Humanists view their clients as possessing the ability and willingness to grow. They have a basic trust in their clients that given the correct conditions, he or she will be able to self-actualize (Corey, 2009).
Carl Rogers (1957) believed that each person at the core, was trustworthy, resourceful, capable and able to make constructive changes. When the therapist conveys to the client realness, support and caring, significant changes are likely to occur.
When I work with my clients, I genuinely believe they are good people, who are doing their best given their circumstances. I often see 'blocks' come up for clients from reaching their full potential that typically stem from emotional wounding. It is my job to bring about awareness of these blocks so they can better understand themselves, and their way of navigating the world.
Here is some quotes from a paper I wrote in my first year, that highlights my views at that time of human functioning:
Carl Rogers (1957) believed that each person at the core, was trustworthy, resourceful, capable and able to make constructive changes. When the therapist conveys to the client realness, support and caring, significant changes are likely to occur.
When I work with my clients, I genuinely believe they are good people, who are doing their best given their circumstances. I often see 'blocks' come up for clients from reaching their full potential that typically stem from emotional wounding. It is my job to bring about awareness of these blocks so they can better understand themselves, and their way of navigating the world.
Here is some quotes from a paper I wrote in my first year, that highlights my views at that time of human functioning:
"I believe a humanistic approach to counselling is best because it focuses on the individual as a whole, not on problematic fragments of the individual. In other words, humanistic theory views people as more than just their behaviours, feelings and thoughts, and treats them as individual beings with unique experiences (Hansen, 2000). "
"The Humanistic View: The humanistic view states that individuals are resourceful and have the capacity to overcome their dysfunctions, given the appropriate environment (Hazler, 2001). In client-centered therapy, the therapist views the client as possessing the potential for self-directed growth (Knight, 2007). I agree with this view as it is empowering to the client to have the therapist trust that they are fully capable of handling their issues. This belief is known as organismic self-regulation in Gestalt therapy, and posits that individuals are self-motivated towards problem solving (Yontef & Jacobs, 2011). I believe that as a therapist, demonstrating this trust in clients will mobilize them towards change. Further, the client will be more confident to handle issues that occur outside the therapy sessions. "
"Definition of Psychological Health: I believe psychological health is defined by the degree to which an individual is aware of and comfortable with his or her authentic self. In humanistic terms, a healthy individual is one that has a fully integrated sense of self, is able to consciously maintain awareness of the present moment and has the capacity for creative adjustment (Yontef & Jacobs, 2011)."
"The Nature of Change: I believe it is important to continually recognize the client’s potential for change towards healthy functioning. In regards to the change process, a major theme in humanistic theory is a tendency for individuals to strive for psychological health. In client-centered therapy, self-actualization is essential to the nature of change. Individuals are viewed as continually evolving organisms, seeking to enhance themselves (Hazler, 2001). This tendency is a major motivation for clients to succeed in the therapeutic process. In client-centered therapy, the self-actualization tendency sees behaviour as goal-directed, attempting to satisfy needs (Hansen, 2000). In this sense, the therapist views the client as “self-righting” (Raskin, Rogers & Witty, 2011, p.162), and uses this knowledge to better understand the client’s motivations. I believe this is helpful to the therapist in the sense that it facilitates the therapist’s understanding of the client, and thus strengthens the effectiveness of therapy."
"Why I am Drawn to Humanism: I am drawn to this theory because this approach comes naturally to me. I believe the relationship between the client and counsellor is very important in facilitating client change. The warm, authentic approach of client-centered therapy seems logical to me. Also, I value the empowering aspect of this approach. Client-centered therapists are not the all-knowing experts in the therapeutic relationship (Yontef & Jacobs, 2011). Instead, the patient’s experiences and knowledge are highly valued. I believe this trust and faith in the client’s abilities is crucial to a positive outcome in therapy. I also believe in continually checking in with my biases. An example of this occurred when I began to examine my beliefs around women working in the sex trade. Initially I held a narrow-minded view of sex workers. However, as I began to research this topic, and speak with women working in this area, I realized how my judgements were holding me back from creating a positive working relationship with these potential clients. For me, examining my biases takes courage, as it is difficult at times to admit that I can be judgemental towards certain things because I pride myself on being an open and accepting individual. However, this type of ongoing awareness work has helped me to become a more open and accepting individual."
A Reflection on My Current Views:
My views on human nature have not changed dramatically since my first year of the Master of Counselling program, in 2011. I still believe in the self actualization principle, as well as the importance of a strong therapeutic alliance. I also still feel strongly aligned with the Humanist approach, and am continually striving to address my biases, as exemplified in the above example about sex work.
My views on human nature have not changed dramatically since my first year of the Master of Counselling program, in 2011. I still believe in the self actualization principle, as well as the importance of a strong therapeutic alliance. I also still feel strongly aligned with the Humanist approach, and am continually striving to address my biases, as exemplified in the above example about sex work.
Currently, I still hold Carl Rogers in a high respect. Although I have now learned that some other approaches work better for certain client issues (i.e. CBT for anxiety) I always rely on good client-centered approaches in my work with clients.
To read more about what I have learned about different client interventions, please see the "Interventions" under the "Counselling Competencies" tab.
To read more about what I have learned about different client interventions, please see the "Interventions" under the "Counselling Competencies" tab.
References:
Boeree, G.C. (2006). Carl Rogers. Retrieved online from: http://webspace.ship.edu/cgboer/rogers.html
Corey, G. (2009). Theory and practice of counseling and psychotherapy (8th Ed.). Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole.
Rogers, C. (1957). The necessary and sufficient conditions of therapeutic personality change. Journal of Consulting Psychology 21(2): 95-103.
Boeree, G.C. (2006). Carl Rogers. Retrieved online from: http://webspace.ship.edu/cgboer/rogers.html
Corey, G. (2009). Theory and practice of counseling and psychotherapy (8th Ed.). Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole.
Rogers, C. (1957). The necessary and sufficient conditions of therapeutic personality change. Journal of Consulting Psychology 21(2): 95-103.