An Introduction to Person-Centred Counselling

The person-centred approach, created in the 1950s by Psychologist Carl Rogers, believes all human beings have an innate tendency to develop toward their full potential.

Every individual has the resources needed for growth. The person-centred counselling approach, with the three core conditions of unconditional positive regard, empathy, and congruence, will help growth.

The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I can change. (Carl Rogers)

What is person-centred counselling?

The therapist will work to understand an individual's experience from their perspective. 

The therapist must positively value the client as a person while being open and genuine. The therapist must ensure the client feels accepted and understands their feelings better. This approach can help the client reconnect with their inner values and establish a sense of self-worth, enabling them to find their way to progress. 

Benefits to person-centred therapy.

Minded individuals who want direction for themselves and their feelings and value responsibility may benefit from a person-centred approach.

Generally speaking, person-centred counselling is helpful for all groups of people with various personal issues. It is one of the most appealing types of therapy because it allows the client to control the content and pace of the session without worrying that they are being evaluated or assessed in any way.

The non-directive style of person-centred counselling is more beneficial to those who want to explore themselves in deeper detail and express their feelings, including those who wish to address specific psychological habits or patterns of thinking.

The approach is highly effective in helping individuals overcome problems such as depression, anxiety, stress, grief and many other aspects of mental health concerns and struggles. These issues significantly impact self-esteem, self-reliance, and self-awareness, and person-centred therapy can help people reconnect with their inner self to overcome any limitations.

A therapeutic approach to person-centred counselling

The person-centred approach maintains that three core conditions provide a climate conducive to growth and therapeutic change. 

The core conditions are:

• Unconditional positive regard: Unconditional positive regard - means that the counsellor accepts the client unconditionally and non-judgmentally. 

• Empathic understanding means that the counsellor accurately understands the client's thoughts, feelings, and meanings from the client's perspective. 

• Congruence: Congruence - means that the counsellor is authentic and genuine

Counsellors use these three core conditions to enable clients to develop and grow, strengthening and expanding their identity. They help the client become the person they are, independent of the social pressure from others to act or think in a particular way.

When offered a safe, comforting environment, the client can understand how past experiences have impacted their feelings about themselves and take steps towards positive change. 

The person-centred approach can also help the client to:

• Find a closer agreement between an idealised self and an actual self.

• Achieve better self-understanding and awareness.

• Release feelings of defensiveness, insecurity and guilt.

• Have a more extraordinary ability to trust oneself.

• Develop a healthier relationship.

• See improvement in self-expression.

• Achieve a healthy sense of change overall.

Criticism of person-centred counselling

A frequent criticism of the person-centred approach is that all good therapists should deliver the core conditions before applying their expertise and doing the work, making a difference to the client. However, this criticism reflects a misunderstanding of the challenge of consistently manifesting unconditional positive regard, empathic understanding, and unity. 

Akhtar, (SAC Dip), Lead Counselling Psychologist. 

www.akhtarcounselling.co.uk