Humanistic Therapy

1. Humanistic Therapy Unit 12

2. Starter Activity • Write down on piece of paper 2 characteristics that you think a humanistic therapist should have

3. Learning Objectives • By the end of today’s session all learners will: • Have considered the important elements of a humanistic therapist by taking part in a role playing exercise • Developed at least 3 evaluation points in small groups as to what makes this approach effective • Developed at least 3 evaluation points in small groups as to what makes this approach not as effective as others we have looked at • Some learners will have: • considered the differences between Humanistic and other approaches • Developed some possible answers to an exam question

4. Recap of material • Quiz…. • Using your phone (pair up with someone if need be) log on to www.m.socrative.com/student/ • Room = yvette

5. In pairs… 20mins • One of you is the client • The other is the therapist • Clients will be given a scenario…. It is up to you how much extra detail you want to add and how you want to ‘share your problem’ • Therapists ~ you’re job is to provide the client with some humanistic / person centred therapy, drawing on what we have covered so far • Are there any activities / tasks you might get your client to do? • Make some notes as you go – this would be natural in a therapy session

6. Humanistic therapists • What characteristics did you suggest at the beginning of the lesson ~ • Do you think you achieved these in your role plays? • What else could we add to this list? • What did you learn about a therapists role from the role play? • What did you learn about a clients role from the role plays?

7. Humanistic therapists… • aim to provide a non judgemental environment in which the client does not feel under threat or • Potentially enabling the client to: • experience and accept more of who they are as a person • reconnect with their own values and sense of self-worth. This reconnection with their inner resources enables them to find their own way to move forward • work to understand the client's experience from the client's point of view, • Positively value the client as a person • Aiming to be open and genuine • Client must experience these attitudes as real within the relationship, • Therefore the nature of the relationship that the counsellor and client create between themselves is crucial for the success of therapy Focus is on them solving the problem

8. Real life therapy… • Video • Think about: • The techniques the therapist uses • Does the therapist do any of the things discussed? • What is good about the way she handles the session • What things you might change if you were the therapist • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ew8CAr1v48M

9. Video review… • What techniques does she use before the client starts to talk about his issue? • Rapport • Feeling safe and relaxed • Non-judgemental environment • What do you think was a good strength of the way the therapist approached the situation? • Is there anything the therapist could have done differently?

10. Application • What situation do you think this therapy would be an effective therapy? • Some examples: • Substance abuse • Eating Disorders • Trauma/PTSD • Weight Management • Dual Diagnosis • Pain Management • Sexual Addiction • Gambling Addiction

11. Task… • In small groups, 2/3 consider and develop some evaluation points as to why the humanistic approach is: • a good way of explaining and looking at human behaviour and why • Not as effective as other approaches and why Each group develop at least 3 points …you have 10 mins

12. Strengths • A way of being • Rogers explained PCT as a life philosophy • 1)you see through conditions of worth what other people impose on you, • 2) develop an internal locus of control, • 3) have a positive self concept of yourself drawing on an actualising tendency, you will overall have a high degree of emotional security • Relevant to society • stresses that every individual has the right to be respected and valued • Respect and value for individuality is a value system embedded in health and social care practice / code of conduct (Government policy) • Empowerment • PCA aims to enable service users and clients to develop their own inner resources and have the power to address their own problems • The therapist does not ‘treat’ the individual, nor do they find causes or offer cures for people’s problems

13. Weaknesses • Therapy takes time • PCT use the quality of their relationship to help people gain new insights into their lives • Not a quick fix treatment • Barriers to empowerment • some may live their life with an assumption that ‘experts can out things right’ • Expectation that the therapist will find a cause • People who think this way may become frustrated if they have to work with a non-directive therapist who does not provide explanations and treatments • Can it work on its own?

14. So hopefully…. You have: • considered the important elements of a humanistic therapist by taking part in a role playing exercise • Developed at least 3 evaluation points in small groups as to what makes this approach effective • Developed at least 3 evaluation points in small groups as to what makes this approach not as effective as others we have looked at • Some of you may have: • Developed some thoughts as to the differences between Humanistic and other approaches • Developed some possible answers to an exam question • Homework ~ complete additional hand out