Person centered therapy

Person Centered Therapy (PCT) is one of the techniques of Psychotherapy often used by therapists where much of the responsibilities of the treatment process are placed on the patient and therapists take non-directive roll. In this therapy, the therapists create a comfortable environment where the patient can open up and find the solutions of their problems on their on. Therapists just help to choose the right path. Therapists create a non-judgmental environment and provide the client lots of unconditional positive regard. Sometimes this formula helps a lot to understand the mental state of a patient then other known therapies. But this process has some pros and cons too.

Carl Rogers developed Person Centered Therapy in the decade of 40s to 50s. So this is termed alternatively as “Rogerian psychotherapy”.  There are six different important conditions which are considered to act together to enable the positive charge in the patient or client. These conditions are needed to change the personality of the client. They are: relationships, vulnerability to anxiety, genuineness, the client’s perception of the therapist’s genuineness, the therapist’s unconditional positive regard for the client and accurate empathy. These factors form the basis of PCT. The congruency of the therapist is one of the important constraints. This means that the therapist must be able to build a ‘therapeutic relationship with the patient and to empathize the client with their experience and try to build a strong relationship. Person Centered Therapy is all about this way of taking the clients to create their own way of getting out of their problem. From 1960, PCT became associated with Human Potential Movement. This described human nature as inherently good rather than selfish and corrupt described by previous psychological theories. This self-actualization concerns on the good parts of human nature and human strength rather than human defiance.

The successful Person Centered Therapy can lead the client to a self growth and self-esteem, trust in the inner feelings and increase ability to take decisions on this inner-feeling. Whereas after an unsuccessful treatment, the client will not move in the direction of self-esteem rather he or she may completely lost faith in them. Although Rogers developed this theory in a children’s clinic, there is no restriction applying this theory to any age group.  Later, Roger worked with many Schizophrenic clients and successfully applied this theory. The theory is also applicable for those who are suffering from anxiety or emptiness or personal disorders.