Person Centred Counselling Therapy in London

What is Person-Centred Therapy?

Person-centred therapy (also known as client-centred therapy) is based on a humanistic approach that focusses on how the individual sees himself consciously, instead of the counsellor figuring out the client’s personality based on past experiences, thoughts, or ideas.

This therapy is based on the idea that every individual can reach up to the full potential on their own. This is considered to be an innate tendency of every person. However, this tendency can be seen blocked or reduced due to some bad life experiences, particularly the things that have a great impact on our sense of value.

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What is Person-Centred Therapy?

Client-centred therapy belongs to the humanistic school and is formulated by Carl Rogers, an American psychologist. In the 1950s, Rogers came up with the idea that there should be therapy based on the client’s own experiences and perception of themselves, as opposed to the therapist becoming the expert and guiding them about what to do and what not to do.

Person-centred therapy is a counselling approach where the client is required to take a complete active role in the treatment where the therapist is supportive and non-directive in the whole process.

As the name suggests, in this therapy, the client decides the direction and course of their treatment, while the role of the therapist is to help the client in self-understanding.

The therapist is not supposed to be interfering with the client’s ways too much. He/she is meant to support the client and encourage them during the therapeutic process to help the client in the self-discovery journey. The whole therapy is based on the quality of the relationship between the client and the counsellor.

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How Does Person-Centred Therapy Works?

A comfortable environment is proposed to the client with the chance to be open about anything they want to speak. Client-Centred therapy was a movement is opposed to the other traditional therapies where the therapist is given the lead role. This therapy is based on the following conditions:

1. Empathetic understanding

The therapist cannot judge the client and he has to accept the client’s thoughts and ideas openly. All that the client shares should be taken in the most empathetic way so that the client can confide in the therapist.

2. Congruence

It means there will no superiority or authority in the whole session in terms of professionalism or knowledge. The therapist must present himself as honest and transparent in front of the client.

3. Unconditional positive regard

It is the core of person-centred therapy. The therapist is not allowed to put forward their critical evaluation which might let down the client. They should present an encouraging behaviour after listening to the client so that the client is encouraged to make their decisions on their own.

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Who should seek Person-Centred Therapy?

Generally, person-centred therapy is suitable for all individuals of all ages with personal issues. People often like this therapy because it provides them the liberty to take the situations in their hands. They don’t have to be worried about being judged or evaluated. There is no critical analysis involved in this therapy.

Since this is a non-directive approach, it is best for the people who want to explore themselves and want to take control of their mental processes. Those who have have some specific psychological issues or unusual patterns of behaviours can also benefit from this therapy.

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What Can Person-Centred Therapy Help With?

This approach is said to be effective in following issues specifically:

• Depression
• Stress
• Mental health concerns
• Grief
• Anxiety

Because these issues have a very deep effect on the self-esteem of an individual, they shouldn’t be ignored. Person-centred therapy helps the person to reconnect with his inner self. The client is on the leading chair in the therapy and the therapist just helps them to figure out their thoughts and ideas.

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What results come from attending Person-Centred Therapy sessions?

Congruence, empathy, and unconditional positive regard can help the person to enhance their self-esteem, the ability to solve issues and flourish. Along with improving the lack of self-reliance in the client, the therapy also encourages the client to be open to new experiences.

It is the core believes of the humanistic approach that personal relationships and social environment matter a lot for a person’s well-being.

That’s why the therapy is offered in a relaxing environment to make sure the client feels comfortable. By offering such an environment, the client is appreciated and encouraged to weigh out the situations. The client becomes able to understand how his past experiences have been ruining the present, and what should be done now.

• Client-centred therapy benefits the client in various ways. For instance, after the therapy sessions, the client.
• Explores a better agreement between the actual and ideal self.
• Is free from the feelings of guilt, resentment, and defensiveness.
• Can develop healthier relationships.
• Has very improved self-image and self-expression.
• Accepts the change in a better way than before.
• Achieves the state of better understanding and self-awareness.
• will be able to solve any issues in the future.

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What is unique to Person-Centred Therapy?

The techniques in person-centred therapy are different from the ones used in other therapies. One of the basic differences is that the other therapies focus on solving the issues in the therapy sessions, but in this therapy, the client is given an environment by the therapist to explore self-awareness and resolve the problems by himself.

The client is the one who ought to manage the ways to get out of any critical situation.

Moreover, client-centred therapy is focused on the client being the leading person. Because he does it himself, following those remedies becomes easy. While other therapies are often focused on the therapist being the person guiding the client. The therapist often makes the plan and ask the client to follow it for better changes.

Person-centred therapy is unique in its way. The best thing about this therapy is that it aids in making the client have control over their life which makes it all better.