More than my experience: An argument for critical realism in the person-centred psychotherapy

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract / Description of output

In acknowledging psychotherapy as a space oriented towards philosophical exploration, this article embraces Schmid’s challenge for person-centred psychotherapists to develop philosophy more congruent with the practice of the person-centred approach. Inspired by practitioners from other approaches, the author challenges the dominant interpretive-phenomenological foundations of recent person-centred conceptual developments, tentatively arguing the case for a critical realism as an alternate onto-epistemic framing for person-centred psychotherapy. The author acknowledges weaknesses of interpretive phenomenology in relation to the person-centred approach, particularly the challenges it presents for dialogue, development and decision-making in terms of theory, research and practice. These challenges are highlighted in reference to Rogers’ conceptualisation of a ‘New Integration’ of science and experience put forth in On Becoming a Person. An abridged explanation of critical realism is offered before considering critical realism’s application to the person-centred approach. The author demonstrates critical realism’s use in formulating congruence theoretically, providing robust frameworks for research that can generate knowledge without assuming the role of expert, allowing critical reflexivity on socio-cultural contexts of theory, and offering holding, developmental frameworks for practitioners and trainees.
Original languageEnglish
JournalPerson-Centered and Experiential Psychotherapies
Early online date21 Dec 2023
DOIs
Publication statusE-pub ahead of print - 21 Dec 2023

Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)

  • person-centred approach
  • critical realism
  • psychotherapy
  • congruence
  • ontology
  • theory

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