Theories of Counselling
Introduction
This research seeks to select and critically evaluate two counseling models namely: the Person-centred model and Gestalt model in line with the writer’s personality and emerging counselling style. In a bid to holistically examine both models, the assessment will be split into three parts. In the first part, the chosen models or therapies would be identified in line with their characteristics, how they understand psychological issues and how changes occur within them. The second part will deal with the writer’s explanation of the reasons behind his choice of counseling therapy i.e. he will explain why the chosen therapies resonate with him. Finally, the third part will highlight the strength and weaknesses of each therapy.
Overview of the person-centred and Gestalt therapies
Person-centred therapy: How it understands clients’ challenges and how its application influences changes
Smith (2022) explained that the person-centred therapy or client-centred therapy as it is also called refers to a form of talking therapy that was originated by a psychologist, Carl Rogers in the mid twentieth century. Rogers developed this model based on the belief that every human is inherently good, and that everyone has an actualising tendency i.e the zeal to fulfill their goals. By using the term ‘person’ instead of ‘patient’, Rogers is of the opinion that patient implied that anyone requesting this form of therapy was ill and therefore needed treatment. But in the real sense, not all sick people seek the therapy. Smith (2022) concluded that person-centred therapy focuses on providing solutions and assistance for life’s challenges.
Rowe (2017) noted that the initial proposition of person-centred theory came from Roger’s experience in working with his clients – a series of activities that later aligned with the introduction of relationship theory into psychology. Since relationship theory emphasizes more about a client’s thoughts and acceptance of the theraupetic process, Rogers found it very interesting (Kirchenbaum, 2004). Deviating from the traditional belief of medical model of sickness, Rogers advanced his ideas into humanistic psychology which expresses the idea that humans have a natural tendency towards self development. And based on this idea, Rogers believes that there are six essential conditions that are very necessary for positive change to occur in the counseling process (Campbell, 2017). These conditions, according to Rogers (1957, p. 95) include the following:
Both the client and the therapist must see themselves as important elements in the therapeutic process.
While the client is in a state of incongruence, vulnerability or anxiety.
The therapist is congruent (genuine in his own feelings and thoughts) or integrated in the relationship.
The therapist witnesses unconditional positive respect and regard for the client.
The therapist treats the client with empathy as a result of his/her comprehension of the client’s frame of reference. Based on this condition, the therapist therefore endeavours to explain this experience to the client.
The therapist’s communication of his empathy and positive regard to the client is minimally attained.
Rogers is convinced that if all the highlighted conditions are present in the therapy process, the client will witness positive personality change. But if the conditions are not present, personality change will not take place. According to Grande (2020), person-centred therapists believe that in the course of their session with clients, there is a dire need to ensure that the following guidelines are adhered to in order to experience positive outcome.
Have limits in the therapeutic relations between them and their clients. This can come in the form of withholding personal information and determining the time of therapy session. The essence of this is to prevent the relationship from being undervalued or inefficient.
Allow the client to lead the therapy session by having control of his own experiences, challenges and possible solutions.
Avoid passing judgments on a client because this is capable of instilling rejection and guilt on a client battling self-confidence and the likes.
Allow the client make his decision in order to feel responsible
Act professionally to a client’s negative reactions even though they may not go down well with the therapist.
Gestalt Therapy: How it understands clients’ challenges and how its application influences changes
Gestalt therapy can be referred to as a form of psychotherapy that is focused on increasing a client’s awareness, focus and liberty. It focuses on one’s present situations instead of looking at his past experiences (Brennan, 2021). Furthermore, this therapy is based on the notion that humans are often influenced by their environment as each person is in pursuit of his or her growth and development. With the use of empathy and unconditional acceptance, this therapy assist people in overcoming their challenges by learning how to build trust and acknowledge their feelings about people, their environment and themselves. As a humanistic counseling approach, Gestalt therapy works with clients’ awareness and awareness skills instead of relying on the traditional analyst’s interpretation of a patient’s unconscious mind (Yontef & Jacobs, p. 2).
Clarke (2021) highlighted a number of principle ideas that expose the way Gestalt therapy understands problems. These ideas express that:
People’s experience influences their viewpoints. Here, the therapist allows his clients to express themselves uninterruptedly without passing judgments on them and also acknowledging their clients experiences.
In the course of therapy sessions, gestalt therapists are always concerned and serious in learning about their clients’ experience. In this context, therapists use this technique to assist his clients in becoming self aware of their experiences and reactions to events in the present.
During therapy sessions, the therapist is always conscious of bringing the client back to the present whenever it becomes that are dwelling so much on it. This can be done by simply asking the client questions about his sitting position or dress.
Gestalt therapy incorporates experiential exercises during therapy sessions with the aim of facilitating self-awareness. By participating in activities like guided imagery, a client can be able to expressly share his concerns to the therapist.
According to Mackewn (2022), Gestalt’s theory of change which is also known as ‘paradoxical theory of change’ opined that people change by becoming more self aware. In other words, gestalt therapy facilitates positive change by assisting clients to become what they truly are. Also, a gestalt therapist believe that every client experience situations where a part of them tries to change the other. As such, they tend to choose one against the other. In such a situation, the therapist is supposed to encourage the client to acknowledge both choices as his own and become whatever he is experiencing at the moment (Beisser, n.d).
Overview of the reason(s) behind the selection of person-centred and gestalt therapies
Person-centred therapy
The writer’s choice of person-centred therapy is basically because of its techniques and core conditions (congruence, unconditional positive regard and empathy) that are very essential in the counselling session as they lay the foundation of a client-therapist relationship based on trust, respect and mutual understanding. The fact that these conditions help in determining how best the therapist should act in ensuring that the client’s condition is made perfect makes the therapy resonate with the writer.
Congruence in this context means that a person-centred therapist must be genuine when dealing with a client and this genuineness is usually expressed with the use of meta-statements and metaphors (Wickman & Campbell, 2003). The reason is because it enables the therapist to express strong ideas subtly during therapy. Metaphors help the therapist to communicate congruence, empathy and positive regard to the client.
Unconditional positive regard refers to the therapist’s ability to be caring, non-possessive and loving to the client (Farber & Doolin, 2011). In clear terms, Rogers (1957) noted that it is the communication of warmth acknowledgement to the client by the therapist. It also entails the therapist’s willingness to let the client catch a feeling of their ideas and thoughts (Rogers, 1961). In communicating unconditional positive regard, the therapist is supposed to have regard for the client’s ability to make decisions during the therapy session. Empathy, as Rogers (1957, p. 97) puts it, is the therapist’s ability to “envision and sense the client’s private world as if it were his own. With this, the therapist is able to see and understand the viewpoints of the client and then devise ways on how to accommodate him.
Gestalt Therapy
This therapy also resonates with me because it grants clients the opportunity to freely express their emotional feelings without hindrance. The therapy ensures that the client works together with the therapist in order to increase self-awareness. According to Clarke (2021), gestalt therapy comprises techniques through which it ensures that its clients are kept in a perfect condition. One of these techniques is language. In this therapy, clients are encouraged to become conversant with the use of words and language that express personal ownership. That way, they tend to make statements that reflect their identity. The second technique is the incorporation of exercises like the ‘Empty Chair’ exercise which gives a client the chance to communicate with an imaginary person seated on an empty chair. The essence of this exercise is to help the therapist in making observations that can help him assist his client in becoming fully aware of himself.
Also, during therapy session, it is the responsibility of the therapist to observe the clients gesture like facial expression, among others. In a situation where such client feels more comfortable in communicating non-verbally, the therapist can suggest otherwise. Furthermore, clients may be asked to exaggerate their expressions in situations when they find it hard to speak convincingly. This gives both parties the opportunity to process each other’s thoughts. In gestalt therapy, the therapist can decide to involve creative activities like drawing and painting for clients. This technique has the ability to assist clients to process their thoughts and also gain awareness (Clarke, 2021).
Overview of the strengths and weaknesses of the therapies
Person-centred Therapy
According to Bachkirova & Borrington (2018, p. 6), person-centred model is well-known for its interventions in mentoring, teaching, coaching and counselling. Apart from the fact that it focuses on the need for self awareness in order to function effectively in society, its strengths include: the theory aligns with the notion that coaching clients are capable and resourceful (Van Nieuwerburgh, 2017); its concentration on the experiences and decision of clients marks an essential theme of coaching practice (Wilson, 2007) and the quality of relations between counsellor and client is regarded as the most crucial factor in the outcome of counselling (De Haan & Gannon, 2017). Conversely, scholars like Joseph (2014) argues that the real practice of this therapy deviate from its principles. Furthermore, Joseph (2014, p. 69) explained that in a therapy session, the person-centred therapist can offer the client various techniques that may be borrowed from cognitive-behaviioural, multimodal, and other theories. In this situation, one can conclude that the originality of the theory is in doubt.
Gestalt Therapy
The strengths and weaknesses of this therapy can be weighed in line with the following:
It increases self awareness
It boosts self confidence
It equips one with the ability to deal and contain stressful situations
Gestalt therapy helps one to be more responsible
It encourages one to be able to own up to blames and mistakes
It is focused more on the client and not the therapist (Brennan, 2021).
However, it is important to point out that gestalt therapy lacks the capability to provide solutions to psychological implications of hereditary behaviours as well as those that are not influenced by peoples’ thoughts (Brennan, 2021).
Conclusion
The assessment examined two counselling models namely: Person centred model and gestalt model. it explained the reasons behind the writer’s choice of counselling therapies as well as their features, goals, strengths and weaknesses. Split into three coordinated parts, the assessment focused on 1, overview of the person-centred and Gestalt therapies, 2 overview of the reason(s) behind the selection of person-centred and gestalt therapies and 3, overview of the strengths and weaknesses of the therapies.
Reference List
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