Client Centered Therapy A Humanistic Approach to Healing

What Is Client-Centered Therapy?

Client-centered therapy or person-centered therapy is a non-directive psychotherapy or talk therapy. It is an evidence-based practice, which believes in taking a humanistic approach to therapeutic sessions. Meaning, it approaches them with a sense of empathy, understanding, and compassion.

Client-centered therapy was developed in the 1930s by one of the most famous psychologists of all time, Carl Rogers. Like everything else in psychology that came up as a response to psychoanalysis, Rogers wanted client-centered therapy to serve as a contrast to it. He believed that every person’s interpretation of their experiences is valid, and by providing a safe and respectful environment, positive changes can be achieved.

Client-centered is different from other psychotherapies in that by saying “person-centered,” it simply does not stop at putting the focus on the client. Instead, it considers the client to be an equal partner in psychotherapy. It emphasizes client autonomy as it understands that the client is the best person to understand their experiences and life in general. In doing so, it brings about a positive change in the client.

Key Concepts of Client-Centered Therapy

In being a person-centered approach, there are some key concepts that are central to client-centered therapy.

“Client” vs. “Patient” – Ever since Rogers came into the picture, in psychological settings, the term “patient” has been replaced with the term “client.” What this means is that client-centered therapy does not view people as sick or looking for a cure. Instead, by addressing them as clients, Rogers saw them as people in control of what they want in life and seeking to overcome challenges.

Genuineness and Congruence – In client-centered therapy, a rapport between the therapist and client is crucial. Genuineness and congruence pave the path forward for open communication between the therapist and client, and this is central for getting the clients to open up, share their feelings and experiences, and engage in an honest conversation.

Unconditional Positive Regard – Unconditional positive regard is when therapists consistently show acceptance, support, and care toward the client, regardless of the circumstances. Therapists convey their unconditional positive regard for the client when they express positive feelings, maintain eye contact, actively listen, and engage wholeheartedly in every session without judgment.

Empathetic Understanding – Empathy is what makes the client know they are fully understood. Therapists express empathy toward the client by being aware, perceptive, and sensitive toward the client so that they can gain insights into their deepest thoughts, feelings, and experiences.

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The Importance of Self-Concept in Client-Centered Therapy

The sense of self or self-concept is something that Rogers paid particular attention to when he developed client-centered therapy. Three things to consider in understanding Carl Rogers’ theory of self are the perceived self, the real self, and the ideal self. This is akin to a triangle, and the ideal self is the basis of the triangle supporting the other two selves.

• Perceived Self – How a person sees themselves.
• Real Self – What the person is really like.
• Ideal Self – What the person likes to be.

Rogers believed that when people get into therapy, there is an incongruence between the perceived self and the real self, and the focus of client-centered therapy is to create a congruence between the perceptions (self-concept) of the person’s real self and ideal self. How a person may perceive themselves (perceived self) may be different from the reality (real self), and far from how they want to see themselves (ideal self)

Client-centered therapy seeks to establish congruence between the client’s perceptions of their real self and ideal self by increasing self-awareness, providing genuine support, and building self-esteem. In this manner, the client begins to experience a positive change in themselves.

How Client-Centered Therapy Works?

Client-centered therapy takes a humanistic approach to therapy, meaning it approaches the client with empathy, compassion, and in a non-judgmental manner. It does not delve too much into the past, and neither does it focus too much on the client’s negative thinking patterns and behaviors, shifting the blame on them. Instead, the sessions are conducted in a safe environment for clients to open up and freely communicate their feelings and experiences.

Client-centered therapy adopts a person-centered approach, wherein the client plays an equal, active role in the therapy. There is no power difference in the therapeutic relationship, as client-centered therapy is a non-directive therapy. The therapist is not the director of the therapy, but a facilitator of the therapy. Therapists view their clients as being in control of their goals and future, and capable of overcoming challenges in life. They do not offer unsolicited advice, but trust in client autonomy and their ability to bring positive changes in themselves for an overall healthy, fulfilling life.

What Can Client-Centered Therapy Help With?

Client-centered therapy is used in the treatment of a wide range of mental health conditions, including:

• Anxiety disorders
• Panic attacks
• Phobias
• Mood disorders
• Substance use disorders
• Eating disorders
• Dementia
• Post-traumatic stress disorder

Client-centered therapy is also helpful in treating other concerns like grief, relationship problems, stress management, and low self-esteem/low self-worth.

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Methods Used in Client-Centered Therapy

The main methods used in client-centered therapy are genuineness and congruence, unconditional positive regard, and empathetic understanding. Apart from these three, client-centered therapists also use the following techniques to bring about a positive change in clients:

• Active Listening –  

  Active listening involves listening to understand and communicating the understanding by providing feedback on what the client is saying.

• Reflection – 

  Reflection is when the therapist acts as a mirror to the client’s thoughts and feelings. It allows the therapist to gain insight into what they are struggling with. Reflective questioning and statements can help with this.

• Open-Ended Questioning – 

  Open-ended questions do not have a simple yes or no answer. By posing open-ended questions, it opens the doorway to more deeper and honest conversations.

• Positive Tone – 

  Maintaining a positive tone with the client makes the client feel accepted and understood. It also showcases a lack of judgment and gets the client to open up more by keeping any kind of discomfort at bay.

• Setting Boundaries – 

  There is a need to set boundaries to bring structure to the sessions, establish how long a session will last, and rule out certain topics to maintain a therapeutic relationship that is healthy and appropriate. However, where flexibility is required, the therapist can offer additional help when necessary.

Benefits of Client-Centered Therapy

Client-centered therapy can have many benefits.

• Empowerment – 

  As client-centered therapy is person-centered, clients are empowered to take control of their lives, overcome challenges, and move toward self-actualization.

• Key Personal Insights – 

  Client-centered therapy involves active listening, reflective listening, and open-ended questioning. These therapeutic techniques allow clients to probe deeper into themselves and gain a deeper insight into their thoughts, feelings, and experiences.

• Improved Self-Concept – 

  Client-centered therapy focuses on bridging the gap between the real self and the ideal self, bringing clients closer to what they want to be. This enhances their self-concept.

• Increased Self-Esteem – 

  With an improved self-concept, there is an increase in self-esteem as well. Clients are more confident of themselves and this also helps develop a more positive outlook toward life.

• Emotional Resilience – 

  By relying on the client’s strengths to bring about a positive change, client-centered therapy helps in building emotional resilience. This also equips clients with better problem-solving skills.

• Overall Emotional Well-Being – 

  With emotional resilience comes a sense of positive outlook toward life, health, and overall emotional well-being.

How Effective is Client-Centered Therapy?

Usually, the effectiveness of client-centered therapy and even other forms of psychotherapy is measured using three metrics – symptom severity and reduction, improved functional outcomes, and an increase in the overall quality of life.

Client-centered therapy is an evidence-based therapy and has been effective in treating mental health conditions like anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Who Can Benefit From Client-Centered Therapy?

Client-centered therapy can benefit clients suffering from a wide range of mental health conditions, including anxiety, phobias, panic attacks, depression, substance use disorders, personality disorders, and even other issues like low self-esteem and relationship problems.

Overall, it is effective for those who are seeking relief from their mental health conditions, establishing better relationships with others, and engaging in personal growth.

However, it is important to keep in mind that client-centered therapy is not for all and may not benefit everybody. It is not without criticism either, as it has often been questioned for being vague. People looking for more structure and direction can find this difficult to adapt to.

Things to Consider Before Starting Client-Centered Therapy

Starting with client-centered therapy can feel like treading on uncharted waters. It can also feel new and overwhelming. So, something to consider before getting it is knowing that there might be a need to open up about even the most discomforting experiences. Questions, while open-ended, may seem intrusive for some.

A person-centered approach is non-directive, as the client is expected to be an equal partner and play an active role in the therapy. Some clients may prefer more direction in therapy and hence this approach may not feel useful.

While client-centered therapy takes a humanistic approach where empathy and unconditional positive regard play a huge role, it is crucial that a respectful and trustful rapport is established between the therapist and client. However, in some cases where clients do not feel safe or respected by their therapist, then positive change becomes very difficult to achieve.

How to Get Started With Client-Centered Therapy?

The first step to starting with client-centered therapy is finding a licensed and skilled psychologist, psychiatrist, or social worker who is trained in client-centered therapy. This can be time-consuming and seem uncertain, especially if it is for the first time. At the NuView Treatment Center, we believe in finding the right therapy and therapist for our clients. Our medical and clinical team takes time to assess every client’s unique circumstances, needs, and goals in life and find the right client-centered therapists who will facilitate their journey toward healing and self-actualization.

During the first session, the client-centered therapist will understand the client by posing questions regarding their concerns and establishing what they can expect during the therapy and hope to get from the therapy. It will also involve filling out forms regarding medical details, medication details, privacy forms, insurance details, and a client-therapist agreement form. 

The following sessions will see the client take a more active role by opening up, having honest conversations, exploring challenges, overcoming challenges, and journeying toward personal growth and self-actualization. 

We believe in client autonomy and encourage voicing questions or uncertainties regarding the therapy, and refer to trusted persons like family members, friends, or a primary healthcare provider.

Final Takeaways

• Client Autonomy – 

Client-centered therapy is person-centered. It empowers clients to take control of their lives and journey toward self-actualization. Clients are considered equal partners in the therapeutic relationship, capable of overcoming challenges by relying upon their own strengths.

• Humanistic Approach – 

Client-centered therapy emphasizes genuineness, empathetic understanding, and unconditional positive regard in psychotherapy. It creates a safe, non-directive, and non-judgmental space for clients to express open up regarding their thoughts and emotions.

• Self-Awareness and Personal Growth – 

Active listening, reflection, and open-ended questioning are all methods the client-centered therapists use to facilitate clients in gaining a deeper insight into their thoughts and emotions. This builds self-awareness and emotional resilience, fostering a lasting change.

• Improved Self-Concept – 

Client-centered therapy helps establish an improved self-concept by aligning clients’ perceptions of their real and ideal selves. It helps in building self-esteem and a positive outlook toward life.

• Room for Exploration – 

Client-centered therapy provides a safe and conducive environment for clients to explore their sense of self, achieve personal healing, and journey toward personal growth. It facilitates a meaningful, positive change.

• Wide Applicability – 

Client-centered therapy can benefit people dealing with anxiety, phobias, panic attacks, depression, eating disorders, substance use disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorder.