Person-Centered Therapy

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

 
 

 

 

Links: http://www.minddisorders.com/Ob-Ps/Person-centered-therapy.html