A dearth of suds for Davey: A therapist’s thoughts during a child therapy session

Kathryn A. Moon

Abstract: My moment to moment experiences with a young client are shared here within a transcript example of a nondirective client-centered therapy session. Questions relating to the therapeutic relationship, therapist congruence, limit setting, time management, and nondirective intentions are raised in the course of commentary organized around the complete transcript of a therapy session. In the postscript, discussion of child therapy in the context of Rogerian theory (Rogers, 1951, 1957, 1959) and the concept of the therapeutic attitude of “congruence” addresses the tension that can develop between a therapist’s nondirective intention to accept the client and the reality of working with a child who is intensely engaged in a client-directed therapy session.

Citation: Moon, K. A. (2002). A dearth of suds for Davey: A therapist’s thoughts during a child therapy session. The Person-Centered Journal, 9(2), pp. 113-139.

This title is available in French: « Des restrictions de mousse pour Davey » ou Les pensées d’une thérapeute pendant une séance de thérapie d’enfants