Person-Centered
"Individuals have within themselves vast resources for self-understanding and for altering their self-concepts, basic attitudes, and self-directed behaviour; these resources can be tapped if a definable climate of facilitative psychological attitudes can be provided"
-Carl Rogers (1902 - 1987)
This type of therapy diverged from the traditional views of the therapist as an expert and moved instead toward a non-directive approach that embodied the theory of actualizing tendency. Person-centered therapy is an approach to counseling that places much of the responsibility for the treatment process on the client.
Assumptions:
- People are trustworthy by nature
- They have the capacity to understand and resolve their own problems
- They areinnately resourceful and capable
- Clients canunderstand what is making them unhappy
Goals:
- Congruence - the willingness to relate to clients without hiding behind a professional facade.
- Unconditional Positive Regard - therapist accepting client for who he or she is without disapproving feelings, actions or characteristics. It shows the willingness to listen without interrupting, judging or giving advice.
- Empathy - understand and appreciate the client's feeling throughout the therapy session.
Key Points:
- Rogers believes that, under nurturing conditions a client will be able to move forward and resolve their own issues
- One can direct one’s own life
- Congruence – both the therapist’s and the client’s
- Unconditional positive regard
- Accurate empathetic understanding
