"Are you a humanist?"
I hate it when this question is asked. Someone asked me this on placement, and people have been asked it in class a few times.
I don't want to say 'yes' but I feel like I can't say 'no', in case the person asking recoils in horror and assumes I am therefore a judgmental selfish person-hating dictator. Which I am not. I just can't get particularly excited about humanism or Rogers.
When you read Rogers it all sounds very nice. But then you start thinking about real life, and if it is even possible to have an unconditional positive regard.
And I always wonder how you can really be congruent - I think i did this better before I started the course, when I was a volunteer and no-one expected me to be 'professional'. So I was just me. But when doing the practicals on this course, I am definitely 'acting the part' a little.
And we don't even get to wear our own clothes! We get told to come looking 'smart'. I am never normally a 'smart' kind of person. How can we be congruent when we are dressed up to portray just how 'professional' we are? How can we say we are without facade when our assessors purposefully carry briefcases?
Apart from these concerns, I always get a bit 'stuck' with Rogers in terms of why it is specifically a counselling technique.
Should we not, if we want to be 'good eggs', try to be like this all the time, and not just when we are at work? Can you be/try to be a good egg when at work, if you aren't/don't try to be a good egg out of work?
I think I am a humanist-type person in general. But I wouldn't say I am A humanist. I'm just a good egg.
Inspiration from Graduation!
16 years ago
Interesting comments, especially about the clothes!I don't think there's anything wrong in saying you are not a humanist Gemma! We should embrace diversity, "we have to agree to differ, truth isn't easily determined" is one of the key points from a recent lecture! I think there's something for us all to take away from the humanistic, Carl Rogers approach - empathy, unconditional positive regard and I too identify with some of these aspects but I relate more to a postmodern, constructivist approach which accepts chaos and uncertainty and we all live in realities of our own constructs.
ReplyDeleteI love that, Gemma! You ARE a good egg! - and don't have to put on a facade.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure Rogers was a good egg, too. Not perfect, as none of us are. But, then, neither are any of our clients! I don't think Rogers ever expected anyone to feel - or communicate - his 'core conditions' 100% It just isn't possible - or necessary, I'm sure, to be able to help someone.
Gemma, I think that your comments are fair with regards Rodgers and Humanist approach. I think that due to the rapid changing environment which we exist, theories and models has developed in response to the rapid growth in society and in demand for counselling, hence post-modern theories....remember at the beginging of the course Grant siad we are training to be good, friendly people! In all good eggs!
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