What is it about?

This article focuses upon the application of Carl Rogers' person-centred approach (PCA) by educational and vocational counselors. The discussion of PCA in educational and vocational counseling raises several key issues that have received attention in recent counseling psychology literature. PCA has been criticized for its highly individualistic approach that overlooks relational issues, its limited clinical application, and lack of technical expertise to sufficiently produce change in persons with significant mental and/or mood disorders. Three vignettes are presented to illustrate that contemporary PCA is a less individualistic and more socially contextualized practice than originally formulated by Rogers.

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Why is it important?

It highlights some aspects of the work of counselors who utilize the primary nondirective components of PCA (congruence, unconditional positive regard, empathy) with directive interventions when requested by clients, who are responsive to their clients' diverse socio-cultural backgrounds, and who are prepared to work within a medical framework.

Perspectives

For me, Rogers remains one of the most influential psychologists of the past 50 years. He continues to be cited in the counseling/psychotherapy literature and analyzed.

Dr Ross Crisp

Read the Original

This page is a summary of: A Person-Centred Perspective to Counselling in Educational and Vocational Agencies, Australian Journal of Guidance and Counselling, July 2010, Cambridge University Press,
DOI: 10.1375/ajgc.20.1.22.
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