A key step in cognitive therapy is helping the individual to identify the negative automatic thoughts that are intimately connected with feelings of depression and anxiety, these may be identified in the clinical sessions themselves, for example, by asking the individual to role-play a difficult encounter, or they can be identified in between sessions by asking the individual to keep a diary of such thoughts in the situations in which they arise. Once identified, the individual is then encouraged to test their validity, to question them, and to check the evidence, for and against. The identification and challenging of negative thoughts leads into the final phase of cognitive therapy which is challenging the dysfunctional schemata that underlie the negative thoughts.
The second approach I will look in to is the Person centered approach which is all about self actualization. The American psychologist Abraham Maslow (1908 – 1970) was the founder of humanistic psychology he worked with the fact that each person had a hierarchy of human needs and the need to belong. This fact was developed into several different therapies, all based on the idea that people possess the inner resources for growth and healing. The most famous of these therapies was the person-centered therapy developed by another American psychologist Carl Rogers in the 1930's.The need for each individual to belong is the bases of this therapy, clients can feel they do not belong into certain areas of their life or indeed their whole life. The aim of the therapy is to get back that feeling of belonging to ensure that they feel loved, accepted, positive, and have the security they need to continue with everyday life. Each person needs their own identity and it is very easy for someone to get stuck in an unhappy situation because of expectations therefore not having their own identity. Rogers believed that therapy should take place in a supportive environment created by a close personal relationship between client and therapist. He introduced the term "client" rather than "patient” because of his views that the therapist and client should be seen as equals. In person-centered therapy, the client determines the general direction of therapy, while the therapist seeks to increase the client's insight and self-understanding through informal clarifying questions.
Self-actualization, a term that comes from the human potential movement, is an important concept within person-centered therapy. It refers to all individuals to move forward, grow, and reach their fullest potential. When people move towards self-actualization, they are also aware of others and behave in an honest, dependable, and constructive way. The concept of self-actualization focuses on the individual’s strengths rather than weaknesses. According to Rogers, self-actualization can be blocked by an unhealthy self-concept (negative or unrealistic attitudes about oneself).Rogers believed that the most important factor in successful therapy was the therapist not the amount of skills or training they had, but rather their attitude. Congruence; unconditional positive regard; and empathy are three very important attitudes that a person centered therapist must poses. They have to be open and genuine and be willing to relate to clients, they need to have all their feelings available to them in therapy sessions and may share significant emotional reactions with their clients. The therapist must accept the client totally for who they are without evaluating, censoring, or disapproving of particular feelings, actions, or characteristics. They must communicate this attitude to the client by a willingness to listen without interrupting, judging, or giving advice.
Empathy is an attitude needed by the therapist in order to appreciate the client's situation from the client's point of view, this will show an emotional understanding of sensitivity to the client's feelings throughout the therapy session. A good way of showing this empathy is by active listening which shows careful and perceptive attention to what the client is saying. In addition to standard techniques, such as eye contact, that are common to any good listener, person-centered therapists employ a special method called reflection, which consists of paraphrasing and/or summarizing what a client has just said. This technique shows that the therapist is listening carefully and accurately, and gives clients an added opportunity to examine their own thoughts and feelings as they hear them repeated by another person. Generally, clients respond by elaborating further on the thoughts they have just expressed. These attitudes will create a non-threatening atmosphere in which the client feels free to explore memories and share painful, hostile, defensive, or abnormal feelings without worrying about personal rejection by the therapist.
The person-centered approach can be used in individual, group, or family therapy and with young children where it is frequently employed as play therapy. There are no strict guidelines regarding the length or frequency, generally the client decides when to terminate the therapy when he or she feels able to better cope with life's difficulties. Because of this non-directive approach, clients can explore the issues that are most important to them not those considered important by the therapist. Based on self-actualization, this undirected, self-exploration allows clients to eventually recognize alternative ways of thinking that will promote personal growth. The therapist promotes self-actualization by providing a climate in which clients can freely engage in focused, in-depth self-exploration
The two therapies whilst aiming for similar outcomes are different in many ways, each therapy would suit different individuals depending on their personality and the type of problems they were experiencing. The person centered approach is used for people not achieving in life and feeling very low, as it encourages the client to express their feelings and the meanings of these experiences in more depth, they are allowed the power and the freedom to choose when they speak and the therapist will not interpret, as this would take the power away from the client. Whereas if the client had a phobia of some kind then this approach wouldn’t be suitable and the cognitive behaviour therapy would be offered as it would look in to interventions and the therapist would be able to interpret the client’s feelings.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, whilst offering understanding and acceptance explores and challenges the client’s experience of the world, linking feelings and identifying ways of changing responses to life events. The person -centred approach believes that each individual will best know how to deal with their life through their own self- actualization. The practice places great emphasis on the therapeutic relationship between therapists, which allows them to tell their personal story in their own way.
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Therefore I conclude that contrasts lie in the types of interventions used and the structure of the therapies. Cognitive behavioural therapy is direct and on-going and will challenge the client. It is more time limited but may have more appeal when working with certain clients with less time available. The exploration of underlying feelings of the person centred approach makes it a valuable resource for children who are younger, or traumatised by events. The validity of either approach within any setting should be assessed by the counsellor and the aims of the counselling kept clearly in mind.
I feel more drawn towards the person centered approach as I believe that all feelings from within us affect everyday actions and thoughts. It aims to find a closer agreement between the client's ideal and actual selves, a better self-understanding, and lower levels of defensiveness, guilt, and insecurity and help the client form more positive and comfortable relationships with others. This therapy concentrates on the here and now and encourages thoughts on the present , it helps one to feel valued and encourages self-expression, self-awareness, self-development and self understanding ,I believe that the cognitive behaviour therapy is focusing on the negative thoughts and challenging oneself too much , I know from personal experiences that although the homework is an essential part of the therapy it is very difficult to concentrate and complete when you are alone and without the therapist beside you. The need to belong and be excepted by others is a need I am familiar with, the feelings of not belonging to whether it be a family or a social group or culturel can be devastating and will make you detest yourself so much you don’t feel like living, on the other end of the scale, knowing that you are needed and excepted and have you own personal identity that you are happy with, will irradiate all feelings of fear and sadness and make you believe in yourself and therefore make life worth living.
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References
Barker, M, Vossler, A and Langdridge, D, (Eds) (2010).Understanding Counselling and Psychotherapy. London: Sage
McLeod, J. (2008).Introduction to Counselling[Ed.D.Langdridge],Maidenhead/Milton Keynes, Open University Press/The Open University
The open university (2010) D240 Counselling: exploring fear and sadness DVDs and Audio cds Milton Keynes the Open University.
14.07.2010
Self reflection
I found this assignment interesting as I enjoy all aspects of counselling and thinking about differences between the therapies was fascinating. I found the introduction and conclusion difficult as I always find the setting out of the essay hard to follow and I am still unsure of the referencing.
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A more academic style would be “This essay will look at”. Try to avoid using “I” except where it is indicated in the assessment handbook (for example the last section of this assignment).
Good, you have understood the connection between thoughts, feelings and behaviours.
You need to reference where you found this information? Which source did it come from?
Again, you need to cite a reference.
Good – I would call them the “core conditions” here.
Brilliant description, showing excellent understanding of the course materials.
Family therapy is slightly different to person-centred therapy. Block 3 covers family therapy in more detail.
Do you have a reference or any evidence for this?
Again, you need some evidence to support this point.
i.e. CBT is aiming to provide a solution, whilst person-centred therapy helps the client to find their own solution.
Do you have evidence or a reference?
An interesting reflection.
Good reference list, but you also need to include references in the text, with the author and the year.
For example, you would reference this in the text as McLeod (2008).
