Trust, acceptance, and power: a person-centered client case study

Abstract

ABSTRACT This case study examines the author’s therapeutic experience with one client presenting with anxiety, whilst working remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, this work shows the interrelation between theory, practice, and research in the author’s counseling psychology training with a person-centered/experiential approach. Firstly, the beginning of therapy contextualizes the work with a formulation and presents the initial phase of the therapeutic relationship. Secondly, the development of therapy explores how empathic understanding was fostered with a focus on the themes of trust, acceptance, and power to illustrate the client’s process of change and the therapeutic alliance. Thirdly, a prospective ending is outlined as therapy was still ongoing at the time of writing. Finally, the therapeutic experience is evaluated within an understanding of counseling psychology practice as an ethical enterprise.