Client-centered psychotherapy is conversational psychotherapy. It originates from humanistic psychology.
What is client-centered psychotherapy?
In medicine, client-centered psychotherapy also goes by the names of conversational psychotherapy (GT), person-centered psychotherapy, or non-directive psychotherapy. This refers to psychotherapy in which conversations form the central treatment procedure. The American psychotherapist and psychologist Carl R. Rogers (1902-1987) is considered the founder of client-centered psychotherapy. Rogers was one of the most important figures in humanistic psychology. Among the best-known German representatives of client-centered psychotherapy are Reinhard Tausch (1921-2013) and his wife Anne-Marie Tausch (1925-1983). Carl R. Rogers was a professor of psychology at several U.S. universities between 1940 and 1963. During this time he also established client-centered psychotherapy, which came to Germany in the 1970s through Reinhard Tausch.
Function, effect and goals
Client-centered psychotherapy is based on Carl R. Rogers’ assumption that man is basically good. If he behaves badly, it is due to maladjustment, which in turn is based on the disregard of self-actualization in childhood and adulthood. Furthermore, Rogers believed that human beings strive for autonomy, self-actualization, and growth. If these growth aspirations are suppressed or inhibited, mental disorders result. Through client-centered psychotherapy, people regain their original capacity for self-actualization. In doing so, the framework of talk therapy must be the opposite of the conditions that caused the maladjustment. Therefore, the client is considered as a professional for his own person. Among the most important cornerstones for the success of client-centered psychotherapy are three fundamental elements in the relationship between therapist and client. These are unconditional positive regard, empathy, and congruence. Unconditional positive regard means that the therapist is absolutely positive towards his client per se as well as towards his client’s peculiarities and problems. In this regard, unconditional positive regard coincides with the basic client-centered assumption about the positive nature of human beings. Thus, unconditional acceptance of things expressed by the client is meant to encourage the client and signal solidarity. Through empathy, the therapist is able to understand the client and empathize with the client’s problems. In doing so, empathy facilitates communication. Empathy in the context of conversational psychotherapy can be distinguished between several different forms. These include empathy to concretize the conversation, repeating the information communicated, empathy in connection with the self-concept as well as the client’s experiences that shape action. Congruence means the truthfulness and genuineness of the therapist’s attitude toward the client. In doing so, the therapist also reveals himself to his client as a person and not just as a doctor. Furthermore, Carl R. Rogers sets three more important factors for a successful relationship between therapist and client. Thus, there should be psychological contact between the two, the client should be in incongruence, and the client should be able to perceive the treatment offered by the basic attitudes. Only by fulfilling these six conditions can psychotherapeutic changes be achieved. Client-centered psychotherapy is applied as individual therapy, group therapy or couple therapy. The content of the conversation is determined by the client. The therapist then addresses the particular content and supports the client in exploring himself. He also gives suggestions, which, however, are not advice. The therapist strives to empathize with the client and convey warmth. Sincerity is also important. It is not uncommon for elements of other treatment methods to be integrated into talk therapy. Thus, client-centered psychotherapy is not always limited to conversation. According to studies, the effectiveness of client-centered psychotherapy has been proven.Thus, both individual treatment and group therapy in most cases lead to an improvement in personality, interpersonal relationships and well-being. Conversational psychotherapy is used for the treatment of mental and psychosomatic illnesses or when the client wishes to achieve self-realization. Client-centered psychotherapy is suitable for both adults and adolescents. Talk therapy is conducted once a week and lasts approximately 60 minutes per session.
Risks, side effects, and dangers
Before client-centered psychotherapy takes place, it is recommended to have clarifying preliminary conversations with the therapist. Thus, the client should not begin treatment until he or she is also absolutely sure that he or she has found the right therapist. It is not possible to say exactly whether there are risks or contraindications to conversational psychotherapy. For example, there have been no reliable studies on this topic to date. Therefore, despite numerous studies, there is only limited testing of the procedure. In some cases, there are warnings that certain treatment goals, such as flexibility and permanent readiness to change, could cause insecurities in some clients. From an ethical point of view, client-centered psychotherapy is considered unobjectionable and does not contradict humane principles. Moreover, due to its client-centered attitude, conversational psychotherapy exhibits great respect for clients as well as their self-reflections. Moreover, the client acquires the ability for more self-determination. Possible risks of talk therapy lie mainly in the personality of the therapist and the client. For example, the client will not make progress if he is not open to change. The therapist must consistently respond authentically and empathically to avoid derailing the treatment.
