Explore Carl Rogers core conditions and how these effect the personality change in a client using the Person Centred Approach.

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CARL ROGERS. CORE CONDITIONS.

In this essay I will explore Carl Rogers core conditions and how these effect the personality change in a client using the Person Centred Approach.

For clients beginning therapy the most important fact initially is the entry of a new person (the therapist) into their psychological environment. It is the building of this relationship between therapist and client, which will facilitate change in the client. This relationship is at the forefront of the therapeutic process. For this to occur it is necessary that these 6 conditions to exist.

. That two persons are in psychological contact.

2. That the first person, whom we shall term the client, is in a state of incongruence, being vulnerable or anxious.

3. That the second person, whom we shall term the therapist, is congruent in the relationship.

4. That the therapist is experiencing unconditional positive regard toward the client.

5. That the therapist is experiencing an empathic understanding of the client's internal frame of reference.

6. That the client perceives, at least to a minimal degree, Conditions 4 and 5, the unconditional positive regard of the therapist for him, and the empathic understanding of the therapist. Kirschenbaum and Henderson 1990:221.

Rogers determined that 3 of the six conditions were core to the therapeutic process. These 3 core conditions I will focus on in this essay those being, Empathy, Unconditional Positive Regard and Congruence. When a person seeks counselling they are incongruent, not true to themselves they have lost their Organismic-self their true self, this can happen for various reasons. People place conditions of worth upon us; introject their own values and beliefs upon us. This usually results in the actualising tendency becoming thwarted by these 'conditions of worth.' We all need positive regard and the acceptance of others if this is not present then we are unable to value ourselves (positive self regard). Our self concept will then become distorted and prevent us being a fully functioning person this can lead to the need for therapy.

I can relate to this in my own life. My ex wife was having an affair for several years during this time I was totally incongruent. Out of synch with my own self. I knew the affair was happening but couldn't and wouldn't face up to the problem. I would take into my self-concept what my wife was telling me, that she was not having an affair. I would be constantly told I was "being stupid" everything I said I was humiliated. I was given no positive regard at all and this destroyed any self worth I had (positive self regard). I truly believed that what she told me to be the truth. (Introjects) I didn't want to believe this was happening so I would deny and distort the facts, thinking things like "she would never do this to me, its my imagination." This led to a total loss of my self-esteem, causing me anxiety and depression, at this stage I was referred to a counsellor.
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My first session came as quite a shock, I was used to being judged, never listened to, and constantly lied to. Now this person (the counsellor) appeared to really care and listen to me (empathy), she never gave her opinion or judged me (unconditional positive regard) She seemed transparent and genuine with me and on the same level, she didn't seem to put up any front or façade, (congruence). At the beginning of my therapy I was very suspicious but over the next few months I began to feel some self-worth. The way in which the counsellor used ...

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