308 Part III Humanistic/Existential Theories
They begin to develop unconditional self-regard, which means that they have a feel-
ing of genuine caring and affection for the person they are becoming.
An interesting concomitant to this stage is a physiological loosening. These
people experience their whole organismic self, as their muscles relax, tears flow,
circulation improves, and physical symptoms disappear.
In many ways, Stage 6 signals an end to therapy. Indeed, if therapy were to
be terminated at this point, clients would still progress to the next level.
Stage 7 can occur outside the therapeutic encounter, because growth at Stage 6
seems to be irreversible. Clients who reach Stage 7 become fully functioning
“persons of tomorrow” (a concept more fully explained in the section titled The
Person of Tomorrow). They are able to generalize their in-therapy experiences to
their world beyond therapy. They possess the confidence to be themselves at all
times, to own and to feel deeply the totality of their experiences, and to live those
experiences in the present. Their organismic self, now unified with the self- concept,
becomes the locus for evaluating their experiences. People at Stage 7 receive plea-
sure in knowing that these evaluations are fluid and that change and growth will
continue. In addition, they become congruent, possess unconditional positive self-
regard, and are able to be loving and empathic toward others.Theoretical Explanation for Therapeutic Change
What theoretical formulation can explain the dynamics of therapeutic change?
Rogers’ (1980) explanation follows this line of reasoning. When persons come to
experience themselves as prized and unconditionally accepted, they realize, perhaps
for the first time, that they are lovable. The example of the therapist enables them
to prize and accept themselves, to have unconditional positive self-regard. As cli-
ents perceive that they are empathically understood, they are freed to listen to
themselves more accurately, to have empathy for their own feelings. As a conse-
quence, when these persons come to prize themselves and to accurately understand
themselves, their perceived self becomes more congruent with their organismic
experiences. They now possess the same three therapeutic characteristics as any
effective helper, and in effect, they become their own therapist.Outcomes
If the process of therapeutic change is set in motion, then certain observable out-
comes can be expected. The most basic outcome of successful client-centered
therapy is a congruent client who is less defensive and more open to experience.
Each of the remaining outcomes is a logical extension of this basic one.
As a result of being more congruent and less defensive, clients have a clearer
picture of themselves and a more realistic view of the world. They are better able
to assimilate experiences into the self on the symbolic level; they are more effec-
tive in solving problems; and they have a higher level of positive self-regard.
Being realistic, they have a more accurate view of their potentials, which
permits them to narrow the gap between self-ideal and real self. Typically, this gap
is narrowed because both the ideal self and the true self show some movement.
Because clients are more realistic, they lower their expectations of what they
should be or would like to be; and because they have an increase in positive self-
regard, they raise their view of what they really are.