Currently practicing as a counsellor-in-training, I have a deep appreciation for the Person Centered Approach pioneered by the psychologist Carl Rogers. I adopt it primarily as my theoretical approach in session and case formulation, and spend a lot of time thinking about it. How can I use PCT (Person Centered Therapy) to approach this client? How do I conceptualize this case with the PCT framework? How do I integrate my learning from other schools of thought? Is this practice in line with the tenets of PCT?
From my side of the world (Malaysia), there is actually a lack of support for practitioners (or even researchers) who are interested in the person centered paradigm of psychology, unlike popular paradigms like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Satir Therapy, and Reality Therapy. PCT was mostly sidelined as a ‘introductory theory’ that is not suitable for deep work, which I intend to rebuke.
Fortunately so far, I am always able to find satisfying resolutions for any obstacles I encounter through ideas inspired by other experts in the field. This publication/site is meant to be my personal but public notes of these ideas meant to be shared with friends in the field. I think the idea from the PCT approach deserves further recognition and appreciation, and in order to aid that process, writing them (and my own processes) down publicly is all I can do.
On top of that, I believe the Person Centered Approach has relevance beyond the therapy room. I think it has a lot to do with the way we live, interact with others and ourselves, the way we create and work, alongside other aspects of psychology.
This is why this idea of a Maps to Congruence come into being. It primarily serves as my personal road map for person centered practice, which helps me explain and remember why I do what I do. It could also later communicate these processes to friends and acquaintances who might be interested in the approach. If the content here matures, I might be able to garner a audience that consists of other helpers, parents, teachers, and friends.
Disclaimer: I cannot responsibly represent the entirety of what it means to practice in a person-centered manner. I just happen to be a student of counselling and humanistic psychology, who has a lot of faith in the approach and other related ideas. All ideas here are my own musings inspired by others. Any reference to other ideas without citations are likely gotten from Carl Rogers’ On Becoming A Person and Peggy Natiello’s The Person-Centered Approach: A Passionate Presence.
What will this publication address?
- The way I understand the key concepts from the Person Centered Approach.
- The tribes of PCT and how they can interact with other approaches.
- Specific tips and ideas for person-centered practice.
- Approaching specific personal and relational issues with person-centered lens.
- Person-centered approaches beyond psychotherapy.
- Listing down potentially useful resources such as bibliotherapy material, assessments, and websites.
Click this link for a short introduction to the influences that shape my counselling.
