I agree with the statement that humans are products of their choices. According to existential theory, people have responsibility for their actions and incorporate meaning by creating their world (Glowiak, 2017). According to research, people are more inclined to seek counseling and self-help when they maintain belief in their ability to voluntarily determine their lives (Glowiak, 2017). However, since the question of free choice is mostly a philosophical question, most research is not able to provide scientific confirmation. In my opinion, people are not the direct result of circumstances and possess freedom of choice.
Unconditional positive regard is a major part of humanistic theory. To achieve a positive attitude towards a client, I will incorporate certain beliefs into my practice. For example, I will review the issues of the client from a neutral perspective. In addition, I will maintain a positive environment that will promote sincerity, trust, and transparency (Glowiak, 2017). If the client’s beliefs are not congruent with my own, I will not criticize their opinions and knowledge. On the contrary, I will attempt to compare the differences from a humanistic perspective and provide counseling according to professional standards and the client’s needs.
The empty chair is a technique used in Gestalt therapy. According to Gestalt theory, a person is a product of their environment, so being aware of their external interactions is essential (Glowiak, 2017). To understand the effect of a patient’s environment, therapists position a patient near an empty chair in a counseling session. Then specialists ask patients to imagine another person sitting on an empty chair. The imaginary person can be someone important for the therapy session. The empty chair is used as a tool to extract thoughts and emotions from a person and understand the influence and nature of their social interactions.
Reference
Glowiak. M. V. (2017). Individual counseling: Traditional and brief approaches. In D. Capuzzi & D. R. Gross (Eds.), Introduction to the Counseling Profession (7th ed., pp. 168-191). Routledge.