Person-Centered
Theory
Stephanie Smith
Daniel Mendoza
Adrian Tamas
Carl RogersBorn: January 18, 1902Died: February 4, 1987
• Among the Founders of the Humanistic approach
• His approach was to understand personality and human
relationship
• His core theme in therapy is non-judgmental listening &
• acceptance of the client, better known as unconditional
• positive regard
• Nominated for the Noble Peace Prize in 1987
Grant, S.K. Person Centered Therapy, Psychology 460: Counseling and Interviewing, Retrieved on February 20, 2013
http://www.csun.edu/~hcpsy002/Psy460_Ch07_Handout_ppt.pdf
Carl Rogers Explains His Theory
Video Discussion
O Goals for each meeting
O Creating a proper climate
O Creating a proper relationship
O Creating proper conditions
O Result
O Process of therapeutic movement will almost always
occur
Shostrom, E. (Producer). (1964). Three approaches to psychotherapy [Episode 1]. Carl Rogers. Videos retrieved from
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBkUqcqRChg&feature=share&list=PLbn8EB1visXyKAQx5uZCk-SPrpXteoub0
“Can I Be Real?”
Method Outcome
O Congruency
(genuineness)
O Experiencing inside and
present in awareness,
which will come out in
communication
O Transparency
O Have the client see all
the way through us
O If clients sense
realness in me then
they will be more real
within themselves
Shostrom, E. (Producer). (1964). Three approaches to psychotherapy
[Episode 1]. Carl Rogers. Videos retrieved from
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBkUqcqRChg&feature=share&li
st=PLbn8EB1visXyKAQx5uZCk-SPrpXteoub0
“Will I find Myself Prizing This Person?”
Method OutcomeO Constructive change
more likely when
spontaneous prizing
(caring) occurs
O Unconditional
Positive Regard
O Prizing clients will
result in clients
prizing themselves
more
O Change in manor of
expression
Shostrom, E. (Producer). (1964). Three approaches to psychotherapy [Episode 1]. Carl Rogers. Videos retrieved from
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBkUqcqRChg&feature=share&list=PLbn8EB1visXyKAQx5uZCk-SPrpXteoub0
“Will I Be Able To Understand The Inner World of This Individual
Method Outcome
O Empathy - Sensing
the surface meaning
of what the client
says but also the
meanings
underneath
O Clients will explore feelings and attitudes more deeply
O Clients will discover hidden aspects of themselves
O Clients will go from disapproving themselves to greater degree of acceptance
Shostrom, E. (Producer). (1964). Three approaches to psychotherapy
[Episode 1]. Carl Rogers. Videos retrieved from
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBkUqcqRChg&feature=share&list=P
Lbn8EB1visXyKAQx5uZCk-SPrpXteoub0
• Limitations.
• Examples from the
real world.
• Can it work in
your office?
How Can We Use This In Student Affairs?
• Usefulness for helping within student
development work?
• Level of cultural awareness woven into the
theory?
• Compatibility with Christian/faith based
worldview?
Closing Statements
O Questions?
References
Becker, M. (2009) Person-Centered Activity, Retrieved on February19,
2013 http://www.mistybecker.com/pcact09.pdf.
Bozarth, J. D. (1991). Person-Centered Assessment. Journal of Counseling & Development, 69 (5), 458.
Cornelius-White, J. D. (2005). Teaching Person-Centered Multicultural Counseling: Collaborative Endeavors to
Transcend Resistance and Increase Awareness. Journal Of Humanistic Counseling, Education & Development,
44 (2), 225-239.
Grant, S.K. Person Centered Therapy, Psychology 460: Counseling and Interviewing, Retrieved on February 20,
2013 http://www.csun.edu/~hcpsy002/Psy460_Ch07_Handout_ppt.pdf
Kirschenbaum, H. (2004). Carl Rogers's Life and Work: An Assessment on the 100th Anniversary of His Birth.
Journal of Counseling & Development, 82 (1), 116-124.
Lain. (November 16, 2007). Essential Characteristics of Client-Centered Therapy Therapists. Retrieved from
http://voices.yahoo.com/essential-characteristics-client-centered-therapy-657499.html?cat=72
Reynolds, A.L.(2011). Helping competencies of student affairs professionals: A Delphi study. Journal of College
Student Development, 52, 362-369.
Shostrom, E. (Producer). (1964). Three approaches to psychotherapy [Episode 1]. Carl Rogers. Videos retrieved
from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBkUqcqRChg&feature=share&list=PLbn8EB1visXyKAQx5uZCk-
SPrpXteoub0