Person-Centered Theory
This blog will discuss Carl Rogers and the Person-Centred Theory, and the relation and importance of this theory to counselling.
The person-centred approach was developed by Carl Rogers in the 1930’s. The key theory underpinning this approach is that all humans have the capacity to grow, and will tend towards growth given the right ‘conditions.’ Rogers called this urge to grow the actualising tendency.
Rogers created 6 core conditions that must be present in counselling in order for clients to grow- this blog will focus on 3.
Firstly the counsellor must show the client unconditional positive regard. This means that the counsellor fully accepts the client and their individual experience of their life and the world. The counsellor needs to be open to understanding where the client is coming from, even if the counsellor does not share the same viewpoints or values of the client.
Secondly the counsellor must be congruent (honest.) There is a commitment from the counsellor to be real and genuine in the therapeutic relationship. A person-centred counsellor will meet the client as their own self. This can involve shedding a tear in the relationship or genuinely sharing moments of true joy and laughter. Being congruent can also be important when the client or the counsellor feel that something may be ‘missing’ from the relationship or when challenge is needed.
Thirdly the counsellor must show empathy. This condition is highly important and underpins all work within the therapeutic relationship. The counsellor needs to be able to understand the client from their frame of reference (seeing things from where they are standing.) Displaying empathy is akin to walking alongside another person, hearing them fully and sharing in their journey, no matter whether the journey is good or bad. In order to translate the client’s experience back to them the counsellor needs to feel and sense the client’s world accurately and fully.
By showing these 3 core conditions, Rogers believed that a client accessing counselling had the ability to reach their full potential. If these core conditions are absent, the therapeutic relationship cannot exist or remain.
Many counsellors in modern times train in the integrative approach, with a person-centred approach at the heart of their practice. This means that a counsellor may utilise the psychodynamic approach (Freudian) or cognitive behavioural therapy but will display the core conditions no matter what approach they are using.