Therapeutic Alliance in Person Centered Therapy – Flashcards

The therapeutic alliance construct refers to the collaborative aspect of the relationship between therapist and client(s) in the context of psychotherapy. The conceptualization of the alliance that has been most prominent in individual psychotherapy, proposed by E.S. Bordin in 1979, includes three components: (1) an agreement between therapist and client about the goals of treatment, (2) an agreement about the therapy tasks needed to accomplish those goals, and (3) the emotional bond developed between therapist and client that allows the client to make therapeutic progress.

Person-centered therapy, which is also known as client-centered, non-directive, or Rogerian therapy, is an approach ato counseling and psychotherapy that places much of the responsibility for the treatment process on the client, with the therapist taking a non-directive role.

Client-centered therapy is a therapeutic approach that was introduced in the 1940s by an American psychologist named Carl Rogers. As its name implies, client-centered therapy places significant focus on the client. According to Rogers's view of client-centered therapy, the client-centered therapist refrains from asking questions, making diagnoses, providing reassurance, or assigning blame during his or her interactions with the client. According to a client-centered therapy article in the Harvard Mental Health Letter, "The [client-centered] therapist must create an atmosphere in which clients can communicate their feelings with certainty that they are being understood rather than judged.

Being or reflecting the essential or genuine character of something

Consistency between one's ideal self and actual self that results in a positive self concept - Rogers

Empathy means recognizing emotions in others. It is the capacity to put yourself in another person's shoes and understand how they view their reality and how they feel about things.

Unconditional positive regard is where parents, significant others (and the humanist therapist) accepts and loves the person for what he or she is. Positive regard is not withdrawn if the person does something wrong or makes a mistake. The consequences of unconditional positive regard are that the person feels free to try things out and make mistakes, even though this may lead to getting it worse at times. People who are able to self-actualize are more likely to have received unconditional positive regard from others, especially their parents in childhood.

Psychotherapy is a type of treatment provided by professionally trained therapists who help individuals address and overcome problems in their life, including alcoholism, chemical dependency and substance abuse. Psychotherapy is normally provided in a neutral setting that has a calming influence and allows the client to relax, not be distracted by outside issues and feel free to explore and express themselves with professional support. Therapists will employ several therapeutic modalities throughout treatment including cognitive therapies, behavioral therapies, motivational sessions and psycho-dynamic therapies.