You might not have heard of Person Centred counselling but the chances are you’ve encountered the guiding philosophy of it at some point in your life.
The success of what is probably the most technically basic of the theories I’ve discussed in recent posts – but by no means is it basic – is measured not only by the evidence base for its efficacy, but also by it’s integration into many different roles. You can find it in everything from Teaching, Care, Social Work, and Medicine – and this is by no means an exhaustive list. Basically anywhere where there are human relations, you could find a Person Centred guiding philosophy.
This is because it is a theory that focuses on the fundamentals of human nature. For example:
- We have an innate need to connect with others.
- We have an innate ability to grow both physically & psychologically.
- We are naturally the expert on ourselves.
Such a short list does not do the theory justice in any way. Indeed, the theory opens these up much further but if we stick with these ideas for a moment, we see why it lends itself to wider applications. If human connection is so important to us, then, for example, we can see why its integration into something like medical care is quite useful. If you’ve ever had an experience with an aloof doctor or an unsympathetic nurse then you’ll understand why being treated with dignity, respect and like an equal is important.
The focus for a Person Centred therapist is on building a strong professional relationship with the client based on non-judgement, honesty and authenticity, and a genuine positive regard for the client. The idea is that without these, it’s very difficult to make psychological contact and that means communication and understanding is that much harder to achieve.
Indeed, the relationship between therapist and client has a healing quality in itself. This idea can feel a bit hippy to some but it’s one that is well supported by evidence, and given this, the therapist will focus on providing the right kind of environment to cultivate this relationship.
There is of course, much more to the theory. This is a very simplistic explanation but for me, that’s its appeal. It recognises our fundamental human needs and works in the service of those. It seems so obvious to recognise our fundamental needs and yet we seem to organise modern life in ways that put obstacles between us and doing just that… And we suffer as a result.
The Person Centred approach then, is one that helps us strip life back to its basics and rebuild from the ground up. It empowers us to draw on our own knowledge, to recognise our own expertise and use that to our advantage. And all the while, throughout therapy, with the supportive connection with a therapist.
So is Person Centred Counselling for you? Ask yourself these questions:
- Are you comfortable with open-ended therapy?
- Are you comfortable with others being open & honest with you?
- Do you feel unsure about what it is you need to work on or want to work on several issues at once?
If your answer is Yes to all or some of these then Person Centred therapy may well be good option for you.
As ever, my advice when choosing a therapist or type of therapy for you is always the same no matter what your issue. Pick up the phone and talk to the therapist you are considering working with. This gives you a chance to briefly explain your issue and the therapist an opportunity to describe how they might work with you.
In so doing, you get a chance to experience what it’s actually like talking to that therapist and get a feel for whether they’re someone you feel you can talk to. You are likely to be sharing some very personal information so you need to feel comfortable talking to that person.
For this reason, I always offer a free consultation to provide that opportunity at no cost but I’m sure that any good therapist would at least be willing to talk to you briefly on the phone to provide that opportunity.
Watch out for my next article. Everyone’s heard of Freud, right? So, let me take you on a brief tour of psychodynamic therapy.
If you’d like to discuss Counselling & Psychotherapy for yourself or someone you know, contact BroadMinds Therapy and we’ll be happy to answer any questions you have and discuss options for you.
Call 0899420568
Email: help@broadmindstherapy.org
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Web: https://broadmindstherapy.org
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Integrative Counselling And Psychotherapy 