Thread Response 2

Compare & Contrast

Person Centered therapy as described in  Counseling and Psychotherapy was founded by Carl Rogers a renowned Psychologist from Oak Park Illinois (Tan, 2022). Roger’s creation of this method of therapy emphasizes there being core therapeutic conditions within the therapist and client relationship that are capable to facilitate client change (Tan, 2022). Person- Centered therapy focuses on a positive, optimistic approach, which views the client as good with the innate ability to achieve growth, and wholeness (Tan, 2022). The role of the therapist in this method is not to help the client solve their problems, but to provide therapeutic “conditions of congruence, unconditional positive regard, and empathic understanding” so that the client feels free, and supported within the environment to grow into a functioning person (Tan, 2022). There are no specific techniques of integrating Person-Centered therapy, however the attitude of the therapist toward the client should include experiencing and expressing unconditional positive regard, congruence, and empathic understanding. Experiential therapy as described in  “Evidence- Based Principles from Psychodynamic and Process-…”  is used to treat clients with emotional, relational and identity difficulties (Edwards & Davis, 2013). In  Counseling and Psychotherapy, Tan expounds on an example of experiential therapy, called Gestalt therapy (2022). Gestalt therapy was founded by Frederick Perls and is a humanistic and experiential approach to therapy (Tan, 2022). Within this method, the goal is to increase a client’s awareness that is balanced and integrates the mind and body (Tan, 2022). Like Person-Centered Therapy, Gestalt therapy assumes that clients have an innate ability to become aware of both internal and external factors so that they can engage in problem solving and change. The role of the therapist in this method is not focused on having set goals for the clients but aiming to help clients accomplish deep awareness so that they feel free and empowered to choose how they want to grow. Like Rogers, Perls believed that the environment and safe space the therapist sets for clients, aids in the client’s ability to reflect deeply, and to become aware of areas of incongruency. Different from Person-Centered Therapy, there are a variety of techniques therapist can use to implement this therapy. A few techniques of Gestalt therapy include dream work, assuming responsibility, staying with the feeling, and playing the projection (Tan, 2022). Each of these techniques are designed to help clients be more in touch with themselves by taking ownership of their feelings and thoughts.

Strengths & Weaknesses

In the article  “Individual’s pretreatment psychological symptoms and progress in couples therapy…” Wu et. al., discusses how initial pretreatment symptoms impact the couples therapy process (2022). Researchers studied 99 couples receiving therapy and assessed their anxiety and depression levels before starting therapy. The results, suggest that by implementing a person-centered approach to therapy, the pre-treatment psychological symptoms of anxiety and depression are individual, and person based, but can positively affect relational functioning within couples (Wu. et. al, 2022). One strength of Person-Centered therapy is its ability to meet each client where they are. As stated in the results of the above article, utilizing this therapy method positively impacts the client’s positive self-regard within a couples setting, and allows each person to see their level of functioning within the relationship (Wu. et. al., 2022). Another strength of Person-Centered therapy includes the ability to focus on the heart of the therapist, and their need for maturity, authenticity, and congruence, so that they effectively express empathetic understanding (Tan, 2022). A weakness of this method includes neglecting the importance of other factors and forces that impact individuals such as social, cultural, economic, and biological variable. Person-Centered therapy also can result in “an overly optimistic reliance” on the client’s capability to provide self- assessments that engage in only healthy growth (Tan, 2022). Gestalt therapy strengths focus on the present moment and encourages therapist to help clients experience what is good and now (Tan, 2022). This method of therapy also, values awareness, and being in touch with your feelings. In therapy, being able to identify, and acknowledge what you are thinking and feeling increases one’s ability to confront problems with solutions. An example of this in play is found in Makri et. al.’s article, where researchers study if the self-efficacy of breast cancer patients is positively impacted by Gestalt therapy practices (2022). Results suggests that when Gestalt therapy practices are implemented, cognitive reconstruction occurs and anxiety is reduced as clients accept responsibility, and develop new attitudes that leads to stress reduction, and increased self-efficacy (Makri et. al., 2022). Gestalt therapy facilitates self- regulation in clients and increases their capacity towards self-actualization and growth. A weakness in Gestalt therapy, like Person-Centered therapy is the humanistic approach that tends to focus on helping the client to be self-sufficient but can lead to self-righteousness and narcissistic tendencies (Tan, 2022).

Biblical Integration

The goal in therapy is to provide clients with supports and insights to help awaken abilities needed to overcome struggles. The approach a therapist takes to aid the client through the process should be intentional and authentic to who they are, supported by research, and biblically sound. Both methods of therapy have components that align to biblical principles; however, Gestalt therapy lends itself to biblical integration. Edwards & Davis discuss a positive relationship between Experiential therapy and Christian counselor technique (2013). The text confirms that a Christian counselor can use experiential techniques focused on establishing deep- level relationships with self and others, to encourage the need for clients to also establish deep-level transformation within their relationship with God (Edwards & Davis, 2013). In John 15:5, Jesus states that “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit... (King James Bible, 2022)”. In the text, Jesus is explaining the benefit in dwelling in him. For those who seek him, and walk with him, will produce much fruit, and will reign with him and the father in eternity. As it relates to therapy, Gestalt encourages a need for self-awareness that Jesus is looking for in those who rest in him. Integrating Gestalt therapy influences a client’s ability to choose and supports one’s process to become fully functioning with the leading and guidance found in Jesus. John 15:10-11 states that if we keep his commandments, we shall abide and be kept in joy and in the father’s love (King James Bible, 2022). Our obedience to submit to the process to become more aware and like Christ will lend us eternal reward. Perls’s approach to therapy can help build the bridge needed to experience true self-actualization, which can only be found by abiding in Jesus.

Multicultural Aspects

Some multicultural aspects to consider is how different ethnic groups, cultures, and communities may respond to the individual autonomy endorsed within each method. For cultures that operate in collectivism society, utilizing Person-Centered or Gestalt therapy, may not be as effective, and could be perceived as offensive. Counselors should be mindful of a client’s background and have cultural competency to ensure that clients are able to receive the benefit of what Person-Centered and Gestalt therapies offer. Islam’s article entitled “Moral nexus of unmet needs…” discusses that recognizing unmet needs of diverse populations (Dementia patients) can help workers avoid approaching clients with a one size fits all level of care (Islam, 2025). In counseling, therapists should remain flexible and open to altering therapeutic approaches if any method deems ineffective based on the diverse and unique needs of clients. Considering these multicultural aspects enables counselors to sustain a level of sensitivity in the approach to help others.

Lingering Questions:

1. Within the Person-Centered approach to therapy, how can counselors integrate these techniques in a psychotherapy group setting?

2. How can counselors approach sessions combining Gestalt therapy techniques within a Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems model?

 

References:

Edwards, K. J., & Davis, E. B. (2013).  Evidence-based principles from psychodynamic and process-experiential psychotherapies : Chapter 7, evidence-based practices for Christian counseling and psychotherapy. InterVarsity Press.

Islam, A. A. (2025). Moral nexus of unmet needs and care in person‐centered care for patients with advanced dementia in a multicultural society.  Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice.,  31(2). https://doi.org/10.1111/jep.14095\

King James Bible (2022). King James Bible Online. https://kingjamesbibleonline.org/Links to an external site. (Original work published 1611)

Makri Vala, M., Farahbakhsh, K., Salimi Bajestani, H., Younesi Boroujeni, J., & Department of Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Allameh Tabatabaei University, Tehran, Iran. (2022). Comparing the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy with an integrated package of gestalt therapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy on the self-efficacy of women with breast cancer.  Journal of Client-Centered Nursing Care (Online), 8(1), 51-58.  https://doi.org/10.32598/JCCNC.8.1.408.1Links to an external site.

Tan, S. (2022). Counseling and Psychotherapy (2nd ed.). Baker Publishing Group.  https://mbsdirect.vitalsource.com/books/9781493435074Links to an external site.

Wu, Q., Su, T., McWey, L. M., & Ledermann, T. (2022). Individual’s pretreatment psychological symptoms and progress in couples’ therapy: A person‐centered analysis.  Family Process.,  61(2), 591–608. https://doi.org/10.1111/famp.12713