On Encounter Groups

by Carl R. Rogers

"...Communicates to the layman what an encounter group is, what it looks like, what it feels like, what the different approaches are about. This is a beautiful and straightforward book. It is far and away the best general book on encounter groups in existence." Philip E. Slater, Chairman of Sociology, Brandeis University

Genres: Psychology, Nonfiction, Counselling

172 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1969

About the author

"Experience is, for me, the highest authority. The touchstone of validity is my own experience. No other person's ideas, and none of my own ideas, are as authoritative as my experience. It is to experience that I must return again and again, to discover a closer approximation to truth as it is in the process of becoming in me." -Carl Rogers, On Becoming a Person

DEVELOPED THEORIES - THERAPIES
Person-Centered; Humanistic; Client-Centered; Student-Centered

TIMELINE
1902 - Carl Rogers was born in Oak Park, Illinois.
1919 - Enrolled at University of Wisconsin.
1924 - Graduated from University of Wisconsin and enrolled at Union Theological Seminary.
1926 - Transferred to Columbia.
1931- Earned Ph.D. from Columbia.
1940 - Began teaching at University of Ohio.
1946 - Elected president of American Psychological Association (APA).
1951 - Published Client-centered Therapy.
1961 - Published On Becoming A Person.

Reviews

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars, if I could give it, but I have no qualms about rounding up rather down.

This work, I feel, answers the criticism that the person-centred approach is too focused on the individual. Whilst, obviously, the group is composed of individuals, Rogers emphasises the relational aspects of change engendered by the encounter group experience, at the personal, interpersonal and community/organisation levels. The book is written from his American, white, middle-class cultural perspective, but he clearly acknowledges this and I, as a British, white, middle-class (reluctantly acknowledged, with working-class roots) perspective don't believe that this invalidates the principles. It just means that application and focus will vary in different cultural contexts, leaving the elements of freedom of expression and increasing openness to direct experiencing intact.

I've yet to read a book by Carl Rogers that isn't fascinating.

[Alford Wayman · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent book on encounter groups and what they are and how they function. Carl Rodgers does an excellent job on explaining how they impact a person's life. I found this book at a rummage sale at a library. I bought it because I was wondering how encounter groups were different then that of religious encounters. It is my opinion that religion has been using the techniques described by Carl Rogers far longer, but encounter groups bring the techniques to the secular setting. It's quite amazing that when reading description of the experiences from those who participated it is also described the same way as you would find say in an evangelical Christian denomination like Methodism, or the Quakers. Carl Rogers also explains the difference between his view of an encounter group and those constructed to lead the participant to a certain conclusion because of manipulation by the leader, which most belief systems and cults do.

[Marianne el wahsh · Rating 3 out of 5]

it is a very nice book. Good to know how the spontaneous reaction can make a great effect on people in the group.
I learned from this book how can a physical touch between the group members have a marvelous effect on the group members .
As usual Carl Rogers put a great spotlight on the facilitators character. And in this book there is a kind of measurement for the facilitators to check themselves with.

i didn't like the last 3 chapters from this book, they were not useful for me.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

my cy is a small paperback
Harrow Books first edition 1973
c1970

I did a group with CR in my early 20's between my divorce, age 22 and before I was off to the military at 25. I was a guest while my mom was the real attender but I was bored in my group so I went to see if hers was any more authentic.
pictures of hands of front

[Matthew Kozak · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Thus, there are PhDs in various fields, M.D.s, and individuals who have not completed college. They are all on an equal footing as persons." [p. 151]

[Sam · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a review of the book itself, rather than the concept of encounter groups, which I think Rogers and others have championed more meaningfully elsewhere. But between the unfortunate praise of the early days of Synanon (look up what happened later) and the painfully long-winded qualitative examples from attendees repeating similar points, I found this book a lacking in the kind of robust thought and thesis I'm used to from Rogers, and an alarming lack of real criticism of the model given that there were some genuine attachment and abuse problems in group work, particularly in those run by other organisations. A product of its time maybe, but it doesn't surprise me that this is one of the harder Rogers books to get hold of these days.

[Gonzalo · Rating 4 out of 5]

La experiencia personal del autor, así como los testimonios recogidos en el libro, parecen demostrar que los grupos de encuentro producen cambios positivos en quienes participan en ellos. En la mayoría de los casos, los individuos acaban manifestando su verdadero yo –ese que temen mostrar en público–, lo que les permite mejorar su relación con ellos mismos y con los demás. Aunque esta apertura a la experiencia no es fácil, e implica cierto dolor y sufrimiento, la recompensa es enorme: poder enfrentarse a la vida con una mayor libertad y congruencia.

[Rogue Male · Rating 4 out of 5]

7/10