Psychology

Some feel that it was a lot easier when they were younger everything seemed so easy back then. Now that they are older, it sinks in that they have to fend for themselves from the harsh reality. Dealing with people changes as we get older, we learn that we are no longer the only person with needs and that we dont always get what we want the way we want it. This is the frustration of the subject of this case study.  It is my goal to understand the problem and to be able to choose an appropriate counselling method to suit the need of my subject and provide an in-depth probable scenario as emphasis that I have truly understood my chosen therapeutic method.

OVERVIEW OF THE SUBJECT
The subject of this study is Anna. She is a 37 year old and has been in and out of a relationship for several years. Normally, this is not extraordinary as a lot of people enter into a relationship and leave eventually. Anna believes that a relationship is between two people with one taking charge and calling all the decisions. What is her reason for her behaviour Looking back to her family background, she is the youngest in the family and spoilt by her siblings and her parents. When she was asked why her relationships have not worked in the past, her answer was that the other party does not realize her need to be in charge.

PERSON  CENTRED THERAPY
The person  centred therapy is one of the most commonly used forms of behaviour modification today. It was based on Carl Rogers theory of personality of the Self.  This type of humanistic theory provides freedom, authenticity and openness to experience as alternatives to the more traditional approaches to psychology. Unlike behaviourism and psychotherapeutic approaches which tend to reduce humans as mere simple reactive mechanisms, Roger viewed people in a positive light wherein they are rational beings (Rogers, 1961) and are trustworthy organisms (Rogers, 1977). Humans are considered autonomous and are experientially free. We are viewed holistically and integrated and should not be classified separately into types, functions or dichotomies (Spinelli, 1995). According to Spinelli, humanistic psychology believes that each persons subjective experience is considered unique and open for ones potential and thus using these conscious experiences as the source of primary data as roots for study.

For Sharf (2003), humanists believe that people have one motivating force in their lives which is the Self Actualizing Tendency wherein they are capable of continually developing their own capacities and actualizing their potential.

The self is the organized set of characteristics that the individual perceives as peculiar to himself depending on the individuals experience from social evaluation (Ryckman, 1993).  This is called the subjective world formed by interactions we have with significant others.

When our perceptions and interpretations of the interactions we have with someone accurately reflects what we think others think of us, the self feels congruence. On the other hand, the feeling of incongruence happens when our perceptions does not match our interactions. The Person-centred therapy is now concerned with how these incongruence emerges and how the Self and the organism become more congruent. Roger (1967) emphasized the importance of congruence as the most important element in a person and as the agent to our actualizing tendency.

Attached to the self are the needs from others such as positive regard and positive self-regard. If in any event if there are disturbances in attaining these needs anxiety emergences. Psychological anxiety emergences when self-concepts, our perceptions of the Self, clash with the immediate personal experience. Experiences, therefore, are distorted or denied altogether in order to preserve the individuals self-concept.

APPLICATION
In relation to Annas case, she grew up in a family wherein she was unconditionally given attention hence her idea that what she wants should be the one that should be followed. Given this case, my role as the therapist should be to help Anna realize that it is not always the case. Perhaps because of this personality, a directive approach of counseling will only trigger more anxiety as I try to advise her on what should be done. A more directive approach like person-centered therapy will be effective given that I do it properly because instead of suggesting a solution for her she is doing it on her own. Hence, she receives the feeling of being independent and in control of her own perception. We do not wish to completely eradicate her self-concept that she should not be in control. But instead, we want to minimize her need to be in control in such a way that it does not affect her relationships with other people.

Roger believed that they are capable of realizing their own sources of anxiety and finding a way to a solution. He saw that the best authority on their experiences is the client himself and that they all have the potential for growth. To enable personal growth, a person must be exposed to the favourable conditions otherwise, they may not fully grow in the desired way under adverse conditions.

Roger (1967) found that a non-directive counselling method exhibits a non-possessive caring acceptance that helps facilitate self-realization and, this direction towards growth is aided by the conditional acceptance from others by slowly incorporating these conditions into their own ideas about themselves. The concept of Self becomes the center of construct of Rogers theory as it interacts with other people while consequently develops self awareness. Consequently, the client discovers within themselves their own capacity to use their relationships with others for growth and change. Roger (1974) reinforced this believe when he offered a hypothesis wherein a significant positive changes in personality occurs in relationship to another. Hence, it is a therapists duty to provide certain conditions in their relationship with the client to bring about change.

Anna comes into therapy assuming that she is in a state of incongruence. Gradually, as Anna tells her story, we realize that there are discrepancies with her self-concept that in a relationship she should be the one in full control and with her ideal self that she is the person that should take full control of their relationship. Moreover, anxiety exists because her real-self is stricken with the perception that her relationships are broken because of her need to be in control all the time.

Because she claims that she feels the constant need to be in control, I can help by allowing her to decide for herself the perfect solution on how she will find congruence and eventually lead to a fully functional person.

THE PROCESS
With this therapy, I will follow the three conditions that build on the conducive climate appropriate for the personality change in the client namely (1) Unconditional positive regard (2) Emphatic understanding and lastly (3) congruence.

In my attempt to build unconditional positive regard towards the client, I should be able to build good rapport first. A good relationship with the client and later on trust coming from the client would enable her to reveal her self-concepts. It is appropriate to address any of her concerns in a non biased way. This allows Anna to freely explore and to express her thoughts without feeling like she has to earn positive regard from me by meeting certain standards of behaviour. I should be able to show her my acceptance for who she thinks she is. If I see any potential to reinforce for her potentials to change then she can acknowledge that she is capable of doing it. Shown below is the possible conversation between me and Anna

Me I believe you know what you came to see me about. Should you tell me about it
Anna I am here because I think that Im a control addict. I only see things the way I want to see it, and as a result it has affected my ability to sustain a good relationship with someone.

Me You perceive yourself as someone who needs to take control all the time. Has this gain any advantage to you In what way do you think it has affected your relationships with others
The environment set will be similar to the environment and experiences when she was younger with her family. This will increase the possibility of self-help in finding the best solution to her anxieties.

Consequently, while providing an environment of unconditional positive regard it is crucial to have emphatic understanding as they receive unconditional positive regard. Emphatic understanding means accurately understanding of any thoughts and feelings, from Annas perspective. This enables her to feel accepted as she eventually feels like I accept her. For example I totally understand what you are saying. and I will paraphrase any thought that she will say which will cause her to react in this way exactly, thats what Im saying. and this will persuade the Anna to reveal more of her thoughts.
Anna He thinks that I am controlling and that I am not allowing him to decide for things that concerns the both us.

Me (Therapist) I totally understand. You are saying that he feels like he is losing his ability to decide for himself because you are always deciding for him. He seems like he doesnt like the feeling of losing control.

Anna  Yes, that is exactly what Im saying. I have a hard time keeping a relationship with a man because of his inability to understand that it is only right that I take of control of things.

In this therapy, minimal questions are asked and are only used to aid Anna into realizing her anxieties. The goal of this therapy is to ask questions and provide statements that will open the idea to Anna without exactly suggesting the idea to her. This allows her to account of her realization as her own and not coming from the therapist. The therapist acts as a passive listener instead of the active one.
Anna He broke up with me after we had a fight about I told him that I think he should not take the job. He said that I am again trying to tell him what to do. I thought that by not taking the job, he could find a better one but with better pay.

Me Hmm, I yes, that could be a good reason not to take the job.

Lastly, I should make her feel like her thoughts and experiences are congruent with my self-thought. Good rapport should allow the development of congruence so as to make the client feel like she still needs to know what her therapist is really like. Little room is given for self-doubt.

Gradually, as she continues to consider some experiences in her relationship that have seemed incongruent with her self-concept I can reinforce these to help her with self-realization.

CONCLUSION
Annas personality of having a strong desire to explore herself and her feelings and of having high value of personal responsibility makes her a client perfect for the person-centred approach. The person-centred therapy which regards the client as the centre and not as the object of change will enable her to take an active step into finding congruence with her concept of self and her experiences. Her anxiety of finding herself with failed relationships one after another because she is dissatisfied of the other party not attending to her need of being in control will addressed with my help as the therapist to provide her an avenue for realization with unconditional positive regard and emphatic understanding. This case study seems very doable as we look into her problems into relationships little by little. This allows Anna to change little by little to the extent that I may even seem like it is done unconsciously. Eventually, she will be able to help herself as she embarks into a new relationship using a new self-construct which will be congruent to her real self.