Person-Centered Therapy (PCT)

An approach to counseling and psychotherapy developed by the humanist psychologist Carl Rogers in the 1940s. The defining purpose of PCT, also known as client-centered therapy, was to have a more personal relationship with patients and help them reach a state of realization so that they can help themselves. PCT is based on the theory that all patients, no matter what their difficulty, can improve without being taught anything specific by the therapist given a supportive environment that helps them achieve personal growth. PCT uses a nondirective approach, whereby patients are encouraged to express their feelings while the therapist listens and reflects on those revelations without analyzing what the feelings mean or offering suggested remedies. This is done with the goal of helping patients explore and understand their feelings for themselves. Patients are thus able to decide what kind of changes they would like to make, thereby achieving personal growth. Some of the core concepts of this therapy include (a) congruence—the therapist should openly express feelings and emotions that are flowing in the moment, (b) unconditional positive regard—the therapist should experience a positive attitude toward the client, (c) empathic understanding—the need to employ reflection and clarification in order to develop a deep understanding of the client, and (d) the actualizing tendency—it is the role of the therapist to provide conditions for personal development and growth. Though this type of therapeutic approach is generally not considered to be effective for severe psychopathologies, such as schizophrenia, components of this therapeutic style [Page 379]have had a great influence on many psychotherapeutic interactions. For more information, see Rogers (1980).