Theory Series: Person Centered Therapy
Person Centered Theory (PCT) was developed by Carl Rogers in the early 20th century, and in some ways is considered the cornerstone of modern therapeutic approach. He is considered the founder of humanistic psychology, focusing on the holistic experiences of human beings. From it, are the foundational tenets of unconditional positive regard (self-explanatory) and empathetic understanding that are practiced by nearly every counselor today. Rogers believed that all people are in control of their own lives and given a supportive environment, can be trusted to work towards improving and actualizing their lives. Rogers believed that therapists should be warm, empathetic, and validating to create this type of environment, and ultimately, he boiled his view down to 6 sufficient conditions that must be met for the client to be able to focus on positive change.
Contact - Both counselor and therapist must be in regular contact (I think it’s fair to assume that Rogers would want this should occur preferably in person).
Incongruence - The first session should illustrate the gap between where the client wants to be and where they are currently.
Congruence - Counselor must be genuine and empathetic to the feelings of the client. I.e., congruence with their state of being.
Regard - Counselor must always exhibit unconditional positive regard for clients.
Empathy - Counselor must be able to understand their client and reflect their experiences accurately in the context of the here and now.
Perception - Client must believe that the counselor is holding unconditional positive regard and means it.
Many readers might be thinking that these principles are common sense, and to some degree I would agree. However, the brilliance of this theory lies in its simplicity, and the insight by Rogers who held a deeply positive view of human nature. Techniques and interventions for PCT are few and simple. Some include displaying genuineness, focusing on the here and now effects of an issue, focusing on active listening, reflection, and self-disclosure. As a result, PCT has been shown to be effective with a variety of disorders and populations including various races, socioeconomic statuses, and sexual orientations. Critics of PCT claim that there are no clear steps or progress markers and too few intervention techniques. Others call it an incomplete model for therapy, regarding the core tenets of this theory as table stakes for all therapy models. Regardless, understanding PCT is integral to understanding counseling in the 21st century, as Rogers’s principles continue to stand the test of time.
Personally, I agree with the notion that PCT should be integrated into the bedrock of counseling relationships. However, I also see value in more tangible intervention techniques such as those found in Gestalt therapy (more to come on that!). In convincing fashion, several studies suggest that the majority of efficacy within a counseling relationship can ultimately be determined by the counselor’s ability to show up and be present and empathetic in session. This is worth repeating. Most of the efficacy of counseling boils down to the counselor’s ability to be present and genuinely listen. This is more important than the techniques a counselor uses, the theory that guides their practice, and even the experience that they have. All the suggested that, perhaps, Rogers was on to something and that the power of unconditional positive regard should not be underestimated. For more on Rogers, I suggest his seminal work On Becoming Human. Happy reading!
