Carl Rogers, PhD
"The good life is a process, not a state of being. It is a direction, not a destination.”(pg 186, on becoming a person.)
Influence on SDC Framework Focus
One of Carl Roger’s major contributions to our work with the Self-Directed Change® Method, and the SDC Frameworks is his perspective on values. Rogers saw values as an internal, self-regulating mechanism that develops through personal experience. In essence we use values as a steering mechanism. He believed that people have an organismic valuing process, which is an innate ability to assess what is beneficial for their growth and well-being. Positive self regard whole hearted living
Rogers argued that individuals thrive when they develop values that align with their authentic experiences. As people become more self-aware and congruent (aligned with their true selves), their values naturally guide them toward choices that foster personal growth, positive self regard and whole hearted living.
Rogers’ understanding that people need a safe space and that therapy is guided by the client are two additional ideas of his that have contributed to the Self-Directed Change® Method. Part of that safe space is created through what he called “unconditional positive regard” for the client and their unique process; and using active listening and empathy to foster trust and connection.
For a closer look, add Dr. Rogers' groundbreaking work “Client Centered Therapy” to your library today. Find it here in the ChangeWorks Bookstore.
Key Contributions and Concepts
Martin Seligman is best known for his contributions to Positive Psychology with the introduction of the PERMA model as a framework for understanding well-being. His work on learned helplessness highlights how past experiences can lead to passivity, while learned optimism offers strategies for cultivating resilience.
The PERMA Model and Positive Psychology Theory
Martin Seligman introduced Positive Psychology in the late 1990s as a response to the traditional "disease model" of psychology, which focuses primarily on mental illness.
Positive psychology theory is a framework that illuminates the factors that contribute to positive mental health and well-being. Its aim is to shift the focus towards what makes life fulfilling. A central component of this theory is the PERMA model, which outlines five essential elements of well-being: positive emotions, engagement, relationships, meaning, and accomplishment.
Each element is pursued independently and contributes to a life of flourishing. Implementing the PERMA model involves assessing and enhancing each of its components.
- For instance, fostering positive emotions can involve practicing gratitude or savoring joyful moments.
- Engagement is cultivated through activities that induce a state of flow.
- Building strong relationships involves nurturing social connections.
- Finding meaning often involves identifying a sense of purpose or contributing to something larger than oneself.
- Finally, accomplishment is achieved by setting and working towards goals.
Practitioners can use these elements to guide interventions that improve well-being.
Learned Optimism
Learned optimism, a concept that is central to Seligman's work on resilience and happiness, suggests that optimism can be cultivated through learning and practice. The concept involves challenging negative thoughts and adopting more positive outlooks on life.
Learned optimism is used to enhance mental resilience and reduce the risk of depression by teaching individuals to reframe negative thoughts and to identify possible positive outcomes. Mental health interventions that focus on building resilience and reducing depression frequently employ the elements of learned optimism.
Numerous programs and books aimed at enhancing optimism and well-being have been inspired by learned optimism.
Character Strengths and Virtues Classification
Seligman, along with Christopher Peterson, developed a classification system for character strengths and virtues. The classifications are used to measure positive psychology's effectiveness by identifying and cultivating good character, which is strongly linked to lasting happiness.
Six identified classes of virtues encompass 27 character strengths, providing a positive counterpart to the DSM by focusing on traits that enhance well-being. The process involves identifying and developing these strengths through practices such as gratitude, forgiveness, and kindness.
Practitioners can use this framework to guide interventions that enhance character strengths.
Biography
Carl Rogers was born in Oak Park, Illinois to a strict religious family. The family’s fundamentalist Christian ideals discouraged dancing, theater visits, card games, and alcohol consumption. Rogers was an isolated child due to his family’s values.
He initially studied agriculture and history before switching to psychology. Rogers earned his PhD from Columbia University in 1931. He worked as a child psychologist and later as a professor at the University of Rochester, Ohio State University, and the University of Chicago, where he was the first to scientifically study the effectiveness of psychotherapy.
In 1940 Rogers developed his client-centered approach to therapy, with an emphasis on the therapist-client relationship and the client’s capacity for self-directed growth, which revolutionized the field of psychotherapy. Rogers co-founded the Center for Studies of the Person in La Jolla, California in 1968.
Though against the wishes of his family, Rogers married Helen Elliot in 1924. They had two children and remained married until her death in 1979.
Book Store
Counseling and Psychotherapy: Newer Concepts in Practice (1942; Houghton Mifflin).
- This book introduced Rogers' non-directive approach to therapy.
Client-Centered Therapy: Its Current Practice, Implications, and Theory (1951; Houghton Mifflin).
- This work fully articulated Rogers' theory of personality and behavior, including the 19 propositions.
On Becoming a Person: A Therapist's View of Psychotherapy (1961; Houghton Mifflin).
- This influential book made Rogers' ideas accessible to a wider audience and became a cornerstone text in humanistic psychology.
Freedom to Learn: A View of What Education Might Become (1969: Charles E. Merrill Publishing Company).
- This book applied Rogers' person-centered approach to education.
Carl Rogers on Encounter Groups (1970; Harper & Row).
- This work explored the application of Rogers' ideas to group processes.
On Personal Power: Inner Strength and Its Revolutionary Impact (1977; Delacorte Press).
- This book discussed the concept of personal power and its role in individual and social change.
A Way of Being (1980; Houghton Mifflin).
- This work summarized Rogers' life work and philosophy.
