Congruent functioning: the continuing resonance of Rogers’ theory

ABSTRACT

Based on a keynote speech at the PCE 2022 conference, this paper responds to the conference theme “How can I be of help?” from the perspective of person-centered therapy. I focus on the kind of help (i.e. the kind of change, or outcome) that clients can expect when participating in person-centered therapy through the lens of “congruent functioning”, a contemporary reframing of Rogers’ concept of the fully functioning person. This model of congruent functioning was developed from an ongoing research program originally focused on the study of a brief self-report instrument, the Strathclyde Inventory (SI). In this paper, I report findings from this program, including a theoretically coherent hierarchical relationship between SI items identified from the pattern of clients’ scoring that may indicate a hypothetical pathway for the development of congruent functioning. I present three different types of supporting evidence for the congruent functioning model, highlighting potential cultural differences, and a case example that considers apparent deterioration in congruent functioning by the end of therapy. Finally, I argue that the model of congruent functioning resonates not only with Rogers’ theory concerning the change process underpinning person-centered therapy, but also supports the ongoing commitment to personal development required of person-centered therapists.

KEYWORDS:

• Congruent functioning
• fully functioning person
• Strathclyde Inventory
• self-acceptance
• deterioration
• therapist development

Acknowledgments

I wish to thank the clients and therapists of the Strathclyde Counselling and Psychotherapy Research Clinic, and acknowledge the contributions of Professor Robert Elliott, the research clinic's founding Director, Dr Brian Rodgers and Kay Capaldi, former research clinic coordinators, and Dr Elizabeth S. Freire, who initiated the development of the Strathclyde Inventory.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Susan Stephen

Susan Stephen, Ph.D., is Director of the Strathclyde Counselling & Psychotherapy Research Clinic (University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Scotland) and a person-centered therapist and supervisor in private practice. Susan is an active member of the national and international person-centered community with contributions as Secretary of PCT Scotland (2004-7, 2020-21), Chair of the Board of the World Association for Person-Centered & Experiential Psychotherapy & Counseling (2010-2013; Board Member, 2008-14), and, since 2018, as a co-editor of the international peer-reviewed journal, Person-Centered & Experiential Psychotherapies.