Within a person-centered approach, (Rogers, 1990) the individual is able to create their understanding of the world, relate to others, and alter self-concepts, and change attitudes and behavior. These personal individual resources, invaluable to the organization, can only be accessed if a positive psychological climate is provided.
Carl Rogers believes that there are three essential climates for growth: (1) genuineness, realness, congruence, (2) acceptance, caring, or prizing, in addition to (3) emphatic understanding.

Shawn M. Nichols

Individual human aspects include an innate intelligence, the ability of the subject to be immersed in the context, and the desire and commitment for further knowledge.

Groups are a replication of an environment in which The Real Issues are played at, to further a potential sense of confidence or fulfillment. Working groups even limited in their scope, cover many aspects of human relationships with a focus on fulfillment, avoidance of fears, and prior wounding.

Shawn M. Nichols

We ignore the warnings and we avoid the confrontation, knowing all the time, it will just get worse. We isolate.

 Alone in the Wilderness 

 Video, Courtesy of Youtube.com

As our financial situation or our relationships worsen, we cling to old ideas and negative people because the devil we know is better than the one we don’t. We think. We run away.

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In workshops, I ask my clients to become the big brother or sister to themselves. It takes a bit of visual imagery, a lot of practiced thinking but who better to care for ourselves than US!

What’s happening to my world? I grew up playing on the street, knowing every adult was my friend and could be relied on in times of childhood trouble. My parents made little, we ate well enough and clothes got passed around from cousin to sibling and back. No, my childhood was not a lovely dream. My childhood was filled with abuse and fear, but also love and friendship.

I have started to return to those times in a way that makes sense for me. No more new cars because that’s what my self esteem demands. I won’t shop because it’s on sale. The financial crisis has taken care of that for many of us. A new understanding of psychology has given me the names and terms for conditions I could not have explained earlier. But I know one thing: before life got complicated it wasn’t always easy and yes, I felt dread from time to time. But I ‘fixed’ my problems by emotional grounding, crying to reduce anxiety and asking others for help and assurance. I relied on my connections and tried to work through problems instead of dropping people and situations that were uncomfortable. I want to go back in time.

I will connect more in meaningful ways. I will smile more and praise others more often. Passing in the sidewalk, I will acknowledge others – even if they think I’m crazy.

Shawn M.Nichols, CC

big feet, simple joys