Client Centered Therapy

Client Centered Therapy

Background

Client-centered therapy, developed by humanist psychologist Carl Rogers during the 1940s and 1950s is also known as person-centered therapy. It is a non-directive form of talk therapy. Carl was a humanist and believed that people are fundamentally good. He was very popular during the 20th century and his ideas were widely accepted. Carl also suggested that people have an actualizing tendency, or a desire to fulfill their potential and become the best version that they can be of themselves. Rogers initially called his technique non-directive therapy. While his goal was to be as passive as possible, he eventually realized that therapists do guide clients even in subtle ways. He also found that clients often

A therapist plays a passive but very important role in order to make the therapy work. The therapist needs to see that the therapy goes in the correct direction and that the client can achieve the goals easily, effectively and in a way that gives the client maximum benefit. While active listening is one of the most vital practices in a client-centered therapy, there are many roles and suggestions for client-centered therapists that they should keep in mind to facilitate successful therapy sessions. Following are some definite roles that a therapist must carry out:-

• Genuine empathy – This refers to the therapist’s ability to see and understand issues and situations from the client’s perspective. When the therapist is able to show an empathetic understanding of what the client is experiencing, it helps the client have a better inner understanding as well.

• Unconditional positive regard – Therapists must always maintain a positive and non-judgmental view of their clients. Rogers’ believed that conditional regard and support from others lead to some of the problems clients mostly experienced. When they felt accepted without conditions and the fear of rejection was no more there, clients could openly talk about their

• The therapist sets boundaries for the sessions as in the time limit, relationship level, and informs the client about all the confidentiality rules. Mostly limits regarding the topics or extent of discussion are set by both the client and therapist to make the client feel comfortable.

• The client is considered the master of his or her own selves and are never led to any point or any particular direction anytime during the therapy by the therapist.

• Therapists try to repeat what the client said in their own language as to make the client see his own ideas from a different perspective.

• Therapists never make decisions for the client or give out a readymade solution. They always try to show the client all the different paths he or she has and the client makes the final decision for their own selves.

• All the emotions of the client, whether positive or negative are accepted by the therapist any kind of venting out is good, whether it be laughing or getting angry, even with the therapist. This leads to total clarity at the client’s