Person Centred Therapy (PCT) places a Counsellor in a role where they support clients to identify their own natural self-healing by focusing on a client’s own experiences and view of themselves. The idea is that people are best placed to make decisions on what they would like to do with their own lives. This puts PCT in stark contrast with more traditional forms of therapy where a counsellor is an expert who identifies what issues a client has and advises the client on what they require to do to recover.
Carl Rodgers developed PCT in the 1940s. Rodgers’s started from the premise that it is not helpful to view people with mental health and psychological conditions, as patients who require treatment from a Counsellor.
Unlike other modern approaches which adopt well-defined therapeutic techniques, PCT adopts a unique approach for each client. Rather than being concerned with techniques PCT argues that the most significant factor is the relationship between a Counsellor and a client. The core principles which form the basis of the therapeutic relationship include:
Empathic Understanding: The Counsellor places themselves in the client’s shoes to get insight into how the client feels.
Congruence: The counsellor will be honest about how they view the client within the therapeutic relationship.
Unconditional positive regard: The Counsellor maintains a positive view of the client regardless of the client’s actions and shortcomings.
PCT maintains that when these core principles are present in a therapeutic relationship then Counsellors can work with clients to tailor an approach that allows clients to improve how they view themselves and to lead more fulfilling lives.
Clear Mind Counselling Therapy 