An Analysis of Person-Centered Therapy in Humanistic Counselling

This essay provides an overview of contemporary humanistic counselling theory, focusing on person-centered therapy (PCT). It begins by introducing humanistic therapy and its emphasis on the inner self. The essay then delves into PCT, its development by Carl Rogers, and its core principles such as empathic understanding, congruence, and unconditional positive regard. It contrasts PCT with traditional therapies, highlighting its non-directive and empowering approach. The discussion extends to the strengths and weaknesses of therapeutic approaches, including the importance of the client-therapist relationship and the limitations in treating certain conditions like anxiety. The essay concludes by emphasizing the value of integrating traditional and contemporary approaches in patient care, emphasizing the importance of inner self awareness in finding solutions and navigating life's challenges. The essay uses books and journals as references.

CONTEMPORARY
HUMANISTIC
COUNSELLING THEORY

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................1
Essay on person Centered therapy (PCT)...................................................................................1
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................4
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................5

INTRODUCTION
Humanistic therapy can be understood as a mental health therapy, which describe the
significance of inner self which is important to lead the person to live their life fullest (Bolton,
2020). It is mainly based on the philosophy that everyone has the different aspect to see the
world. This essay covers the area which involves the person centered therapy along with its main
concepts. it further illustrates the Approach of traditional therapy which influence the
contemporary therapy.
MAIN BODY
Essay on person Centered therapy (PCT)
Person centred therapy define as the humanistic approach which generally deals with the
aspects in which the person follows themselves consciously, instead of what the counsellor
conveys their own unconscious thoughts. This theory was first developed by the Carl Rogers in
the year 1940s. It is the theory which is different from the traditional therapies. As every theory
are non-directive and empathic approach but this theory is unique as it enables the individual to
move forward. Roger’s Belief is that every person has the potential to fulfil their needs and
requirements. Therefore, person development theory is also known as the Rogerian therapy, this
theory has the major impact over the psychotherapy and in other disciplines (Pilarska, 2018). It
believes that instead of analysing that the person has the problematic behaviours and need
treatment for it, PCT identifies that every person has their own capacity and wish for their
growth and changes.
Rogers feels that person has their own understanding and self-concepts, basic nature and
attitudes. PCT trust the human believes and their potential it provides the individual a empath
and the positivity which enables them to facilitate change. In this therapist guides the person to
provide them cooperation and suitable structure which helps them to find their own solution by
themselves. It gives them a positivity to live their life fullest without any worries and to find the
solution by themselves to adapt the changes. As per the rogers it is important to have that the
relationship between the client and the therapist must in the order which is achievable to the
positive personal change. Therapist should be congruent and self-aware, it does not mean that
therapist should be a perfect image. Also, the other condition in this theory is that therapist must

need to accept the decision of the client as whether their experience is positive or negative.
During this therapy it is required that therapist need to understand the emotional aspect of the
client without begin with the emotional concept. Therapist also need to demonstrate the
emphatic understanding of the client.
Person centred therapy acts as a philosophical system approach that deals with the ways
in which an individual perceive themselves rather than how a counsellor may evaluate and
analyse them through their subconscious thoughts or persuasion. With the help of this concept, a
person can able to reach at its full potential and become their literal self which is also known as
self-actualization. This therapy is generated in order to specifically counsel and focus over
client's experiences of themselves irrespective of the counsellors viewpoints who forces their
expertise and tell them what to do and what was wrong with the patient. It is acknowledged as
one of the most influential and fundamental therapy process and is still applied almost
universally in this modern psychotherapy (Carvajal and et.al., 2019). In order to illustrate certain
key concepts that are associated with this special therapy must includes the methods of work as
there needs to become safe as per the environment because the service user is the one and only
who lead the procedure rather than the counsellor. Within this therapy, the emotional as well as
physical threat or needs to be removed completely for raw openness, personal expansion and
comfort. The three of the main concepts and principles that are highly encouraged the whole
condition believed to help achieve the safe environment such as:
• Empathic understanding: The counsellor trying to understand the client's point of
view.
• Congruousness: The counsellor being the genuine person.
• Unconditional positive regard: The counsellor being non-judgemental.
This therapy highly suitable for the clients who prefer to become free in order to talk
about their issues and problems in a supportive and facilitative environment. Rather than
following more directive and well framed approach with special techniques. This is extremely
useful for the people who are motivated by self discovery and work towards solving their issues
and challenges (Pilarska, 2018). This is a flexible form of therapy because it utilizes

individualistic approach. Hence, it is used to treat certain issues and conditions such as
relationship problems, anxiety, depression, anger, addictions, etc.
Over the years, the field of psychotherapy has seen an expansion of cognitive
behavioural strategies with a subsequent reduction in articles that focuses over empirical,
conformable and instructive formulation. The theories of psychotherapy act as a roadmap for
psychologists as it helps them to guide through the whole procedure of understanding clients and
their problems along with development of solutions. In context of traditional therapies it has
been identified that such therapies are highly expensive in nature as it includes in premise
therapy in physical format which costs higher for their patients (House, 2018). Apart from this
its commutation and scheduling also creates a situation of hassle as going at the place where the
counsellor exists took extra hours or more to the service users' day. The patient might need to
wait for longer period of time duration before starting the therapy session or even sometimes the
situation arises under which the patient might not like to talk or express their feelings along with
addressing their mental issues.
Thus, in order to deal are resolve the issues that has been raised because of tradition
approaches of therapies, the evolution of them into innovative and contemporary ones are
greatly significant. In context of contemporary therapies, it has been evaluated that these kinds
of process provides effectual advantages such as they teach the patient to become more
responsible towards their health by regain the balance between the mind and body because the
illness and pain feels are bought about the imbalances in the system (Allen Christensen, Lund
and Thuesen, 2019). Such therapies are not comparatively costly as traditional ones as it
includes certain ingredients which are highly beneficial for patients. Modern therapies are based
upon standard dosage that are tended to vary only with bodyweight or severity of diseases. In
today's world of modern treatment, holistic approaches has been utilized in both conventional
and alternative methods to help addicts in recovery of the patient.
In context of therapeutic approaches, it has been identified that the utilization of
psychological therapies in order to treat mental disorder is a key component of psychology at the
very initial level. This specific approaches include varied sections of methodology, community
care and areas of more recent controversy such as the detrimental effects of the therapy. This
specific approach involves various methods that are highly corrective and helping in nature. All

of them gets involved into interpersonal relationship between the therapist and the service user.
Some of them are directive in nature while some are on directive which might includes person
centred approaches (de Jong and et.al., 2021). There are various therapeutic approach strengths
and weaknesses which illustrates the whole concept in detailed manner such as it creates a sense
of relationship among the service user and the therapist with an aim to help the client in order to
overcome for their issues. Another advantage of this approach is that it involves limited duration
of time period of the overall therapy. This alliance lasts till the patient becomes able to deal
within their problems and take control over their life.
This relationship shares several unique properties along with trust and confiding. The
therapist within this specific approach conveys their behaviour which is not at all judgemental
towards the client and will constantly continue to show the same positive feelings towards the
patient even if the patient is highly rude or confides all the wrong things that they might have
done. This shows the unconditional positive regard which the therapist has for their patients.
However, apart from various strengths few weaknesses of this special approach includes certain
problems that can not be treated in most easy ways such as anxiety which is not be treated in so
much casual and effortless manner (Pirhonen and et.al., 2020). On the other hand, it has also
been identified that pharmacology may not be the best treatment for any individual. Due the
combination of strengths and weaknesses of therapeutic approaches, it has been identified that
the combination of traditional as well as contemporary approaches plays a major role while
handling their patients.
CONCLUSION
From the above it is concluded that the Humanistic therapy enables the individual to
learn from their inner self to find the solution, and to follow the right path in the life. This essay
lays out the development of the PCT, it further moves to key concepts of the PCT, also describes
as how traditional therapies have the influence over the creation of contemporary aspect for the
therapy. It also includes the strength and the weakness of the therapeutic aspects.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Allen Christensen, K., Lund, K.M. and Thuesen, J., 2019. Evaluation of person-centredness in
rehabilitation for people living with dementia is needed: a review of the
literature. Journal of aging research, 2019.
Bolton, M.J., 2020. Hello, Neighbor: A Process of Person-centered Mentorship Inspired by Carl
and Fred Rogers. The Person-Centered Journal. 25. pp.32-58.
Carvajal, A., and et.al., 2019. Barriers and facilitators perceived by registered nurses to
providing person-centred care at the end of life. A scoping review.
de Jong, Y., and et.al., 2021. Person centred care provision and care planning in chronic kidney
disease: which outcomes matter? A systematic review and thematic synthesis of
qualitative studies. BMC nephrology. 22(1). pp.1-16.
House, R., 2018. Therapy beyond modernity: Deconstructing and transcending profession-
centred therapy. Routledge.
Pilarska, A., 2018. Big-Five personality and aspects of the self-concept: Variable-and person-
centered approaches. Personality and Individual Differences. 127. pp.107-113.
Pirhonen, L., and et.al., 2020. Modelling the cost-effectiveness of person-centred care for
patients with acute coronary syndrome. The European Journal of Health
Economics. 21(9). pp.1317-1327.