What Is Person Centered Therapy?

Person centered therapy, also known as Rogerian or Humanistic, is based upon the underlying belief that every person has both the ability and the desire to reach their potential through personal growth and change–called the self-actualizing tendency. The ability to self-actualize derives from a person’s capacity for self-understanding and for changing their own self-concepts, as well as their attitudes and behaviors.

How does Person-Centered Therapy Work?

Client-centered therapy/educating is distinct from other forms of psychotherapy in two major ways: the therapist does not attempt to direct the conversation in the session and the client is encouraged to lead in each session by bringing up the issues, feelings, or difficulties that are relevant to them.

Who Developed Person-Centered Theory?

Client-centered therapy was developed by Carl Rogers, an American psychologist. As a professor of clinical psychology at Ohio State University, he authored the book, Counseling and Psychotherapy. In this book, he put forth the idea that clients can resolve difficulties and gain insights necessary to change their lives through the therapeutic relationship, with an accepting, understanding clinician/group facilitator.

What Can Person Centered Programming Help With?

Person-centered programming is most effective for people who are highly self-motivated since much of the effort and direction actually comes from the client. Because it is relationship based, person centered programming is well suited for the client who seeks an increase in self-esteem or in becoming open to new experiences.

What Are the Benefits of Person-Centered Programs?

• Increased performance in multiple areas of life

• Higher levels of self-satisfaction

• Improved quality of life

• Empowerment from being an active leader in therapy sessions

• Strong therapeutic relationship

• Focus on the person, not the diagnosis

Is the facilitar a Passive Participant in Person-Focused Programming?

No, the facilitator is not passive during person-centered programming. Due to the uniqueness of each person, the client is viewed as the expert of his own experience, while the therapist is the expert in the theories and methods of therapy. This belief creates a team approach with equal partners in the team rather than an expert with a helpless patient, as is the model in psychoanalysis.

Conditions for Successful Person-Centered Therapeutic Programming.

There are six necessary conditions for the effectiveness of client-centered programs

1. The client is in a state of incongruence, meaning that their life experience isn’t matching up with their sense of how they would like their life to be. This may mean not feeling like oneself, not living consistently with one’s values, or not meeting one’s potential.

2. The facilitator must be genuine, as described above, including being aware of their own feelings.

3. The facilitator expresses unconditional positive regard for the client.

4. The facilitator feels empathy toward the client and demonstrates this empathic understanding through communication in sessions.

5. The client recognizes the unconditional positive regard that the facilitator has for them. The client perceives that the facilitator understands their difficulties and challenges, and has a non-judgemental attitude towards them.

When these conditions are met, there is a strong potential for positive change.