Theoretical Approach to Counseling: Person-Centered Theory

Benchmark Theoretical Approach to Counseling
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Introduction
Humanistic counseling can be conceptualized as a contemporary counseling approach. It integrates both psychotherapy and psychology principles that can be employed to manage clients efficiently. The principle views humans positively when considering its fundamental perspective about human nature. It views humans as worthy and that they have the potential and dignity to achieve self-development. Humanistic learning theory is anchored on humanistic psychology theories, including person-centered approach, which would be the focus of this paper. In education, counseling refers to the personalized and individualized support with educational, vocational, and personal problems where all pertinent facts are evaluated and a solution reached, typically with the help of the school, specialists, community, personal interviews, and resources whereby the counselee is trained to exercise their decision-making authority (Purswell, 2019). This paper discusses person-centered theory as the model that best fits my self-concept about human nature and change. My background also resonates with the person-centered approach due to previous interactions with a client. The paper also discusses relationship building and assessment and how to incorporate ethical and Christian principles into counseling.
Human Nature and Change
The person-centered theory is anchored on the phenomenological comprehension of the counselee's conception of the world as well as unconditional positive regard, empathy, and congruence concerning therapy outcomes. I believe that humans are inherently able to achieve personal growth and ultimately overcome the issue since they can identify themselves effectively when counseled based on the person-centered theory. Counseling services anchored on the person-centered framework are conducted in ways that encourage discussions between the counselee and counselor, to attain a congruent understanding between the actual self and the ideal self (Lusiana & Basuki, 2019). In this way, person-centered theory augments the relationship between the therapist and the client. I also believe each person is unique, and an authentic understanding of self is central to achieving better behavioral and wellbeing outcomes. Therefore, my role when delivering person-centered counseling is to offer space for the student or client to achieve uncensored self-exploration. As the student explores their feelings, they will gain a better understanding of themselves, thus leading to psychological development (Yao & Kabir, 2023). The focus would be to understand the student as the counselee in regards to understanding all the unique traits they portray from time to time during their growth.
Personal Background
My background influenced my theoretical preference because I have interacted with clients with developmental challenges due to strict parenting. One of the clients reported increasing levels of anxiety after the emergence of the Covid-19 pandemic, delineating psychological difficulties (fear of exposing his family or himself to the virus) and physical manifestations (muscle tightness, sleeplessne...