fei75766_ch10_309-344.indd 327  02/06/20 12:29 PM
Chapter 10    Rogers: Person-Centered Theory 327
Aninteresting concomitant tothisstage isaphysiological loosening. These 
people experience theirwhole organismic self,astheirmuscles relax, tears flow, circu -
lation improves, andphysical symptoms disappear.
Inmany ways, Stage 6signals anendtotherapy. Indeed, iftherapy weretobe
terminated atthispoint, clients would stillprogress tothenextlevel.
Stage 7 canoccur outside thetherapeutic encounter, because growth atStage 6
seems tobeirreversible. Clients whoreach Stage 7become fullyfunctioning “persons 
oftomorrow” (aconcept more fullyexplained inthesection titled ThePerson of
Tomorrow). They areabletogeneralize theirin-therapy experiences totheirworld 
beyond therapy. They possess theconfidence tobethemselves atalltimes, toown
andtofeeldeeply thetotality oftheirexperiences, andtolivethose experiences inthe
present. Their organismic self,nowunified withtheself-concept, becomes thelocus 
forevaluating theirexperiences. People atStage 7receive pleasure inknowing that
these evaluations arefluidandthatchange andgrowth willcontinue. Inaddition, they
become congruent, possess unconditional positive self-regard, andareabletobeloving 
andempathic toward others.
Theoretical Explanation for Therapeutic Change
What theoretical formulation canexplain thedynamics oftherapeutic change? 
Rogers’ (1980) explanation follows thislineofreasoning. When persons come to
experience themselves asprized andunconditionally accepted, theyrealize, perhaps 
forthefirsttime, thattheyarelovable. Theexample ofthetherapist enables them to
prize andaccept themselves, tohaveunconditional positive self-regard. Asclients 
perceive thattheyareempathically understood, theyarefreed tolisten tothemselves 
more accurately, tohaveempathy fortheirownfeelings. Asaconsequence, when 
these persons come toprize themselves andtoaccurately understand themselves, 
theirperceived selfbecomes more congruent withtheirorganismic experiences. They 
nowpossess thesame three therapeutic characteristics asanyeffective helper, andin
effect, theybecome theirowntherapist.
Outcomes
Iftheprocess oftherapeutic change issetinmotion, thencertain observable out-
comes canbeexpected. Themost basic outcome ofsuccessful client-centered therapy 
isacongruent client whoislessdefensive andmore open toexperience. Each ofthe
remaining outcomes isalogical extension ofthisbasic one.
Asaresult ofbeing more congruent andlessdefensive, clients haveaclearer 
picture ofthemselves andamore realistic viewoftheworld. They arebetter ableto
assimilate experiences intotheselfonthesymbolic level; theyaremore effective in
solving problems; andtheyhaveahigher levelofpositive self-regard.
Being realistic, theyhaveamore accurate viewoftheirpotentials, which per-
mitsthem tonarrow thegapbetween self-ideal andrealself.Typically, thisgapis
narrowed because boththeideal selfandthetrueselfshow some movement. Because 
clients aremore realistic, theylower theirexpectations ofwhat theyshould beor
would liketobe;andbecause theyhaveanincrease inpositive self-regard, theyraise
theirviewofwhat theyreally are.Final PDF to printer