rely on any assessment on the client from the counselor. Rather, “what matters is not how the
counselor assesses the client but the client’s self-assessment” (Corey, 2017 p. 177). With the
major point of person-centered therapy revolving around a client’s self-awareness and reflection,
the only true measure of assessment is by their progress on self-assessment. (Corey, 2017).
Assessment of counseling progress: As mentioned above, this style of therapy relies on the
self-assessment of the client. The therapist can measure the success of the therapy sessions by
observing the progress of the client’s self-awareness and self-reflection. This progress is seen
when the “therapist and the client engage in a continuous process of self-understanding” (Corey,
2017 p. 178).
Multicultural Strengths and Shortcomings:
THEORIES CONCEPTUALIZATIONS 1-4
• Strengths: This form of therapy is now being studied in countries all over the world.
According to Corey, Roger’s work on person-centered therapy has had a global impact (Corey,
2017).
• The “underlying philosophy of person-centered therapy is grounded on the importance of
hearing the deeper message of the client” (Corey, 2017 p. 185). This idea of listening and
allowing the client to self-assess, makes this therapeutic style successful with diverse cultural
groups (Corey, 2017).
• Shortcomings: Clients from outpatient treatment and other mental health resources desire
a more structured approach to counseling that what person-centered is (Corey, 2017). Clients
seek counseling desiring guidance and advice, which is not the goal of person-centered therapy.
• Another shortcoming of this approach, is the challenge of translating core therapeutic
conditions into actual practice in various cultures (Corey, 2017). Corey explains this with an
example of how some cultures may not be comfortable communicating with feelings of empathy.
(Corey, 2017).
Research Supporting the Effectiveness:
• A therapy style that has been evaluated for over 70 years, person-centered therapy has a
substantial amount of supporting research. Roger’s himself did an extensive amount of work
critiquing this therapeutic approach, challenging the validity of his work, and renaming it
multiple times (Corey, 2017). In addition to Roger’s work, colleagues of his, as well as Abraham
Maslow contributed to this work as well (Corey, 2017).
• An article written on the effect of person-centered therapy on counseling transgender and
gender diverse clients points to the effectiveness of this approach. The author states that “person-
THEORIES CONCEPTUALIZATIONS 1-4
centered therapy’s central focus on a client’s perceptions and feelings about self is particularly
useful” (Koch & Knutson, 2018 p. 3).
Limitations/Criticisms:
• Therapists struggle with allowing clients to follow through with self-assessment and
creating goals for themselves (Corey, 2017)
• As mentioned earlier, clients can have a hard time with the lack of structure. Clients can
also enter the therapy session looking for advice and answers to their problems, rather than
wanting to work through their own thoughts (Corey, 2017).
Name of theory: Behavior Therapy
Founder of the theory: B.F Skinner
View of human nature (include innate capacities/capabilities and motivational constructs):
