Counselling and Psychotherapy

Carl Rogers ' Core Conditions Page 1

Carl Rogers ' Core Conditions

Individuals have within themselves vast resources for self-understanding and for altering their self-concepts , basic attitudes , and self-directed behavior , these resources can be tapped if a definable climate of facilitative psychological attitudes can be provided (Rogers , 1980

.15

This is statement summarizes the basic hypothesis and therapeutic conditions that distinguish the person-centered approach from other approaches . Rogers (1960 , p33 ) believed that if the therapist can provide a certain kind of relationship , the client would discover within himself /herself the

capacity to use the relationship for growth and change for the development of personal growth

So what are the characteristics of the therapeutic relationship that Rogers believed to be essential ? These are congruency , unconditional positive regard and empathic understanding . Rogers (1957 ) said that a therapeutic relationship can occur if there are two people in psychological contact , the client is experiencing in congruency or is anxious , the therapist is congruent or integrated in the relationship the therapist experience unconditional positive regard and acceptance for the client as well as an empathic understanding of the client 's internal frame of reference and strives to communicate this experience to the client . He further believed that no other conditions are necessary , if all this conditions are present overtime , constructive personality change will occur

Rogers ' provide a brief summary of the core conditions he believed to be essential in a therapeutic relationship in his book A Way of Being (Houghton Mifflin , pp 115-117

The first element could be called genuineness , realness or congruence The more the therapist is himself or herself in the relationship putting up no professional front or personal fazade , the greater is the likelihood that the client will change and grow in a constructive manner . This means that therapist is openly being the feelings and attitudes that are flowing within at the

Carl Rogers ' Core Conditions Page 2

moment . The term transparent catches the flavor of this condition : the therapist makes himself or herself transparent to the client the client can see right through what the therapist is in the relationship the client experiences no holding back on the part of the therapist . As for the therapist , what he or she is experiencing is available to awareness can be lived in the relationship , and can be communicated if appropriate . Thus , there is a close matching or congruence between what is experienced at the gut level , what is present in awareness , and what is expressed to the client

The second attitude of importance in creating a climate for change is acceptance , or caring , or prizing - what I have called `unconditional positive regard . When the therapist is experiencing a positive acceptant attitude toward whatever the client is at that moment therapeutic movement or change is more likely to occur . The therapist is willing for the client to be whatever immediate feeling is going on - confusion , resentment , fear , anger , courage , love , or pride . Such caring on the part of the therapist is nonpossesive . The therapist prizes...