What is the Person Centred Approach?
The person centred approach, known as person centred counselling, is a Humanistic psychotherapy approach was developed by psychologist Carl Rogers in the 1950's. The idea behind the person centred approach to counselling is that by providing a non judgemental environment where a person can relax and feel comfortable, the therapist is able to facilitate the individual’s natural potential for psychological growth and wellbeing.
Person centred counselling holds that all individuals are capable of realizing their own goals of personal achievement when they feel that they are not under any kind of psychological or physiological danger and have the freedom to be themselves. When using the person centred approach to counselling, the environment created during the therapy session is more important that what is discussed or identifying what the client is experiencing and how to develop treatment.
In order to practice person centred counselling, a psychologist must always try to see things from the client’s perspective and be willing to not always look like the expert concerning any psychological matters. The therapist must try to establish a genuine, non judgemental relationship with the client and always have an unconditional positive regard for the client, no matter what he or she says or does. The person centred approach involves creating an authentic, empathetic understanding of the client’s situation and issues.
Why Choose Person Centred Counselling?
Clients generally prefer person centred counselling, to some other approaches because it feels more authentic and because it gives them the freedom to direct the counselling session in a way which suits them. Many clients seeking psychological help are attracted to person centred counselling because they get to keep control of the content and pace of the therapy session. Clients can talk about whichever topic they wish to and the counselling session is lead by them. Clients can discuss anything from unsettling thoughts and feelings or to trouble dealing with grief and relationship issues. The therapist will not judge anything said and will not lead the client away from the topic. The person centred approach is a non directive style of therapy and can have a profound effect on the personal well being of the client. Individuals often leave the counselling session feeling more understood, supported and accepted, having been able to explore your thoughts and feelings without fear of criticism or disapproval.
Some of the benefits of Person Centred Counselling include:
- Having somebody to listen to you
- Being able to see things in a differently
- Coping better with issues in your life
- Better relationship with self
- Raise awareness of self
- Decreased defensiveness
- Lowered guilt and insecurity
- Trusting oneself
- Improved relationships
- Better self esteem
- Less fear of communicating and expressing
- General sense of positive change
How I use the Person Centred Approach?
I provide person centred counselling for clients in Rainham and South Woodford as well as providing telephone and online counselling. Using the person centred approach, I focus my counselling sessions by seeing all issues from the client’s perspective. As my client, I will accept you in all your humanity, aiming to be always open and genuine throughout the duration of our therapy sessions. I will hold a positive and unconditional space for the you, so that you can discover your true potential for self healing and psychological growth. The purpose using the person centred approach is for you to understand your own feelings and reconnect with your self worth, by being accepted and supported within a trusted relationship.