Humanistic approaches

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Humanistic approaches

• Carl Rogers
• Fritz Perls

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Introductory comment

• There are many so-called humanistic
  psychologists and thinkers in Human Relations.
  We are focused on just two of them in this
  section (Carl Rogers and Fritz Perls). But you
  should not limit your understanding of this
  important area of study to these two. Study
  Coreys text carefully, including the chapters on
  existential therapy and feminist therapy, as well
  as the chapters on person-centered and gestalt
  therapies to capture some of the varied
  dimensions of the humanistic tradition. Think
  back, as well, to the humanistic theories in
  organizational and management approaches that we
  studied earlier.

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Person-centered theoryCarl Rogers

• Emphasis upon
• SELF-DIRECTED GROWTH
• THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE HELPER AND THE
  CLIENT
• FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPT IS TRUST
• THE ACTUALIZING TENDENCY IS PRESENT IN EVERY
  HUMAN
• INDIVIDUALS ARE ARCHITECTS OF THEIR OWN LIVES

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Questions

• In what ways would you say that you have been the
  architect of your life? In the people you have
  known best, have you recognized a
  self-actualizing tendency?
• Is it hard for you to have confidence in another
  persons ability to find their own way, with you
  serving as an ally instead of a guide?

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Empathy

• Empathy is a consistent, unflagging appreciation
  of the experience of the other.
• It is active attention to the feelings of the
  client
• It involves warmth and genuineness
• Thought If you want to explore the meaning of
  empathy in more depth, go to the web and do a
  word search. This simple word is really loaded
  with meaning.

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Unconditional positive regard

• Related Terms
• Acceptance of the others reality with kindness
• Non-possessive caring
• Prizing
• Non-judgmental attitude
• Q Have you ever prized someone? Could you
  consistently prize a client, even if that
  person seemed to be without many strengths or
  successes in life?

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Congruence

• The helper does not deny his or her own feelings
  the opposite of hiding behind a professional
  mask.
• I find that I am closest to my inner, intuitive
  self, when I am somehow in touch with the unknown
  in me, when perhaps I am in a slightly altered
  state of consciousnessThen simply my presence is
  releasing and helpful. (Rogers)
• Thought Rogers language is somewhat strange
  here, but I wanted you to conceptualize a more
  mystical dimension to helping someone. Have
  you ever had this experience of being attuned to
  your intuitive self as a helper?

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Basic assumptions about the clients process

• SELF-REGARD the focus is to help the person feel
  significantly more positive
• LOCUS-OF-EVALUATION clients tend to worry to
  much about what others think the goal is to have
  the client be less dependent on other,
  externalized values and standards, i.e. others
  evaluations of the client
• EXPERIENCING rather than a rigid mode, the goal
  is to have an attitude of openness

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Summary statements

• The helper is to be present and accessible, in
  the moment-to-moment interchange
• The focus is on the phenomenological world of the
  client
• The helper should strive to be as transparent and
  honest as possible
• The focus is on the present, rather than
  explaining the past

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From Rogers to Perls

• After studying Fritz Perls, I will ask you to
  follow the ideas of both theorists in responding
  to another case for an informal written
  assignment. Rogers went through different eras
  in his counseling approach, but overall he
  remained relatively non-directive and focused on
  the clients own problem-solving capacities and
  strengths. Perls is similar on many theoretical
  levels he also relied upon the clients
  self-actualizing abilities and strengths. But
  Perls was anything but passive and non-directive
  he would challenge the client in a very direct
  and sometimes aggressive or playful manner. See
  what you think about the distinct approaches of
  Rogers and Perls, compared to your own style of
  helping someone.

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Gestalt theoryFritz Perls

• An existential focus on the here and now
• A lively and experiential approach
• A focus on the body and emotional expression
• How a person behaves is more important than why a
  person does something
• The goal is to re-own or own parts of the
  self a unification process

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A gestalt orientation

• The more we try to be who we are not, the more we
  remain the same
• We change when we become aware of what we are
• Be (rather than striving to be what we should
  be)
• Q Compared to Freud, do you think Perls is
  advocating for more of an expression of the id
  rather than being dominated by super ego
  function.?

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Basic concepts

• We all have unfinished business
• UNEXPRESSED FEELINGS INSIDE
• IMPASSES OR STUCK POINTS
• AVOIDANCE IS COMMONPLACE
• GESTALT HELPERS ZERO IN and EXAGGERATE THE
  DIFFICULTIES
• Thought Here is an interesting contrast with
  Rogers. Rogers will nudge the client into
  self-discovery. Perls will attack the difficulty
  with techniques and with persistence.

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The adult personality is like layers of an
onion

• PHONY LAYER Play games, roles, act as if we are
  someone we are not
• PHOBIC LAYER Without phoniness, we feel afraid,
  catastrophic thinking, fear others rejection
• IMPASSE a sense of deadness, hoping for a rescue
• IMPLOSIVE REACTION not running from or denying
  issues
• EXPLOSIVE RESPONSE emotional catharsis
• Read more about this aspect of Perls theory.
  Try to put this theory into the context of any
  personal growth you have accomplished. Did you
  go through pretending, fearing, hiding, facing
  and then being freed from the difficulties?

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Gestalt techniques

• EXAMPLES
• THE EMPTY CHAIR
• IMMEDIACY EXERCISES
• STAYING WITH THE FEELING
• EXAGGERATION EXERCISES
• MENTAL IMAGERY (REHEARSALS)
• Study the different techniques carefully in your
  text. These are helpful strategies to have when
  working with someone. Be sure you know what each
  of these mean (and other techniques in your text)
  and think about ways to adapt these to your own
  helping situations.

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Informal Written Assignment

• Write an essay reflecting on the case of Doris.
  Apply theory from Carl Rogers and Fritz Perls.
  Do not rely on your personal opinions instead
  illustrate how these two theoretical orientations
  would be used with Doris. In both orientations,
  you should remain empathic and illustrate your
  belief that she can realize her potential if the
  right conditions for self-exploration are
  established. (See a brief description of the
  case on the home page of Unit 4)