Core Therapeutic Principles

Theoretical Underpinnings of
PERSON-CENTRED THERAPY
(PCT)
Dr Maria Livanou
 Aims of Lecture

■ To present a summary of the main theoretical

underpinnings of PCT

■ To demonstrate how the theoretical model which

underlies PCT leads to very specific core therapeutic
principles.
Background
■ Introduced by Carl Rogers (1902 – 1987)

■ Client-centred or Rogerian therapy

■ Influenced by Humanism

■ Developed at a time when psychoanalytic approaches were dominant.

■ Focus shifted to conscious experiential processes and on the here and now.

■ Moving away from the medical model which viewed emotional difficulties
and mental health problems as illnesses (moving from patient → client)
 PCT model:
How (or why) do emotional problems develop? (a)

■ Psychological difficulties or undesirable behaviours are signs of a

person ‘temporarily’ straying away from their own unique path
towards self-actualisation
– Actualising tendency - to grow towards one’s own full potential
or personal fulfilment →Satisfaction of psychological, creative
and spiritual needs
– The actualizing tendency continues throughout one’s life; people
are always in a state of evolving.
PCT model:
How (or why) do emotional problems develop? (b)

■ Organismic Valuing Process: For every person, the path

towards self-actualisation is unique and consequently the
factors that are important or necessary to achieve self-
actualusation are different. →Each of us needs to know what
is of value.

■ The organismic valuing process is the ability to appraise

experiences and select goals based on our inner needs or nature
PCT model:
How (or why) do emotional problems develop? (c)

■ All humans have a fundamental need for positive regard.

■ Conditions of worth: the conditions that people think they

we must meet in order to be loved and accepted

■ Real inner self and self-concept

• Real inner self vs. self-concept: the former exists from the start of
life the latter is established through our social interactions.
• Need for acceptance may force us to move away from own
personal needs and goals.
 PCT model:
How (or why) do emotional problems develop? (d)

■ Emotional and behavioural difficulties are triggered by conflict,

between our
– own personal needs and what others (family, society, a partner,
etc.) want,
– our own personal needs and our self-concept
■ Incongruence: element(s) of experience are unacceptable and denied
or distorted.
 The primary goal of therapy:
The organisation and the functioning of the self

“Psychotherapy deals primarily with the organisation and the

functioning of the self. […] There are many elements of experience
which the self cannot face cannot clearly perceive because to face
them or admit them would be inconsistent with and threatening to
the current organisation of the self”
Rogers, 1951; p.40
 Fundamental notions (a)
■ Clients: the experts of their lives

■ It is the clients (not the therapist) that need to direct, guide, control the treatment
process.
■ People are good by nature; psychological difficulties (or undesirable behaviours) are only signs
of a person ‘temporarily’ straying away from their own unique path towards self-fulfilment.
■ Counselling needs to be non-directive. Therapist merely provides the conditions that are
necessary for the client to feel able to (free to) express thoughts and emotions, explore needs,
etc.→ conditions for growth
– No advice, instructions, guidance, praise, criticism or interpretation
– An environment of acceptance, free of judgement: unconditional positive regard.
(Rogers, 1961)
 Fundamental notions (b)

■ The therapist needs to be congruent, i.e., non-judgemental and accepting

towards the client; to behave and react in a genuine and authentic way; to
be in touch with own feelings and experience

■ Therapist needs to have and to demonstrate (to the client) a good

understanding of the clients feelings, thoughts and experiences
→empathy.
■ emotional and cognitive empathy – look it up
■ attunement (e.g., in the work of the relational psychoanalyst Heinz Kohut) – look it up

■ Empathy vs sympathy: sympathy implies the emotional participation in the

clients emotional experiences, the sharing of these experiences.
Independent study

■ Find out more about the theoretical model that underpins PCT
and about the views of Carl Rogers.

■ Examine – consider – critically appraise:

– The validity of different aspects of this model
– Weaknesses and limitations
Independent Study - Critical reflection about PCT

■ Is PCT effective? Is there any evidence that it helps people overcome emotional or behavioural problems?
If yes, what kind of problems?
■ Is it feasible – possible to be congruent? Is there any evidence that therapist can achieve congruence? Can
a therapist always be empathic? Is there evidence to suggest that sympathy has a negative impact on
clinical outcome?
■ PCT focuses a lot on the therapeutic relationship; is there any evidence that the client-therapist
relationship is stronger (better) in PCT than it is in other approaches?
■ If the client-therapist relationship is so important, how do we explain the success of manualised treatment
or computerised psychotherapy?
■ Is there any evidence to support that people have an innate tendency to actualise?
■ Can we prove that only people with emotional problems have strayed from the path of self-actualisation?
■ Is there any evidence to support that only people with conflicts (between inner self and self-concept)
develop emotional difficulties?
■ ….etc. etc, etc….
Suggested reading

■ Hayes, K. (2015). Person-centred therapy. In S. Palmer (Ed.), The beginner’s

guide to counselling & psychotherapy (pp. 207-222). 55 City Road, London:
SAGE Publications Ltd doi: 10.4135/9781473918061.n17

■ Rogers, C. R. (1957) ‘The necessary and sufficient conditions of therapeutic

personality change’, Journal of Consulting Psychology, 21(2), 95–103.

■ Rogers, C. R. (1961) On Becoming a Person. London: Constable.

■ Rogers, C.R. (1951) Client-centred therapy. London. Constable and Co, Ltd.