Comparative Essay On Psychoanalytic Therapy and Person-Centered Therapy

Running Head: THEORIES OF COUNSELLING 1
Comparative Essay On Psychoanalytic Therapy and Person-Centered Therapy
Counseling Theories
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THEORIES OF COUNSELLING 2
Introduction
Psychoanalytic therapy is a counseling theory which is based on the theories of Sigmund
Freud. The author is one of the forefathers of psychology. He is believed to be the founder of
psychoanalysis and in his approach, he tries to analyse how the mind which is not conscious
affects the behavior of individuals. This means the theory analyses the primary experiences of
an individual starting from childhood, to evaluate if the behavior the person possesses has
contributed to the current concerns. While the person-centered therapy was formulated by Carl
Rogers and in this approach, the therapy uses a non-authoritative approach which allows an
individual seeking for help to contribute more in the discussion so that in the process both will
discover the solutions of his or her problem (Marmor, 2018). In this approach, the therapist acts
as the facilitator who solves the problem by talking to the individual. Moreover, the facilitator
helps the client so that they can move in the same direction. In the paper, the differences and the
similarities of these two counseling theories will be discussed.
The two theories have some contrasts which include; in psychoanalytic therapy the
founder Sigmund Freud expressed his views on the deterministic view of an individual by stating
that the role played in childhood development in the individuals determines his or her personality
in development. While in the theory developed by Carl Rogers the person-centered therapy has
an opposing view which is considered to be more optimistic. The theory asserts that each role of
an individual lies in a positive centre in that every individual strives for growth and personal
fulfilment in life (Nye, 2018).
The theories also vary on the interpretations of human nature. In that, they both establish
different roles in their mode of practice. this means they both differ in the goals they establish. In
psychoanalytic therapy, its main goal is to establish light to the people who are unconscious in

THEORIES OF COUNSELLING 3
their thoughts. This means the psychoanalytic therapists assume that every individual should
behave in a neutral way (Hogan, 2015). Moreover, the therapist acts as an interpreter and
employs various techniques which deal away with unconsciousness hence making an individual
to behave in the right manner. On the other hand, the goal of the person-centered therapy is to
create a calm environment which allows the client to actualize the growth. The person-centered
therapist creates an environment which makes both client and the therapist be equal meaning that
in this theory the therapist does not hold any role. In these they understand their three
characteristics which include being genuine and honest with themselves, learn to accept their
clients positively and have empathic and show compassion to their clients (Horvath, 2018).
It is also evident that psychoanalytic therapy assumes the role of post-developmental of
an individual with the issue. Hence this means there are limited therapies to follow up. On the
other hand, person-centered therapy plays a significant role in the client by following up to the
proceedings and hence making the individual has experienced a change in her life. The
psychoanalytic therapy uses the new therapeutic approach which its main goal is to utilize time
and also the cost and also taking care of the inner psyche (Tolan and Cameron, 2016). While in
the person-centered therapy it uses the multicultural perspective which is widely used and uses
some cultural techniques so that the issues will be solved by the therapists. In the psychoanalytic
therapy, it offers a non-directive stance hence this means the therapist may not offer enough
guidance to the client while the person-centered therapy is asserted by many because it offers the
key therapeutic conditions of empathy and also the therapist offers the essential care needed by
the clients. The mode of approach in the two theories differs in that in the psychoanalytic therapy
Freud uses the deterministic approach while in the person-centered therapy carl rogers uses
humanistic approach (Joseph, 2015).