Client Centered Therapy

This system of psychotherapeutic and counseling work, the most popular in the world (after psychoanalysis), is based on the belief that a person, asking for help, is able to find a way to solve his problems himself. The psychotherapist only creates the conditions for positive changes, a more complete realization of the client’s potential, but it is the client who makes the choice and makes decisions.

Operating principle

Carl Rogers was convinced that the essence of each of us is positive. But this potential only manifests itself in an atmosphere of positive acceptance, empathic understanding and openness to one’s feelings. Creating such an atmosphere is the main task of the psychotherapist.

• Unconditional (non-judgmental) acceptance – this is the ability to respond to the emotional manifestations of a person, his actions, without judging them. This is a sincere attitude towards the other as an equal to himself and having the right to be what he is.
• Empathy – the ability to accurately perceive the feelings of other people, empathize with them and accept them, even if he himself would have acted differently. Empathy is also called “emotional responsiveness”.
• Congruence – a genuine, honest and open experience of one’s own feelings, sincere self-expression in communication with another person.

Progress

The client-centered approach is called “non-directive”: the therapist does not direct the client, does not lead him, and does not force him to do anything. The therapist accepts everything the client says without judgment.

The therapy takes place in the form of a dialogue. The client himself determines what issues are relevant for him now, and the therapist helps him in the study and expression of his feelings, images, fantasies. Listening and answering, he is completely focused on the client: the very presence of an attentive, understanding interlocutor helps a person cope with fear and despair, instills self-confidence.

An atmosphere of trust, respect and unconditional acceptance allows the client to feel that he is accepted for who he is. He can talk about anything without fear of judgment or disapproval. Feeling support, a person discovers in himself the means and ways of solving his problems.

As a result of therapy, the client begins to express his feelings more freely, he develops a stable positive self-esteem, which allows him to trust the world more. He becomes more realistic and objective, and also less vulnerable – he trusts himself more and understands others better.

History

In Client-Focused Therapy, published in 1951, the American psychologist and psychotherapist Carl Rogers (1902-1987) expressed an idea that radically changed the understanding of psychotherapy: not the therapist, but the client is an expert for himself.

The book was criticized by psychotherapists from various backgrounds, who saw Rogers’ position as a threat to traditional directive methods. But his next book, The Becoming of Man (1961), became a bestseller. For his work, based on seemingly extremely simple ideas of humanism, Carl Rogers was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.

Indications for use

A client-centered approach helps those who lack understanding, empathy, participation and warmth. It can be applied in all areas where mutual understanding is needed.

Unconditional acceptance of another person, empathy, openness to one’s feelings contribute to the successful course of negotiations, the treatment of neuroses, and the resolution of social and family conflicts. In the form of non-directive play therapy, the method is also effective for solving problems of a child’s personal development.

Given that the client himself determines whether he has achieved the desired goals, therapy can be stopped at any time. Positive changes occur already in the first sessions, deeper ones are possible after 10-15 meetings.