Person-Centered Therapy: A Case Study

"It is the client who knows what hurts, what directions to go, what problems are crucial, what experiences have been deeply buried" (Rogers). This is the basic principle in which Carl Rogers defined his views on person centered therapy. Rogers felt the role of the therapist was to provide an atmosphere conducive to trust therein allowing the person seeking help to feel a sense of safety. In turn this allowed the person to fully embrace the therapy process without fear with the ability to delve into their innermost self in order to learn who they really were. So as to preserve this process Rogers had three tenets: unconditional positive regard, through therapy the client learns more about their true self, becoming the self they were meant to be. To Rogers the idea of unconditional positive regard meant regardless …show more content…
Rogers tells of a client who described the sense of relief she felt once she no longer had her multitude of facades to hide behind. As each mask falls away the client can explore within their life and enjoy the freedom of living the way they feel they should. Once we open ourselves to the all the experiences life has to offer we then see the true beauty of this gift we were all given. Within the safety of client-centered therapy the client allows their defenses to drop and begins to experience life. These new experiences will help shape person they are becoming. However, in order for that to happen the client must first place a great deal of trust in their own self. The client must not be afraid to make mistakes or let their fear dictate how they live. The person who is emerging during this time of growth now understands their feelings and impulses that were previously hidden. The client has an understanding for the social norms of society and can choose a path to follow that satisfies all of their