Person-centred therapy (humanistic therapy)

Person-centred therapy (humanistic therapy) is a non-directive unstructured form of therapy that is based on a set of conditions that according to its founder Rogers are regarded as necessary and sufficient in order for  a person’s difficulties to be alleviated (Rogers, 1957, 1980).

According to these conditions, if the therapist is genuine towards the individual, adopting a non-judgmental stance and experiences empathic understanding of the person’s internal frame of reference then therapeutic change is likely to occur. The subject is seen as the agent of change with the therapist taking a facilitatitive and non-directive role.

Person-centred therapy may be helpful for people who denigrate themselves. This is through helping them to get an understanding of their own needs and wishes rather than complying with other people’s expectations of them. This way individuals are helped to develop a more positive and comfortable relationship with themselves and others.

Person-centred therapy is also employed in bereavement counselling during which individuals who have experienced grief are facilitated to talk about and process their loss.

References

Rogers, C. R. (1957). The necessary and sufficient conditions of therapeutic personality change. Journal of Consulting Psychology, 21, 95-103.

Rogers, C. R (1980). A Way of Being. Boston: Houghton Mifflin.