Person-Centred Therapy
Person-centred therapy is a humanistic approach to counselling that puts you at the heart of the process. Developed by Carl Rogers, it is based on the belief that you have the capacity for growth, self-understanding, and positive change when given the right conditions.
This approach is guided by three core principles:
- Empathy – Understanding your world from your perspective.
- Unconditional Positive Regard – Accepting you without judgment.
- Congruence – Being genuine and transparent in our therapeutic relationship.
Person-centred therapy is particularly helpful for those seeking to build self-acceptance, improve relationships, or navigate life’s challenges with greater clarity and confidence.
Existential Therapy
Existential therapy is a philosophical approach to counselling that explores life’s big questions—meaning, freedom, responsibility, and identity. Rather than focusing solely on past experiences, this approach helps you reflect on how you relate to the world right now and what choices you have moving forward.
Key themes in existential therapy include:
- Meaning & Purpose – Exploring what truly matters to you.
- Freedom & Choice – Recognising your ability to shape your own path.
- Uncertainty & Change – Learning to navigate life’s unpredictability.
- Authenticity – Living in a way that feels true to yourself.
While I am primarily person-centred in my approach, I integrate existential ideas to help clients explore deeper questions about their identity, values, and direction in life.
Person-Centred Therapy Vs Other Approaches
Person-centred therapy is a non-directive approach that differs from more structured forms of counselling. While all therapies aim to support personal growth and well-being, they vary in how they guide the process:
- Person-Centred Therapy – Focuses on self-exploration in a safe, accepting space. The therapist offers empathy, non-judgment, and genuine presence, allowing clients to find their own answers rather than being given advice or structured techniques.
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) – A more goal-oriented approach that focuses on identifying and changing negative thought patterns to improve emotional well-being.
- Psychodynamic Therapy – Explores how past experiences and unconscious processes influence present behaviour, often looking at childhood and deep-seated emotions.
- Existential Therapy – Like person-centred therapy, it values self-exploration, but it also focuses on themes like meaning, choice, and personal responsibility in life.
Person-centred therapy is ideal for those seeking a gentle, exploratory approach that prioritises self-awareness and personal growth over structured interventions.
Further Reading
[1] Psychology Today: Provides an overview of person-centered therapy, discussing its principles and applications.
[2] Simply Psychology: Offers insights into the core conditions of person-centered therapy and its development by Carl Rogers.
[3] Verywell Health: Explains the fundamentals of person-centered therapy and how it works.
[4] Psychology Today: Explores the focus of existential therapy on free will, self-determination, and the search for meaning.
[5] BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy): Discusses how existential therapy helps clients make sense of their place in the world.
[6] Counselling Tutor: "Counselling Theories Compared and Contrasted"
This article offers a comparative analysis of various counselling theories, highlighting the distinctions and overlaps between person-centred therapy and other modalities.
[7] Simply Psychology: "Person-Centered Therapy (Rogerian Therapy)"
An overview of person-centred therapy, discussing its principles and how it contrasts with other therapeutic methods.
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