The 7 Stages of Process

Ken Kelly: Today we’re speaking about a little bit of theory. It’s from the person centred approach, Mr. Carl Rogers himself, and we’re speaking about the seven stages of process, but we need to simplify this because it can become quite a complex theory.

Rory, what do we need to know?

Rory Lees-Oakes: I think the first thing we need to know about the seven stages of process, it’s probably the most undervalued part of Roger’s theories. It was really developed over a quite a substantial amount of time.

The seven stages of process were a way of measuring how people changed through the arc of therapy. So the seven stages of the process is a qualitative view on how people change through therapy. I think it’s probably one of the most undervalued parts of Roger’s theory, yet the most important, because it gives us so much to talk about in supervision, and it helps us understand where clients are at any point of therapy.

Ken Kelly: Very much. So Carl Rogers seven stages of process describes the journey a person goes through in therapy from rigidity and defensiveness, to openness and that self-actualisation that you spoke about, Rory, it maps how a client gradually becomes more congruent, authentic, and in touch with their inner experience through a safe and accepting therapeutic relationship. It also is really useful in assessment stage, when you first meet with that client and they first present with where they find themself and where they are, you can get a feeling, and whether it is ethical to work with them. Because if we look, stage one is an unwillingness to communicate about self.

And if we know that we need to have a connection with that person, where that person knows why they are here, we know why they are here, and we’re working together for a mutual outcome, somebody in stage one is not going to be ready to look at that. So the description of stage one is the person is rigid, they’re defensive, they’re not open to change in any way, shape or form.

They’re gonna blame others or external situations, and avoid talking about any of their own internal feelings. It is unethical there is no psychological contact within that relationship to build on, to build a therapeutic relationship.

Stage two is the beginning of that external recognition of problems, and the person recognises that problems exist, but still sees them as external to themselves.

It’s not me, it’s the world is against me. They may discuss issues very intellectually, always thinking, but they may remain emotionally disconnected. So you wouldn’t hear them say words like, ‘I feel’ or speaking about any forms of emotions.

And that person is beginning to engage, but still blaming the other person, and we might be able to start working with that person, there’s at least some recognition that there is a problem and that they may be share part in that. Then of course, stage three, that’s tentative self-expression, where the person begins to talk about the personal feelings and experiences, and that’s where I hand over to Rory.

Rory Lees-Oakes: Thank you very much, Ken. Yeah, just to pick up on stage three, I think it’s a common stage where people enter therapy. They’re beginning to take personal responsibility for self, their focus is more on the past than present.

I think what’s useful here is that very early stage of entering therapy, that unconditional positive regard is essential to allow clients to be able to explore themselves and to begin the process of unpacking who they are and wanting to look more towards a future of who they are.

And then we move on to stage four. And in stage four, we are talking really about clients discussing here and now feelings. So a client who says, I’m feeling right now that this is happening to me, I feel really sad about this. They’re also looking for more involvement in the therapeutic relationship.

They may be looking to the therapist for validation or support, but crucially, they could possibly still not build that trust.

Trusting the therapist is part of the process of therapy, counsellors need to be very careful not to collude with any kind of distancing, say, oh, this is what I always do, I’m always doing this, we hear that so often. I think it’s really about focusing on here and now feelings. And then we move to stage five. Stage five is where a client comes in, sits down and says, I am going to change this, I am not putting up with this anymore. I’m now prepared to take action. This is a very productive stage in therapy.

It means that they’re beginning to harness their own organismic valuing, as they’d say in the theory. In other words, they’re becoming more congruent with themselves, they’re listening to their internal compass and saying, this is the direction I want to go and this is who I want to be.

And then finally we go into stage six, and I think it’s important to also note that the first five stages could be quite fluid, so people may go backwards and forwards in those stages. Stage five is usually where therapy comes to an end, or is an ending of therapy.

Stage six is where the client recognises their own process towards self-actualisation and starts to accept the pain that they have. And that can be an existential pain, that could be the fact that they have to make their own decisions, and that in doing that they need to trust their own judgement and feel self-love.

Stage six usually takes place as a growing development and a process of personal growth after therapies ended. It’s usually something that people build on as they move through their life, and they’re unlikely to regress at that point. They’re more likely to continue trusting their inner voice, their inner compass, to be able to be with real here and now responses, and take ownership of their own life.

Ken Kelly: Yes. So where the meat and potatoes of our work sits is in stage three, four, maybe dipping into five. If you’re dipping into five at the end of therapy, that’s a great outcome. That person now accepting feelings and a willingness to change, that self-actualisation, it happens within, it happens as part of personal development and constantly looking there.

And the therapy may be the seed that kicks that off, and the person may get to stage six, experiencing feelings fully and in the current moment. I’ve got the handout here. The person deeply feels emotions in real time, trusts their inner experience.

They trust their inner experience, so that’s not incongruence. They’re looking to their true self and going, I know the way here, I can guide myself here.

It doesn’t mean that at stage six you won’t have sadness and you won’t have challenges in your life, it just means that you will navigate it differently, and you will recognise that you have the power as the individual to navigate through that.

And then I think if we go into stage seven, Rory, I don’t know that I’ve seen the stage seven, the description, the person is open to new experience, lives authentically, continues to grow outside of therapy, they trust themselves and their process.

That is the seven stages of process.

So I’ve got a little summary table here. Stage one, rigid and closed, the example, I don’t need help, it’s them. Stage two is external blame, they’re the problem, not me. Stage three, tentative self-talk, maybe I feel these feelings, I’m not a hundred percent sure, maybe they’re coming from in me. Stage four, that emerging ownership, I notice I react strongly when X, Y, Z happens. And then stage five, active self-reflection, I wanna change how I handle myself and the situations around me. Stage six, present emotion, right now, I feel this, that or the other, and that’s okay, even if it is a negative feeling. And then stage seven integration and growth, I trust myself and I feel free to grow.

It’s a beautiful theory, Rory.

Rory Lees-Oakes: It is, it’s elegant, that’s the term that Roger’s used.

So a final plea from me, don’t forget the seven stages of the process. It is just as important as all of Roger’s theory, and I think it’s one that we use a lot in our practices and probably don’t know we’re using it.

People will not speak about feelings openly, and tend to blame others for causing their pain, rather than take responsibility for themselves: ‘If only my friend would stop doing that, I’d feel better.’

It is rare to see a client at this stage: ‘The individual in this stage of fixity and remoteness of experience is not likely to come voluntarily for counselling’ (Rogers, 1961: 132).

There is slightly less rigidity, with a small movement towards wondering whether responsibility should be taken by self, but not actually doing so: ‘It’s not my fault; it’s theirs – isn’t it?’

It may be possible to start working with a client at this stage, through offering the core conditions, trusting the client’s process, and so allowing the client to find their own way forward.

The person is beginning to consider accepting responsibility for self, but generalises and focuses more on past than present feelings: ‘I felt angry, but then everyone does, don’t they?’

This is quite a common stage to enter therapy; it is important to use unconditional positive regard to accept the client just as they are, supporting them to feel safe to explore their feelings.

The client begins to describe their own here-and-now feelings, but tends to be critical of self for having these: ‘I feel guilty about that, but I shouldn’t really.’

While the client is willing and actively seeks involvement in the therapeutic relationship, they may lack trust in the counsellor.

The counsellor also needs to take care not to collude with a client’s use of humour to distance themselves from the full impact of here-and-now feelings.

Clients express that they are seeing things more clearly, and take ownership of their situation, being prepared to take action: ‘I’m not surprised I’m angry with my boss after what I’ve been through. So I’ve quit my job.’

This is a very productive stage in therapy, as the client can express present emotions and begin to rely on their own decision-making abilities. The counsellor is likely to see the client taking action in their life.

The client recognises their own and others’ process towards self-actualisation: ‘I accept that pain within me, and what I and others did. I feel a warmth and compassion towards myself and them for where I am at.’

Once at this stage, the client is unlikely to regress. They may choose not to continue with therapy, now being able to treat themselves with self-care and love.

We are likely to see a fluid, self-accepting person who is open to the changes that life presents:

‘After the profound and irreversible experiences of stage six, there is going only to be growth, and it is unlikely the client will feel they need a counsellor to facilitate this.’ (Kelly, 2017: 72)