Evaluate The Claim That Client Centred Therapy Off

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Evaluate the claim that client centred therapy offers, the therapist all that he/she needs to treat clients. "When I look at the world I'm pessimistic, but when I look at people I am optimistic." Carl Rogers created the idea of client centred therapy from a optimistic, humanistic and non directive stand point. He believed that people were essentially good and given the right circumstances would move in a positive and life enhancing direction. Client centred therapy encourages the therapist to consider the individual. It poses the questions. How do I (the therapist) view this person? Do I see this person as having worth and value or do I subtly devalue him by my attitude and behaviour? Do I respect his ability and right towards self direction or do I know what’s best for him? These questions get to the very core of the helping relationship. Am I looking at this individual as someone I can dominate. Someone who needs me. Needs my expertise. Is this relationship inadvertently helping the therapist. Does he feel power over the client, does he find comfort in being needed and having all the answers. If the therapist is using the client centred approach then he will at all times be aware of his attitude, his behaviour, his very way of being towards the client. It is not the therapist role to judge, to comment or to advice, he is simply there to be with the client. It is his task to clarify and objectify the clients thoughts and feelings. Rogers (1957,1959) describes six therapeutic conditions which make up the core conditions of the Client centred approach and which are essential to successful interviews. 1. The counsellor and client make psychological contact. 2. The client is vulnerable or anxious. 3. That the counsellor is more integrated, congruent and balanced in the relationship. 4. The counsellor experiences positive unconditional regard towards
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