Outline And Evaluate Person Centred Therapy

In this essay I will be evaluating the claim that Person-Centred therapy offers the

therapist all that they will need to treat clients. I will examine both sides of the theory, to

include looking at the weaknesses and criticisms of person-centred therapy by other

writers and weigh these up, along with the strengths of using person-centre therapy and

when it will be most suited to treat certain disorders. I will also look at Carl Rogers in

more depth with his views, responses and approaches in treating clients with his theory

and at the different theoretical constructs such as Maslow’s self actualisation, self

concept and conditions of worth when evaluating the person-centred therapy approach.

I will base my answers on the theoretical concepts and
Maslow’s most famous concept was that of the hierarchy of needs.

Maslow believed that the inner core of human nature consists of urges and instinctive

tendencies that create basic needs within the person, these needs consist of physiological,

safety, love/social and esteem needs, of which have to be satisfied otherwise the

individual will never reach self-actualisation.

Person-Centred Therapy does not follow certain techniques as other therapies may offer,

its approach is based around offering what Rogers termed as core conditions, it is these

conditions that will provide effective therapy for the client. The core conditions are

unconditional positive regard, empathic understanding and congruence.

The first – unconditional positive regard – means that the counsellor accepts the client

unconditionally and non-judgementally. The client is free to explore and to express

themselves without having to worry about being accepted or judged by the counsellor.

The second – empathic understanding – means that the counsellor understands the