UNIVERSITY OF

ASSIGNMENT NO # 3

DR. FAZAL HAYAT SB

GUIDANCE & COUNSELING

NADIR SHAH

UOL/EDU-F-2020/18-B.ED.1.5
3rd Semester

2021
 Client Centered
Centered Therapy
Therapy "or"
"or" Person
Person Centered
Centered Therapy.

Definition:
Client-centered therapy, which is also known as person-centered, non-directive, or Rogerian therapy, is
a counseling approach that requires the client to take an active role in his or her treatment with the
therapist being nondirective and supportive. In client-centered therapy, the client determines the course
and direction of treatment, while the therapist clarifies the client's responses to promote
self-understanding.
The goals of client-centered therapy are increased self-esteem and openness to experience.
Client-centered therapists work to help clients lead full lives of self-understanding and reduce
defensiveness, guilt, and insecurity. As well as have more positive and comfortable relationships with
others, and an increased capacity to experience and express their feelings.
History:
Client-centered therapy was developed in the 1930s by the American psychologist Carl Rogers.
Rogers was a humanistic psychologist who believed that how we live in the here-and-now and our
current perceptions are more important than the past. He also believed close personal relationships with
a supportive environment of warmth, genuineness, and understanding, are key for therapeutic change.
Rogers used the term 'client' instead of 'patient' to refer to the equal nature of the relationship between
the therapist and client in client-centered therapy. Rogers believed people are capable of self-healing and
personal growth, which leads to self-actualization, an important concept in client-centered therapy.
Self-actualization refers to the tendency of all human beings to move forward, grow, and reach their
full potential. Rogers believed self-actualization is hindered by negative, unhealthy attitudes about the
self.
Client Centered Therapy:
It is a non-directive form of talk therapy, meaning that it allows the client to lead the
conversation and does not attempt to steer the client in any way. This approach rests on one vital
quality: unconditional positive regard. This means that the therapist refrains from judging the client for
any reason, providing a source of complete acceptance and support (Cherry, 2017).
There are three key qualities that make for a good client-centered therapist:
Unconditional Positive Regard: as mentioned above, unconditional positive regard is an important
practice for the client-centered therapist. The therapist needs to accept the client for who they are
and provide support and care no matter what they are going through.
Genuineness: A client-centered therapist needs to feel comfortable sharing his or her feelings with the
client. Not only will this contribute to a healthy and open relationship between the therapist and client,
but it also provides the client with a model of good communication and shows the client that it’s
okay to be vulnerable.
Empathetic Understanding: the client-centered therapist must extend empathy to the client, both
to form a positive therapeutic relationship and to act as a sort of mirror, reflecting the client’s
thoughts and feelings back to them; this will allow the client to better understand themselves.
Goals of Client Centered Therapy:
 Greater agreement between the client’s idea and actual selves
 Better understanding and awareness
 Decreased defensiveness, insecurity, and guilt
 Greater trust in oneself
 Healthier relationships
 Improvement in self-expression
 Improved mental health overall
Success in Client Centered Therapy:
Rogers identified six conditions that are required for success in client-centered therapy:
1) The client and counselor are in psychological contact (a relationship).
2) The client is emotionally upset, in a state of incongruence.
3) The counselor is genuine and aware of their own feelings.
4) The counselor has unconditional positive regard for the client.
5) The counselor has an empathic understanding of the client and their internal frame of reference and
looks to communicate this experience with the client.
6) The client recognizes that the counselor has unconditional positive regard for them and an
understanding of the difficulties they are facing.
Techniques in Client Centered Therapy:
The techniques are:
i. Set clear boundaries
ii. Remember – the client knows best
iii. Don’t be judgmental
iv. Concentrate on what they are really saying
v. Be genuine
vi. Accept negative emotions
vii. Concentrate on what they are really saying
What Client-Centered Therapy Can Help With?
Client-centered therapy may help people who are experiencing:
1) Anxiety and psychosis 2) Dementia 3) Depression
4) Mood disorders 5) Negative thoughts related to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)