Investigating the use of the person-centered approach in non-Western settings: A report on four case studies from a Syrian context

Abstract

The use of the person-centered approach in non-Western settings has been questioned due to the collectivist, authoritarian, hierarchical nature of many such societies. As yet however, this has not resulted in any significant investigation into the validity of such concerns through the systematic examination of case study material. During the course of his doctoral fieldwork, the author worked as a student counsellor at the University of Damascus in Syria, and this paper presents the main findings from four of his case studies. After a review of the literature around the person-centered approach and issues of culture, a brief outline of each case is given. This is followed by a discussion of the main emergent themes, focusing particularly on the concept of congruence, the client’s social context, and the issue of power in the therapeutic relationship.