On Becoming a Person: A Therapist's View of Psychotherapy [Paperback]

Carl Rogers (Author), Peter D. Kramer M.D. (Introduction)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 7, 1995

The late Carl Rogers, founder of the humanistic psychology movement, revolutionized psychotherapy with his concept of "client-centered therapy." His influence has spanned decades, but that influence has become so much a part of mainstream psychology that the ingenious nature of his work has almost been forgotten. A new introduction by Peter Kramer sheds light on the significance of Dr. Rogers's work today. New discoveries in the field of psychopharmacology, especially that of the antidepressant Prozac, have spawned a quick-fix drug revolution that has obscured the psychotherapeutic relationship. As the pendulum slowly swings back toward an appreciation of the therapeutic encounter, Dr. Rogers's "client-centered therapy" becomes particularly timely and important.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Carl Rogers(1902-1987) was one of the most influential psychologists in American history. He received many honors, including the first Distinguished Professsional Contributor Award and the Distinguished Scientific Contribution Award of the American Psychological Association.

Product Details

• Paperback: 448 pages
• Publisher: Mariner Books; 1 edition (September 7, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 039575531X
• ISBN-13: 978-0395755310
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,552 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Carl Rogers(1902-1987) was one of the most influential psychologists in American history. He received many honors, including the first Distinguished Professsional Contributor Award and the Distinguished Scientific Contribution Award of the American Psychological Association.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

131 of 132 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Transforming Text, August 1, 2004

By 

C. B Collins Jr. (Atlanta, GA United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: On Becoming a Person: A Therapist's View of Psychotherapy (Paperback)

I was given this book in 1973 when I was a senior in college and wished to attend graduate school in clinical psychology. The book transformed me. I went from page to page recognizing that Roger's spoke directly to me and the way I experienced my relationship with my inner self and soul. This book review is written with the purpose of encouraging others to read this masterpiece of psychological theory. ALL psychiatrists, psychologists, counselors, and social workers should be intimately familiar with Rogers and his concepts.

Of all the personality theorists and practitioners of psychotherapy such as Jung, Freud, Fritz Perls, Albert Ellis, Karen Horney, Harry Stack Sullivan, Eric Fromme, and Rollo May; Carl Rogers is the one infused with optimism and a belief in the goodness of mankind. He sees human beings as capable of vast growth and creativity; able to achieve ethical and loving relationships and encounters; and achieving a healed and healthy soul that directs us toward others and the world.

Do not confuse his discription of the state of psychological health with that of William James, Clark Hull, or James B Watson. These theorists see man's natural state as homeostatic, neither alert nor asleep, neither happy nor sad. Rogers on the other hand would assert that the Buddha-like state of homeostasis is not full psychological health. Full psychological health is involvment, attachement, love, relationship, creativity, fulfillment, achievement, and goodness.

Once the reader buys into Roger's Self Theory, which posits that we are self healing, self directed, and instinctively know psychological health from psychological disease; then he posits his therapeutic model by which the therapist facilitates the process whereby a client moves toward this wholeness. This method, client-centered psychotherapy, transformed the world of psychotherapy, education, medicine, and social services.

The book gives a very thorough and insightful look at how Roger's developed his theory. There are connections between his self theory and Christianity, but these are implicit rather than explicit. Then, further into the book, Roger's explains the method he developed that seeks to facilitate personal growth. The method is not intrusive but faciliates the natural growth process of the client rather than takes on the world-view or paradigm of the therapist. The method is ethical and has minimal opportunity for destructive practices by the therapist,if practiced as Rogers describes.

When you read this book you will understand why Carl Rogers is the most beloved of all the personality theorists. The phenomenologists who have examined Rogers believe that Rogers creates reality by facilitating the loving, healthy self in the soul of his clients. Well, if Rogers has created such a loving and affirming conception of mankind, then my hat is off to him for creating such a profound reality. I believe the existential-phenomenological concept that reality is a social construct but I must honor that Roger's has in fact created a beautiful, internally consistent reality with his theory of the self.

You will not be disappointed by this life changing book.

35 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful masterpiece from the master humanistic therapist, April 1, 2001

By 

duane (Jeffersonville, IN United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: On Becoming a Person: A Therapist's View of Psychotherapy (Paperback)

Welcome to the world of humanistic/existential psychology. This is the book I buy as gifts for close friends, as it has forever changed me. I too am amazed that as a clincal psychology doctoral student, this book is not a Required read in our program. If you've been considering reading about humanistic psychology or Carl Rogers, this is the book to start with! Easy read, beautifully written, and incredibly insightful. Once you read his work, you'll be hooked.

33 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Could save a relationship or a life!, December 27, 1999

By 

Cesar D. Munoz (South Orange, NJ) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: On Becoming a Person: A Therapist's View of Psychotherapy (Paperback)

This book does an excellent job of teaching a person how to behave in a relationship, so that each of the parties in the relationship can flourish. Recently, a friend of mine was feeling suicidal and the knowledge that I gained from reading this book, helped me to help them find an alternative solution to the problems they were having. On Becoming A Person is an owners manual for living.