Person-Centred Therapy and Psychodynamics: Irreconcilable differences? Grant Bardsley MSc. Counselling Psychology Keele University

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1 Person-Centred Therapy and Psychodynamics: Irreconcilable differences? Grant Bardsley MSc. Counselling Psychology Keele University

2 Embeddeness of psychodynamics in PCT PC objections to PD Contemporary PDT and my own experiences Potential extension of PCT repertoire

3 PD influence on emergence of PCT Otto Rank...especially are roots of client-centered therapy to be found in the therapy of Rank... (Rogers 1951:4, in de Carvalho 1999)

4 ... Roger's articulation of personality change was substantially in accord with the goals and even metapsychological language of the then-prevailing psychoanalytical world: greater integration; less internal conflict, more energy utilizable for effective living; change in behaviour away from behaviour generally regarded as immature and toward behaviour regarded as mature (p95.). Indeed, these phrases reflect concepts embedded in both classical psychoanalysis (e.g., Freud's structural and hydraulic models) and object relations theory (e.g., Winnicot's notions of independence). (Farber 2007: 290)

5 Embeddedness of PD in PCT Introjection Denial Projection Splitting Transference Regard complex (Mearns 2003:15, Merry 2004:28, Lambers 2003:111, Mearns & Cooper 2003: 53, Rogers 1959, in Dillon 2007: 32)

7 Edge of awareness Mearns and Thorne propose a reconfiguration of the notion of the self to include subceived or edge of awareness material, even that which is not yet accepted by the person as part of their self-concept. (Mearns & Thorne 2000: 175)

8 Overlap of PCT/PDT interventions Troemel-Ploetz's linguistic analysis: The linguistic properties of these (person-centred) interventions are just those that can be shown in effective interpreting, restructuring, and paradoxical interventions of other (psychodynamic) forms of psychotherapy. (1980: 256)

9 'Spontaneous response' from Brodley...why do you have the suspicion of yourself? [manifest content]...what I am speculating is... you had an illness that was out of your control...and it was dangerous for you.... And what is a natural human feeling under these circumstances?...it's wanting to have control... And so, you started scrutinizing yourself...wishing that... you could have some control instead of just being this...victim...do you think that might...be the origin?...you weren't trying to do anything to yourself, you were trying to get control [latent content]. (1987:appendix B)

10 Objections to PDT Directive Client disempowerment therapist as expert. Externalization of locus of evaluation Unbridled power...without possibility of contradiction (Mearns & Thorne 2000:176)

11 Contemporary PDT Relational, interpersonal, intersubjective approaches from Kohut, Gill & Stolorow (Kahn 1996): Importance of empathy Interpretations as offerings Subject to rejection by client Therapist fallibility Insight as arrived at rather than imposed

12 Personal experience Interpretation Dreamwork Transference

13 Extension of PCT repertoire? Client autonomy paramount but Functional nondirectivity (Mearns & Thorne 2000) may allow extension to range of interventions: Jeri(client): Okay, Dave tell me what I should do should I take this job or not? Dave(therapist): Take it. Ring them now before they change their minds. It's a great job. Jeri[pauses]:...No, it doesn't feel right...i don't know what's wrong about it yet...but it's not right. (Mearns & Thorne 2000: 191)

14 A place in PCT for...? Empathic interpretation linking past to present Consideration of transference phenomena Dreamwork

15 References Brodley, B. (1987). A client-centred psychotherapy practice. Retrieved December 12 th from de Carvalho, R. (1999). Otto Rank, the Rankian circle in Philadelphia, and the origins of Carl Rogers' person-centred psychotherapy. History of psychology, 2, 2, Farber, B. (2007). On the enduring and substantial influence of Carl Rogers' not quite necessary nor sufficient conditions. Psychotherapy: theory, research, practice, training, 44, 3, Gillon, E. (2007). Person-centred counselling psychology An introduction. London: Sage Kahn, M. (1996). Between therapist and client. New York: Holt Paperbacks. Mearns, D. & Thorne, B. (2000) Person-centred therapy today. London: Sage Merry, T. (2004). Classical client-centred therapy. In P. Sanders (Ed.) The Tribes of the Person-Centred Nation. (21-44) Ross-on-Wye: PCCS Books. Troemel-Ploetz, S. (1980). 'I'd come to you for therapy': Interpretation, redefinition and paradox in Rogerian therapy. Psychotherapy: theory, research and practice 17, 3,

Person-centred Therapy

Person-centred Therapy A GUIDE TO COUNSELLING THERAPIES (DVD) Published by: J & S Garrett Pty Ltd ACN 068 751 440 All Case Histories in this text are presented as examples only and any comparison which