Person-Centered Therapy approach is a therapy that puts most of the responsibility of the progress on the client and where the therapist has a non-directive but supportive role to increase the client's self awareness. The client and therapist are in a more personal and equal setting so trust and acceptance can develop.




Carl Rogers developed client-centered therapy in the 1930's. Person Centered Therapy' or PCT is one of the most popular types of psychotherapy used all over the world. He felt that there should be a closer relationship between the client and the therapist. Rogers believes that a person's human nature is to want to be good and successful, but ideas and negative feelings and thoughts cloud their view of themselves otherwise. The therapist in return helps guide the client to see more of a positive look on their life and helps them build on the insight that comes from this progress so they can move forward.







Key concepts

• Client-Therapist relationship is a must for trust to develop and a client's guard is lowered so progress can be made. There should be a proper bond between the two. 

• Client Incongruence or Vulnerability: The client's vulnerability and anxiety help him to continue his relationship with his therapist.

• Therapist Congruence or Genuineness: The therapist is also deeply involved with his client. He shares his own experiences with the client.  Therapist need to be open and honest.

• Therapist Unconditional Positive Regard: The therapist accepts the client unconditionally without passing any judgement on a client's actions, feelings or attitudes.  Therapist need to be aware of their attitudes. This is more important than skills and training.

•   Therapist Empathic Understanding: The therapist feels intense sympathy for his client. He/she genuinely feels or experiences the same feelings and emotions of his/her client.

• Client Perception: The client feels as though the therapist genuinely accepts him unconditionally and understands his feelings. 
  
  
  
  
  

Goals of Person-Centered Therapy

Person centered therapy aims to have client's find themselves and attain clarity within by giving them a opportunity without a therapist giving opinions or speaking up to help them find their goals. This gives the client a chance to grow and have a better understanding of their inner core.




Techniques

The techniques employed in person-centered therapy are different from those employed in other therapies. Congruence, Unconditional positive regard, and empathy are just three of the techniques used in PCT.

Congruence: Person-centered techniques that are used rely on the therapist being open and genuine and provide an atmosphere that the client can develop their self-awareness.

Unconditional Positive Regard: Not judging the client in any way and know that the client is trying the best that they can. To let the client know and feel that the therapists truly cares about their progress.

Empathy: Not the same as sympathy, which is feeling sorry for someone, but to show the client understanding about their emotions so they can open up and further their progress. An example of empathy is set below.....

Client: I feel as though no one cares about me and that I am all alone

Empathy Response: So you are feeling alone at the moment and as if no one cares.

          Sympathy Response: I’m sorry that you feel that way.


Source: Person Centered Therapy CE Course

Links and Resources

http://www.minddisorders.com/Ob-Ps/Person-centered-therapy.html

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0neRQzudzw

/how-apply-person-centered-therapy-techniques-to-6714294.html?cat=72

Existential Therapy

Existential Therapy is a philosophy that believes one has to experience the good and the bad so they can grow from these experiences. All begin free to do with what they want with their lives, but with that freedom comes responsibility for one's own actions and decisions they make. Suffering is thought to mold our lives so we would understand the meaning of why we exist and to respect that we are mortal.


Key Figures in Contemporary Exisential Psycotherapy are philosophers Frankel, May, Yalom, and Bugental. Each developed their own theory of this type of therapy and based it upon their earlier learning's from existentialist and humanistic approaches.

Frankel (1905-1997) who was influenced by Freud and a student of Alder developed logotherapy which means "therapy through meaning". Frankel thought that all lives have a meaning whether good or bad. All human beings have a will to think and live, but not all live to their full potential and live life to the fullest.

May (1909-1994)was also influenced by the teachings of Freud and Alder. He was recognized for bringing existential to the United States from Europe. May believed it takes courage to "be" and the choices a person decides to make molds a person for who they are in the world. Humans constantly battle within themselves. Growing and learning is not an easy process in life. Life comes with painful grow spurts.

Yalom (1931- ) is a therapist that lives here in the U.S. He acknowledges Frankel and others such as Kierkegaard for his creative anxiety and fear, Nietzsche for death and suicide, Heidegger for being caring and authentic, Sartre for responsibilities and choices, and lastly Buber for his thoughts on interpersonal relationships. He focuses on "givens of existence" themes such as isolation and relationships, death and living, and meaninglessness and meaning. Yalom believes that how we handle these issues are how are lives become. We are the product of our responses and actions.

Buegental (1915-2008) was known for the term "existential humanistic" therapy. He believed that the client and therapist both being present during the session was essential to the outcome and progess to grow. He felt that the therapist job was to help the client explore their deep inner feelings and find new meaning and direction in their current lives not just conversing between the two with no point of direction. This type of therapy was thought by Buegental to be effective.

  
Key Concepts

• Existential therapy does not use techniques but rather on experience and understanding of what it is to live and be a human.
• Understanding the limits and possibilities of life.
• Facing loneliness and anxiety 
• Grow with the good and bad circumstances of life  

 Basic Dimensions of Human Condition

1. Self- Awareness: To be aware our our freedom and possibilities in life
2.  Freedom and Responsibility: Humans are free to make their own choices and these choices shape one's life.
3. Striving for Identity: Be unique and reach beyond themselves. Having an unique identity in the world takes courage.
4. The Search for Meaning: Having a purpose or significance in life why someone exists.  What is their value to exist?
5. Anxiety as a Condition of Living: Learning the realities of life such as death, pain and suffering, and surviving leads to anxieties. The freedom has consequences that we all will face. 
6. Awareness of Death and Non-being: Death is seen as a part of living. Facing mortality and being at peace with whats to come. Death leads us to appreciating our surroundings and friendships. 

Goal of Existential Therapy
Therapist strive for clients to live their lives to their fullest potential and to strive for beyond what they are capable of.

Techniques
Existential Therapy does not use techniques, but uses a subjective view of the client's world. The intervention sessions are guided with feelings and attitudes throughout the therapy. 


Links and References
 https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&safe=active&site=imghp&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1440&bih=719&q=existential+therapy

http://www.existential-therapy.com/key-figures.htm

www.cengage.com/brookscole

Adlerian Approaches

Another therapy is introduced by a man named Alfred Adler (1870-1937). He was a major contributor to psychodynamic therapies. He partnered with Sigmund Freud in the 20th century, until he no longer supported Freud's principles and develop his own theories.

Alfred Adler

Goals of Alderian Therapy

This is a type of psychoanalysis that broke off from Freud's theory. The belief of this therapy is that humans are social beings and that their actions are driven by social forces. Clients in this therapy are encouraged to change and move forward with the forces of nature.

 
  Key Concepts

• View of Human Nature
• Perception of Reality
• Patterns of Human Personality
• Social Interest 
• Birth Order and Sibling Relationships

Techniques

• Establish Relationship with Client
• Explore Client's Individual Dynamics
• Self understanding and Awareness
• Educate 
• Areas of Application

Links 

http://www.alfredadler.edu/about/theory
http://www.muskingum.edu/~psych/psycweb/history/adler.htm