What is counselling?

Rogers (1952) describes counseling as “The process by which the structure of the self is relaxed in
the safety of the client’s relationship with the therapist and previously desired experiences are
perceived and then integrated into an altered self”.

Section 1: One-Word & Short Definitions

Question Answer

Who is known as the father of Client-Centered Therapy? Carl Rogers

What is the primary goal of the "Initial Phase" of counseling? Rapport

building

Name the core condition where a counselor senses the client's feelings as if they were Empathy
their own.

Which psychological perspective focuses on unconscious conflicts? Psychoanalysis

What is the term for the professional boundary that ensures client privacy? Confidentiality

In CBT, what does the "B" stand for? Behavioral

What do we call the redirection of a client's feelings for a significant person toward the Transference
counselor?

Section 2: Short Answer Type (Concept Based)

1. Define "Unconditional Positive Regard."

It is the basic acceptance and support of a person regardless of what the person says or does,
especially in the context of client-centered therapy.

2. What is the difference between Guidance and Counseling?

 Guidance is usually preventive, developmental, and focuses on providing information or

"pointing the way."

 Counseling is often therapeutic, focusing on emotional issues, mental health, and deep-
seated personal changes.

3. List the three "Core Conditions" for therapeutic change according to Rogers.

 Empathy
  Congruence (Genuineness)

 Unconditional Positive Regard

4. What is the purpose of "Informed Consent"?

It ensures that the client understands the goals, risks, and limits of counseling before they begin,
allowing them to make a voluntary decision to participate.

5. Define "Active Listening."

A communication technique that involves fully concentrating, understanding, responding, and then
remembering what the client says, using both verbal and non-verbal cues.

Section 3: Key Counseling Models

Q: Which model uses the ABC (Activating event, Belief, Consequence) framework?

Answer: Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), developed by Albert Ellis.

Q: What is the main focus of Gestalt Therapy?

Answer: It focuses on the "here and now" and encourages clients to take personal responsibility and
achieve "wholeness."

Section 4: Ethical Principles

 Autonomy: Respecting the client's right to make their own choices.

 Beneficence: Working in the best interest of the client.

 Non-maleficence: The commitment to "do no harm."

 Justice: Treating all clients fairly and equally.

PCT vs CBT
One of the most foundational and widely practiced theories in counseling is Person-Centered
Therapy (PCT), also known as Client-Centered Therapy. Developed by Carl Rogers in the 1940s, this
humanistic approach shifted the focus from the counselor as an "expert" to the client as the
primary driver of their own healing.

Core Philosophy: The Actualising Tendency

PCT is built on the belief that every human has an innate, "inbuilt proclivity toward growth and
fulfillment" known as the actualising tendency. Rogers argued that people are not inherently
flawed or driven by dark unconscious impulses, but are rational, forward-moving beings who strive
to reach their full potential. Psychological distress occurs when this natural growth is blocked by
external judgments or "conditions of worth".

The Three Core Conditions

For therapeutic change to occur, Rogers identified three essential "core conditions" that the
counselor must provide:

 Congruence (Genuineness): The counselor is open, authentic, and "real" within the
relationship. They do not hide behind a professional facade and are honest about their
own feelings if they affect the therapy.

 Unconditional Positive Regard (Acceptance): The counselor offers total, non-judgmental

acceptance of the client, regardless of what they say or do. This creates a safe
psychological environment where the client feels free to explore their deepest thoughts
without fear of rejection.

 Empathic Understanding: The counselor strives to sense the client's private world "as if it
were their own," without ever losing the "as if" quality.

Key Techniques

Unlike more directive therapies like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), PCT is non-directive. The
counselor does not give advice or interpret the client's behavior. Instead, they use:

 Active Listening: Fully engaging with the client's verbal and non-verbal communication.

 Reflection of Feeling: Paraphrasing or restating what the client has said to clarify their
emotions and help them gain self-awareness.

 Summarising: Pulling together various points made by the client to provide focus and
immediacy to the session.

Goal of Therapy

The ultimate goal is for the client to become a "fully functioning person"—someone who is open
to experience, trusts their own feelings, and lives with a sense of meaning and purpose. By
experiencing the core conditions, clients learn to accept themselves, move away from facades, and
take responsibility for their own choices.

While both Person-Centered Therapy (PCT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) aim to improve
mental well-being, they differ significantly in their philosophy, the counselor’s role, and the structure
of sessions.

Comparison Table: PCT vs. CBT

Feature Person-Centered Therapy (PCT) Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Philosophical Humanism: Focus on self-actualisation. Behavioral/Cognitive: Focus on learned

Root thoughts.

Counselor’s Role Non-directive: Facilitator who follows Directive: Expert/Teacher who leads the
the client. session.

Core Goal Personal growth and self-acceptance. Symptom reduction and thought
 restructuring.

Techniques Active listening, reflection, and empathy. Homework, thought records, and behavioral
tasks.

Timeframe Usually long-term and flexible. Short-term and highly structured (12-16
weeks).

Client Client is the expert on their own life. Client is an active participant learning new
Perspective skills.

Key Differences in Practice

 View of the Problem: PCT sees distress as a result of "incongruence"—a gap between the
real self and the ideal self. CBT views problems as maladaptive or "distorted" thinking
patterns that have been learned and can be "unlearned".

 The Therapeutic Relationship: In PCT, the relationship itself is the cure. The three core
conditions (empathy, congruence, and unconditional positive regard) are sufficient for
change. In CBT, while a good relationship is important, change primarily happens
through structured exercises and the acquisition of coping skills.

 Structure and "Homework": A CBT therapist will often assign "homework" (e.g., tracking
thoughts in a journal or trying a new behavior) to be completed between sessions. A PCT
counselor rarely gives assignments, as the work is primarily done within the space of the
session at the client's own pace.

 Evidence and Application: CBT is highly research-supported for specific disorders like anxiety
and depression. PCT is often preferred for clients seeking deeper self-exploration or dealing
with issues of identity and self-worth.

Modern counselors often use an integrative approach, using the empathetic foundation of PCT to
build trust while introducing CBT tools to help clients manage specific symptoms

focusing on the concepts and theories we have discussed.

Multiple Choice focusing on the concepts and theories we have

discussed.

Choose the best answer for each question.

1. Which of these is NOT one of Carl Rogers’ three "Core Conditions"?

A) Empathy
B) Transference
C) Congruence
D) Unconditional Positive Regard

2. A therapist who sets specific goals, assigns homework, and challenges "cognitive distortions" is
likely practicing:
A) Psychoanalysis
B) Person-Centered Therapy
C) Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
D) Gestalt Therapy

3. The ethical principle that emphasizes "doing no harm" to the client is known as:
A) Autonomy
B) Beneficence
C) Non-maleficence
D) Justice

4. When a client begins to treat their counselor like a stern father figure, this is a psychological
phenomenon called:
A) Resistance
B) Transference
C) Reflection
D) Incongruence

Part 2: True or False

Determine if the following statements are correct.

5. [True / False] In Person-Centered Therapy, the counselor acts as the primary expert who
interprets the client's dreams.

6. [True / False] Confidentiality is an absolute rule and can never be broken under any
circumstances.

7. [True / False] CBT is generally more structured and short-term compared to traditional
Psychoanalysis.

8. [True / False] "Active Listening" involves only the words a person says, ignoring body
language.

Part 3: Fill in the Blanks

9. The "ABC" framework in REBT stands for Activating Event, __________, and Consequence.

10. The state where a person’s "Real Self" and "Ideal Self" are closely aligned is called
__________.

11. __________ is the process of getting a client's permission after explaining the risks and
benefits of therapy.
Answer Key

Q# Answer

1 B) Transference

2 C) Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

3 C) Non-maleficence

4 B) Transference

5 False (The client is the expert in PCT)

6 False (It can be broken if there is a risk of harm to self or others)

7 True

8 False (It includes non-verbal cues)

9 Belief

10 Congruence

11 Informed Consent

This scenario-based quiz focuses on applying your knowledge to

real-world situations

Scenario 1: The First Session

A client named Sarah arrives for her first session feeling overwhelmed by a recent breakup. She
asks, "I don't know where to start. Can you just tell me what to do to feel better?"

Question 1: If you are a Person-Centered therapist, how would you likely respond?

 A) "Let's start by identifying three negative thoughts you had today."

  B) "I can't give you a roadmap, but I hear how heavy this feels. Where would you like to
begin?"

 C) "I suggest we create a 'Self-Care' schedule for you to follow this week."

Question 2: If you are a CBT therapist, what would be your most likely next step?

 A) Reflect her feelings and wait for her to choose a topic.

 B) Explain that the client is the only expert in the room.

 C) Explain how thoughts about the breakup affect her feelings and suggest a "Thought
Record" exercise.

Scenario 2: The Hidden Truth

During a session, a 16-year-old student tells you they are being bullied at school but begs you not to
tell their parents because they are "embarrassed."

Question 3: Which ethical principle is primarily at play here as you decide whether to report the
bullying?

 A) Beneficence (Acting in the client's best interest)

 B) Justice (Fairness to all students)

 C) Fidelity (Honouring the professional commitment to the school)

Question 4: At what point would you be legally and ethically required to break confidentiality?

 A) As soon as the student mentions the bullying.

 B) Only if you believe there is a clear risk of serious harm to the student or others.

 C) If the school principal asks for a summary of the session.

Scenario 3: The Boundary Test

A client you have been seeing for six months is a professional web designer. Knowing you need a
website for your private practice, they offer to build it for free as a "thank you" for your help.

Question 5: Accepting this offer would be an example of what ethical concern?

 A) Informed Consent

 B) Dual Relationship

 C) Congruence

Answer Key & Explanations

1. B: PCT is non-directive; the therapist facilitates the client's own journey rather than giving
advice.
2. C: CBT is structured and directive, focusing on teaching the client specific tools and
identifying thought patterns.

3. A: While autonomy (the client's choice) is important, a counselor must weigh it

against beneficence to ensure the minor's safety.

4. B: Confidentiality is not absolute; mandatory reporting is required if there is a threat of

harm.

5. B: A dual relationship occurs when a counselor has a second role (e.g., business client) with
their therapy client, which can impair professional judgment