Person-centred approaches in the context of emotions

ABSTRACT

This paper explores aspects of the past, present, and future of person-centered and experiential (PCE) therapies through a number of emotions that PCE practitioners may have about its theory, practice, location, and reception. Drawing on Jaak Panksepp’s work on affective neuroscience, the article applies his seven emotional systems – SEEKING, RAGE, FEAR, PANIC/GRIEF, PLAY, LUST, and CARE – to how PCE therapies and their practitioners engage emotionally with and in the world.

L’Approche centrée sur la personne dans le contexte des émotions

Cet article explore des aspects passés, actuels et futurs des thérapies centrée sur la personne et expérientielles au travers d’un certain nombre d’émotions que les praticiens centrés sur la personne et expérientiels peuvent avoir de sa théorie, de sa pratique, de son implantation et de sa réception. En s’appuyant sur le travail de Jaak Panseep sur la neuroscience affective, l’article applique ses sept systèmes émotionnels (recherche, rage, peur, panique/détresse de séparation, jeu, passion, prendre soin) sur la manière dont les thérapies centr’e sur la personne et exp’rientielles et leurs praticiens s’engagent émotionnellement avec et dans le monde.

Personzentrierte Ansätze im Kontext von Emotionen (German)

Zusammfassung: Dieser Artikel untersucht Aspekte der vergangenen, gegenwärtigen und zukünftigen Personzentrierten und Experienziellen Therapien (PCE) mithilfe einiger Emotionen, die PCE-Praktizierende zur Theorie, Praxis, Lokalisierung und Rezeption haben können. Gestützt auf Jaak Panksepp’s Arbeit über affektive Neurowissenschaft werden in diesem Artikel dessen sieben emotionale Systeme — SUCHEN, WUT, ANGST, PANIK/TRAUER, SPIEL, BEGEHREN und FÜRSORGLICHKEIT — darauf angewendet, wie sich PCE-Therapien und deren Praktizierende emotional mit und in der Welt engagieren.

Enfoques centrados en la persona en el contexto de las emociones

Resumen: Este artículo explora aspectos del pasado, presente y futuro de las terapias centradas en la persona y experienciales (PCE) a través de una serie de emociones que los practicantes de PCE pueden tener sobre su teoría, práctica, ubicación y recepción. Basándose en el trabajo de Jaak Panksepp sobre neurociencia afectiva, el artículo aplica sus siete sistemas emocionales: BUSCAR, RABIA, MIEDO, PÁNICO / DOLOR, JUEGO, LUST y CUIDADO, a cómo las terapias PCE y sus profesionales se involucran emocionalmente con y en el mundo.

Abordagens centradas na pessoa no contexto das emoções

Este artigo explora o passado, presente e futuro das terapias centradas na pessoa e experienciais (CPE), percorrendo diversas emoções que os terapeutas podem possuir em relação à teoria, prática, localização e receção. Partindo do trabalho de Jaak Panksepp acerca das neurociências afetivas, o artigo aplica os sete sistemas emocionais definidos pelo autor: Procura, Raiva, Medo, Pânico/Dor, Jogo, Luxúria e Cuidado, à maneira como as terapias e os terapeutas CPE se envolvem emocionalmente com e no mundo.

KEYWORDS:

• Person-centered and experiential therapies
• emotional systems
• Panksepp
• social psychology

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank Melissa Hart for her organisation of PCE2019, and her invitation to deliver the keynote speech at that conference which formed the basis of this article; Louise Embleton Tudor for her input with regard to the neuroscience aspect of this article; and especially to one of the peer reviewers for their close reading and generous feedback on an earlier draft of this article.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Keith Tudor

Keith Tudor is Professor of Psychotherapy at University of Technology, Aotearoa New Zealand, where he is currently engaged in establishing a Centre for Research in the Psychological Therapies. He is also chair of the organizing committee of PCE2021, the next conference of the World Association due to be held in Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand, next June.