ABSTRACT
Wyatt (2001b: 79–95) argues that congruence is complex and describes the therapist’s congruence as ‘multi-faceted’. In her view (pp. 84–85) the therapist’s congruence comprises three core elements, each having implications for practice. These elements are:
Being myself: Each of us has a unique way of being in the world and a task of person-centred practice is to bring this uniqueness into the therapeutic relationship rather than to hide behind a professional façade.
Psychological maturity: Being integrated in the therapeutic relationship depends upon self-awareness (knowing and owning strengths and weaknesses, recognising that there is almost certainly more to discover), an ability for autonomous action while remaining a relational being and an ability to appreciate the person in the client role as equally autonomous and unique. In terms of person-centred theory, congruence relies on a flexible enough self-structure to allow most experiencing to be accurately symbolised in awareness – that is, denial and distortion are at minimal levels. Or, more simply, your degree of psychological maturity accords with the extent of your openness to experience.
213 Personal style of the therapist: Because each of us is unique with our own way of being in the world, we are different in what we do and how we do it. This means that even though they share core theoretical beliefs and a commitment to non-directive practice, each person-centred practitioner will be different in the ways that they offer the therapist conditions and in their responses to clients. So, there is no ‘right’ way to do person-centred therapy except, within the framework of person-centred theory, to allow the natural development of a personal style. The way you practise in a person-centred way will be different from the way the next person does it. What is important is that there is harmony between how you are in the therapeutic relationship (which is at least subtly different from what you do – it is how you do things that result from your personal style) and the person-centred approach.
Wyatt (2001b: 85–93) goes on to describe the ‘facets’ of the therapist’s congruence. Briefly, these are:Being open to moment to moment experiencing: The congruent therapist has a fluid enough self-concept to accurately symbolise most experience into awareness including experiences arising from the therapist’s way of being, the client’s way of being and the relationship between them. There are other sources, for example, experiences also result from sensory impressions of the environment. Openness to experience allows the therapist to make judgements about its potential significance to the client and the therapeutic relationship. For example, some experiences may reveal unconditional positive regard for and/or empathic understanding of the client while some may result in uncomfortable feelings or a sense of vulnerability. The latter indicate that incongruence has been triggered and this will probably need to be addressed in the session, in supervision, in personal therapy or in some combination thereof.
How to be with our incongruities: At times every therapist is incongruent with a client. Such incongruence may be 214the result of a lack of awareness of feelings or the resistance to communicating feelings of which the therapist is aware even if they are relevant to the client and the relationship. Whatever its nature, the therapist’s incongruence relates to unresolved personal issues. These can be dealt with in personal therapy. However, with respect to dealing with incongruity in the ongoing therapeutic relationship, Wyatt (p. 87) writes of the importance of ‘communicating … incongruency congruently’. This is to be done openly and honestly but with sensitivity towards the client and the client’s process.
Genuine empathic understanding and unconditional positive regard: The therapist’s congruence ensures that empathy and unconditional positive regard will be perceived of as genuine. They are received in this way only when clients know that the therapists are genuinely interested in them and their experiences.
The therapist’s behaviour: How the therapist behaves towards the client directly influences the client’s perception (not least of the therapist-provided necessary and sufficient conditions). Practising in accordance with a developed personal style and in a non-defensive way is at the heart of the therapist’s congruence.
Limits and concerns regarding the therapist’s expression: Wyatt (pp. 91–92) asks ‘what is appropriate therapist self-expression?’ and notes that although it is impossible to delineate or codify them, there are always limits. Some therapist behaviour is inappropriate. The therapist’s self-expression is returned to in Point 74.
