A client-centered perspective on ‘psychopathology’

ABSTRACT

I present a client-centered perspective on psychopathology. People have a natural capacity for self-regeneration, self-healing, intelligent functioning, and self-organizing wisdom. Psychopathology occurs when various factors get in the way of people productively utilizing that capacity. Conditions of worth are a major factor. Conditions of worth are ubiquitous, not just occurring in early childhood. We need to change society in order to change psychopathology.

Eine klientzentrierte Perspektive auf “Psychopathologie”

Ich stelle eine klientzentrierte Perspektive zur Psychopathologie vor. Menschen haben eine natürliche Fähigkeit für Selbst-Regeneration, für Selbstheilung, für intelligentes Funktionieren und für eine sich selbst organisierende Weisheit. Psychopathologie tritt dann auf, wenn verschiedene Faktoren dem Menschen dabei in den Weg geraten, diese Fähigkeiten produktiv zu nutzen. Bedingungen für Wertschätzung sind ein zentraler Faktor. Bedingungen für Wertschätzung finden sich überall, nicht nur in der frühen Kindheit. Wir müssen die Gesellschaft verändern, um Psychopathologie zu verändern.

Una Perspectiva Centrada en el Cliente sobre “Psicopatología”

Presento una perspectiva centrada en el cliente sobre la psicopatología. Las personas tienen una capacidad natural para la auto-regeneración, para la auto-curación, para el funcionamiento inteligente, y la auto-organización de la sabiduría. La psicopatología ocurre cuando varios factores obstaculizan el uso productivo de esa capacidad. Las condiciones de valor son un factor importante. Las condiciones de valor son omnipresentes, no sólo ocurren en la primera infancia. Necesitamos cambiar la sociedad para cambiar la psicopatología.

Une perspective centrée sur la personne relative à la psychopathologie

Je présente une perspective centrée sur la personne relative à la psychopathologie. Les gens possèdent une capacité naturelle d’auto-régénération, d’auto-guérison, de développement d’un fonctionnement intelligent et leur propre sagesse pour s’auto-organiser. La psychopathologie surgit lorsque divers facteurs entravent les personnes et les empêchent d’utiliser ces capacités de manière productive. Les conditions de valeur constituent un facteur majeur. Les conditions de valeur sont omniprésentes et ne se rencontrent pas seulement durant l’enfance. Il est nécessaire que nous changions la société en vue de changer la psychopathologie.

Uma Perspetiva Centrada no Cliente para a Psicopatologia

Apresento uma perspetiva centrada no cliente para a Psicopatologia. As pessoas possuem uma capacidade natural de autorregeneração, de auto-cura, de funcionamento inteligente e de sabedoria auto-organizadora. A psicopatologia acontece quando vários fatores se interpõe no caminho das pessoas que usam essa capacidade de forma ativa. As condições de valor são um fator fundamental. As condições de valor são ubíquas, não acontecem apenas na infância. Para mudarmos a psicopatologia temos de mudar a sociedade.

KEYWORDS:

• Conditions of worth
• self-criticism
• self-organizing wisdom

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Arthur C. Bohart

Arthur C. Bohart is a retired professor emeritus at California State University Dominguez Hills. He was also affiliated with Saybrook University. He is the co-author or co-editor of several books including How Clients Make Therapy Work: The Process of Active Self-Healing, Empathy Reconsidered, Humanity’s Dark Side, and Constructive and Destructive Behavior. His work has focused on experiencing, empathy, the person-centered approach, and evidence-based practice in psychotherapy. He considers himself an integrative person-centered therapist