A devil’s bargain: Meeting psychiatric diagnosis in person-centred therapy

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract / Description of output

This article explores psychiatric diagnosis as it meets person-centered psychotherapeutic practice. Three short case vignettes are presented from the author's practice that inspect how clients' identification with a diagnosis played out in person-centered therapeutic work. Drawing on Rogers' articulation of process in person-centered therapy and other discourses regarding psychiatric diagnosis, themes arising from these case vignettes are then examined. In particular, this discussion acknowledges competing tensions that clients identifying with psychiatric diagnosis can present in terms of congruence, self-responsibility, and understanding from others. The author ultimately concludes that such an identification with diagnosis can yield growth in clients as well as inhibit it, and must be worked with empathically in the psychotherapeutic relationship even if it may not align with person-centered conceptualizations of self and experiencing.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)3-12
JournalThe Person-Centered Journal
Volume26
Publication statusPublished - 29 Mar 2024

Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)

  • person-centered approach
  • psychiatric diagnosis
  • congruence
  • theory
  • ADHD
  • bipolar disorder

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