1.

Basic Assumptions about Human Nature and the Ability to Change

When reflecting on Karen’s situation with CBT and PCT, one finds out that both the
models are helpful in understanding human nature and the way human beings can change, but the
approaches are rooted in different philosophical assumptions.

CBT is based on the cognitive model that states that a person’s behavior can be altered if
one changes the irrational thoughts and perceptions. The major premises of CBT is that every
thought, feeling, and behavior are related and that negative thinking may cause negative feelings
and uglу behavior (Beck, 2019). In CBT, people have no inherent evil or good inside them;
therefore, people are capable to alter their patterns of perceptions. For instance, Karen’s panic
and dissatisfaction may in some ways be linked to the maladaptive interpretations that she has
involving her roles as a mother and wife. CBT would make Karen to recognise these thoughts
and respond by questioning them and replacing them with positive constructive ones. This
outlook is rather positive, yet it presupposes that only when guided by structured action can
human beings change for the better (Hofmann et al. , 2020).

On the other hand, Person-Centered Therapy (PCT) which was established by Carl
Rogers incorporates the belief that individuals are inherently good and have the ability of self-
actualization. PCT presupposes that man has an inherent tendency to develop, actualize, and
progress as a person, as long as he is placed in a context that respects another person’s feelings,
is authentic, and has a accepting attitude toward him (Kottler & Carlson, 2019). From this
perspective Karen’s disenchantment and anxiety are rendered as expressions of unactualization
of her potentials, and the separation from her authentic self. In this essay, PCT would be the
process of establishing rapport with the patient so that she can freely express herself and do so
without fearing that she will be judged. Such an environment motivates Karen to regain one’s
sense of purpose and enable direction of change by oneself. Also unlike CBT that centres on the
reevaluation of thoughts, PCT relies on the inherent ability of the individual to self-heal with
relation assistance (Murphy, 2020). CBT understands change as cognitive which needs to be
reformed while PCT considers change as developmental one which happens when an individual
is in a therapeutic environment. While both of these theories have faith in the possibility of a
person’s change, they do not agree with the way it can be done.

2. Most Important Therapeutic Goals

Therefore, the goals of therapy that has to be set for Karen are focused on her resentment
to life, anxiety, and identity crises. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Person-Centered
Therapy (PCT) have two different outlooks for what the major objectives of treatment should be.

In more detail, the CBT is typical for its primary focus on and therapeutic aims to
alleviate symptoms and change the cognitive profile. When it comes to the choice of attention, it
would be possible to focus on the following objectives: Since Karen is reporting anxiety, panic,
and psychosomatic symptoms, a major one would be to teach the client to identify and disrupt
the maladaptive negative Automatic Thoughts which may constitute a major cause of the stated
issues suggested by Kazantzis and others (2021). CBT would help Karen become aware of her
areas of dysfunctional thinking such as her thinking about aging it would assist her in finding
middle ground instead of negative thinking about losing her and her families love. Another
would be to assist Karen in preventing and reducing panic attacks through use of behavioral
therapy inclusive of relaxation therapies and exposure to the actual conditions that cause her to
panic. Further, CBT would focus on training Karen on better problem solving as the way would
want to deal with issues and manage life hence, reducing on her avoidant behaviors greatly.

If Person-Centered Therapy had to be implemented in a certain environment, then the

major aim of therapy would be to increase individual understanding as well as appreciation of
oneself. Karen experiences such symptoms as dissatisfaction and confusion of her identity, so it
is possible to state that she is out of touch with her true self. PCT would seek to understand
Karen and facilitate her to understand herself as well by embracing a non-directive approach
with her in order to have her come to a better understanding of her wants and needs in the society
(Elliott, 2020). The purpose of the therapy would not be to guide Karen toward getting on the
correct path of change but rather towards finding the self-made decisions that are not influenced
by the outside world (Murphy, 2020).

3. Techniques to Be Used
 The interventions to be applied in Karen’s therapy entitled; Cognitive Behavioral
Therapy (CBT) or Person-Centered Therapy (PCT), would differ based on a selected therapy
modality.

CBT uses the following approaches in helping the client change his or her way of
thinking and behaving. One of them is called Cognitive Restructuring through which the
irrational and distorted cognitions are identified. In Karen’s case, it would imply that instead of
being overwhelmed with fear related to aging, family relationships, or perceived professional
ineptitude, she looks at these issues from different, much healthier angles (Hofmann et al. ,
2020). Another technique used in CBT is named Behavioral Activation, which helps Karen to
participate in the activities that can make her happy. It might be very helpful to set concrete,
achievable stepping-stones for the recovery of her passion besides her duties as a wife and a
mother. Last but not least, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, relaxation techniques: deep breathing
and progressive muscle relaxation could then be applied on Karen to help her manage anxiety
and physical signs to enable her manage through panic attacks (Kazantzis et al. , 2021)..

However, Person-Centered Therapy (PCT) dissimilar to the above mentioned in that there
are no unique procedures although the relationship between the therapist and the patient is taken
to be a primary agent of change. However, there are important items of common knowledge
involved in this approach such as Reflective Listening and Empathic Understanding. The
therapist does not criticize Karen but, instead, he paraphrases what she has been saying and her
feelings to make her be aware of how she feels (Elliott, 2020). Another part of PCT is the
Unconditional Positive Regard where the therapist is accepting of Karen and she feels
comfortable to embrace who she is and what she wants in life. These techniques are not too
much about guiding Karen to specific behaviors and more about the process of helping her
discover her own way towards the better self (Murphy, 2020). CBT and PCT make up valid
approaches although they diverge regarding the extent to which they focus on structured
procedures on the contrary to the therapeutic relationship as the main agent of change.

4. Function and Role of the Counselor

 The position of a counselor is different in the CBT and PCT because the main principles
of these theories contrast greatly in the ways that a counselor works with a patient.

Some of the key difference in the mode of operation is that in CBT the counselor is
instructional and directive. Here, the therapist takes on the role of an advisor and a teacher who
is expected to assist Karen in identifying the relationship between cognition, affect, and behavior
(Hofmann et al., 2020). CBT counselor would explain to Karen what cognitive distortions are
and then the two of them would come with way to combat it. Here the therapist delivers
direction, gives assignments, and evaluates the degree of change in behavior in Karen. It is a
partnership where the partnership of Karen and the counselor is focused on the accomplishment
of specific objectives with an increased stress on quantifiable results. The counselor also shows
Karen behavior modification strategies that she can apply in her daily life, striving for
independent working models.

Composing to Person-Centered Therapy, the counselor’s role is more passive as

compared to directive. The work of the therapist is to establish rapport that involves recognizing,
being authentic and accepting the client (Elliott, 2020). Counselor in this position does not
instruct Karen with objectives to achieve or means to accomplish but instead helps Karen create
a space to express her feelings and situations which make her uncomfortable as required at her
own rate. This is so because the therapist is real and accepting of Karen hence meeting her basic
psychological need of belonging and therefore empowers her to make own choices about her life,
according to Murphy, 2020. The counselor’s position is to be active and attentive, giving
feedbacks and approvals, but the counselor is not supposed to lead the client and have certain
program in mind. Both roles are essential but serve different purposes: The CBT counselor is
more instructive and directive in the process of the therapy, whereas the PCT therapist focuses
on enabling the client to investigate himself.

5. Limitations of Using These Approaches

Even though CBT and PCT are both effective therapies, they both contain certain
drawbacks particularly in complicated cases such as those of Karen.
 CBT has been found to a large extent to be effective in treating anxiety, depression and
other psychological disorders. However, the present work also found one major weakness in
CBT: it is symptom-based rather than cause-based. However, in Karen’s situation while CBT
can assist her in reducing her anxiety and panic from cognitive restructuring, it may not alleviate
her search for meaning in life and thus underneath her is fundamental identity crisis (Kazantzis et
al. , 2021). A third area of critique of CBT is the rigid approach prevalent at CBT, this model can
be rigid and more directed than other models and it might not be appropriate to some clients who
might just want to talk about how they feel and how they are dealt with. Also, CBT presupposes
a certain level of involvement and motivation from the clients, which may be unachievable
especially in the case of the clients experiencing severe emotional dysphoria or have poor
extraverted motivation for change (Hofmann et al., 2020).

PCT is appreciated because of such concerns as the emphasis on the therapeutic

relationship and individual change, yet it has its drawbacks as well. There could be some
downsides to such an approach, and the first one is the fact that CBT does not impose enough
structure on clients such as Karen, who may be experiencing serious levels of anxiety. Thus,
without any particular advice or treatments, Karen could hardly identify the practical
modifications in her life, especially in case when any woman is oversaturated with emotions
(Murphy, 2020). Also, PCT depends greatly on the rapport between a patient and the therapist,
hence if, for instance, Karen is not comfortable with her therapist, her improvement will be
restricted. A further practical concern is that the therapeutic process in PCT may take more time
to demonstrate the clinical change compared with the therapies that possess more a priori
structure like CBT, which is important if Karen is focusing on the symptom reduction (Elliott,
2020).
 References

Beck, J. S. (2019). Cognitive behavior therapy: Basics and beyond (3rd ed.). Guilford Press.

Elliott, R. (2020). Person-centered therapy: Past, present, and future. Person-Centered &
Experiential Psychotherapies, 19(1), 1-12.

Hofmann, S. G., Asnaani, A., Vonk, I. J., Sawyer, A. T., & Fang, A. (2020). The efficacy of
cognitive behavioral therapy: A review of meta-analyses.Cognitive Therapy and
Research, 44(2), 139-160.

Kazantzis, N., Luong, H. K., Usatoff, A. S., Impala, T., Yew, R. Y., & Hofmann, S. G. (2021).
Cognitive-behavioral therapy and behavioral activation for depression. Cognitive
Therapy and Research, 45(2), 1-15.

Murphy, D. (2020). Unconditional positive regard revisited: Contemporary relevance and

challenges. Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 60(1), 29-54.