Dinner with Carl Rogers by Cameron

Dinner with Carl Rogers by Cameron - February 2016 Scholarship Essay

Throughout the course of time many great and noble characters have made vital advances for the human race. Among these characters are leaders in military, those leading advances in science and philosophy, and those spearheading change for human rights and equality. But from this vast list of notable persons I would choose to have dinner Carl Rogers, the father of client-centered therapy. He would be my first choice because of his role in developing the field in which I am most interested.

Carl Rogers was a key figure in the development of modern counseling theory. He pioneered his own movement for the development of a humanistic approach to counseling through the use of client-centered therapy. This approach involved methods that are catered to the client and allowed them to receive the attention and the treatment that is necessary for their situation. He believed that each person has the tendency to learn and to grow as an individual. Once he developed this concept he then instituted a method in which he would engage with clients and display unconditional positive regard. He would show this positive regard by reflecting back to the client what they are saying, this acts to affirm their thoughts and feelings by hearing someone else repeat back to them what they are saying and feeling.

I would certainly seize the chance to go back in history to sit down and share a meal with this leader in the field of Counseling Psychology. There are many topics that I would like to bring up with Rogers. The first question I would ask him would be about what attracted him to this field. This would prove helpful to me as I am currently exploring my own interests in counseling. I would like to know what was his main counseling demographic. This would help me determine what type of counselor I would like to become in the future.

I also would like to speak with him about his personality theories to hear directly from him about his thoughts and feelings about this field and his theory. I would also like to know the direction he was going in the field and what research opportunities he would like to pursue. This knowledge would be useful for me when I get into the field. I would then be able to continue his work and further develop his theory. This would be a great opportunity for me to be well known in the field and to have a major impact in the way counseling is practiced and how it is perceived.

I would choose Rogers over any other counseling psychologist/theorist because of his counseling approach. Many other figures, such as Freud or Jung, have a very restricted view of the client’s role to institute change in their situation. Rogers on the other hand saw himself like more of a guide to help the client bring about change in their own lives. He believed that client alone held the power to change and that they just needed assistance and the positive regard to take steps to see the change carried out. To me this seems like a much more appealing approach to counseling.

I believe that having dinner with Carl Rogers would help me greatly in determining my direction in counseling and would help me advance in the field. To me he stands far above the other counselors and theorists in history. And if all else fails, I know that he would be a good listener and if I was experiencing any life issues at the time I know that he would be able to help sort out my problems!