The aim of person-centred therapy is to provide Jane with a setting that is safe and encouraging for investigating her wellbeing

The aim of person-centred therapy is to provide Jane with a setting that is safe and encouraging for investigating her wellbeing (Rennie 1998). Person centred therapy assures that Jane can recognize all the issues that she may face in her emotive psychological development. This therapy also allows Jane to realise traits of self-worthiness that had been elusive during her past (Tudor & Worrall 2006). Whereas the aim of cognitive behavioural therapy to assist Jane to become aware of her negative thoughts and behaviours and to develop different ways of thinking which will reduce her overall psychological distress (Beck A & Weishaar, M 1995). It is these differing foundational theories that make each therapy distinct. Both person-centred therapy and cognitive behavioural therapy offer support and help Jane by tackling matters individualistically (Seligman, M. 2006). Both theories have wellbeing betterment as the common therapeutic goal (Corey, 2005). The two models of counselling have clearly independent uses but equally may be suitable in a combined approach with Janes problems. Cognitive behavioural therapy has the advantage of being time limited and structured whereas person centred therapy offers a more open-ended timescale (Corsini & Wedding 2000). These similarities in the modalities has gained interest for a combined approach to person-centred therapy and cognitive behavioural therapy however more research would be needed to understand the roles of the different therapies (Moon, 2006). Furthermore, the clear difference is, in person centred therapy, it is Jane, as the client who is capable and able to find her own way to solve her issues, while cognitive behavioural therapy the counsellor is the guide and leads Jane to support her in solving her issues (Branaman, 2001). With the cognitive behavioural therapy modality, the counsellor would initially collect as much information as possible about Jane, why she is seeing a counsellor and how she currently feels. Give an explanation of how cognitive behavioural therapy will work and expectations of both the counsellor and Jane. Answer any questions Jane may have. Start by exploring Jane’s thoughts, behaviours and physical sensations and how they interact, this will assist in highlighting any negative or pointless behaviours which may be causing the depression (Beck, Rush, Shaw, ; Emery 1979). By concentrating on the behaviours that will be easiest to change first will allow Jane to see how small changes in her thinking can have a big effect on her overall disposition. By setting some manageable goals, for example, going out to dinner with close friends or family, will help Jane to be comfortable leaving the house, or starting a yoga class, where she will have the opportunity to meet new people (Corsini ; Wedding, 2000). Checking in with her negative views and question the evidence that support these beliefs. There may be more pragmatic ways to look at her issues and will allow Jane to explore her beliefs (Beck, Rush, Shaw ; Emery, 1979). Cognitive behavioural therapy makes the assumption that behavioural and emotional issues Jane has are due to her inadvertently incorporating faulty thought processes (Dryden ; Bond 2000). Cognitive behavioural therapy adopts the belief that individual reasoning affects the way in which Jane functions. The counselling sessions are therefore concentrating on the perception and behaviour of Jane (Ingram ; Siegle 2000). During cognitive behavioural therapy, it is important to concentrate on making decisions, and questioning thought processes, and assuming that the counselling process will include learning new methods to assist Jane to cope with some of her psychological and emotional issues. (Corey 2009, Stallard 2002).
By facilitating Jane’s trust and her ability to be in the present moment may allow her to be comfortable in entering the person-centred therapy process (Corey, 2005). Jane is keen to get on with her life, maybe start a new relationship and the counsellor can guide Jane’s self-awareness and self-esteem to encourage her to change her negative thought processes (Rogers,1961). By creating an environment that allows the process of self-awareness may allow Jane to manage her life and become more authentic. The use of open questions, paraphrasing, reflection of feelings and encouragers may allow Jane to see her issues in a more positive light as it focuses on her and her feelings (Seligman, 2006). By exploring her potential and having a sense of capability and autonomy may give her the ability to restart her career as a nurse (Seligman, 2006). As Jane is in charge of the direction her counselling sessions will go, the counsellor attitude and personal characteristics will determine how successful this process may be (Corey, 2005). For the counsellor to integrate themselves in the relationship with Jane will require acceptance and genuine care as Jane may have feelings of helplessness and an inability to make decisions, for example thinking she is too old to restart her nursing career whereas cognitive behavioural therapy focuses on human thoughts (Grazebrook ; Garland 2005). Jane finds it difficult to meet new people and becomes anxious leaving home for long periods. This may be as a result of spending much of her time at home caring for her mother and raising her children and not having time to devote to own self-care. By allowing Jane a sense of stability and assurance to explore her thoughts and understand them, and encouraging her to change these negative notions can provide her with a better understanding of herself (Beck ; Emery, 1979). The counsellor can guide Jane to try new interpretations of these thoughts and alter her thinking. Cognitive behavioural therapy outlines three forms of negative thoughts or cognitive triads that are usually associated with depression. These are a negative view of self, the world and the future and these thoughts interfere with normal emotional function and as is the result in Janes case, becoming a negative frame of reference for her or a negative self-schema (Beck,1967). There has most often been a significant event in the person’s life that contributes to a negative schema (Beck, 1967) and for Jane it may well be the tragedy of the car accident that resulted in her losing her father and permanently injuring her mother.
Jane may feel that her life has no purpose and most likely has low self-esteem. For Jane, the person-centred therapy emphasises the quality of the client counsellor bond (Rogers, 1961) and accepts Jane as a good person and that she has the ability to resolve her own problems. This more considerate approach may work well with Jane and allow her to be comfortable in telling her story. She has spent more than twenty years raising her children, managing a marriage and devoting herself full time to caring for her mother. Person centred therapy is a non-directive and positive therapy that focuses on Jane herself (Rennie, 1998). By helping Jane see and understand how much she has actually achieved in her life, will help her realise that she is capable of setting her own goals and craft the decisions which will allow her to delve into her own desires and make positive decisions (Rogers, 1961). Jane may be experiencing an inconsistency between the way she sees herself, the way she would like to see herself and the actuality of her situation and it is important that the counsellor’s input is to assist Jane to reach balance and optimism in her life through congruence, unconditional positive regard and empathy and keeping the focus on Jane’s journey. Her ability to accept herself will flourish as she becomes aware that the counsellor has genuine regard for her (Tudor & Worrall 2006).
In conclusion, both of these modalities can benefit Jane with her depression, cognitive behavioural therapy focuses on the issues, present problems and thinking practises that Jane might have (Beck, Rush, Shaw, & Emery, 1979) and Jane can recognise the pattern of negative thoughts and work towards healthier behaviour and thinking by setting goals that are achievable and start living a more fulfilled life, whereas person-centred therapy is a less structured, positive therapy that concentrates on Janes ability to implement changes in her life and encourages her to strive for self-realisation (Corey, 2005). Both modalities understand that Jane does not have to live her life based on decisions from her past experiences but realise that she is capable of making her own future. Furthermore, both theories work toward improving Janes wellbeing by building an authentic therapeutic relationship with the counsellor George & Cristiani, 1995). Either modality works well when there is motivation for change (Seligman, 2006). The biggest contrast between two approaches is that the relationship between clients and counsellor digress, for example within cognitive behavioural therapy where the counsellor guides the client with direction and homework which aids in acquiring new behaviours and thoughts whereas in the person-centred therapy the relationship between the counsellor and client is critical because it is the client that guides the direction of the relationship (Timulak 2005). The decision is difficult as both modalities offer Jane, a genuine chance to change her mental wellbeing and how she lives her life. Corey (2005), states person centred therapy is as effective as cognitive behavioural therapy.