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Running head: PERSONAL COUNSELING THEORY 1

Orientation to Personal Counseling Theory Paper- PCN 500

Amber M. Arterburn

Grand Canyon University


Introduction

As part of the course requirements for PCN 500, the students were asked to research and

articulate their understanding of one of the counseling theories presented in this course. After

learning many counseling theories, the counseling theories that most resonated with me, are the

philosophies and interventions within the Humanistic approach to counseling. While the

Humanistic approach is comprised of the Person-Centered, Existential, Gestalt, and some

elements of Individual theories, the core philosophies within these theories work together

synergistically to offer a, “Hopeful, constructive view of human beings and of their substantial

capacity to be self-determining” (AHP, 2011). This paper will take a first person, question and

answer approach to the analysis of Humanistic counseling and its application within the modern

counseling practice.

Question & Answer Analysis

Q: Who are the main theorists?

Humanistic psychology originated as an alternative theory in response to the

psychoanalysis movement and the behavioral movements in psychology. Several theorists

believed that these theories did not address the very essence of what makes human beings human

or addressed the problems of being human. In 1964, at Old Saybrook, Connecticut a conference

was held to discuss the new movement in psychology. This was the beginning of the Humanist

movement in psychology. The primary theorists accredited with the Humanistic theory include:

Carl Rogers, Rollo May, Fritz Perls, Abraham Maslow, Erich Fromm, and Karen Horney (AHP,

2011; Feist & Feist, 2006; Murdock, 2009).


Within the Humanistic theory there are three primary approaches to therapy. The first

theory is Person-Centered (PC) theory developed by Carl Rogers. The second theory is

Existential Psychology is attributed to several theorists, however Rollo May and later modern

psychiatrist Irvin Yalom, who has continued to advocate and research Existential Theory (ET),

are most closely associated with ET. The final approach to therapy is Gestalt Therapy (GT)

which is attributed to Fritz Perl (AHP, 2011; Feist & Feist, 2009, Murdock, 2009;

Psychotherapy.net, 2011). While each theory has merit in its own right, I see myself utilizing

elements of all three major theories in my practice as part of the broad umbrella of Humanistic

counseling.

Q: What are the major concepts, strengths, and weaknesses?

As a whole, Humanistic theory places great emphasis on the importance, dignity and

innate worth of human beings. As humans, we are motivated to achieve a higher state of being,

however this is impeded by our environments, society, and the unconscious (AHP, 2011). In PC

Rogers maintains that humans are inherently good and human behavior is a result of the human

need to grow to full potential (Murdock, 2009). Therefore it is the job of the counselor to ask

himself how he can best help the person grow and develop (Feist & Feist, 2006). PC focuses on

helping the individual learn how he can change, and alter his perceptions of reality through the

use of three core conditions. These core conditions are: unconditional positive regard, empathy

and congruence (Kensit, 2000; Murdock, 2009; Watts, 1996). PC has shown to be effective in

helping clients develop self-esteem (Betz, Wholgemuth, Serling, et.al, 1995).

In Existential therapy, the underlying philosophy is that humans are motivated by the

search of life’s meaning (Jacobsen, 2007; Murdock, 2009). Yalom as quoted in Jacobsen (2007)


outlines four basic existential conditions: “that we are going to die, that in decisive moments we

are alone, that we have the freedom to choose our life and that we struggle to create meaning in a

world in which our life meaning is not given in advance”. How humans conduct themselves in

the world, and how others perceive them correlates to how comfortable people are with

themselves and to having an authentic purpose in life. Keshen (2006) advocates that, “purpose is

an effective way to achieve mental health.” When an individual does not fulfill the potential for

his authentic self, this can result in an existential dilemma or anxiety (Jacobsen, 2007; Murdock,

2009). The ET counselor’s job is to help the client to become free from symptoms and to

become authentic (Murdock, 2009). This is achieved by the counselor providing an atmosphere

of care, helping the client to recognize that he has the freedom to choose his existence, and to

help the client reflect on his existence (Murdock, 2009).

The Gestalt approach has the underlying philosophy that humans are growth oriented,

have the freedom to choose, need to be responsible for themselves and their environment and are

motivated by the desire to satisfy needs. If an individual is able to meet all of his personal,

environmental, biological and emotional needs, he is considered to be in a state of Gestalt. The

definition of Gestalt is wholeness. In other words, the individual has all of his needs being met

and he is able to enjoy a healthy life. If for some reason, his needs are interrupted during the

formation of Gestalt, the result is personal dysfunction. Wagner- Moore (2004) states, “In theory,

a need arises and becomes foreground; if it is satisfied, it becomes background as Gestalt is

completed. Pathology arises when this process is disrupted.” This disruption of need satisfaction

is also called unfinished business. To help the individual resolve his unfinished business, the

counselor will engage the client in a series of “experiments” designed to help the client satisfy

his unmet needs. These techniques will help the client meet the goal of, “the process should


promote self-support sufficient for the person to live a life of freedom and choice, thus increasing

his or her ‘response-ability’” (Murdock, 2009).

Upon reviewing these different theories, and the overall concept of humanistic

psychology, the strengths of this theory are: the view that people are important, of great worth,

should be treated with respect and dignity, have the freedom to choose the direction of their

lives, and are responsible for their choices. Additionally, the therapeutic relationships of showing

the client unconditional positive regard, being authentic, genuine, warm, and empathetic are

great strengths of the Humanistic approach.

While there are great strengths in the Humanistic approach, there are many weaknesses.

Werthheimer (1978) argues that one of the primary weaknesses of Humanistic counseling is the

lack of definition of what Humanistic counseling is. He maintains that there is no real definition,

and while there are good ideas grounded in Humanism, because of the lack of definition, goals,

assessment and technique the counselor needs to be cautious when using the humanistic

approach. To illustrate, the inherent weakness of ET is reflected by the criticism for which this

theory receives. The problem lies in that it isn’t necessarily a psychological theory so much as it

is a collection of philosophies, which makes it difficult to practice and research (Murdock,

2009). Additionally, PC has been criticized for its lack of direction in counseling and reliance on

the client’s innate ability to become self-actualized (Kensit, 2000) which can result in the client’s

failure to maintain upon completion of counseling. I believe, as the counselor, the primary

question I will have to ask myself is whether or not the strengths outweigh the weaknesses when

it comes to working with a particular client.

Q: How does this theory best fit with your value system and personal beliefs?


This theory is a very good fit for my personal beliefs and value system. I am an active

member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS). The LDS religion seeks to

answer some of the fundamental, existential questions that humans ask. Questions of, “Who am

I? or What is my purpose for this existence?” To help answer these questions, some of the core

principles and values of the LDS religion are, humans are children of a Heavenly Father, have a

divine nature and are of infinite worth. The recognition that humans are of value and worth is the

central theme to Humanistic theory. Additionally, the LDS church also believes that man has

been given the ability to have the free agency to choose. This freedom to choose, whether the

choices are good or bad, help the individual to grow and progress as an individual. When the

choices are not so good, this can lead to pain, heartache and potentially difficulty living. Part of

the natural progression choice is the recognition that there is opposition in all things and being

accountable for the choices one makes. It is up to the individual to make the choices, experience

opposition, to determine the kind of person he will be. The goal of the LDS church members is to

become like Christ through our moral ideals and service to our fellow man (LDS, 2011).

This is not so different from Humanistic theory. The core value within all humanistic

theories is the concept that humans are individuals, are of worth, and as such, should be afforded

caring and unconditional positive regard. Another similarity is the theory that depending on the

choices one makes and the environment in which he creates or lives, if the human is not living up

to his full potential, it can create psychological anxiety. It is this anxiety which results in

personal dysfunction and prohibits the individual from becoming self-actualized, authentic or

having in Gestalt. In Humanistic theory, when a person has attained one of these states, he is a

person who is making good choices, strives to better himself and his world through his personal

works. I believe it is these similarities between LDS principles and Humanistic principles that


have prompted my comfort and interest in utilizing the Humanistic approach in my future

counseling practices. I am very much within my personal theoretical comfort zone.

Q: What population do you hope to work with? Why do you think this theory is the best choice

for this population?

It is my hope to work with at-risk youth and their families. I am currently enrolled in both

the MS Addiction Counseling and the MS Professional Counseling programs to become a CADC

and LPC. My goal is to be able to provide both addiction counseling and assessment, be qualified

to work with dual diagnosis cases, as well as provide individual and family therapy. I believe that

this theory is an excellent choice for this population due to its core values of freedom of choice,

personal responsibility, unconditional positive regard and caring, and having a greater purpose in

life. The role of the therapist to show unconditional positive regard and caring for the client, as

long as it is authentic and genuine, helps to establish rapport (Betz, Wholgemuth, Serling, et.al,

1995; Cannon, 2009; Kensit, 2000; Murdock, 2009). Regardless of the population the counselor

is working with, rapport is very important. When working with youth, the establishment of

positive rapport and trust can help facilitate the counseling process. The humanistic principles of

choice, taking responsibility for personal choices, behaviors, and way of being, are another

beneficial element when working with youth. I believe that youth are more open to change when

they feel like they have an element of control in the process and are learning how to become a

greater part of society. It helps to build self-esteem, helps to develop locus of control, and can

help the youth become less egocentric. One program that has incorporated a humanistic approach

to their work and practice with at-risk youth is the Anasazi Foundation Program in Mesa,

Arizona. The first principle of Anasazi’s core principles is, “We believe in the Making of a

Trusting with each Young Walker. This is done by respecting and protecting each person's


agency and dignity. We feel that each child is a person of worth and is inherently good. From the

first moments on the trail this is exemplified without intimidations. Those who are untrustworthy

at first soon soften to trust and love, then quietly cease their backward walking” (Anasazi, 2011).

The success of Anasazi Foundation to facilitate change in youth is empirically supported by

several research projects by the Outdoor Behavioral Health Industry Council, University of

Idaho, Brigham Young University and University of Minnesota (Anasazi, 2011). While I cannot

say that I would exclusively use a humanistic approach to my therapy, I believe the core

principles provide the best opportunity to develop rapport with youth and their families, prevents

feelings of coercion, and help set up a counseling relationship in which the client will be more

amenable to additional therapeutic techniques and practices.

Q: Consider the environment in which you will be working. Are there limitations to your theory

based on the time constraints imposed by insurance, agencies, or time-limited sessions?

One of the most significant drawbacks to the humanistic approach to therapy is that it is

not the best option for brief therapy. As PC therapy is non-directive and does not implement the

use of therapeutic techniques, it traditionally is not a brief therapy (Murdock, 2009). Irvin Yalom

is cited by Murdock (2009) as stating that short-term therapy is not effective for ET, and he will

often see his clients twice a week for several years. The exception to this is Gestalt therapy,

Gestalt therapy can be both long-term or brief depending upon the client’s needs and the

methods used by the counselor (Murdock, 2009). The long-term nature of Humanistic counseling

can be problematic for the counselor and for the client. In today’s managed care systems, most

clients are presented with a limited amount of insurance coverage for counseling services. This

can make counseling cost-prohibited for the client, and the client is more likely to discontinue

counseling before the resolution of their problems. As a result, most insurance companies and


agencies are more likely to utilize therapeutic interventions that can be quantified through

diagnostic assessment and are brief therapies.

Q: What treatment goals would you formulate with your client based on the theory you selected?

Overall, the goals of Humanistic therapy can be vague and difficult to define. For

example, PC doesn’t really state an actual goal however it could be said that the goal for PC is to

help the client to become self-actualized or the goal for ET is to help the client to become free

(Murdock, 2009). As a result, I may find it difficult to formulate goals that can be implemented

and quantified by the client. I would need to implement exercises, techniques designed to help

the client to recognize how his maladaptive behaviors are a result of anxiety, and dysfunction

caused by being inauthentic, a lack of self-actualization, or not being in Gestalt. This can be

achieved by helping the client to recognize his patterns of thinking, the affect locus of control

has on his thinking and choices, as well as guiding the client to find his place in the world and

the development of his true self (Cannon, 2009; Feist & Feist, 2006; Kensit, 2000; Keshen,

2006; Murdock, 2009).

Q: Within the theory you selected, what is your role as therapist? What is your client’s role?

In Humanistic counseling, my role as the therapist is to act as a guide or teacher for the

client. The therapeutic relationship is collaborative, and I would need to provide an atmosphere

that is conducive to helping the client change. This is done through unconditional positive self-

regard, empathy, congruence and by being direct with the client. The role of the client is to be

actively engaged in the process of counseling. He will be the student in the counseling

relationship. The client is to be himself, to be in contact with his experiences, and helps guide the


therapy in some instances. The roles of both therapist and client are active, and mutually

respectful.

Q: What is the nature of resistance in counseling and how would you work with resistance in a

way that is consistent with your framework?

I believe that resistance is an inherent part of counseling because most people are

uncomfortable with change. With the youth population that I hope to work with, I will face even

greater challenges of resistance. This is because most of the youth will be meeting with me

involuntarily due to legal conditions or parental interventions. So, I have to ask myself, how can

I best circumvent this resistance? I believe that the Humanistic approach to the counseling

relationship, and the role of the therapist, will help me to overcome this obstacle. In the

humanistic approach, client resistance is recognized as, “energy that the individual uses to help

protect himself from an experience that is harmful” (Murdock, 2009). I can utilize PC

approaches of unconditional positive regard and empathy to help the client feel safe in the

counseling environment or I can use the Gestalt approach. The Gestalt approach advocates that it

isn’t necessary to try to overcome client resistance, instead utilize the resistance to bring the fear

to the forefront, and help the client recognize it as a source of unfinished business. Depending

upon the client’s needs, I can utilize either technique or both techniques and eventually

overcome client resistance.

Q: What kinds of therapeutic techniques would you employ, and how would you select them?

Are they consistent with the rest of your counseling philosophy?

From a Humanistic approach, I would employ the following PC techniques of

unconditional positive regard, empathy, and congruence. These are more of a counseling role


instead of techniques, because PC does not implement specific techniques. Instead of specific

techniques, the counseling sessions are designed to allow the client find his own way with the

counselor gently guiding the client. In ET, again there is a lack of concrete technique, instead the

therapist will guide the client through the use of paradoxical intention, self-disclosure,

dereflection, guided fantasy, and dream analysis. Gestalt offers the most concrete techniques

with the use of dialogs or the “empty chair” technique, guided questioning, exaggeration, acting,

working with polarities, dream work, making the rounds, and taking responsibility. Of these

techniques I would most likely use dialogs, guided questioning, exaggeration, acting, working

with the polarities in choices, and taking responsibility. Determining which technique to use

would depend upon the client’s needs, his personal background, and the presentation of client

problems. I feel that these techniques are a very good fit for my counseling and personal

philosophies.

Q: What are the limitations to the theory you selected? Include any comments as it relates to

diverse populations.

Humanistic theory is limited in its use due to the long-term nature of counseling, and the

expense of counseling sessions. These factors limit services to those who are very wealthy, and

can afford the expense of long-term self pay counseling. With 24.7% of the black population

below poverty level, and 23.2% of the Hispanic population below poverty level (Mooney, Knox

& Schacht, 2011) this economic factor precludes many minorities from Humanistic counseling

services. Another limitation to the Humanistic theory is its emphasis on the individual. This may

conflict with the cultural ideals of populations that are more collective in nature. Additionally,

depending upon the client’s cultural background, the emphasis on self-disclosure may result in

client discomfort and impede the therapeutic relationship (Murdock, 2009).


Q: How will the theory you chose limit the kinds of clients you can work with or the kinds of

settings you are likely to encounter in your career?

I don’t believe that the use of Humanistic therapy will limit the kinds of clients I work

with. I may have to adjust which theoretical application from the humanistic approach to use, for

example, I wouldn’t use Gestalt techniques with clients who present with psychotic symptoms

and diagnosis, but the basic conditions of PC or ET can be applied to anyone.

An exclusively humanistic approach would probably be best suited for private practice

that isn’t dependent on funding from insurance companies, Medicaid or Medicare. These

managed care entities often place limitations upon the number of client visits, and require DSM

IV diagnosis. From a practical standpoint, this can be problematic, as most people are unable to

afford the long-term counseling requirements of Humanistic therapy as a private pay client.

Q: Will you require additional training to practice the theory that you have chosen?

I believe that I can implement the basic principles and tenets of humanistic theory in my

practice without specialized training. However, if I truly want to work exclusively from the

humanistic approach, and become a psychoanalyst in ET or use Gestalt techniques, I would most

definitely need additional training. Failure to obtain specialized training would be practicing

outside of my scope of expertise, and could result in harm for the client. Both of these situations

are severe ethical violations which, in addition to harming the client, can result in termination of

my licensure and legal accountability (ACA, 2005).


Conclusion

While first learning about Humanistic theories, I believed that I would be able to easily

implement the Humanistic approach in my counseling practice. However, upon further

investigation, the limitations due to managed care constraints, lack of definition and difficulty to

establish quantifiable goals, and potential cultural differences while using this theory has made

me rethink my approach to using this theory in my counseling practice. I now think that I can

best use the humanistic approach in my practice by taking the elements of its strengths, and

incorporating those elements into my counseling practice along with a cognitive approach to

treatment. I can use the core principles that first attracted me to Humanistic theory to help me to

cultivate a warm, empathetic, and authentic counseling relationship with my clients, that

promotes choice and accountability, while utilizing a counseling theory that is better suited to the

limitations imposed by managed health care. Overall, this was a very good exercise that enabled

me to gain a greater appreciation of humanistic theory which helped me to learn how I can best

use it in my future counseling practice.


References

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