Humanistic therapy – A case study

Carolyn R. Fallahi, Ph. D.

Introduction to Clinical Psychology
History of Person-centered therapy
Carl Rogers
History: Nondirective therapy
Then client-centered
Then person-centered (to include encounter groups
and psychoeducation).
Assumptions:
All human beings possess a self-directed growth process
Mechanism by which that process is activated…..
Vocabulary
Self-actualization
The Self or self-structure/self-concept
Conceptual map
I or me
Perceptions of I or me in relation to others
Real or actual self
Ideal self
Congruence
incongruence
Therapy
Unconditional positive regard
Conditions of worth
Locus of evaluation
Genuineness and empathy
Empathy and empathic listening
Abnormality
Assessment and Diagnosis
Q-sort
What about external evaluations?
Therapy
Negotiation of the therapeutic relationship
Necessary and sufficient conditions
Therapist focus
What does the client have to do?
Therapeutic techniques
The process of therapy
Research in Client-centered therapy
Criticisms
Childhood Traumatic Grief
New childhood condition – Childhood Traumatic
Grief (CTG).
Conceptualization
Symptoms
Coping Mechanism
Other Common Symptoms
depression or anxiety.
Issues with internalizing or externalizing behaviors.
Similar to loss of a parent through divorce.
Higher incidence of “interpersonal sensitivity”.
Examples
1998 hurricane that killed 4,000 people in Nicaragua.
9/11 examples.
Virginia Tech examples.
Client-Centered Treatment – Carl Rogers
The role of the therapist
Provides assistance based on certain beliefs – the
person is valuable, worthwhile, and fully equipped to
understand her life.
Techniques used.
The challenge for the therapist.
Traumagenic Model
The use of CCT is especially compatible with
Finkelhor & Browne’s traumagenic model.
What is the traumagenic model?
What symptoms are common in children &
adolescents?
Case Study
The case of Shelly – a 15-year-old high school
sophomore at a large public high school.
Development history was unremarkable.
No previous history of mental health problems.
Case Study
Honor student.
Small, close group of friends from elementary school.
No hobbies & was not on any sports teams.
Shelly told her mother that 6 months after the death of
her father, she needed help.
In the pretreatment evaluation, Shelly seemed to
vacillate between attempting to control her feelings &
being overwhelmed by them.
She appeared to function well when provided
structure, as in school.
Case Study
Both Shelly & mom felt that they were arguing more.
Adjustment disorder – diagnosis.
Shelly also reported a number of symptoms of PTSD,
including 4/5 arousal symptoms, 4/5 reexperiencing
symptoms, & depression & anxiety.
Based on Shelly’s symptoms & reported difficulties in
various areas of her life, she was seen as having CTG.
Positive long-term outcome was seen because she did
not have any pre-event mental health problems & her
mother was asymptomatic for PTSD. Both mother &
child had strong support networks.