Key Features Of Person-Centred Approach Essay

Having an understanding of the limitations can strengthen how the social worker applies the key features and assumptions of the case. The key features of the person-centred approach are empathy, unconditional positive regard and self-actualisation. Empathy allows the therapist to view the world from the client’s perspective. The client’s world will include their values, experiences, feelings and perception (Miller, 2012, p.46). For the social worker, this means being able to examine everything about the client’s world, and not necessarily what the client is verbalising (Miller, 2012, p. 46). Empathy is a key part of the person-centred approach as it allows the client to be listened to in a non-judgemental and supportive environment provided …show more content…
The social worker must recognise Kathryn has reasons for her behaviour (such as her risky drug taking behaviour) which she may not be consciously aware (Miller, 2012, p. 49). To develop unconditional positive regard it is important that the social worker is able to self-reflect on their practice and is aware of how they are perceived by others. For example, if the social worker was to display a negative reaction to Kathryn’s drug use, this could affect the development of unconditional positive regard. This is because unconditional positive regard also explores the nature of how the client is feeling and challenges the client’s perceptions. It is important to establish an environment that the client is able to reflect on their thoughts, which will help the social worker facilitate change in their life (Miller, 2012, p. 50). For unconditional positive regard to be established and to bring about change in the life of Kathryn, the social worker must challenge the preconceptions they might have about drug use and other influences in Kathryn’s life. This will allow Kathryn to reflect on how her drug use may be connected to how she feels about other issues in her