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Commentary on ‘His master’s voice’: an existential-interpersonal perspective

2018; Taylor & Francis; Volume: 17; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1080/14779757.2018.1544093

1752-9182

Gerhard Stumm,

Child Therapy and Development

Though I regard Germain Lietaer and Monica Gundrum’s article (His master’s voice: Carl Rogers’ verbal response modes in therapy and demonstration sessions throughout his career) as a very valuable piece giving insight into the therapeutic factory of the founder of PCT I caution against taking ‘the master’s voice’ as a model. From an interpersonal and existential point of view there is a broader range of responses, interactions and inputs to be exploited than shown in the study – with an average of appr. 90% of empathic understanding responses. Depending on each client, the therapeutic relationship that evolves from the ‘joint venture’, and an authentic personal and working style of the therapist the person-centered theory of therapy allows for a great variety of therapist communication and even non-standardized techniques or means and avenues. My concern is to encourage younger colleagues to feel free to practice with ‘disciplined spontaneity’.