In this six-session DVD, David J. Cain demonstrates a Rogerian form of therapy called collaborative person-centered psychotherapy. Consistent with Rogers, this approach emphasizes therapist presence, empathic attunement to the client's internal frame of reference, acceptance and affirmation of the client, congruence in the therapist, and a fundamental belief in the client's resourcefulness and potential to move forward in their lives. It also honors and preserves clients' autonomy and choice.
In collaborative person-centered therapy, the client's role as an active and involved participant in all aspects of therapy is emphasized.The therapist and client individualize each therapy by being collaborative partners in the definition of the client's problems, desired goals, means to achieve those goals and the definition and development of an optimal therapeutic relationship.
In essence, clients are engaged as cotherapists based on the assumption that they are experts on what fits and what works best for them. The therapist embraces a fundamental value of pragmatism, which is guided by the intention to do whatever is in the best interests of the client. Therefore, the therapist, in addition to striving to be present, empathic, accepting, and congruent, brings forth for the client's consideration any and all personal and professional resources that may be of value to the client,especially those backed by research evidence. By doing so therapists are freed to expand the ways they may engage various aspects of themselves and to integrate concepts and responses from other therapeutic systems that that fit the client's current needs. In other words, being person-centered means to create a therapy that fits the unique person of the client.
Another emphasis of collaborative person-centered psychotherapy is to focus on and encourage clients to attend to and process potent emotional experiences with the intent to facilitate adaptive learning and more effective behavior. The therapist also takes responsibility to continuously monitor the quality of the therapeutic relationship, client progress and any strains in the relationship, and collaborate with the client to make any needed or desirable adjustments.
In the therapy session featured on this DVD, Dr. Cain was aware that the client found cognitive–behavioral therapy to be congenial to her personality and learning style, especially challenges to her irrational beliefs. Therefore, when the situation called for it, he became more challenging of beliefs and behaviors that were causing the client extreme psychological stress and worry.
Cain aligned his challenges with the client's desire to free herself from being hyper-responsible and overly protective of her family members. Knowing that the client had a strong internal locus of evaluation, he felt confident that she would reject any challenges that did not fit her goals or psychological well-being. In another session, Cain offered the client the possibility of engaging in a gestalt two-chair exercise to deal with a conflict with a relative. She found the exercise both helpful and liberating.
Throughout the therapy, Cain strove to be empathically attuned and responsive and to be authentic in all of his responses. He naturally affirmed many of her qualities, values, and behaviors. By doing so, Dr. Cain enabled the client to confirm and solidify her fundamentally positive self-concept.
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