ABSTRACT

According to the person-centered theory of therapy, the therapist’s congruence is one of the necessary and sufficient conditions for therapeutic personality change. However, the development of therapists’ congruence has received limited research attention. This study was designed to explore the ways in which eight experienced person-centered therapists fostered their congruence. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews. Analysis of the data was based on the qualitative method of thematic analysis. The research findings yielded four main themes, along with a number of sub-themes, which reflected the ways in which these person-centered therapists enhanced, and continue to enhance, their congruence. These are: a life-lasting ongoing process, the importance of constant care, the role of relationships, and being in contact. The findings suggest that the development of congruence is a gradual process closely related to the lifelong personal and professional growth of therapists and that it needs active and constant care on multiple levels. The findings highlight the importance of personal and professional relationships in nurturing congruence and point to the necessity of a person-centered therapist being in contact with his or her self and the client. This study has important implications in the literature, training, and practice of person-centered therapists.

摘要

根据以人为中心的治疗理论，治疗师的一致性是治疗性人格改变的充要条件之一。然而，治疗师一致性的发展受到的研究关注有限。本研究旨在探索八位经验丰富的以人为本的治疗师如何培养他们的一致性。数据是通过半结构化访谈收集的。数据分析是基于主题分析的定性方法。研究结果产生了四个主要主题以及一些子主题，它们反映了这些以人为本的治疗师增强并继续增强其一致性的方式。它们是：一个终生持续的过程、持续关怀的重要性、人际关系的作用以及保持联系。研究结果表明，一致性的发展是一个渐进的过程，与治疗师的终身个人和专业成长密切相关，需要多层次的积极和持续的关怀。研究结果强调了个人和专业关系在培养一致性方面的重要性，并指出了以人为本的治疗师与他或她的自我和来访者保持联系的必要性。这项研究对以人为中心的治疗师的文献、培训和实践具有重要意义。研究结果强调了个人和专业关系在培养一致性方面的重要性，并指出了以人为本的治疗师与他或她的自我和来访者保持联系的必要性。这项研究对以人为中心的治疗师的文献、培训和实践具有重要意义。调查结果强调了个人和专业关系在培养一致性方面的重要性，并指出了以人为本的治疗师与他或她的自我和来访者保持联系的必要性。这项研究对以人为中心的治疗师的文献、培训和实践具有重要意义。