"I believe it will have become evident why, for me, adjectives such as happy, contented, blissful, enjoyable, do not seem quite appropriate to any general description of this process I have called the good life, even though the person in this process would experience each one of these at the appropriate times. But adjectives which seem more generally fitting are adjectives such as enriching, exciting, rewarding, challenging, meaningful. This process of the good life is not, I am convinced, a life for the faint-fainthearted. It involves the stretching and growing of becoming more and more of one's potentialities. It involves the courage to be. It means launching oneself fully into the stream of life. Yet the deeply exciting thing about human beings is that when the individual is inwardly free, he chooses as the good life this process of becoming.
(On Becoming a Person)"
— Carl Rogers
As I have grown in my counseling journey (professionally and personally) I more and more subscribe to the brilliant humanistic psychologist Carl Rogers. Beside being one of the forefathers of psychotherapy what I relate to most is his practice of unconditional positive regard (look it up on Wikipedia but the cliff notes means providing a safe, confidential place for clients to talk and be heard without judgement..)
Ultimately it is the person who, in a safe environment, knows the changes that need to be made that are right for him or her..depending on where he or she is in their life, what outside forces influence them etc....the counselor is mainly an objective safe person in the room who listens and reflects back the clients own words to validate that he or she is being heard.
I emphasize what is right for him or her because there is no right answer....no final perfect destination to be reached that is universal for everyone...
If anything that puts the wonder of people, God, Buddha, Catholics, Christians, Atheists, Jews, educators, business, moms, dads, men, women, pets, children, outer space, politics, history, faith, science, art ...etc..etc.. in a tidy little box...
I don't think there is any tiny little box except maybe when you wrap a present with 5 year old tape....:) which I have done and it it wraps tight. trust me on this.
often times the greatest gift a counselor can give is to listen.
Listen. Anyone can practice this. Not just licensed counselors
Just shut your mouth:) This is something I practice daily cause it is hard to do.
So feel free to tell me to shut up and listen.
My sister does a real good job at that.
Peace Out!
(On Becoming a Person)"
— Carl Rogers
As I have grown in my counseling journey (professionally and personally) I more and more subscribe to the brilliant humanistic psychologist Carl Rogers. Beside being one of the forefathers of psychotherapy what I relate to most is his practice of unconditional positive regard (look it up on Wikipedia but the cliff notes means providing a safe, confidential place for clients to talk and be heard without judgement..)
Ultimately it is the person who, in a safe environment, knows the changes that need to be made that are right for him or her..depending on where he or she is in their life, what outside forces influence them etc....the counselor is mainly an objective safe person in the room who listens and reflects back the clients own words to validate that he or she is being heard.
I emphasize what is right for him or her because there is no right answer....no final perfect destination to be reached that is universal for everyone...
If anything that puts the wonder of people, God, Buddha, Catholics, Christians, Atheists, Jews, educators, business, moms, dads, men, women, pets, children, outer space, politics, history, faith, science, art ...etc..etc.. in a tidy little box...
I don't think there is any tiny little box except maybe when you wrap a present with 5 year old tape....:) which I have done and it it wraps tight. trust me on this.
often times the greatest gift a counselor can give is to listen.
Listen. Anyone can practice this. Not just licensed counselors
Just shut your mouth:) This is something I practice daily cause it is hard to do.
So feel free to tell me to shut up and listen.
My sister does a real good job at that.
Peace Out!
