About the Person Centred Approach
Carl Rogers was the founder of the humanistic approach called
Person Centred Therapy. His basic philosophy was ‘The core of a
man’s nature is essentially positive.’ 1
When we are born we are born congruent, (honest and transparent)
as we grow up we are affected by our environment, family, friends,
colleagues and peers. This can impact on how we function in our
everyday lives. A good way to visualise this is if a plant is in a
darkened room; there is a slight gap in the curtains and the light
is shining through the gap. The plant will lean towards the light
because it has an innate need to grow. If the plant was given the
right conditions sunshine, water and attention it could grow to
its full potential. If we link this to people the right conditions
are known as the core conditions they are:
- • Empathy walking in someone else’s shoes
- • Congruence being honest, genuine or transparent
- • Unconditional Positive Regard being accepting and non-judgemental
As the counsellor I embody these and extend them to you, the
clients because with the Person Centred Approach the therapy ‘is
the relationship’. You the clients are responsible for fixing and
healing self you know what is best for you. I am there to help
facilitate that journey of you developing a deeper self-awareness.
1 Carl Rogers 1961 On Becoming a Person, A Therapist’s
View of Psychotherapy Houghton Mifflin Company, New York
