ROGERS,CARL EMPHASIS ON HIS OWN DIRECT EXPERIENCE

Carl Rogers's emphasis on using his ''own direct experience'' was a ma jor influence in his theory building and in his psychotherapy. The inf luence of this position on Rogers's theory building resulted in his no t comparing his thinking to that of other theorists whose work was hig hly relevant, for example, Karen Horney and Harry Stack Sullivan. On r eview, one can see that parts of their theories contained some clarity and breadth that could have helped Rogers refine his views of persona lity. One can infer that in a similar way, when clients are encouraged ta emphasize their ''own direct experience'' without being challenged by others' perspectives, losses also occur in the clarity and breadth of the clients' thinking. This article is a further development of id eas presented in ''Carl Rogers's Personality Theory and Psychotherapy as a Reflection of His Life Experience and Personality,'' the precedin g article in this issue.