The Impact of Illegal Drugs on Intimacy and Expression:

The Impact of Illegal Drugs on Intimacy and Expression:

“The use of illegal drugs could result in death.”

That’s a rich and layered topic — illegal drugs can have complex and sometimes paradoxical effects on intimacy and expression, depending on the substance, the context, and the individuals involved.

Here’s a breakdown of the psychological and emotional dynamics at play:

Short-Term Effects (Perceived Enhancements)

Some illegal substances are known to increase feelings of intimacy, connection, and emotional openness in the short term:

1. MDMA (Ecstasy/Molly)

Increases empathy, trust, and emotional vulnerability.

Often described as creating a “heart-open” state.

Can temporarily dissolve emotional walls between partners or within group settings.

Users report increased verbal and non-verbal emotional expression.

2. Cannabis

Enhances sensory perception and emotional introspection.

Some users experience heightened sexual pleasure and emotional bonding.

But can also cause anxiety or disconnection depending on mindset.

3. Psychedelics (LSD, Psilocybin)

Can foster deep, spiritual connection with others.

Breaks down ego boundaries — leads to feelings of unity and love.

However, the experience can be unpredictable and emotionally raw.

Long-Term & Negative Effects

Despite initial perceived benefits, prolonged or repeated use of illegal drugs tends to disrupt true intimacy and authentic emotional expression. Here’s how:

1. Dependency & Avoidance

Drugs can become a substitute for emotional labor and communication.

Users may avoid vulnerability, relying instead on chemical shortcuts to feel connected.

2. Emotional Dysregulation

Long-term use often leads to mood swings, detachment, or emotional numbness.

Neurochemical imbalances (especially serotonin and dopamine depletion) can impair empathy and expression.

3. Distrust & Isolation

In relationships, drug use may introduce secrecy, broken trust, or betrayal.

Over time, this erodes emotional safety — vital for true intimacy.

4. Physical and Psychological Side Effects

Decreased libido, anxiety, paranoia, or depressive symptoms.

These can make healthy intimacy feel inaccessible or unsafe.

Psychological Perspective on Expression

Expression isn’t just about speaking or acting — it’s about being authentically known.

Drug-induced expression can feel profound, but often lacks integration into daily, sober reality.

Over time, genuine emotional expression may become suppressed as drug use replaces personal growth or inner work.

From a Parapsychological Angle?

If we stretch into transpersonal psychology or parapsychology, drug use may:

Open non-ordinary states of consciousness that mimic mystical or intimate experiences.

But these openings, if not earned through personal development, can be unstable or misleading.

True intimacy might require spiritual maturity, NOT chemical enhancement.

“The use of illegal drugs could result in death.”

Shervan K Shahhian

The Mental Health Impact of Unidentified Aerial Vehicles:

The Mental Health Impact of Unidentified Aerial Vehicles:

The presence and increasing awareness of Unidentified Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), often associated with unidentified flying objects (UFOs) or Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAPs), can have significant mental health implications, both individually and collectively.

Here are some key aspects of its impact:

1. Anxiety and Fear

  • Many people experience fear and anxiety due to the unknown nature of UAVs/UAPs. The idea that they could be extraterrestrial or beyond human control can trigger existential distress.
  • Witnesses of UAP encounters may develop paranoia or heightened vigilance, fearing government surveillance, alien abduction, or secret military experiments.

2. Psychological Distress in Witnesses

  • People who claim to have seen a UAP often report feelings of isolation, disbelief from others, and difficulty processing their experience.
  • Some witnesses suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)-like symptoms, including flashbacks, nightmares, and social withdrawal.

3. Cognitive Dissonance and Worldview Disruption

  • The idea that mainstream science, governments, and institutions may be hiding or suppressing UAP information creates cognitive dissonance for some individuals.
  • Those deeply invested in materialistic or religious worldviews may struggle with integrating UAP phenomena into their existing belief systems, leading to existential crises.

4. Obsession and Paranoia

  • Some individuals become obsessed with uncovering the truth about UAPs, leading to compulsive research, conspiracy thinking, and paranoia.
  • Excessive focus on the phenomenon can result in social withdrawal and neglect of everyday responsibilities.

5. The Role of Disclosure and Media Influence

  • Official government acknowledgment of UAPs can validate concerns but also cause widespread uncertainty and fear.
  • Sensationalized media coverage can amplify hysteria, while secrecy fuels speculation and mistrust in institutions.

6. Spiritual and Psychological Awakening

  • On a more positive note, some people experience a sense of expanded consciousness, feeling that UAP encounters or knowledge about them open the door to greater cosmic awareness.
  • This can lead to personal growth, deeper philosophical inquiry, and a shift in perspective about humanity’s place in the universe.

Shervan K Shahhian

Parapsychology and Operational Remote Viewing:

Parapsychology and Operational Remote Viewing:

Parapsychology and Operational Remote Viewing (ORV) are intriguing topics often situated at the intersection of scientific exploration and fringe science.

Here’s an overview of both:

Parapsychology

Parapsychology is the study of phenomena that fall outside the bounds of conventional scientific explanation, commonly referred to as psi phenomena. These phenomena are typically categorized as:

  1. Extrasensory Perception (ESP):
  • Telepathy: Mind-to-mind communication.
  • Clairvoyance: Gaining information about a distant or unseen object/event.
  • Precognition: Foreknowledge of events before they occur.
  1. Psychokinesis (PK): The ability to influence physical objects or systems using the mind.
  2. Survival Studies: Research into life after death, including investigations into near-death experiences (NDEs), reincarnation, and apparitions.

While parapsychology is studied in academic contexts and by organizations like the Rhine Research Center and the Parapsychological Association, it remains controversial due to challenges in replicability, methodology, and skepticism from the broader scientific community.

Operational Remote Viewing (ORV)

Remote viewing is a specific form of ESP that involves the purported ability to perceive or describe distant or unseen targets without using the normal senses or prior knowledge. Operational Remote Viewing refers to its applied use, often for practical purposes such as gathering intelligence.

Historical Context

  • Remote viewing gained prominence through programs and government-funded Projects. This program, run by some Intelligence organizations, investigated the potential for psychic abilities in intelligence gathering during the Cold War.
  • While declassified documents suggest some intriguing results, critics argue the evidence is anecdotal, statistically weak, or due to chance.

Methodology

Remote viewers are often trained in protocols to enhance their abilities, including:

  1. Controlled Focus: Techniques to manage distractions.
  2. Blind Targeting: Viewers are given minimal information about the target to prevent bias.
  3. Feedback Loop: Comparing the viewer’s impressions to actual data to refine skills.

Applications

  • Intelligence and reconnaissance.
  • Locating missing persons or objects.
  • Creative problem-solving or innovation.

Scientific and Skeptical Perspectives

  • Supporters argue that certain experiments demonstrate statistically significant psi phenomena, pointing to studies with high methodological rigor (e.g., those by physicists Hal Puthoff and Russell Targ at Stanford Research Institute).
  • Critics often highlight issues like methodological flaws, lack of replication, confirmation bias, and the absence of a plausible mechanism.

Current Status

Both fields attract ongoing research and interest from private organizations, defense sectors, and individuals. However, mainstream science remains cautious due to the extraordinary nature of the claims and the difficulty in meeting rigorous standards of evidence.

Shervan K Shahhian

How to Manage and Cope with Psychological War Mind Games:

How to Manage and Cope with Psychological War Mind Games:

Psychological warfare or “mind games” can be mentally exhausting and disruptive, whether they’re encountered in personal relationships, professional settings, or broader contexts like social or political manipulation.

Here are strategies for managing and coping effectively:

1. Understand the Tactics

  • Identify Manipulation: Recognize common mind games, such as gaslighting, guilt-tripping, passive-aggression, or misinformation.
  • Stay Educated: Learn about psychological manipulation techniques to spot them quickly and understand their intent.

2. Strengthen Your Emotional Resilience

  • Practice Emotional Regulation: Use mindfulness, meditation, or breathing exercises to stay calm under pressure.
  • Build Confidence: A strong sense of self-worth makes it harder for others to manipulate you.
  • Seek Support: Talk to trusted friends, family, or a therapist to gain perspective and emotional strength.

3. Establish Clear Boundaries

  • Know Your Limits: Be clear about what you will and won’t tolerate.
  • Communicate Assertively: Use “I” statements to express your boundaries without aggression (e.g., “I feel uncomfortable when…”).
  • Reinforce Boundaries: Consistently uphold your limits, even if the manipulator tests them.

4. Stay Rational and Grounded

  • Focus on Facts: Separate emotions from facts and make decisions based on evidence, not emotional provocation.
  • Avoid Overreacting: Reacting emotionally can give manipulators leverage; stay composed.
  • Document Patterns: Keep track of events and behaviors, especially in work or legal contexts.

5. Detach and Protect Yourself

  • Limit Interaction: Reduce contact with individuals or groups that persistently play mind games.
  • Stay Private: Share less personal information to reduce vulnerabilities.
  • Avoid Retaliation: Escalating the conflict often plays into the manipulator’s strategy.

6. Develop a Strong Support Network

  • Surround Yourself with Allies: Build relationships with people who support and affirm you.
  • Seek Professional Guidance: A therapist, coach, or mentor can provide strategies to navigate manipulation.

7. Use Critical Thinking

  • Question the Motive: Ask yourself, “What does this person want me to believe or do?”
  • Evaluate Credibility: Assess whether the source of information or behavior is trustworthy.
  • Take Time to Respond: Don’t rush decisions or reactions; deliberate carefully.

8. Prioritize Self-Care

  • Maintain Physical Health: Exercise, eat well, and sleep adequately to build resilience.
  • Engage in Enjoyable Activities: Pursue hobbies or activities that bring you joy and relaxation.
  • Practice Gratitude: Focus on what’s positive in your life to counteract negativity.

9. Confront When Necessary

  • Call Out Behavior: If appropriate, calmly and assertively address the manipulator’s tactics.
  • Seek Resolution: Engage in constructive dialogue if the relationship is worth salvaging.

10. Know When to Walk Away

  • Cut Toxic Ties: If the manipulation persists, consider distancing yourself permanently.
  • Protect Your Energy: Prioritize your well-being over maintaining toxic relationships or environments.

Coping with psychological warfare requires a mix of self-awareness, strategic action, and support. Over time, these practices can help you build the mental strength to neutralize mind games effectively.

Shervan K Shahhian

Parapsychology and Memory Phenomena:

Parapsychology and Memory Phenomena:

Parapsychology and memory phenomena intersect in intriguing ways, particularly in the context of anomalous experiences and memory-related processes.

Here’s an overview of how they are related:

1. Parapsychology and its Focus

Parapsychology is the study of phenomena that appear to lie outside the boundaries of conventional scientific understanding, often involving experiences like:

  • Extrasensory perception (ESP), such as telepathy, clairvoyance, and precognition.
  • Psychokinesis, or the ability to influence physical systems without physical interaction.
  • Survival phenomena, such as near-death experiences (NDEs), reincarnation, and ghost sightings.

Memory plays a crucial role in many of these phenomena, as they often rely on personal accounts, recollections, or reported experiences.

2. Memory Phenomena in Parapsychological Contexts

Several aspects of memory are particularly relevant:

a) False Memory and Misremembering

  • Many parapsychological experiences are reported after the fact, making them susceptible to false memories or misremembering.
  • Psychological studies show how memory is reconstructive, meaning people may unintentionally distort or embellish experiences.

b) Hypnotic Regression

  • Hypnotic regression is sometimes used to uncover “past lives” or suppressed memories.
  • Critics argue that hypnosis can lead to the creation of false memories due to suggestion.

c) Déjà Vu

  • Déjà vu is often interpreted in parapsychology as evidence of precognition or reincarnation, though it may also be explained by neurological glitches in memory processing.

d) Collective Memory and Shared Experiences

  • In ghost sightings or ESP phenomena, people in groups sometimes report remarkably similar details, raising questions about the role of collective memory or social influence.

3. Experimental Approaches

Researchers have attempted to bridge memory phenomena with parapsychology using experimental designs:

  • Ganzfeld Experiments: These test ESP under controlled conditions, where memory retrieval might play a role in recognizing transmitted information.
  • Reincarnation Studies: Often rely on children’s spontaneous recollections of “past lives,” examining how memory could retain or create these detailed narratives.
  • Remote Viewing: The ability to describe distant or unseen targets may involve a cognitive process linked to memory-like mechanisms.

4. Challenges in Study

  • Subjectivity: Most parapsychological phenomena are subjective, making them difficult to study using conventional scientific tools.
  • Confirmation Bias: Both researchers and participants may unintentionally influence outcomes based on their beliefs.
  • Reliability of Memory: Memory’s malleability can cast doubt on reports of anomalous experiences.

5. Neurological and Psychological Perspectives

Modern neuroscience and psychology offer alternative explanations for many parapsychological phenomena:

  • Memory Consolidation and Fragmentation: Paranormal experiences might emerge from fragmented memories or altered states of consciousness.
  • Cognitive Biases: Humans are prone to pattern recognition and apophenia, which may explain many reported paranormal experiences.
  • Sleep-Related Phenomena: Conditions like sleep paralysis or hypnagogic hallucinations often feel real and can create vivid, memorable experiences interpreted as paranormal.

Shervan K Shahhian

How to Manage and Cope with Psychological War Mind Games:

How to Manage and Cope with Psychological War Mind Games:

Psychological warfare or “mind games” can be mentally exhausting and disruptive, whether they’re encountered in personal relationships, professional settings, or broader contexts like social or political manipulation.

Here are strategies for managing and coping effectively:

1. Understand the Tactics

  • Identify Manipulation: Recognize common mind games, such as gaslighting, guilt-tripping, passive-aggression, or misinformation.
  • Stay Educated: Learn about psychological manipulation techniques to spot them quickly and understand their intent.

2. Strengthen Your Emotional Resilience

  • Practice Emotional Regulation: Use mindfulness, meditation, or breathing exercises to stay calm under pressure.
  • Build Confidence: A strong sense of self-worth makes it harder for others to manipulate you.
  • Seek Support: Talk to trusted friends, family, or a therapist to gain perspective and emotional strength.

3. Establish Clear Boundaries

  • Know Your Limits: Be clear about what you will and won’t tolerate.
  • Communicate Assertively: Use “I” statements to express your boundaries without aggression (e.g., “I feel uncomfortable when…”).
  • Reinforce Boundaries: Consistently uphold your limits, even if the manipulator tests them.

4. Stay Rational and Grounded

  • Focus on Facts: Separate emotions from facts and make decisions based on evidence, not emotional provocation.
  • Avoid Overreacting: Reacting emotionally can give manipulators leverage; stay composed.
  • Document Patterns: Keep track of events and behaviors, especially in work or legal contexts.

5. Detach and Protect Yourself

  • Limit Interaction: Reduce contact with individuals or groups that persistently play mind games.
  • Stay Private: Share less personal information to reduce vulnerabilities.
  • Avoid Retaliation: Escalating the conflict often plays into the manipulator’s strategy.

6. Develop a Strong Support Network

  • Surround Yourself with Allies: Build relationships with people who support and affirm you.
  • Seek Professional Guidance: A therapist, coach, or mentor can provide strategies to navigate manipulation.

7. Use Critical Thinking

  • Question the Motive: Ask yourself, “What does this person want me to believe or do?”
  • Evaluate Credibility: Assess whether the source of information or behavior is trustworthy.
  • Take Time to Respond: Don’t rush decisions or reactions; deliberate carefully.

8. Prioritize Self-Care

  • Maintain Physical Health: Exercise, eat well, and sleep adequately to build resilience.
  • Engage in Enjoyable Activities: Pursue hobbies or activities that bring you joy and relaxation.
  • Practice Gratitude: Focus on what’s positive in your life to counteract negativity.

9. Confront When Necessary

  • Call Out Behavior: If appropriate, calmly and assertively address the manipulator’s tactics.
  • Seek Resolution: Engage in constructive dialogue if the relationship is worth salvaging.

10. Know When to Walk Away

  • Cut Toxic Ties: If the manipulation persists, consider distancing yourself permanently.
  • Protect Your Energy: Prioritize your well-being over maintaining toxic relationships or environments.

Coping with psychological warfare requires a mix of self-awareness, strategic action, and support. Over time, these practices can help you build the mental strength to neutralize mind games effectively.

Shervan K Shahhian

Person-Centered Therapy:

Dr. Carl Rogers is known as one of thee greatest psychologist of the 20th century. Dr. Carl Rogers was a humanist thinker and believed that people are generally good.

Dr. Rogers also said that people are fundamentally good, or a need to fulfill their human potential and become the best that they can be.

Dr. Rogers called his technique non-directive therapy at the beginning. His aim was to be as non-directive as possible, he saw that psycho-therapists guide their clients even in some way. He also saw that clients mostly look to their therapists for some type of advice or direction.

What is Client-Centered Therapy:

Finally, the Dr. Rogers technique came to be known as Rogerian, client-centered therapy or person-centered therapy.

Dr. Rogers used the term client rather than patient. He thought that the term patient implied that the person is sick and seeking a cure from a therapist.

Dr. Rogers used the term client instead of patient, he emphasized the importance of the person in seeking help, controlling their future, and overcoming their problems. This self-direction is a important part in client-centered therapy.

Like psychoanalyst Dr. Freud , Dr. Rogers thought that the therapeutic interaction could find insights and lasting changes in clients. While Dr. Freud focused on giving interpretations of what he thought were the unconscious problems that led to a patients troubles, Dr. Rogers believed that the therapist should stay non-directive.

This is to say, the psycho-therapist should not direct the client, should not give judgments on the client’s feelings, and should not give suggestions or alternatives. Instead, the client should play an equal part in the therapeutic sessions.

How Does Client-Centered Therapy Works:

Psychology professionals who utilize this technique strive to create a therapeutic environment that is relaxing, empathic, and non-judgmental. 2 of these key elements of client-centered therapy are:

It’s non-directive. Therapists let clients lead the talk and do not try to direct the client in a certain direction.

It emphasizes unconditional positive regard. Therapists is completely accepting and supportive of their clients without judgment.

Three Key Qualities of Client-Centered Therapists:

What Is Genuineness?

The therapist needs to speak of his or her feelings honestly. By showing this behavior, the therapist can help show the client and to also help the client develop this important skill.

What Is Unconditional Positive Regard?

The therapist must understand the client for who they really are and show support and care for them no matter what the client is experiencing in their life. Dr. Rogers believed that humans often develop issues because they are used to only getting conditional help; being accepted only if the person conforms to certain expectations.

By creating an environment of unconditional positive regard, the client is able to speak his or her true feelings without fear of being turned down.

Dr. Rogers also explained: “Unconditional positive regard means that when the therapist is experiencing a positive, acceptant attitude toward whatever the client is at that moment, therapeutic movement or change is more likely. It involves the therapist’s willingness for the client to be whatever feeling is going on at that moment — confusion, resentment, fear, anger, courage, love, or pride…The therapist prizes the client in a total rather than a conditional way.”

What Is Empathetic Understanding?

The therapist needs to be reflective, meaning: acting as a mirror of the client’s thought and feelings. The goal of this technique is to allow the client to gain an open understanding of their own inner feelings, emotions and perceptions.

By showing these 3 characteristics, therapists can assist clients grow psychologically, become self-aware, and change his or her behavior by self-direction. In this type of therapeutic relationship, a client feels safe and free from judgment. Dr. Rogers believed that this type of environment allows clients to make a healthier view of the world and a less cloudy view of one self.

What Is Self-Concept:

Self-concept also an important part in person-centered therapy.

Dr. Rogers believed that self-concept as an organized set of beliefs and ideas about the self. The self-concept play an important role in determining not only how people see themselves, but also how they view and interact with the world around them.

Sometimes self-concept lines up well with reality, which Rogers referred to as congruence. In other cases, self-perceptions are sometimes unrealistic or not in tune with what exists in the real world. Rogers believed that all people distort reality to some degree, but when self-concept is in conflict with reality, incongruence can result.

For example, a young boy might perceive himself as a strong athlete, despite the fact that his actual performance on the field reveals that he is not particularly skilled and could use extra practice.

Through the process of person-centered therapy, Rogers believed that people could learn to adjust their self-concept in order to achieve congruence and a more realistic view of themselves and the world. For example, imagine a young woman who views herself as uninteresting and a poor conversationalist despite the fact that other people find her fascinating and quite engaging.

Because her self-perceptions are not congruent with reality, she may experience poor self-esteem as a result. The client-centered approach focuses on providing unconditional positive regard, empathy, and genuine support in order to help the client reach a more congruent view of herself

Role in Today’s Culture:

Actor Bob Newhart portrayed a therapist who utilized client-centered therapy on “The Bob Newhart Show” which aired from 1972 to 1978.

How Effective Is Client-Centered Therapy?

Several large-scale studies have shown that the three qualities that Rogers emphasized, genuineness, unconditional positive regard, and empathetic understanding, are all beneficial. However, some studies have suggested that these factors alone are not necessarily enough to promote lasting change in clients.4

One evaluation that looked at the effectiveness of person-centered therapy suggested that this approach was effective for individuals experiencing common mental health problems such as depression and anxiety, and may even be helpful to those experiencing more moderate to severe symptoms.

Shervan K Shahhian

Dr. Rogers:

Dr. Carl Rogers is known as one of thee greatest psychologist of the 20th century. Dr. Carl Rogers was a humanist thinker and believed that people are generally good.

Dr. Rogers also said that people are fundamentally good, or a need to fulfill their human potential and become the best that they can be.

Dr. Rogers called his technique non-directive therapy at the beginning. His aim was to be as non-directive as possible, he saw that psycho-therapists guide their clients even in some way. He also saw that clients mostly look to their therapists for some type of advice or direction.

What is Client-Centered Therapy:

Finally, the Dr. Rogers technique came to be known as Rogerian, client-centered therapy or person-centered therapy.

Dr. Rogers used the term client rather than patient. He thought that the term patient implied that the person is sick and seeking a cure from a therapist.

Dr. Rogers used the term client instead of patient, he emphasized the importance of the person in seeking help, controlling their future, and overcoming their problems. This self-direction is a important part in client-centered therapy.

Like psychoanalyst Dr. Freud , Dr. Rogers thought that the therapeutic interaction could find insights and lasting changes in clients. While Dr. Freud focused on giving interpretations of what he thought were the unconscious problems that led to a patients troubles, Dr. Rogers believed that the therapist should stay non-directive.

This is to say, the psycho-therapist should not direct the client, should not give judgments on the client’s feelings, and should not give suggestions or alternatives. Instead, the client should play an equal part in the therapeutic sessions.

How Does Client-Centered Therapy Works:

Psychology professionals who utilize this technique strive to create a therapeutic environment that is relaxing, empathic, and non-judgmental. 2 of these key elements of client-centered therapy are:

It’s non-directive. Therapists let clients lead the talk and do not try to direct the client in a certain direction.

It emphasizes unconditional positive regard. Therapists is completely accepting and supportive of their clients without judgment.

Three Key Qualities of Client-Centered Therapists:

What Is Genuineness?

The therapist needs to speak of his or her feelings honestly. By showing this behavior, the therapist can help show the client and to also help the client develop this important skill.

What Is Unconditional Positive Regard?

The therapist must understand the client for who they really are and show support and care for them no matter what the client is experiencing in their life. Dr. Rogers believed that humans often develop issues because they are used to only getting conditional help; being accepted only if the person conforms to certain expectations.

By creating an environment of unconditional positive regard, the client is able to speak his or her true feelings without fear of being turned down.

Dr. Rogers also explained: “Unconditional positive regard means that when the therapist is experiencing a positive, acceptant attitude toward whatever the client is at that moment, therapeutic movement or change is more likely. It involves the therapist’s willingness for the client to be whatever feeling is going on at that moment — confusion, resentment, fear, anger, courage, love, or pride…The therapist prizes the client in a total rather than a conditional way.”

What Is Empathetic Understanding?

The therapist needs to be reflective, meaning: acting as a mirror of the client’s thought and feelings. The goal of this technique is to allow the client to gain an open understanding of their own inner feelings, emotions and perceptions.

By showing these 3 characteristics, therapists can assist clients grow psychologically, become self-aware, and change his or her behavior by self-direction. In this type of therapeutic relationship, a client feels safe and free from judgment. Dr. Rogers believed that this type of environment allows clients to make a healthier view of the world and a less cloudy view of one self.

What Is Self-Concept:

Self-concept also an important part in person-centered therapy.

Dr. Rogers believed that self-concept as an organized set of beliefs and ideas about the self. The self-concept play an important role in determining not only how people see themselves, but also how they view and interact with the world around them.

Sometimes self-concept lines up well with reality, which Rogers referred to as congruence. In other cases, self-perceptions are sometimes unrealistic or not in tune with what exists in the real world. Rogers believed that all people distort reality to some degree, but when self-concept is in conflict with reality, incongruence can result.

For example, a young boy might perceive himself as a strong athlete, despite the fact that his actual performance on the field reveals that he is not particularly skilled and could use extra practice.

Through the process of person-centered therapy, Rogers believed that people could learn to adjust their self-concept in order to achieve congruence and a more realistic view of themselves and the world. For example, imagine a young woman who views herself as uninteresting and a poor conversationalist despite the fact that other people find her fascinating and quite engaging.

Because her self-perceptions are not congruent with reality, she may experience poor self-esteem as a result. The client-centered approach focuses on providing unconditional positive regard, empathy, and genuine support in order to help the client reach a more congruent view of herself

Role in Today’s Culture:

Actor Bob Newhart portrayed a therapist who utilized client-centered therapy on “The Bob Newhart Show” which aired from 1972 to 1978.

How Effective Is Client-Centered Therapy?

Several large-scale studies have shown that the three qualities that Rogers emphasized, genuineness, unconditional positive regard, and empathetic understanding, are all beneficial. However, some studies have suggested that these factors alone are not necessarily enough to promote lasting change in clients.4

One evaluation that looked at the effectiveness of person-centered therapy suggested that this approach was effective for individuals experiencing common mental health problems such as depression and anxiety, and may even be helpful to those experiencing more moderate to severe symptoms.

Shervan K Shahhian

Rogerian:

Dr. Carl Rogers is known as one of thee greatest psychologist of the 20th century. Dr. Carl Rogers was a humanist thinker and believed that people are generally good.

Dr. Rogers also said that people are fundamentally good, or a need to fulfill their human potential and become the best that they can be.

Dr. Rogers called his technique non-directive therapy at the beginning. His aim was to be as non-directive as possible, he saw that psycho-therapists guide their clients even in some way. He also saw that clients mostly look to their therapists for some type of advice or direction.

What is Client-Centered Therapy:

Finally, the Dr. Rogers technique came to be known as Rogerian, client-centered therapy or person-centered therapy.

Dr. Rogers used the term client rather than patient. He thought that the term patient implied that the person is sick and seeking a cure from a therapist.

Dr. Rogers used the term client instead of patient, he emphasized the importance of the person in seeking help, controlling their future, and overcoming their problems. This self-direction is a important part in client-centered therapy.

Like psychoanalyst Dr. Freud , Dr. Rogers thought that the therapeutic interaction could find insights and lasting changes in clients. While Dr. Freud focused on giving interpretations of what he thought were the unconscious problems that led to a patients troubles, Dr. Rogers believed that the therapist should stay non-directive.

This is to say, the psycho-therapist should not direct the client, should not give judgments on the client’s feelings, and should not give suggestions or alternatives. Instead, the client should play an equal part in the therapeutic sessions.

How Does Client-Centered Therapy Works:

Psychology professionals who utilize this technique strive to create a therapeutic environment that is relaxing, empathic, and non-judgmental. 2 of these key elements of client-centered therapy are:

It’s non-directive. Therapists let clients lead the talk and do not try to direct the client in a certain direction.

It emphasizes unconditional positive regard. Therapists is completely accepting and supportive of their clients without judgment.

Three Key Qualities of Client-Centered Therapists:

What Is Genuineness?

The therapist needs to speak of his or her feelings honestly. By showing this behavior, the therapist can help show the client and to also help the client develop this important skill.

What Is Unconditional Positive Regard?

The therapist must understand the client for who they really are and show support and care for them no matter what the client is experiencing in their life. Dr. Rogers believed that humans often develop issues because they are used to only getting conditional help; being accepted only if the person conforms to certain expectations.

By creating an environment of unconditional positive regard, the client is able to speak his or her true feelings without fear of being turned down.

Dr. Rogers also explained: “Unconditional positive regard means that when the therapist is experiencing a positive, acceptant attitude toward whatever the client is at that moment, therapeutic movement or change is more likely. It involves the therapist’s willingness for the client to be whatever feeling is going on at that moment — confusion, resentment, fear, anger, courage, love, or pride…The therapist prizes the client in a total rather than a conditional way.”

What Is Empathetic Understanding?

The therapist needs to be reflective, meaning: acting as a mirror of the client’s thought and feelings. The goal of this technique is to allow the client to gain an open understanding of their own inner feelings, emotions and perceptions.

By showing these 3 characteristics, therapists can assist clients grow psychologically, become self-aware, and change his or her behavior by self-direction. In this type of therapeutic relationship, a client feels safe and free from judgment. Dr. Rogers believed that this type of environment allows clients to make a healthier view of the world and a less cloudy view of one self.

What Is Self-Concept:

Self-concept also an important part in person-centered therapy.

Dr. Rogers believed that self-concept as an organized set of beliefs and ideas about the self. The self-concept play an important role in determining not only how people see themselves, but also how they view and interact with the world around them.

Sometimes self-concept lines up well with reality, which Rogers referred to as congruence. In other cases, self-perceptions are sometimes unrealistic or not in tune with what exists in the real world. Rogers believed that all people distort reality to some degree, but when self-concept is in conflict with reality, incongruence can result.

For example, a young boy might perceive himself as a strong athlete, despite the fact that his actual performance on the field reveals that he is not particularly skilled and could use extra practice.

Through the process of person-centered therapy, Rogers believed that people could learn to adjust their self-concept in order to achieve congruence and a more realistic view of themselves and the world. For example, imagine a young woman who views herself as uninteresting and a poor conversationalist despite the fact that other people find her fascinating and quite engaging.

Because her self-perceptions are not congruent with reality, she may experience poor self-esteem as a result. The client-centered approach focuses on providing unconditional positive regard, empathy, and genuine support in order to help the client reach a more congruent view of herself

Role in Today’s Culture:

Actor Bob Newhart portrayed a therapist who utilized client-centered therapy on “The Bob Newhart Show” which aired from 1972 to 1978.

How Effective Is Client-Centered Therapy?

Several large-scale studies have shown that the three qualities that Rogers emphasized, genuineness, unconditional positive regard, and empathetic understanding, are all beneficial. However, some studies have suggested that these factors alone are not necessarily enough to promote lasting change in clients.4

One evaluation that looked at the effectiveness of person-centered therapy suggested that this approach was effective for individuals experiencing common mental health problems such as depression and anxiety, and may even be helpful to those experiencing more moderate to severe symptoms.

Shervan K Shahhian

Non-Directive Therapy:

Dr. Carl Rogers is known as one of thee greatest psychologist of the 20th century. Dr. Carl Rogers was a humanist thinker and believed that people are generally good.

Dr. Rogers also said that people are fundamentally good, or a need to fulfill their human potential and become the best that they can be.

Dr. Rogers called his technique non-directive therapy at the beginning. His aim was to be as non-directive as possible, he saw that psycho-therapists guide their clients even in some way. He also saw that clients mostly look to their therapists for some type of advice or direction.

What is Client-Centered Therapy:

Finally, the Dr. Rogers technique came to be known as Rogerian, client-centered therapy or person-centered therapy.

Dr. Rogers used the term client rather than patient. He thought that the term patient implied that the person is sick and seeking a cure from a therapist.

Dr. Rogers used the term client instead of patient, he emphasized the importance of the person in seeking help, controlling their future, and overcoming their problems. This self-direction is a important part in client-centered therapy.

Like psychoanalyst Dr. Freud , Dr. Rogers thought that the therapeutic interaction could find insights and lasting changes in clients. While Dr. Freud focused on giving interpretations of what he thought were the unconscious problems that led to a patients troubles, Dr. Rogers believed that the therapist should stay non-directive.

This is to say, the psycho-therapist should not direct the client, should not give judgments on the client’s feelings, and should not give suggestions or alternatives. Instead, the client should play an equal part in the therapeutic sessions.

How Does Client-Centered Therapy Works:

Psychology professionals who utilize this technique strive to create a therapeutic environment that is relaxing, empathic, and non-judgmental. 2 of these key elements of client-centered therapy are:

It’s non-directive. Therapists let clients lead the talk and do not try to direct the client in a certain direction.

It emphasizes unconditional positive regard. Therapists is completely accepting and supportive of their clients without judgment.

Three Key Qualities of Client-Centered Therapists:

What Is Genuineness?

The therapist needs to speak of his or her feelings honestly. By showing this behavior, the therapist can help show the client and to also help the client develop this important skill.

What Is Unconditional Positive Regard?

The therapist must understand the client for who they really are and show support and care for them no matter what the client is experiencing in their life. Dr. Rogers believed that humans often develop issues because they are used to only getting conditional help; being accepted only if the person conforms to certain expectations.

By creating an environment of unconditional positive regard, the client is able to speak his or her true feelings without fear of being turned down.

Dr. Rogers also explained: “Unconditional positive regard means that when the therapist is experiencing a positive, acceptant attitude toward whatever the client is at that moment, therapeutic movement or change is more likely. It involves the therapist’s willingness for the client to be whatever feeling is going on at that moment — confusion, resentment, fear, anger, courage, love, or pride…The therapist prizes the client in a total rather than a conditional way.”

What Is Empathetic Understanding?

The therapist needs to be reflective, meaning: acting as a mirror of the client’s thought and feelings. The goal of this technique is to allow the client to gain an open understanding of their own inner feelings, emotions and perceptions.

By showing these 3 characteristics, therapists can assist clients grow psychologically, become self-aware, and change his or her behavior by self-direction. In this type of therapeutic relationship, a client feels safe and free from judgment. Dr. Rogers believed that this type of environment allows clients to make a healthier view of the world and a less cloudy view of one self.

What Is Self-Concept:

Self-concept also an important part in person-centered therapy.

Dr. Rogers believed that self-concept as an organized set of beliefs and ideas about the self. The self-concept play an important role in determining not only how people see themselves, but also how they view and interact with the world around them.

Sometimes self-concept lines up well with reality, which Rogers referred to as congruence. In other cases, self-perceptions are sometimes unrealistic or not in tune with what exists in the real world. Rogers believed that all people distort reality to some degree, but when self-concept is in conflict with reality, incongruence can result.

For example, a young boy might perceive himself as a strong athlete, despite the fact that his actual performance on the field reveals that he is not particularly skilled and could use extra practice.

Through the process of person-centered therapy, Rogers believed that people could learn to adjust their self-concept in order to achieve congruence and a more realistic view of themselves and the world. For example, imagine a young woman who views herself as uninteresting and a poor conversationalist despite the fact that other people find her fascinating and quite engaging.

Because her self-perceptions are not congruent with reality, she may experience poor self-esteem as a result. The client-centered approach focuses on providing unconditional positive regard, empathy, and genuine support in order to help the client reach a more congruent view of herself

Role in Today’s Culture:

Actor Bob Newhart portrayed a therapist who utilized client-centered therapy on “The Bob Newhart Show” which aired from 1972 to 1978.

How Effective Is Client-Centered Therapy?

Several large-scale studies have shown that the three qualities that Rogers emphasized, genuineness, unconditional positive regard, and empathetic understanding, are all beneficial. However, some studies have suggested that these factors alone are not necessarily enough to promote lasting change in clients.4

One evaluation that looked at the effectiveness of person-centered therapy suggested that this approach was effective for individuals experiencing common mental health problems such as depression and anxiety, and may even be helpful to those experiencing more moderate to severe symptoms.

Shervan K Shahhian