Person-Centered Counseling: Core Tenets and Applications

Introduction to Person-Centered Counseling

Because organizational resources are by definition scarce, it is important for counselors of all types to employ counseling approaches that have proven effectiveness. When Carl Rogers first described person-centered counseling, it represented a sharp departure from previous problem-solving approaches by focusing on three core tenets: unconditional positive regard, congruence, and empathy for others (Lewis & Osborn, 2010).

According to Rogers, the person is the natural source of information concerning how best to proceed with a therapeutic intervention: "I am well aware that...one can place...a primary value upon society, and only a secondary value upon the individual. But only in the individual does awareness exist. Only in the individual can alternative courses of action be most deeply and consciously tested as to their enriching or destructive consequences" (cited in Fall & Holder, 2004, p. 183).

Core Tenets and Theoretical Foundation

Therefore, in order to be effective, the unconditional positive regard, congruence, and empathetic aspects of person-centered counseling require practitioners to take a step back and look more closely at people in order to acknowledge that everyone has worth and possesses human qualities and integrity that demand recognition and respect. The "person" in person-centered counseling accordingly enjoys the advantage of being regarded as a unique individual who needs and deserves individualized therapeutic interventions rather than a one-size-fits-all approach. For many practitioners, applying person-centered counseling may require moving out of their comfort zone and adopting new or different counseling techniques, but a growing body of evidence concerning the efficacy of this approach has shown that the payoff is worth the investment of time and effort.

Although person-centered counseling has been used for a wide range of issues, it has produced significant results when applied to women experiencing sexual-related problems, including childhood sexual abuse, evolving sexual identities, and barriers to employment. Three peer-reviewed journal articles that support this position are summarized below.

Edwards, N. N. & Lambie, G. W. (2009). Edwards and Lambie advise that person-centered counseling represents a viable primary therapeutic intervention for women who suffered sexual abuse as children. The authors maintain that the core theoretical constructs of person-centered counseling — unconditional positive regard, congruence, and empathy — provide a valuable framework in which counselors can connect with clients in ways that facilitate more productive and healthy functioning. Moreover, person-centered counseling is congruent with the relational needs of women who suffered childhood sexual abuse and may represent the optimal intervention for many such clients.

Model of Practice and Target Population

Lemoire, S. J. & Chen, C. P. (2005). Lemoire and Chen report that Rogers's person-centered counseling can be used to good effect in addressing the psychological distress of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) adolescents, particularly during the disclosure of their sexual orientation. The authors argue that a person-centered counseling approach can help counteract the stigmatization associated with disclosure by facilitating more constructive coping with sexual identity issues. The primary aspects of person-centered counseling — congruence, unconditional positive regard, and empathy — also provide both a conceptual and pragmatic rationale for facilitating effective LGBT client interventions.