existential-humanistic tradition carl rogers (1902-1987)“person-centred” abraham maslow...

Existential-Humanistic TraditionExistential-Humanistic Tradition

Carl Rogers (1902-1987)Carl Rogers (1902-1987) “person-centred”“person-centred”

Abraham Maslow (1908-1970)Abraham Maslow (1908-1970) “humanistic “humanistic psychologist”psychologist”

Frederick (Fritz) Perls (1892-1970)Frederick (Fritz) Perls (1892-1970) “gestalt therapy”“gestalt therapy”

Viktor Frankl (1905-1997)Viktor Frankl (1905-1997) “logotherapy”“logotherapy”

Emmaus Counseling Training Programme 2002-2003


Two young people came upon a pile of Two young people came upon a pile of manure in a barnyard.The first, the manure in a barnyard.The first, the pessimist, saw a pile of manure and said, pessimist, saw a pile of manure and said, “urg.” The optimist started digging in “urg.” The optimist started digging in immediately and soon was up to the knees immediately and soon was up to the knees in dung. “Why are you doing that?” asked in dung. “Why are you doing that?” asked the first.the first.

““Why?” answered the Why?” answered the optimist, “Because if there is optimist, “Because if there is all this manure pile up, there all this manure pile up, there must be a pony somewhere.”must be a pony somewhere.”


Must differentiate between the existential Must differentiate between the existential position and the existential-humanistic position and the existential-humanistic position. position.

Existentialists such as Sartre, Camus and Existentialists such as Sartre, Camus and Kierkegaard = dismal, and hopeless view as they Kierkegaard = dismal, and hopeless view as they observe the absurdity and cruelty of life.observe the absurdity and cruelty of life.

The humanistic existentialists suggest that the very The humanistic existentialists suggest that the very confusion and disorder in the world is an opportunity for confusion and disorder in the world is an opportunity for growth and beauty.growth and beauty.

The distinction between the two positions can be defined as The distinction between the two positions can be defined as one of philosophy or faith.one of philosophy or faith.

Existential humanistic traditionExistential humanistic tradition

Focus =Focus = Men and Women as people empowered Men and Women as people empowered to act on the world and determine own destiny.to act on the world and determine own destiny.


Distinction between this approach and Distinction between this approach and psychodynamic and behavioral approaches:psychodynamic and behavioral approaches:

Locus of control =Locus of control = the individual rather than the individual rather than past history or environmental determinantspast history or environmental determinants

Main Points:Main Points:

We are in the world; our task is to understand what this means.We are in the world; our task is to understand what this means.

We know ourselves through our relationship with the world, with other We know ourselves through our relationship with the world, with other people.people.

Anxiety can result from lack of relationship Anxiety can result from lack of relationship or or failure to act and choose failure to act and choose

We are responsible for our own construction of the world; we decide.We are responsible for our own construction of the world; we decide.

The counselor must understand the client’s world as fully as possible and The counselor must understand the client’s world as fully as possible and encourage him/her to be responsible for making decisions.encourage him/her to be responsible for making decisions.



Carl RogersCarl Rogers

View of human View of human naturenature

Basic assumptionsBasic assumptions

People are essentially good, essentially positive and forward-People are essentially good, essentially positive and forward-moving and ultimately self-actualizing.moving and ultimately self-actualizing.

People can take charge of life, make decisions and act on the People can take charge of life, make decisions and act on the world.world.

Experience is reality.Experience is reality.

Individuals have crises when they experience a Individuals have crises when they experience a discrepancy between their discrepancy between their real selfreal self and and ideal selfideal self. This . This discrepancy between thought and reality = discrepancy between thought and reality = incongruities.incongruities.


Fundamental ideas:Fundamental ideas:Actualizing tendency Actualizing tendency

The self-conceptThe self-concept

The organismic self: Real inner life of the The organismic self: Real inner life of the person; conditions of worth.person; conditions of worth.

The most important aspect of counseling is The most important aspect of counseling is the therapeutic relationship between counselor the therapeutic relationship between counselor and clientand client


The self-conceptThe self-concept

The individual’s perception of selfThe individual’s perception of self

Acquired early in childhoodAcquired early in childhood

Reflected in the attitudes expressed by othersReflected in the attitudes expressed by others

Reinforced by interaction with othersReinforced by interaction with others

The organismic selfThe organismic self

The real inner self of a personThe real inner self of a person

Present from birthPresent from birth

Aims to mature and achieve self-actualizationAims to mature and achieve self-actualization

Moves towards harmony and integrationMoves towards harmony and integration

Therapeutic Therapeutic goalsgoalsTo find positive elements in even the To find positive elements in even the

most troubled individual.most troubled individual.

To elicit the maximum amount of To elicit the maximum amount of personal strength and confidence personal strength and confidence from the client.from the client.



Function and role of the counselor:Function and role of the counselor:

Core conditions: Empathy, Congruence and Core conditions: Empathy, Congruence and Unconditional positive regard.Unconditional positive regard.

The counselor must understand and empathize with the The counselor must understand and empathize with the unique experiential world of the client.unique experiential world of the client.

A central task of the counselor is to make it possible for the A central task of the counselor is to make it possible for the client to gain emotional release in relation to his/her problem client to gain emotional release in relation to his/her problem and as a consequence to think more clearly and more deeply and as a consequence to think more clearly and more deeply about himself/herself and his/her situation.about himself/herself and his/her situation.

Function and role of the counselor………Function and role of the counselor………

The counselor must provide an atmosphere in which The counselor must provide an atmosphere in which the client comes to see himself/herself and his/her the client comes to see himself/herself and his/her reactions more clearly and to accept attitudes more reactions more clearly and to accept attitudes more fully.fully.


On the basis of this insight he/she is On the basis of this insight he/she is able to meet life’s problems more able to meet life’s problems more adequately, more independently, adequately, more independently, more responsiblymore responsibly


Abraham MaslowAbraham Maslow

View of human natureView of human nature

Everyone has ‘healthy’ tendencies – these Everyone has ‘healthy’ tendencies – these include the search for knowledge and include the search for knowledge and understanding as well as the search for understanding as well as the search for satisfying relationships and the development of satisfying relationships and the development of rich emotional experience.rich emotional experience.

Basic Basic assumptionsassumptionsHuman beings are driven/ motivated by a Human beings are driven/ motivated by a hierarchy of needs.hierarchy of needs.


Fundamental ideasFundamental ideas

Basic Physical Needs: Basic Physical Needs:

The need for food, oxygen and fluid. Without these we would die.

Safety Needs: Safety Needs:

The need to feel secure and safe from harm. The need to feel protected in our environment.

Relationship Needs: Relationship Needs:

The need to give and receive love and affection. The need to belong and to be accepted.

Esteem Needs:Esteem Needs:

The need to experience self-esteem and the esteem of others. The need to feel confident, competent and useful.

Self-Actualization Needs: Self-Actualization Needs:

Realization of the individual’s potential. The drive towards self-fulfillment and knowledge.

Therapeutic Therapeutic goalsgoals

The development of individual The development of individual autonomy.autonomy.

Development of a capacity to listen to Development of a capacity to listen to and trust one’s own feelings, and trust one’s own feelings, judgments and opinions.judgments and opinions.



Function and role of the counselorFunction and role of the counselor

To engage the client, build trust To engage the client, build trust through unconditional positive through unconditional positive regard.regard.

Create an environment where Create an environment where the client can experience the client can experience positive forms of communication. positive forms of communication.


Fritz PerlsFritz Perls

View of human natureView of human nature

Human nature = holistic,consisting of many varied Human nature = holistic,consisting of many varied parts, which make the unique individual. We start life parts, which make the unique individual. We start life more or less ‘together,’ but as we grow and develop, more or less ‘together,’ but as we grow and develop, we encounter experiences, feelings and fears in life we encounter experiences, feelings and fears in life that cause us to lose parts of ourselves. These ‘splits that cause us to lose parts of ourselves. These ‘splits from the whole must be regained if we are to live from the whole must be regained if we are to live intentional, self-actualized lives. intentional, self-actualized lives.

Human beings work for Human beings work for wholeness wholeness and completeness in and completeness in life.life.

People strive to live integratively and productively. People strive to live integratively and productively. Human beings are motivated by a strong, innate drive Human beings are motivated by a strong, innate drive towards growth, self-actualization and the total towards growth, self-actualization and the total fulfillment of their potential.fulfillment of their potential.

Basic assumptionsBasic assumptions

The way a person perceives and interprets the The way a person perceives and interprets the world is entirely unique to that person.world is entirely unique to that person.

Every person operates on some conscious level, Every person operates on some conscious level, from being very aware to being very unaware.from being very aware to being very unaware.

Life and change take place in the present.Life and change take place in the present.




Here and Now:Here and Now: Focus must be on what the client Focus must be on what the client feels, thinks and does feels, thinks and does at this particular moment at this particular moment of his/her existence.of his/her existence.

Wholeness:Wholeness: Must have the client’s total Must have the client’s total participation – physical, emotional, intellectual and participation – physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual.spiritual.

Unfinished business:Unfinished business: unexpressed feelings such as unexpressed feelings such as resentment, rage, hatred, pain, grief, guilt, resentment, rage, hatred, pain, grief, guilt, abandonment… these are associated with distinct abandonment… these are associated with distinct memories and fantasies. They linger in the memories and fantasies. They linger in the background as “emotional debris” causing people background as “emotional debris” causing people to become stuck. to become stuck.

Therapeutic goalsTherapeutic goals

To make clients aware of their feelings and To make clients aware of their feelings and perceptions, especially those that have perceptions, especially those that have previously been hidden from awareness and previously been hidden from awareness and were thus inhibiting growth.were thus inhibiting growth.

To arrive at “AHA!”To arrive at “AHA!”



Function and role of counselorFunction and role of counselor

Promote an atmosphere that promotes a client’s Promote an atmosphere that promotes a client’s exploration the client’s feelings and ‘here and now’ exploration the client’s feelings and ‘here and now’ experience.experience.

Counselor must be creative and innovative in her Counselor must be creative and innovative in her work, prepared to improvise, experiment and invest a work, prepared to improvise, experiment and invest a great deal of energy and commitment to each great deal of energy and commitment to each session (emphasis is on methodology: ‘empty chair,’ session (emphasis is on methodology: ‘empty chair,’ ‘TopDog’)‘TopDog’)

Counselor must be prepared to be open about his/her Counselor must be prepared to be open about his/her feelings and experiences and to be willing to share feelings and experiences and to be willing to share these with the client when necessary. these with the client when necessary.


Compare Rogers and PerlsCompare Rogers and Perls

RogersRogers

Attending & listening skillsAttending & listening skills

Empathy, warmth, positive regardEmpathy, warmth, positive regard

PerlsPerls

Influencing skills –directives, Influencing skills –directives, feedback, interpretationfeedback, interpretation

Personally distant & remote, respect Personally distant & remote, respect only showed when clients become only showed when clients become truly themselves.truly themselves.

Both seek genuine encounters, but Both seek genuine encounters, but

Wait patientlyWait patiently Demand that authentic relationship Demand that authentic relationship developdevelop

Both highly focused on the individual but Both highly focused on the individual but

Emphasizes relationship Emphasizes relationship with others more than Perlswith others more than Perls

Emphasizes the responsibility Emphasizes the responsibility of the individual for his/her own of the individual for his/her own fatefate


Viktor FranklViktor FranklView of human natureView of human nature

Basic Assumptions Basic Assumptions

The critical issue for humankind is not what The critical issue for humankind is not what happens but how one views or thinks about happens but how one views or thinks about what happens.what happens.

He believed that people are capable of survival under He believed that people are capable of survival under even most inhuman of conditions because the power even most inhuman of conditions because the power of our human spirit is immense once we find meaning of our human spirit is immense once we find meaning in life. We discover meaning through our actions and in life. We discover meaning through our actions and deeds, by experiencing a value (such as love, or deeds, by experiencing a value (such as love, or achievements through work), and by suffering.achievements through work), and by suffering.


Modification of attitudes:Modification of attitudes: Change the way a person Change the way a person thinks about a situation – positive asset search.thinks about a situation – positive asset search.

Dereflection:Dereflection: Many of us ‘hyper-reflect’ on our Many of us ‘hyper-reflect’ on our problems and our negative feelings and problems and our negative feelings and experiences. When we are encouraged to think experiences. When we are encouraged to think about something else rather than the problem we about something else rather than the problem we start to focus toward other and positive contents start to focus toward other and positive contents of our thinking.of our thinking.



Therapeutic goalsTherapeutic goals

To help the client realize the importance of To help the client realize the importance of meaning, responsibility, awareness, freedom, meaning, responsibility, awareness, freedom, and potential.and potential.

To help the client take more responsibility for To help the client take more responsibility for their lives.their lives.


Function and role of Function and role of counselorcounselor

Must be interested in carefully learning how Must be interested in carefully learning how the client constructs his/her worldview. the client constructs his/her worldview.

Engage the client in dialogue in order to Engage the client in dialogue in order to appreciate his/her worldview and then to appreciate his/her worldview and then to guide him/her in the search for meaning, and guide him/her in the search for meaning, and come to new understandings and optionscome to new understandings and options..


DiscussionDiscussion

existential-humanistic tradition carl rogers (1902-1987)“person-centred” abraham maslow...

Documents

client slide

integration slide

real self

organismic self

clients world

real inner self

ideal self

humanistic existentialists