Word count excluding front sheet and references: 4816
Introduction
The purpose of this essay is to explore the development of the self in relationship within the person centred approach through drawing on developments within the broader field of psychotherapy. My principle intention is to explore intra-psychic and intersubjective understandings of self and form a view of a person centred understanding of self in relation to this dichotomy.
I will argue that person centred theory was an original, if not revolutionary, approach to psychotherapy, the origins of which are found in phenomenological and existential thought rather than the scientific and medical roots of the psychoanalytic theory dominant at the time.
I will describe how the person centred view of the self grew from the experience of how people changed and achieved growth through the therapeutic relationship. As such it was a truly relational theory from its inception and moved toward more clearly defined intersubjectivity through the development of therapist congruence, subjectivity and the wider systemic applications of the person centred approach. By contrast, the importance of relationship in psychoanalytic theory emerged over many years through a long revisionist path which led ultimately to a sharing of values between these two paradigms in respect of subjectivity and genuine encounter in which the subjective frame each participant is acknowledged. Nevertheless I do contend that both traditions inform and enrich one another and further suggest that this process is enhanced by recent developments in neuroscience.
I will draw on the work of Carl Rogers in particular and contrast his work with
Bibliography: Angelou, M. (1984) I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, London: Virago. Barrett-Lennard, G.T., (1998) Carl Rogers Helping System – Journey and Substance London: Sage Cooper, M Cornelius-White, J.H.D. & Anderson, A.L. (2007) Digging the White Soil of Person-Centred Therapy, Person-Centred Quarterly Feb 2007 pp 5-7, Ross-on Wye: British Association for the Person Centred Approach Cozolino, L Embleton-Tudor, L.E., Keemar, K.., Tudor, K., Valentine, J., Worrall, M. (2004) The Person Centred Approach – A Contemporary Introduction, Basingstoke: Palgrave McMillan. Gaylin, N. (2001) Family, Self and Psychotherapy: a person-centred perspective, Llangarron: PCCS Books Holmes, J Kahn, M. (1991) Between Therapist and Client, The New Relationship New York; Henry Holt Kahn, E Kohut, H. & Goldberg, 1984 How Does Analysis Cure?, Chicago and London, Univ. of Chicago Press May, R Mearns, D. (1999) Person Centred Therapy Working with Configurations of Self London: Sage Mearns & Cooper, (2005) Working at Relational Depth, Counselling and Psychotherapy, London, Sage. Merry, T. (1999) Learning and Being, Person Centred Counselling, Llangarron, PCCS Books Merry, T Ogden, T. (1994) The Analytic Third: working with intersubjective clinical facts International Journal of Psychoanalysis, Vol. 75, pp3-19 Pescitelli, (1996) Rogerian Therapy Personality and Consciousness, http://pandc.ca Palazzoli, M.S. Boscolo, L. Cecchin, G., Prata, G. (1978) Paradox and Counter-Paradox, New York: Jason Aronson Rogers, C.R., (1951) Client Centred Therapy, London: Constable Rogers, C.R., (1957) The Necessary and Sufficient Conditions of Personality Change, Journal of Consulting Psychology, Vol. 21, pp 95-103 Rogers,C.R Rogers,C.R. (1961) On Becoming a Person Constable:London Rogers,C.R (1980) A Way of Being, New York; Houghton Mifflin Schore, A (1999) Affect Regulation and the Origin of the Self New Jersey: Erlbaum Associates Schmid,P.F (Sills,C (2007) Transactional Analysis- a relational psychotherapy TherapyToday Jan 2007 Vol 18 No.1 pp 15-17 BACP: Lutterworth Spinelli,E (1989) The Interpreted World, London; Sage Spinelli,E (1994) Demystifying Therapy London; Constable Spinelli,E (2007) Therapy Today Jan 2007 Vol 18 No.1pp11-14 BACP:Lutterworth Stern,D (1985) The Interpersonal World of the Infant Basic Books New York : Stolorow,RD & Atwood,GE (1992) Contexts of Being: The Intersubjective Foundations of Psychologiocal Life The Analytic Press: Hillsdale NJ TaftJ (1933) The Dynamics of Therapy in a Controlled Relationship McMillan:New York Tudor,K & Worrall, M 2006 Person Centred Therapy-A Clinical Philosophy Routledge: London and New York Winnicott,DW (1960) The Theory of the parent-infant relationship The Maturational Processes and the Facilitating Environment International Univ. Press New York: Yalom,I (1980) Existential Psychotherapy New York: Basic Books