Page 52 - PartA
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Counselling Skills
Person-centred theory
Person-centred counselling theory was founded by Carl Rogers who outlines the basis
of the approach as follows:
‘It is that the individual has within himself or herself vast resources for self-
understanding, for altering his or her self-concept, attitudes and self-directed
behaviour – and that these resources can be tapped if only a definable climate
of facilitative psychological attitudes can be provided.’
Carl Rogers (1986)
Here is a definition:
Definition
‘It is a non-directive approach to being with another; that believes in the others
potential and ability to make the right choices for him or herself, regardless of
the therapist’s own values, beliefs and ideas.’
Source: The British Association for the Person-centred Approach (BAPCA)
www.bapca.org.uk
Q. What is the difference between person-centred and psychodynamic approaches
to counselling?
A. The main difference is that psychodynamic approaches focus on insight arising
from unconscious thoughts, whereas person-centred approaches focus on
insight arising from a person’s feelings.
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