Person Centred Counselling
(also known as client centred) or Rogerian counselling.
A Humanistic Approach to Counselling and Psychotherapy
This approach views human beings as having an innate capacity to grow and realise their full potential. However, this natural tendency can become blocked or distorted by life experiences—especially when we are made to feel that love and acceptance are conditional upon behaving in certain ways or suppressing particular feelings.
To feel valued, we may begin to deny or distort parts of our inner experience that we believe are unacceptable. Over time, this disconnect can lead to confusion, low self-worth, and emotional distress.
The role of the counsellor or psychotherapist is to create a safe, non-judgemental environment where clients do not feel threatened or criticised. In this supportive space, clients are encouraged to explore and accept more of who they truly are. Through this process, they can reconnect with their own values and rediscover their inner strength and self-worth—enabling them to find their own way forward.
Central to this approach is the therapist’s commitment to understanding the client’s experience from the client’s perspective, offering empathy, authenticity, and unconditional positive regard. These core attitudes are only truly effective if the client experiences them as genuine. Therefore, the therapeutic relationship itself becomes a powerful vehicle for change and healing.
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