More than my experience: an argument for critical realism in person-centred psychotherapy

Abstract

In acknowledging psychotherapy as a space oriented toward philosophical exploration, this article embraces Schmid’s challenge for person-centered psychotherapists to develop philosophy more congruent with the practice of the person-centered approach. Inspired by practitioners from other approaches, the author challenges the dominant interpretive-phenomenological foundations of recent person-centered conceptual developments, tentatively arguing the case for a critical realism as an alternate onto-epistemic framing for person-centered psychotherapy. The author acknowledges weaknesses of interpretive phenomenology in relation to the person-centered approach, particularly the challenges it presents for dialogue, development and decision-making in terms of theory, research and practice. These challenges are highlighted in reference to Rogers’ conceptualization of a ‘New Integration’ of science and experience put forth in On Becoming a Person. An abridged explanation of critical realism is offered before considering critical realism’s application to the person-centered approach. The author demonstrates critical realism’s use in formulating congruence theoretically, providing robust frameworks for research that can generate knowledge without assuming the role of expert, allowing critical reflexivity on socio-cultural contexts of theory, and offering holding, developmental frameworks for practitioners and trainees.