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Running head: CONCEPTUALIZATION TREATMENT PLAN

Counseling Project: Conceptualization and Treatment Plan1 Person-Centered Therapy Leah Woodard Liberty University

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Abstract Joy is an upper middle-aged woman having relationship issues with her daughter, mother, and ex-husband. She is also deeply depressed from the recent death of her oldest daughter and the breakup of her marriage. She is suffering from low self-esteem and feeling like her life is out of her control. She compensates for this by being overly organized. She is seeking therapy in hopes of being able to have better personal relationships, cope with her grief and to feel better about herself and to find meaning in her life. Life. At this junction Person-centered therapy (PC) will be the most appropriate form of therapy for Joy. Since this form of requires the therapist to uplifting, real, and empathetic it will be beneficial for Joy to obtain goals and to grow as an individual feeling worthy and finding meaning through unconditional positive regard, coherence and compassion. Bearing in mind the aforementioned concepts of Person-centered therapy a Christian belief system can be integrated into the therapeutic process. Even so caution should be exercised to not become fixated on self-sufficiency which is in direct contradiction to a Christian belief.

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Person-Centered therapy It took Carl Rogers over 40 years to develop Person-centered therapy. He obtained recognition from the APA for “distinguished scientific contribution” (Murdock, 2009). Personcentered therapy is a common practice across Europe. Although, it is not a common practice in the United States it is still utilized by some therapist. The ability for people to be good is the foundation of Person-centered therapy. The ability to be good according to Rogers is the fundamental nature of humans when functioning freely. Additionally, humans are driven by instinct and how one functions is based on the awareness of the ability to be good (Murdock, 2009). When approaching Person-centered therapy there is a need to be transparent, empathetic and to have unconditional positive regard toward the client in order to facilitate growth and understanding with the client. Person-centered therapy is described by Jones and Butman (2011) as being based off phenomenology. They came to this conclusion because of Rogers beliefe in the uniqueness of individuals, their actions along with decision making. This makes it fesable to be classified as a form of self-determinism in such that the individual is self-aware and can make self-actualization (Jones and Butman, 2011). It can be assertatnied that Person-centered therapy is client driven and client led throught the theraputice process. The therapist must be committed to the processes and provide the client with affirmation twoard’s the clients growth. There must be an understanding of the way the client process information about themselves and their perspectives. Each individual is unique thus the counsling session will be unique as well. With the self led/directed sessions the client should be able to come to an accetptance that they are accountable for where they are as a result of the choices they have made.

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Research has proven that those that participate in Person-centered therapy are more likely to make a positive change in life this is based on the awareness and understanding that the client has of self. There is a 30 percent change in the achievement of psychotherapy, these changes are significant and continue to grow Murdock (2009). Psychologist as well as theologist have debated the study of Person-centered therapy. Even though Carl Rogers held the belief that humans are created in the image of God and created by God these views is in conflict in relation of the term’s self and the ability of an individual to be in control of their destiny. Jones and Butman (2011) deduce that Person-centered therapy is too focused on self and the care of self thus resulting in a disregard for others. This can be construed as morally wrong. There is no reason at this time to believe that Joy will have any multicultural issues utilizing person-centered therapy as the therapeutic treatment. It has been assumed that Person-centered therapy an effective approach for clients that are form varies cultural backgrounds. With the influence of Enlightenment along with Western humanism has shown this not to be true with many groups (Jones and Butman, 2011). Person-centered therapy has been one of the significant influencers of crisis intervention. Although it is effective it may not be a suitable technique for everyone that is in a crisis situation (Young and Lester, PhD, 2001). Joy is not currently in any crisis; she has mild depression which is normal when grieving. She is not displaying any suicidal idolizations. Person-centered therapy enables the client to adress their current life issue, wich aids in self-assessment, and disocoveryof why and how they are feeling as they do, along with the impact it has on them (Murdock, 2009). For Joy this will aid in her goal of attaning the feeling of bing in control. Additionally, Person-centered therapy can be effective in treating Joy’s interpersonal relationships with her daughter, Reggie by utilizing unconditional positive regard. Furthermore, with the concepts of compassion and coherence

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Interventions Joy has indicated that she feels as thou she is inapt at being a mother. She places blame on her mother for leaving her with care givers. Because of this thinking it is a hinderance in her being able to have a meaningful relationship with her surviving daughter, Reggie. The sudden death of her oldest daughter has put Joy in a depressive state that is exasperated by her low selfesteem Joy states that she is she is profoundly unsatisfied and frustrated with her life. She admits that she feels out of control and feels a need to regain her feeling of self- assuredness. She does not currently have any close friends, nor does she have any religious connections. She is aware that there is something more out there. Joy understands that she needs some help before she spirals into a crisis state. The primary goals for Joy’s treatment will address her interpersonal relationship with her daughter, her depression and her feelings of being out of control. With the flexiblty of Person-centered therapy it can be a bencial form of therapy. There are three core conditions that facilatet growth and undersatnding for the client during the therputic relationship. The core conditions consit of Compassion, Coherence, and Unconditional positive regard. Compassion Compassion other wise referred to as empathy awknowldges and recognozes a person's feelings and emotions. When a therapist extends compassion to a client this becomes a building block in forming a trusting relationship between the client and couslor. When utilizing compassion the counselor is able to place themselves in the mindset of of thir client. The abilty to see from the perspective of clients is vital for this form for therapy (Murdock, 2009). The function of empathy is to generate a particular kind of learning experience so that clients come to

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relate to themselves differently ( Arthur Bohart,1991). For Joy, coming along side her and sharing her loss with emphaty will establish report bewtween her and the counselor during this time of profound grief. There is a need for a supportive and empathiic relationship for the griving client. The person-centerd therapy approach” follows the client's agenda and facilitates an individual, diverse process” (Mclaren, 2010) Coherence Coherence is the ability of the counselor to be transpatant, real and realness, transparence, congruence thus the counselor isaware of their own personal experiences through the client's session (Murdock, 2009). Corherence arises when emotions are raw and the counsleor is able to be themselves with the client. Coherence will allo Joy to speak freely during her sessions which will help her to regain feeling of control. This in turn will enable her to oragnize the postive aspects of her life. Unconditional Positive Regard The essance of unconditional positive regard acceptance and compassion toward the client. There should always be complete focus on the client . The counselor should exhbat acceptance towards the clients current percpective. Additional unconditioanl positve regard if not judgmental nore does it place conditions on care. For the threapist this is the opportunity to care and realte to the client (Murdock 2009). Having this behavior modled during sessions would enable Joy to extend unconditional positive regard toward Reggie. When fewer conditions of worth are placed on her, she will be more likely to have a higher level of emotional adjustment in coping with her parents divorce and the loss of her sister. In theory if Reggie is experiencing more unconditional positive regarde she will be more adpt at communicating with Joy. Thus, Joy

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will be more empathtic towards Reggie and she in turn will be more empathtic to Joy thus building a foundation of unconditional positive regarde for one another ( Rogers, 1959). Spiritual Application Person-centered therapy is a double edge sword when intergrating Christian belifes into the theraputic process. On one side if the core comcepts are unadulterated then it is reasonable to have expectations that the treatment will be effective. On the other side it is important to note that there a number of assumptions that are in direct conflict with Christian beliefs. In the intial assisment of Joy it has been assertaned that she does not currently hold to any religious and or spiritual belife and is unsure about her understanding of God and heaven. This is hindering her in copeing with the death of her daughter. Additionally, Joy is suffering from low self esteem. By intergrating a Christian belife system into her sessions this will likely help her process the loss of her daughter and have an undersatnding of her grief and to rebuild her self image as someone that has worth.. There should not be any conflicts with intergrating a Chrstian perspective into her therputice process. Person-centered therapy compatible with Christain Beliefs There are a number of ways that Person-centered therapy alines with a Christian perpective. The first area that Christian belife system is compatible with Person-centered therpay is in the area of empaty and unconditonal postive regard. Christians are to not pass judgment on one another. They are to come alongside and extend the hand of brotherly love and compassion. Secondly Person-centered therapy offers valuable direction in relating to others by means of authenticity. Christian are to be honest in all that they do (1 Peter 3:10, Colossians 3:9; Philippians 4: 8; Proverbs 12:22) We are commanded to love others, not grounded on what they

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do but founded on God's unconditional love for us (John 13:34-35). And taking time to listen to another’s story and accurately respond with care and concern is loving. Finally, Person-centered therapy is compatible with Christian beliefs on the assumptions that a relationship involving the core conditions indicates the truth of God's love and He is actively involved in the life of individuals. As a Christian there is the understanding that God is the One who listens. Thus, the Christian counselor who receives and hears their client’s issues are acting as Christ would. Christian beliefs and Person-centered therapy based on the idea that a therapeutic relationship with the above-mentioned core conditions reflects God’s truth of love and His involvement in our lives (Lynch, 1997) Person-centered therapy Not compatible with Christian Beliefs When integrating a Christian belief system in Person-centered therapy there are areas that are not compatible with Christian beliefs. First area that it is not compatible is Authority and the self. Person-centered therapy rejects any other authority over self. Giving all authority over to the individual and stating that they are in control of one’s own destiny. This gives over to a form of self-idolization, this effectively takes the focus off God. (Jones and Butman 2011). Secondly, the aspect of Phenomenology and the self is in direct contradiction with Christian beliefs. Person-centered therapy proclaims that “When self-actualization is in line with organismic valuing process, trustworthy self-knowledge is fully obtained” (Jones and Butman, pg. 272, 2011). This does not adhere to Christian belief system that God is the source of divine revelation and the ultimate authority. Lastly, when addressing Freedom and responsibility, person-centered therapy is explicit that the individual is ultimately responsible only to themselves. This makes it impossible for the

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individual to extend agape love to others. Applying agape love requires an individual to place others before themselves. Additional, in regard to personal freedom the Christian belief places limitations on freedom; Christian are in “bondage to evil, self-deception, and sin” (Jones and Butman, pg. 273, 2011). Conclusion When the counselor effectually utilizes the three core conditions of compassion, coherence and unconditional positive regard the outcome will be a therapeutic relationship that is akin to that of friendship. When there an absence of unconditional positive regard this can lead to a profound sense of “condition of un-worth,” There is evident in clients who have experienced disturbing levels of neglect or abuse in childhood or later on in life.” Other instances include children raised by “care-givers” with seriously depleted capacities for providing empathic care “ ( Vaidya, 2013) In the case of Joy, being raised by care givers the assumption can be made that this is one contributing factor of her feelings of low self- esteem as well as her inability to have positive regard towards her daughter. Person-centered therapy can bring about a constructive personality change. Rogers, (1957) states that there are six necessary conditions that must be meet for personality change to occur: Two individuals are in psychological contact. One is the client who is vulnerable and or anxious. The second person is the therapist, who is congruent in the relationship. The therapist expresses unconditional positive regard for the client. And therapist feels an empathic understanding of the client's inner frame of reference and communicates this to the client. The interaction with the client allows for a minimal degree of empathic understanding and unconditional positive regard. If these conditions exist no other conditions are necessary. When they exist and continue the process of constructive personality

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change will follow (Rogers, 1957). It is reasonable for Joy and her counselor to have all six conditions, thus enabling Joy to establish a constructive personality change. .

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References Bohart, A. C. (1991). Empathy in Client-Centered Therapy: A Contrast with Psychoanalysis and Self Psychology. Sage Journal, 34-48. Butman, S. L. (2011). Person-Centered Therapy. In S. L. Butman, Modern Psychotherapies A Comprehensive Christian Appraisal (2 nd ed., pp. 261-291). Downers Grove,Illinois: IVP Academics. David Laseter, P., & Young, L. (2001). Gestalt Theropy Approaches to Crisis Intervention With Sudicial Clients. Breif Threatment and Crisis Interventiom , 65-74. Larson, D. G. (2013). A person-centred approach to grief counselling . In M. O. Mick Cooper, The Handbook of Person-Centred Psychotherapy and Counselling (pp. 313-323). Macmillan International Higher Education. Lynch, G. (1997). Integrating Christian faith and the person-centred. 10-16. Murdock, N. (2009). Theories of Counseling and Psychotherapy: A Case Approach. (3rd, Ed.) Boston: Pearson. Rodgers, C. (1956). The Necessary and Sufficient Conditions of Therapeutic Personality Change. Consulting Psychology , 21, 95-103. Rodgers, C. R. (1959). A Theory Of Therapy, Personality,And Interpersonal Relationships,As Developed In The Client-Centered Framework. In S. Koch (Ed.), Psychology: A Study of a Science. Study 1, Volume 3:Formulations of the Person and the Social Context, (pp. 184-256). McGraw- Hill. Vaidya, D. (2013). Revisioning Rogers’ Second Condition – Anxiety as the face of ontological incongruence and basis for. Person-Centered & Experiential Psychotherapies...