Person-centred therapy is a type of counselling, where you can talk to a counsellor to help you with different types of emotions, issues, and problems.
Person-centred counselling was developed by the psychologist and Therapist Carl Rogers.
It is what is known as a non-directive approach, what I mean by this is that the person seeing the counsellor does not get told how to make themselves better, it is more of the belief in person-centred counselling that the person receiving counselling is the one that knows themselves the best and with the help of the right kind of environment, that person in therapy can unlock their own answers.
To do this I as a counsellor would be empathic and listen attentively to what you are saying but I would also not judge you for what you are saying, my aim is to make a safe place for you to explore thoughts, feelings, and emotions, without being judged for having those thoughts, feelings, and emotions.
Below are a few main points of a person-centred counselling session.
1. Meeting Your Counsellor: First, you'll meet your counsellor. They're not there to judge you or tell you what to do. The counsellor is there to create a warm, empathetic, and non-judgmental environment to help you feel safe and comfortable. Trust between you and counsellor is important.
2. You Decide What to Talk About: In this type of therapy, you get to decide what you want to talk about. It can be about your feelings, thoughts, or anything that's on your mind. The therapist is there to listen and support you. You are encouraged to lead the discussion and decide that topics to explore.
3. Counsellor Actively Listens: When you start talking, the therapist listens very carefully. They want to understand how you feel and what you're going through. They might ask questions to learn more. The counsellor will pay close attention to your your words, feelings, and emotions. They may even reflect back what you say, using statements like, "It sounds like you're feeling..." or "I hear you saying..."
4. Empathetic Understanding: The counsellor seeks to understand your perspective from your point of view and empathize with their feelings and experiences. The aim of this is to help you feel heard.
5. No Right or Wrong: In Person-Centred Therapy is that there's no "right" or "wrong" way to feel or think. The counsellor accepts you for who you are and doesn't judge you.
6. Helping You Explore: While they won't give you answers or solutions, the counsellor will help you explore your thoughts and feelings. Through open-ended questions and gentle reflections, the counsellor will encourage you to explore your emotions, thoughts, and concerns at your own pace. It's like they're your guide on a journey of self-discovery.
7. Understanding Yourself: By talking things out and getting support, you can start to understand yourself better. You might figure out why you feel a certain way or how to handle tough situations.
8. Feeling Better: The goal is for you to feel better and more confident about yourself. It's like having a safe space to talk and work through your feelings, so that you can bring about positive change in your life.
9. Ending the Session: When your session is over, there is usually a recap and reflection on what was discussed. You and the counsellor talk about goals for future sessions or continue exploring specific issues.
So as a person-centred counsellor I believe that Person-Centred Therapy is particularly effective for people who seek a supportive and non-directive approach to therapy, and it can be used to address a wide range of psychological and emotional issues.
Its core goals are on building a therapeutic relationship and the belief that people have the capacity to find their own path to healing and personal growth.