Klientenzentrierte Gesprächspsychotherapie der Depression

Abstract

Philosophical and phenomenological-existentialistic basics of humanististic psychology form the roots of client centered therapy. The actualizing tendency of the self, the concept of differential incongruence and the self in its unfolding and growth, are essential terms of the client centered model of personality and illness. They lead to the general criteria of indication for this method. Specific indication for client centered therapy for depressive patients results from the experiencing of incongruity between the image of self and the expectations regarding relations to others. One important source of insight and therefore overcoming of the pathological process of maladjustment, is the actualizing tendency of the self, which allows the unfolding process of the self and which brings along the correction of the self-image. According to the process oriented model of client centered therapy (Swildens) this process is divided into different phases: stagnation-, pre-motivation-, syndrome-, conflict- and existential-phase, which is followed by the ending and farewell phase of therapy. In all phases the therapeutic basic variables empathic understanding, acceptance (and positive emotional regard) as well as congruency (authenticity) are important for offering a therapeutic relationship. A combination of this therapeutic relationship with behavioral interventions is oriented toward the clients needs and can improve a quicker step-by-step, task oriented reintegration into the social system of the client.

Keywords:

Client-centered therapy, basic variables, humanistic psychology, general and specific indication, congruence vs. incongruence, depression, process conception of therapy, combination of methods