Person-centered couple and family therapy: the effects of an extra beat of time

Abstract

The qualities of the person-centered approach, provided by an active therapist, create a profound change for couples and families. Moment by moment empathy allows client reflection and connection. The couple and family therapist offers common factors found in all relationship therapy, accepting the roles of translator, moderator and host. Six predictable therapist behaviors and attitudes are revised from the author’s earlier work.

Die Auswirkungen von nur etwas mehr Zeit

Die Qualität des Personzentrierten Ansatzes, wie ihn eine aktive Therapeutperson handhabt, bewirkt eine tiefgreifende Veränderung für Paare und Familien. Empathie von Moment zu Moment ermöglicht Klientperson-Reflexion und Verbindung. Die Ehe- und Familien-Therapeutperson bietet vertraute Faktoren die man in allen Beziehungstherapien findet; sie akzeptiert die verschiedenen Rollen des Übersetzers, des Moderators und Gastgebers. Sechs zu erwartende Verhaltensweisen und Haltungen der Therapeutperson werden dargestellt.

Los efectos de un golpe adicional de tiempo

Las cualidades del enfoque centrado en la persona provienen de un terapeuta activo que crea un profundo cambio para las parejas y familias. Empatía momento a momento permite al consultante reflexionar y establecer conexiones. El terapeuta de pareja y familia ofrece factores comunes a los que se encuentran en toda terapia relaciona, aceptando los roles de traductor, moderador y anfitrión. Revisamos y sugerimos una mirada nueva de seis comportamientos y conductas del terapeuta que son predecibles.

Le temps d’une petite touche remplie d’effets

Les qualités de l’Approche centrée sur la personne mises en œuvre par un thérapeute actif produisent de profonds changements pour les couples et les familles. Un instant après l’autre, l’empathie permet au client d’approfondir la réflexion et favorise la mise en connexion. Acceptant le rôle d’interprète, de modérateur et d’accueillant, le thérapeute de couple et de famille présente des facteurs communs propres à toute forme de thérapie relationnelle. Cet article envisage six comportements et attitudes prévisibles du thérapeute.

Os efeitos de um pouco mais de tempo

As características da Abordagem Centrada na Pessoa, quando providenciadas por um terapeuta ativo, geram nos casais e nas famílias uma mudança profunda. A cada momento, a empatia permite ao cliente refletir e estabelecer ligações. O terapeuta de casais e famílias oferece fatores comuns àqueles encontrados em todas as terapias relacionais, aceitando o papel de tradutor, moderador e anfitrião. Os seis comportamentos e atitudes previsíveis do terapeuta são colocadas sob uma nova perspetiva.

Keywords:

• extra beat of time
• translator
• moderator
• host
• predictables
• friendship

Notes

1. I am indebted to Professor Germaine Lietaer for a formulation of person-centered values that perfectly fits the requirements of couple and family therapy. Similarly, Professor Art Bohart’s work on staying faithful to the person-centered approach while being responsive to the unique needs of clients has been most encouraging. Both of these men have had benevolent influence on me and, I believe, many other therapists.

2. Questions about directivity and structure are very alive for any conscientious person-centered couple and family therapist. Without structure, relationship therapy can be chaotic and potentionally harmful (Gottman, 1999). With too much structure, such therapy can be therapist centered, emotionally flat, and empty. Reflection with other therapists and, most important, client feedback can help the therapist find balance in this very human dialectic. See O’Leary (2012b) for a more detailed discussion of this question.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Charles J. O’Leary

Charles J. O’Leary is a Clinical Fellow of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists. He is in private practice and is a trainer of therapists. The author of The Practice of Person-centred Couple and Family Therapy (Palgrave McMillan, 2012) and Counselling Couples and Families: a Person-centred Approach, (Sage, 1999), Charles studied at the Center for Studies of the Person when Carl Rogers was Resident Fellow.