CLIENT CENTERED THERAPY

Client Centered Therapy

Abstract

In this study we try to explore the concept of “Client centered therapy” in a holistic context. The main focus of the research is on “Client centered therapy,” and its relation with “depression”. The research also analyzes many aspects of “Client centered therapy,” and tries to gauge its effect on “depression”. Finally the research describes various factors which are responsible for “Client centered therapy,” and tries to describe the overall effect of “Client centered therapy,” on “depression”.

Chapter - I

Introduction

Client centered therapy, developed by Carl Rogers, is a non structured, non directive process between the psychotherapist and the patient. It is the process itself, not something that the psychotherapist does to the patient that ultimately enables the patient to feel better by relieving the symptoms of depression. Client centered therapy is based on the humanistic philosophy that we all have the ability to strive to be the best that we can be in this life, and we can find meaning for ourselves without constant direction from others. It was within this framework that Roger's focus in psychotherapy was less on what the therapist did and more on the client's verbal and nonverbal communication (Angust, 2008).

Client-centered practice is also particularly influential in occupational therapy practice. When Sumsion and Law (2006) undertook a review of the conceptual elements informing client-centered practice, they concluded: "There is a strong emphasis on a collaborative approach or partnership, respect for the client, facilitating choice and involving the client in determining the occupational goals that emerge from his or her choices". Client-centered practice, therefore, privileges the use of the client's knowledge, experience, daily context, and goals over other types of information when therapists make decisions about providing service (Gibbard, 2008).

Types of client centered therapy

There are different types of psychotherapy available to help anyone who is depressed. Psychotherapy focuses on affect (emotions), behavior (actions), or cognitions (thoughts), some psychotherapies focus on a combination. The idea is that when either affect, behavior or cognition get out of whack, they are all negatively affected. Through a series of psychological tests, it was determined that my emotions were seriously damaged.

In order for client centered therapy to be effective, the therapeutic process must contain the following 3 conditions (Whalley, 2009):

1. Genuineness - The patients should able to (eventually) share their thoughts and feelings with the therapist, so too he should be able to share his own thoughts and feelings, both positive and negative, with them. Patients should trust and honestly believe that therapist was the real deal not hiding behind a facade or a mask of professionalism.

2. Unconditional positive regard - The second condition established by therapist should be that he accepts the patients with their positive and negative qualities, just the way they were without any ridicule or rejection. He should make them comfortable with the therapeutic sessions that they could yell or scream at the guy without feeling guilty or unaccepted for doing so. This made them feel that how they communicated (Angust, ...