My Reflective Self Statement:
Much like any living organism needs the proper nurturing environment in which to grow, humans require a supportive environment to achieve positive therapeutic change. Using a humanistic approach, I work collaboratively with clients to uncover issues that may be creating dysfunction. Once these reasons for dysfunction are identified, we work together to create a plan of coping strategies. The overall goal of this process is for the client to develop insight into the true and authentic self, and to build a sense of trust that he or she is fully capable to deal with issues, both in therapy and eventually without the help of a therapist.
Much like any living organism needs the proper nurturing environment in which to grow, humans require a supportive environment to achieve positive therapeutic change. Using a humanistic approach, I work collaboratively with clients to uncover issues that may be creating dysfunction. Once these reasons for dysfunction are identified, we work together to create a plan of coping strategies. The overall goal of this process is for the client to develop insight into the true and authentic self, and to build a sense of trust that he or she is fully capable to deal with issues, both in therapy and eventually without the help of a therapist.
When I began the MC program in 2011, I identified my theoretical orientation as feminist, from my work on the Rape Crisis Line, as well as my experience in the Assaulted Women and Children's Counsellor/Advocate Program. However, through the program, we focused on the important of empirically based interventions. In our Interventions course, we learned about the importance of choosing the appropriate intervention for the individual client, and the change that he/she would like to see (Borbridge, 2010a).
I now align myself with client centered therapy first. I believe the use of a strong therapeutic relationship can be very healing. However, I have also learned that certain approaches, such as cognitive behaviour therapy work well for certain client issues, such as anxiety management (Corey, 2009). I take time when I meet with a client to discuss their goals for therapy, and choose my intervention based on their presenting concerns, and what they hope to get out of therapy. You can read more about this in my interventions section.
I now align myself with client centered therapy first. I believe the use of a strong therapeutic relationship can be very healing. However, I have also learned that certain approaches, such as cognitive behaviour therapy work well for certain client issues, such as anxiety management (Corey, 2009). I take time when I meet with a client to discuss their goals for therapy, and choose my intervention based on their presenting concerns, and what they hope to get out of therapy. You can read more about this in my interventions section.
I take a primarily client-centered (also known as person-centered) approach to counselling. This means that I believe the client is in charge of the direction therapy takes, and I am there to facilitate the journey. Carl Rogers theorized that there are three necessary conditions for effective therapy:
1. Congruence: genuineness, honesty with the client
2. Respect: acceptance, and unconditional positive regard for the client
3. Empathy: the ability to feel what the client feels (Boeree, 2006).
Although I use all three in my work with clients, this past semester at my practicum, I have been focused on learning empathic responding. This means conveying what the client has said in a way that brings the meaning behind it to the surface. The book my supervisor and I have been working with is" Counselling and Therapy Skills" by David G. Martin.
1. Congruence: genuineness, honesty with the client
2. Respect: acceptance, and unconditional positive regard for the client
3. Empathy: the ability to feel what the client feels (Boeree, 2006).
Although I use all three in my work with clients, this past semester at my practicum, I have been focused on learning empathic responding. This means conveying what the client has said in a way that brings the meaning behind it to the surface. The book my supervisor and I have been working with is" Counselling and Therapy Skills" by David G. Martin.
In "Counselling and Therapy Skills", Martin describes empathy as "communicated understanding of the other person's intended message, especially the experiential/emotional part" (p.4).
He also presents the levels of empathy:
Level 1: The verbal expressions of the counsellor do not attend to or detract significantly
Level 2: While the counsellor responds to the client, he does so in such a way that subtracts noticeable affect from the communication of the client.
Level 3:The expressions of the therapist in response to the expressed feelings of the client are essentially interchangeable
Level 4: The responses of the counsellor add noticeably to the expressions of the client in such a way as to express feelings a level deeper than the client was able to express himself.
Level 5: The counsellor's responses add significantly to the feeling and meaning of the expressions of the client in such a way as to accurately express feelings below what the client was able to express, or in the event of ongoing deep self-exploration on the client's part, to be fully with him in his deepest moments.
Clearly, the aim for the therapist is to be responding at a level 5, however, Martin points out that many therapists operate regularly at a level 3. It has taken me eight months of work just to be able to be comfortable at a level 4! This is something I will continue to practice.
Empathy can be much more complicated than it seems at first glance. A college of mine directed me to this video, in which Carl Rogers explains the importance of empathy in therapy. This video helped me to understand better:
He also presents the levels of empathy:
Level 1: The verbal expressions of the counsellor do not attend to or detract significantly
Level 2: While the counsellor responds to the client, he does so in such a way that subtracts noticeable affect from the communication of the client.
Level 3:The expressions of the therapist in response to the expressed feelings of the client are essentially interchangeable
Level 4: The responses of the counsellor add noticeably to the expressions of the client in such a way as to express feelings a level deeper than the client was able to express himself.
Level 5: The counsellor's responses add significantly to the feeling and meaning of the expressions of the client in such a way as to accurately express feelings below what the client was able to express, or in the event of ongoing deep self-exploration on the client's part, to be fully with him in his deepest moments.
Clearly, the aim for the therapist is to be responding at a level 5, however, Martin points out that many therapists operate regularly at a level 3. It has taken me eight months of work just to be able to be comfortable at a level 4! This is something I will continue to practice.
Empathy can be much more complicated than it seems at first glance. A college of mine directed me to this video, in which Carl Rogers explains the importance of empathy in therapy. This video helped me to understand better:
In person-centered therapy, the aim is cto reate an environment which is conducive to allowing the client to achieve a greater degree of independence and integration (Corey, 2009). A humanistic view is taken in that the person is focused on, not just the problematic functioning.
I have found in my own work with clients, that a client will typically wear a 'mask' in order to protect the self from vulnerability (i.e. being the 'comedian). This is not unlike Carl Jung's archetypes that portray public personas (Jung, 1967). Although these masks work for the short-term, it often causes dysfunction in the long-term. Therefore, when I am working with a client, often we will discover the masks, and better understand why they exist.
Carl Rogers (1961) described four elements of people who are becoming actualized (in other words, no longer need the masks):
1) Has an openness to experience
2) Has a trust in themselves
3) Has an internal source of evaluation
4) Has a willingness to continue growing
It is my job as the therapist, not to decide what the client needs to change, but rather how I can best help the client to achieve her or his goals (Corey, 2009). I therefore work to create a therapeutic relationship in which there is mutual respect, and the client trusts me enough to peek from behind the mask, and discover who might emerge from behind it.
I have found in my own work with clients, that a client will typically wear a 'mask' in order to protect the self from vulnerability (i.e. being the 'comedian). This is not unlike Carl Jung's archetypes that portray public personas (Jung, 1967). Although these masks work for the short-term, it often causes dysfunction in the long-term. Therefore, when I am working with a client, often we will discover the masks, and better understand why they exist.
Carl Rogers (1961) described four elements of people who are becoming actualized (in other words, no longer need the masks):
1) Has an openness to experience
2) Has a trust in themselves
3) Has an internal source of evaluation
4) Has a willingness to continue growing
It is my job as the therapist, not to decide what the client needs to change, but rather how I can best help the client to achieve her or his goals (Corey, 2009). I therefore work to create a therapeutic relationship in which there is mutual respect, and the client trusts me enough to peek from behind the mask, and discover who might emerge from behind it.
A case example: Social Isolation
Jason, 25, has come to counselling to work on feelings of loneliness and isolation. He tells me that he feels like he cannot get close to anyone, and spends a lot of time alone. He tells me that he often 'doesn't bother' with friends because they are always 'complaining or needing something' from him, and he finds that annoying. He prefers to have social friends, who are fun to go out with, because he can't bother with all the drama that comes along with a true friendship. He has had a string of one night stands, but no meaningful relationships with a woman. He told me that he never feels it is worth it to get to know women on a deeper level, because they will become clingy and attached.
Jason was adopted by his aunt as an infant, as his mother did not feel ready to be a parent. He does not know who his birth father is. He told me that his aunt tended to be cold and critical, and Jason always felt like a burden. He said that he would frequently overhear his aunt complaining to her friends about having to take care of him. Jason said that he hated feeling like a burden, and made sure to appear as self-sufficient as possible.
In therapy, through exploration of himself, we discovered that Jason wore a mask that made it appear that he was always put together and in control. However, he shared with me that he felt like he was 'a mess' on the inside. I worked for many sessions with Jason to convey a sense of genuineness and caring, so he would feel free to emerge from behind his mask. My aim here was to allow him to be open to expressing himself, and have that experience without having the other person (in this case, me) recoil with horror. I sensed that Jason felt unwanted and he had shared with me many times that he felt unimportant. Just through the therapeutic relationship alone, I was able to demonstrate that he was worth getting to know.
In following Rogers' four traits of an actualized person, here is how I see Jason now, after 20 sessions:
1) an openness to experience: as aforementioned, I created a space where Jason could experience himself
2) trust in themselves: Jason is beginning to trust himself more in social situations, and recognize when people are toxic, even if they seem of 'high value' at first glance.
3) an internal source of evaluation: Jason is beginning to realize that how other people view him is not as important as how he is feeling. He therefore may choose to date a woman not because she is hot and his buddies will be jealous, but because she is caring, and makes him feel good about himself.
4) a willingness to continue growing: Jason has told me that he would like to continue processing his relationships and learning more about himself. I have recommended group therapy as a possible next step.
Jason, 25, has come to counselling to work on feelings of loneliness and isolation. He tells me that he feels like he cannot get close to anyone, and spends a lot of time alone. He tells me that he often 'doesn't bother' with friends because they are always 'complaining or needing something' from him, and he finds that annoying. He prefers to have social friends, who are fun to go out with, because he can't bother with all the drama that comes along with a true friendship. He has had a string of one night stands, but no meaningful relationships with a woman. He told me that he never feels it is worth it to get to know women on a deeper level, because they will become clingy and attached.
Jason was adopted by his aunt as an infant, as his mother did not feel ready to be a parent. He does not know who his birth father is. He told me that his aunt tended to be cold and critical, and Jason always felt like a burden. He said that he would frequently overhear his aunt complaining to her friends about having to take care of him. Jason said that he hated feeling like a burden, and made sure to appear as self-sufficient as possible.
In therapy, through exploration of himself, we discovered that Jason wore a mask that made it appear that he was always put together and in control. However, he shared with me that he felt like he was 'a mess' on the inside. I worked for many sessions with Jason to convey a sense of genuineness and caring, so he would feel free to emerge from behind his mask. My aim here was to allow him to be open to expressing himself, and have that experience without having the other person (in this case, me) recoil with horror. I sensed that Jason felt unwanted and he had shared with me many times that he felt unimportant. Just through the therapeutic relationship alone, I was able to demonstrate that he was worth getting to know.
In following Rogers' four traits of an actualized person, here is how I see Jason now, after 20 sessions:
1) an openness to experience: as aforementioned, I created a space where Jason could experience himself
2) trust in themselves: Jason is beginning to trust himself more in social situations, and recognize when people are toxic, even if they seem of 'high value' at first glance.
3) an internal source of evaluation: Jason is beginning to realize that how other people view him is not as important as how he is feeling. He therefore may choose to date a woman not because she is hot and his buddies will be jealous, but because she is caring, and makes him feel good about himself.
4) a willingness to continue growing: Jason has told me that he would like to continue processing his relationships and learning more about himself. I have recommended group therapy as a possible next step.
References:
American Personnel and Guidance Association. (1974). Carl Rogers on Empathy. [Video File]. Retrieved from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMi7uY83z-U
Boeree, G.C. (2006). Carl Rogers. Retrieved online from: http://webspace.ship.edu/cgboer/rogers.html
Borbridge, C. (2010a). EDPS 638 Week 4: Intervention: Cognitive structure, process and outcome of cognitive ‘talk therapy’ approaches [PDF
document]. Retrieved from EDPS 638 course website: https://blackboard.ucalgary.ca/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_id=_2_1&url=%2fwebapps%2fblackboard%2fexecute%2flauncher%3ftype%3dCourse%26id%3d_151823_1%26url%3d.
Corey, G. (2009). Theory and Practice of Psychotherapy. Belmont, CA: Thompson Brooks/Cole.
Jung, C. G. (1967). The Development of Personality. 1991 ed. London: Routledge. Collected Works Vol. 17
Martin, D.G. (2011). Counselling and Therapy Skills. Long Grove, IL: Waveland Press
Rogers, Carl. (1961). Communication: Its Blocking and Its Facilitation. [On Becoming a Person]. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, pp. 329-337.
American Personnel and Guidance Association. (1974). Carl Rogers on Empathy. [Video File]. Retrieved from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMi7uY83z-U
Boeree, G.C. (2006). Carl Rogers. Retrieved online from: http://webspace.ship.edu/cgboer/rogers.html
Borbridge, C. (2010a). EDPS 638 Week 4: Intervention: Cognitive structure, process and outcome of cognitive ‘talk therapy’ approaches [PDF
document]. Retrieved from EDPS 638 course website: https://blackboard.ucalgary.ca/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_id=_2_1&url=%2fwebapps%2fblackboard%2fexecute%2flauncher%3ftype%3dCourse%26id%3d_151823_1%26url%3d.
Corey, G. (2009). Theory and Practice of Psychotherapy. Belmont, CA: Thompson Brooks/Cole.
Jung, C. G. (1967). The Development of Personality. 1991 ed. London: Routledge. Collected Works Vol. 17
Martin, D.G. (2011). Counselling and Therapy Skills. Long Grove, IL: Waveland Press
Rogers, Carl. (1961). Communication: Its Blocking and Its Facilitation. [On Becoming a Person]. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, pp. 329-337.