The DOI matches its Crossref record.
Case formulation within a person-centred framework: An uncomfortable fit?
Abstract
Content: The aim of this paper is to discuss the role of case formulation in counselling psychology practice for those practitioners who espouse a person-centred approach to their clinical practice. Focus: The ability to formulate client presenting issues within a chosen theoretical model is deemed a hallmark of clinical competency by professional bodies. Despite this it is recognised that it is not routinely taught and research in the area regarding its utility is sparse. Limited research in the area highlights that it is useful for both client and therapist in helping understand the client’s difficulties. A model outlining how to embed client material within a person centred theoretical model is outlined. Conclusions: Case formulation can sit comfortably within routine clinical practice so long as counselling psychologists ensure that it is a collaborative endeavour that upholds client choice, autonomy, respects the client as the only author of their story, and refrain from being prescriptive and/or interpretive in their approach.
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The model differs from traditional person-centered formulations in several ways.
“Importantly, the model differs from traditional person-centered formulations in several ways (Simms 2011;Uphoff and Charura 2016).”
From Person‐Centered Case Formulation: A Culturally Responsive and Trauma Informed Reconceptualization for Psychotraumatology Practice (2026) · cites this paper as Simms 2011
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Research works printed but not linked: 25
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Cited by
Sorted by citations
Case Mis‐Conceptualization in Psychological Treatment: An Enduring Clinical Problem
Ridley, C. R., Jeffrey, C. E., & Roberson, R. B. (2017) · Journal of Clinical Psychology · doi:10.1002/jclp.22354 · Cited by 25
O'Brien, C., & Charura, D. (2026) · MultiPsych · doi:10.1002/mps2.70012
Metadata
- Authors
- Simms, J.
- Corresponding author
- Simms, Jane
- Venue
- Counselling Psychology Review
- Publisher
- British Psychological Society
- Published
- 2011-06
- Volume
- 26
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 24-36
- ISSN
- 1757-2142 (ISSN-L)
- 2396-8672
- OpenAlex
- W4320459269
- Cited by
- 37
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 20 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 1 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 1 · 2012: 2
- FWCI
- 0.64
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Counselling Psychology Review (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Counseling Practices and Supervision
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychotherapy Techniques and Applications
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Counseling, Therapy, and Family Dynamics
- Keywords
- case formulation, person-centered approach, counselling psychology practice, clinical competence, client autonomy, consumer choice, collaborative therapy
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