Self-Esteem of the Abused, A Person-Centered Approach

Rogerian theory, otherwise known as the person-centered therapy, is both non-directive and humanistic in its approach. It contends that the client is the expert of their self and experiences, and is innately good and driven toward the fulfillment of goals (Burger, 1997). Furthermore, this theory proposes that through the practice of interacting with an empathetic, congruent, and genuine counselor, that the client can achieve full actualization Pervin, Cervone & Oliver, 2005).

In regards to one’s self, Roger’s believed that individuals maintain a fairly consistent sense of self-worth or self-esteem (Pervin, Cervone & Oliver, 2005). However, others argued this assumption, finding greater fluctuations in self-esteem than originally proposed, Burger (1997) summarizes that “very few people feel entirely good or bad about themselves,” (p. 373). The concept of unconditional love and positive regard seem to be a consistent theme surrounding the person-centered approach. Roger’s has found that clients move easily towards full actualization when counseled in an empathetic, understanding manner abundant in unconditional love. Therefore, if this component is essential to the therapeutic process, and progress is made when this is introduced, it stands to reason that the problems one faces in the outside world result from a lack of such love and understanding.

The goal of Roger’s theory is to assist the client in accepting and appreciating themselves for who they are and chose to become (Burger, 1997). Hence the therapeutic process should introduce the concept of unconditional love, first by the hands of the counselor who serves as a model, so that the client to eventually learn and be able to accept him or herself unconditionally. Person-centered theorist believe that this move to personal acceptance and unconditional love is possible because all persons are both active and self-actualizing. Therefore, as one moves through the self-actualizing and acceptance process, they seek to maintain a congruence between self and experience"(Pervin, Cervone, & Oliver, 185).

While this writer does not subscribe to the person-centered approach, she can see value in Roger’s assumptions of the “self,” and believes that his goals are congruent with many other models. Currently, this writer works with women who have been victims of domestic abuse and finds that many of them struggle with issues of low self-esteem. Some of the reoccurring themes of her group is to examine one’s self, take responsibility for the things that can be changed (letting go of others), and to assist in dispelling the myth that the women are only as good (or bad) as their experiences (as many women label themselves as helpless, hopeless, victims). The writer is always empathetic, understanding, and genuine when working with her clients. She herself has spent countless hours assessing and reassessing her self-concept to ensure congruence, and uses her personal experience to move her clients through this process. She believes that low self-esteem contributes greatly to their feelings of being “stuck,” helpless, and hopeless. Furthermore, as long as the client internalizes these feelings, they will be unable to process their traumas and successfully move forward in their goals.

Stephanie Lowrance-Henckel

References

Burger, J.M. (1997). Personality. Brooks/Cole Publishing, Pacific Grove, CA.
Pervin, L., Cervone, D., & Oliver, J. (2005). Theories of Personality (9th ed.).New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.