Person-centred counselling or therapy is one of the most popular types of talking therapy in the Western world.

It was established in the 1940s by American psychologist Carl Rogers, who called it “self-actualization” and held the view that everyone can realise their full potential and become who they truly are in the right circumstances. Everyone can access this innate process of actualisation.

To assist you in becoming your best self, the person-centred therapist will provide:

The success of person-centred therapy generally relies on three conditions:

1. Unconditional positive regard, which means therapists must be empathetic and non-judgmental as they accept the client’s words and convey feelings of understanding, trust, and confidence that encourage clients to feel valued and to make their own (better) decisions and choices.
2. Empathetic understanding, which means therapists completely understand and accept their clients’ thoughts and feelings, in a way that can help reshape an individual’s sense of their experiences.
3. Congruence, or genuineness, which means therapists carry no air of authority or superiority but instead present a true and accessible self that clients can see is honest and transparent.

A person-centred counsellor will urge you to bring your own difficulties to the session since you are the one leading the counselling process rather than the counsellor.