As practitioners, we believe that the relationship itself is the vehicle for change. Our goal is to create a special kind of helping relationship, and it starts with the person who is the therapist.
Carl Rogers’ theories stand out from other approaches and theories because it is a theory of attributes rather than a more traditional theory of techniques or procedures.
The focus is placed on the therapist’s way of being.
It starts with Carl Rogers’ three core conditions: unconditional positive regard (UPR), empathy, and congruence, or, as I prefer to call it, genuineness. Another important condition is the client’s ability to perceive and receive these three core conditions.
Let’s focus on UPR and empathy. These conditions are foundational if you want to work relationally, but the question is: are they instrumental or principled for you? Are they tools for you to pull out of your toolbox, or are they an embodiment of who you are?
Becoming a person-centred therapist is not just a journey towards becoming a better relational therapist; it is also a journey towards becoming a more caring and understanding human being, again in other words, you must grow as a person to grow as a person-centred therapist.
The third condition of genuineness will only be achieved once UPR and empathy can be perceived and receive by the client as authentic, and as a genuine part of WHO YOU ARE AS A PERSON not as a therapist.
As a result, your way of being becomes one of genuine, deep care and understanding. But what happens when clients encounter such a person within the boundaries of a helping relationship?
According to Carl Rogers, we often deny or distort experiences that may be difficult for us to make sense of and process. However, in such a space, the need to distort or deny their experiencing is reduced. As clients slowly reveal themselves and encounter genuine care and understanding, previously held understandings of themselves and others may be challenged. This creates space for a process of exploration and change, with the therapist inviting, reflecting, and facilitating the process while moving at the client’s pace.
Last thing I want to note, my depiction in this Person-centred work, is not entirely aligned with carl rogers works, as their small deviations but as it stands this is my current understanding of his works and is also partly informed by my own experiences of practicing PCT. I am sure in a years’ time there will be corrections I would make to this. But for now, this will be good enough.
