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STUDENT DETAILS
ACAP Student ID: 174173
Name: Jamie Brown
Course: GDC 16

ASSESSMENT DETAILS
Unit/Module: Counselling Skills 2
Educator: Jenny Coburn
Assessment Name: Rose and Dr Berenson Case Study
Assessment Number: 1
Term & Year: Term 2/2011
Word Count:

DECLARATION
I declare that this assessment is my own work, based on my own personal
research/study. I also declare that this assessment, nor parts of it, has not been
previously submitted for any other unit/module or course, and that I have not copied in
part or whole or otherwise plagiarised the work of another student and/or persons. I
have read the ACAP Student Plagiarism and Academic Misconduct Policy and
understand its implications.

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Introduction
Person Centred Counselling is a humanistic counselling process in which
peoples perception of their unconscious ideas or thoughts rather than the
counsellors interpretation of the same informs psychotherapy. Tools for person
centred counselling include genuineness, active listening, and paraphrasing
among others. The quintessence is that a client has answers to his problems even
before s/he meets a counsellor. The counsellors task then is only to lead the
client into understanding his feelings. As much of the process is introspection,
the greatest role of the counsellor is to bring to the fore internal conflicts that
affect the client in order that s/he may deal with the demands of external reality
more positively. This approach is illustrated in the case, Helping Rose. This
paper is a critical review a therapy session in light of person-centered theory.
Obviously, where a particular skill/technique was not used or where one was
incorrectly used, I will attempt to explain why, its effect and what the therapist
could have done.
Session Overview
The session between Rose and Dr Berenson is about 30 minutes in
length. Roses presenting issue is not being able to get her five-year-old daughter
to sleep a whole night in her own bed. During the course of the session, Rose is
able to explore the history of her conflict, the course of her worries, frustrations,
helplessness, desperation, failures, perceived weaknesses, misplaced priorities
and, above all, the hidden answers to her problem. She starts by exposing her
resolve to make her daughter sleep uninterrupted in her own bed. She moves to
describe how sad she felt that she (Rose) could let her be while the baby cried

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and screamed all night. She described how her sympathy let her break her
promise not to intervene no matter what. At this point, Dr Berenson was able to
lead Rose into seeing her frustrations at making progress while losing track after
only a short while. Even with help and support from teachers (targeted at
rewarding little Santa for good performance at school), Rose could still not bring
her into sleeping without interruptions in her bed. With the lapses in the
suggested reinforcement techniques, Roses helplessness and desperation
continued. She was not free enough to enjoy her sleep beside her husband. She
admits her doubts about the effectiveness of the reinforcement techniques to Dr
Berenson and the fact that her resources and patience are running out such that
she may not want to continue with them.
Rose wants a stable solution for her problem, because her freedom is in
jeopardy. She admits feeling trapped, and angry with herself for not having
made a better effort early in Santas life. However, she is torn between seeing
her daughter suffering and spending peaceful nights in her bed. She is led to
admit that her heart is at crossroads and that a lasting strategy is necessary. At
this point, Dr Berenson appreciates Rose for being dutiful with the reinforcement
strategies but lead her to admitting that she feels a weakness that leads her into
thinking that she failed in enforcing the reinforcement strategies. Dr Berenson
leads Rose into further introspection which she feels weak despite the strength
of the strategy she uses; that she is not listening to the missing determination in
her resolve. She admits that Santas illness in infancy may have created an
unconditional stimulus in her that persisted, as the latter grew older.

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Rose feels that her little girl is controlling her and she has failed totally
in her reinforcement schedule. She wants to control her, so she does not show her
love. She feels guilty, frustrated and hurt because she cannot love her daughter
as much as she would wish to. This makes her feel abusive to her daughter while
she knows too well that she provides for her. She admits that she lacks the
spontaneity to loving her daughter; that she has had to tolerate her behaviour
and compromise while she feels controlled by her. From this point on, Dr
Berenson leads Rose into admitting her greatest weakness; that she is feigning
firmness while in real sense, she is competing with her daughter for control.
Apparently, she is guilty about it because she cannot resolve the conflict between
loving her and letting her have control over her persistent behaviour.
Eventually, Dr Berenson leads Rose into accepting her own solution- not letting
up on her resolve to reinforce her daughter. As the session closes, Dr Berenson
says this, Then Im not telling you anything you dont already know about
yourself, to which Rose answers in the affirmative.
Evaluation of Dr Berensons effectiveness
Throughout the interview, Dr Berenson attempts to use the skills of
empathy, unconditional positive regard and congruency with varying success. He
initially leads Rose in a purely facilitative role that does not hint at any
problems. As the session progresses, Dr Berenson affirms Roses own admissions
in a manner that enables her to see her weaknesses and strengths outright.
When she seems overwhelmed, he attempts to make Rose as comfortable as
possible while striking a balance between expediency/congruency and a nondirective/non-judgmental approach. His empathy and absolute positive regard to

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Rose leads her into a warm introspection that exposes the synergy between
several negatively reinforced behaviours.
Rogerian Counselling
Rogerian counselling is a nondirective method of group or individual
psychotherapy, originated by Carl Rogers, in which the therapist's role is to
listen to and then reflect or restate without judgment or interpretation the words
of the client. The goal of such therapy is personal growth achieved by the client's
increased awareness and understanding of his or her attitudes, feelings, and
behaviour (The Free Dictionary, 2011). Unlike other modalities of therapy the
client is responsible for improving their own lives not the therapist (Simply
Psychology, n.d.). This is a deliberate change from both psychoanalysis and
behavioural therapies where the patient is diagnosed and treated by a doctor. In
Person-Centred Therapy, the clients consciously and rationally decide for
themselves what is wrong and what should be done about it (Simply Psychology,
n.d.). However, in order for this to occur, Rogers (1967) writes that three core
conditions are required, namely unconditional positive regard, empathy and
congruency. In combination, these produce a growth promoting climate (PPC,
n.d.).
Identification and Evaluation of Rogers 3 Core Conditions
Unconditional positive regard
Unconditional positive regard is the term used to describe a condition used
in non-directive, client-centered therapy (About.com-Psychology, 2011).
According to Rogers (as cited in About.com-psychology, 2011), unconditional
positive regard involves showing complete support and acceptance of a person no

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matter what that person says or does. However Rogers (as cited in Ilberg, n.d.)
acknowledges that unconditional positive regard occurs sometimes and not other
times and will vary in its intensity. Interestingly Ilberg (n.d.) writes that this
core condition is not only central to person centered therapy but it is also
important in everyday interpersonal relations.
Empathy
Empathy defies the capability of recognizing and possibly sharing feelings
of happiness but especially sadness of another fully sentient or semi-conscious
being. In human relations, it is considered the cornerstone of cordial relations. It
defines the degree of genuine compassion that one person can accord another
person. The conscious process takes into account the emotions of the other
person in the relationship. McLeod (2007) writes that empathic presence refers
to the physical and psychological presence therapists have with their clients (p.
18). Rogers (1967) writes that empathy helps to establish rapport, allows a
therapist to connect truly with their client and encourages self-exploration in the
client.
Congruency
Congruence can also be called genuineness (Simply Psychology,
n.d.). According to Rogers (1967), it is the most important of the three core
conditions. Unlike the psychodynamic therapist who generally maintains a
'blank screen' and reveals little of their own personality in therapy, the Rogerian
is keen to allow the client to experience them as they really are. In short, the
therapist is authentic (Simply Psychology, n.d.). However, congruence does not
mean that therapists disclose their own personal problems to clients in therapy

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sessions or shift the focus of therapy to themselves in any way (Psychology.
jrank.org, 2011).
Implications for Rose
Rogers identified six circumstances necessary for finding solutions in PCT
sessions. These are relationship, genuineness on the part of the therapist,
clients vulnerability to anxiety, positive perception about the therapist's
genuineness, unconditional positive regard toward the client, and empathy. In
Roses case, these circumstances were presented in varying magnitudes, high
enough to make the session successful. From a positive appreciation of the client,
Dr Berenson was able to make her trust his genuineness, empathy and
eventually accord him rapport. This led her into admitting, one after another,
her self-perceived strengths and weaknesses before providing solutions for
herself. Dr Berenson remained an active facilitator for most part of the session.
According to Rogers (as cited by Prochaska and Norcross, 2007), the
standard and basis for a therapeutic effect is individual personal experience.
This implies a relatively simple way of understanding what informs ones
behaviour in a manner that it is- that ones actions and resolutions are within
his conscious thoughts. This has roundly been associated with ones capacity to
listen to his heart. As Dr Berenson roundly tells Rose, she needed to listen and
trust her heart to make out the best solution for her problem. This came of age
when Rose finally admitted having a resolve to help her daughter, which she
nevertheless did not push through with because she compromised herself. She
admits, Um, just trying to be so firm which you set out to be, breaking rules
along the way because you dont want to do that, at the same time, every time

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you do it just gives it a little more leeway. Eventually, by listening to herself
and refusing to sensor her response, she eventually unearths the solution to her
problem; a solution that, hitherto, rests in her heart.
Counsellors Application of Counselling Skills and Their Impact on Rose
During the session, Dr Berenson applies the three conditions of the
Rogerian counselling with relatively high success. He shows adeptness in client
empathy strategies by reaffirming Roses feelings of frustrations, hopelessness,
and desperation. For instance, when Rose asserts that despite her efforts, it
seemed that nothing would work, he interjects by saying that, That that that
had to be very frustrating for you because every time you made some
progress...Boom. Again, when Rose admits feeling guilty for not loving her
daughter enough despite providing her with all she needs, Dr Berenson
interjects to empathize with her. He says in regard, And, and it, it partly you
feel some guilt...Because you are torn...so one feeling compounds another...And
you dont end up with the focus you need. This creates rapport for him and
connects him to Rose much more. She is able to open up more as a result.
Dr Berenson is also skilled in showing unconditional positive regard; a
trait that assures him of Roses trust to the end. For instance, when Rose admits
her frustrations with the reinforcement techniques in dealing with her daughter,
she resigns by saying, ...what can you do to, um, t make it be effective and work
for a long period of time, and not, I mean, when this is ok.... To this, Dr
Berenson answers, Youre really at a loss...Because you have tried all these, ah,
techniques and now you are left wondering about um, your resources.
Apparently, he knows that Roses declared weakness is the main cause of her

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giving up, but he maintains the unconditional positive regard to lead Rose ahead
into appreciating this weakness. This continues in other sections of the talk
where he neither approves nor disapproves Rose, which reinforces her selfregard. He also appreciates her internal frame of reference, which then makes
Rose quite perceptive of herself.
Dr Berenson proceeds to create an environment of congruency between
him and Rose. He solemnly asks for a chance to be trusted. This secures Roses
perception of his and her importance in the process. He also moves steadily and
efficiently to reinforce the incongruence that exists between Roses experiences
and her awareness of the same. This sustains the client-therapist relationship.
He is also able to show deep involvement, often affirming Roses admissions by
an Mmmm or by completing her statements. The taped session concludes with
Dr Berenson thanking Rose for sharing with him. This positively reassured her
that she had done the right thing by consulting Dr Berenson.
Strategies for Improving Roses Experience of Counselling
Person Centred Counselling not only looks at the past, it also entails
building a fulfilling future. An examination of prospective behavioural,
attitudinal and transpersonal conflicts is thus necessary. In the case of Rose, it
was necessary to build even a more passionate position especially regarding her
future behaviour. While the therapy focuses on the past and present life, it would
be imperative to create a lasting cognizant trust and a sense of naturalistic faith
in the clients thoughts about the therapy. The accuracy of her feelings and a
responsible appreciation of the merit of therapy as well as an acknowledgement
of freedom from past weaknesses should have been ascertained fully before the

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session ended. When these are guaranteed, PCT would affect how the client
contributes to others lives and participates in decisions to unlock challenges
similar to the one presented in the current therapy.
As sessions close, therapists should also be careful not to rush clients into
accepting a path of admission without fully appreciating the same. Dr Berenson,
for instance, seemed to have rushed Rose into accepting her previous strategies
as the best strategies for her case rather faster. While this was expected as the
ultimate step in the therapy, the swiftness could have drawn Rose into acting
out her agreement to his counsel.

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References
About.com-Psycholoy. (2011).Unconditional Positive Regard. Retrieved from
http://psychology.about.com/od/uindex/g/unconditional-positive-regard.htm
Ilberg, J. R. (n.d.). Unconditional Positive Regard: Constituent Activities.
Retrieved from http://www.focusing.org/upr_iberg.pdf
McCleod, J. (2007). Counselling Skills. Maidenhead, England: Open University
Press.
Person Centered Counselling. (n.d.).Carl Rogers. Retrieved from
http://www.person-centered-counseling.com/carl_rogers.htm
Prochaska, J. O., and Norcross, J. C. (2007). Systems of Psychotherapy: A
Transtheoretical Analysis. Thompson Books/Cole: New York.
Psychology.jrank.org. (2011).Client Centered Therapy. Retrieved from
http://psychology.jrank.org/pages/118/Client-Centered-Therapy.html
Rogers. C.R. (1967).On becoming a person: A psychotherapists view of
psychotherapy. London, England: Constable & Co.
Simply Psychology, (n.d.).Carl Rogers Therapy. Retrieved from
http://www.simplypsychology.org/client-centred-therapy.html
The Free Dictionary.(2011). Client-centered therapy. Retrieved from
http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/client-centered+therapy
Watson, J. C., Cooper, M., and Hoeldampf, D. (2010). Person-centred and
experiential therapies work: A review of the research on counselling,
psychotherapy and related practices. Ross-on-Wye, UK: PCCS Books.