An Exploration of Research into the Client at the Heart of Therapy: A Qualitative Perspective.

Rodgers, B. - University of Abertay Dundee, Dundee, Scotland

Article | From volume/issue: 2.1 | Pages: 19-30

Keywords: psychotherapy process and outcome research, qualitative methods, client experiences, research review

Abstract:  Over 50 years ago Eysenck challenged the existing base of research into psychotherapy. Since that time, a large number of investigations have been conducted to verify the efficacy of therapy. Recently however, an increasing number of studies have cast new doubts on this research base. Instead of therapy being a function of the therapist, it is now becoming ever more apparent that the client plays a prime role in the therapeutic process. The qualitative studies presented in this paper provide some examples of research that demonstrates that clients are actively involved in their therapy, even making counselling work despite their counsellor. These studies suggest that clients may not experience therapy as beneficially as traditional outcome studies indicate. This raises a new challenge to researchers to more fully explore the client’s experience of therapy, a challenge to which qualitative methods of inquiry would appear well suited.

Between Freedom and Despair: Existential Challenges and Contributions to Person-Centred and Experiential Therapy.

Cooper, M. - University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Scotland

Article | From volume/issue: 2.1 | Pages: 43-56

Keywords: existentialism, existential therapy, freedom, meaning, critique of person-centered and experiential therapies, new developments in person-centered and experiential therapies, intersubjectivity

Abstract: This article explores a range of contributions that existential thinking may be able to make to the theory and practice of person-centred and experiential therapy. It begins with an overview of existential philosophy and the development of existential therapies, and then goes on to look at four aspects of existential theory and practice that may be of particular value to person-centred and experiential practitioners: a phenomenological exploration of freedom and choice; an appreciation of the challenges and limitations of existence; an understanding of human being as fundamentally with-others; and an understanding of human beings as meaning-seeking creatures in a world where there are no given, ultimate meanings. On this basis, the article argues that existential thinking can provide a counterbalance to some of the implicit biases within the person-centred and experiential worlds, and that it can help person-centred and experiential practitioners develop deeper levels of empathy and acceptance with their clients.

Book Review Essay: Encountering Carl Rogers-15 Years After His Death: A review of David Russell (Ed.), Carl Rogers: The Quiet Revolutionary - An Oral History.

Kirschenbaum, H. - University of Rochester, New York, USA

Article | From volume/issue: 2.1 | Pages: 57–66

Keywords: Carl Rogers, person-centered, psychotherapy, client-centered

Abstract: Carl Rogers’ oral history contains a combination of familiar information, old stories recounted with new details and nuances, and new anecdotes and perspectives heretofore not expressed by Rogers in print. At 84 years, Rogers recalls a lifetime of pioneering work and many professional relationships. His honest, gracious, modest, humorous self readily comes across; yet, atypically, so do his critical side and the part of him clearly eager — sometimes too eager — to stake out his place in the history of psychology and psychotherapy. Beyond Rogers’ own words, several helpful introductions and a long section of notes and bibliographies demonstrate Rogers’ many contributions and place him in historical context. There are probably better introductions to Rogers’ work, but for those already familiar with him, this is a meaningful reunion with Carl Rogers the person, a stimulating reminder of many of his ideas, and a useful resource for Rogers scholars.

Book review

Book Review: Dictionary of Person-Centred Psychology. Keith Tudor and Tony Merry. Whurr, London, 2002.

Sanders, P.

Review | From volume/issue: 2.1 | Pages:

Book review

Book Review: Zooming in and standing back from a compendium of person-centered contributions: A response to Client-centered and experiential psychotherapy in the 21st century: Advances in theory, research and practice, edited by J. C. Watson, R. N. Goldma

Barrett-Lennard, G. T.

Review | From volume/issue: 2.1 | Pages:

Development and current state of the research on client-centered psychotherapy (CCT) in the German language region.

Eckert, J., Höger, D., Schwab, R. - University of Hamburg

Article | From volume/issue: 2.1 | Pages: 3-18

Keywords: client-centered therapy (CCT), psychotherapeutic processes, psychotherapeutic outcomes, psychotherapy in Germany

Abstract: This article provides an overview of developments and research on client-centered psychotherapy, beginning around the mid-1970s, within the German language region. Even then the efficacy and the effectiveness of CCT were considered established within the German research community. Considered here are mainly those studies that fulfill more stringent scientific standards. The results summarized concern diagnostics (development of measurement tools), the therapeutic process, and effects of CCT. After a slight decrease of research on CCT, an increase is observable now. The necessity of disorder-specific research involving CCT is emphasized here. Currently such studies represent only a minority of existing research.

Editorial

Elliott, R., Mearns, D., Schmid, P.F.

Editorial | From volume/issue: 2.1 | Pages:

Eugene Gendlin's Theory and Practice of Psychotherapy: A Personal Account.

Friedman, N. - Arlington Massachusetts, USA

Article | From volume/issue: 2.1 | Pages: 31-42

Keywords: focusing-oriented psychotherapy, Eugene Gendlin, client experiences of therapy

Abstract: Eugene Gendlin’s Focusing-oriented/Experiential psychotherapy is the subject of this article. The author considers it particularly in the context of his own therapy as a client of Gendlin’s. To describe his therapy with Gendlin, he presents a transcript of a typical session, an account of three important and helpful sessions, and discusses the therapies’ endings. The article concludes with comments on the theory behind the therapy.