How does client-centered therapy work?

Client-centered therapy, also known as person-centered therapy, is an approach that emphasizes the importance of the therapeutic relationship and the client’s trust in their healing process. Empathy and congruence are the fundamental pillars of the entire journey.

Developed by psychologist Carl Rogers, its foundation is the premise that people have an innate capacity for growth and self-actualization. With the right support, it is stated that anyone is capable of discovering and solving their own problems. If you want to know more, we’ll tell you.

What is client-centered therapy about?

This therapy is oriented towards the client’s subjective experience and seeks to help them understand their internal world from their own perspective. The idea is that each individual naturally tends towards personal development and growth. In turn, it is possible to facilitate this inclination through a therapeutic environment that provides empathy, authenticity and unconditional acceptance.

Carl Rogers himself affirms that the concepts of repression and liberation included in this method draw from Freudian psychology, especially from the perspective of William Healey, a psychoanalyst who founded one of the first children’s clinics in the United States.

In this sense, introspection and catharsis are among the tools used to help the client reconnect with themselves and their needs and goals.

Therefore, This approach posits that the client is an expert in his or her experience and has the ability to find solutions. The therapist acts as a facilitator capable of providing a safe space that allows the subject to explore and better understand their thoughts, emotions and behaviors.

Difference from other forms of therapy

Distinct from more directive therapeutic approaches, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, which focus on changing patterns of thinking and behavior, Client-centered therapy emphasizes self-exploration and self-understanding.

That is, instead of providing advice or instructions, the therapist relies on the client’s ability to find their own solutions. The specialist does not play an authoritative role, but rather acts as a companion.

This is how this approach is executed

According to Rogers, It is applied through a collaborative therapeutic process. The therapist fulfills his facilitating role and the client makes the effort to investigate and express his deepest thoughts and emotions.

In this way, the development of self-awareness is encouraged and solutions are developed that are more congruent with personal experience.

What role does the therapist play in client-centered therapy?

Apart from the aforementioned creation of a safe environment, characterized by empathy and the absence of value judgments, The therapist works as a mirror and channel of the client’s emotions and thoughts. It is not your task to change the person, but rather to show them a reflection of what they express to help you in your interpretation.

To this end, the professional’s attitude must meet certain criteria. Rogers established the following:

The therapist operates on the principle that the individual is responsible for himself, Furthermore, he is willing for the patient to maintain that responsibility.It is assumed that the client has a strong drive to become mature, socially adjusted, independent and productive. For therapeutic change, the person depends on this force, not on his own powers.A warm and permissive atmosphere is created, with freedom to express any attitude and feeling, no matter how unconventional, absurd or contradictory these attitudes are.Only behavioral limits are set in the therapeutic process, never attitude. Rogers gives the example of not allowing a child to break a window, but he is free to feel the impulse.Use only procedures and techniques that convey your deep understanding of emotional attitudes expressed and your acceptance of them. The counselor’s acceptance does not imply approval or disapproval.The therapist also grows with this type of therapy, questioning, probing, blaming, interpretation, advice, suggestion, persuasion, reassurance and a long etcetera are reconsidered.

Relationship of trust and collaboration with the patient

Regarding the latter, it should be said that The therapeutic relationship in this approach is based on trust and collaboration. When it comes to giving meaning to existence, masks have no place. Neither does the lack of empathy, judgment or lies.

Part of building this relationship lies in getting the client to face crises from a constructive perspective, seeing them as opportunities to grow and cultivate new aspects of their identity.

How are customer problems identified?

Although patients usually come with specific complaints, part of the therapy is based on specify these problems and ensure that they can be operated on to find solutions. This is done through emotional and cognitive exploration and expression by the client.

This conversational approach is directed by the therapist, who returns expressions to the client in an orderly and clear manner.

Defining the goal in therapy

Once the client identifies the problems they want to solve and that are important to them, the therapist focuses on guiding them to establishing goals.

This is done with the previous information obtained from the patient about himself, his emotions and his motivations. Unlike other approaches, these goals are never the therapist’s directives.

Did you know such an approach to psychological therapy? Do you think it would be beneficial for you? Rogers trusted the power of people and the role of therapeutic companion; With this he achieved a different approach, whose influence has survived to this day.

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