Person-Centered Therapy Techniques

While some therapists may align with specific interventions or theoretical orientations, like EMDR therapy, most use person-centered therapy techniques—adjusting their approach based on the client’s expressed needs.

This article details person-centered therapy interventions, their fundamental principles, examples of different techniques, and limitations.

What is person-centered therapy, and how does it work?

Developed in the 1940s by American psychologist Carl Rogers, PhD, person-centered therapy is a humanistic approach that promotes the client’s self-perception and personal growth.

Also referred to as non-directive, or Rogerian, therapy the premise behind this approach is that individuals are inherently motivated toward mental health and positive psychological functioning.

Rogers identified six key concepts of person-centered therapy:

1. Therapist-client contact: The client and therapist being in “psychological contact.”
2. Client incongruence: The client presents as experiencing incongruence in their life.
3. Therapist congruence: The therapist’s interactions with the client (among other core conditions) are genuine and congruent.
4. Therapist unconditional positive regard: By providing a warm, safe, and accepting environment, the client is more likely to feel they are unconditionally accepted and less likely to be judged or criticized.
5. Therapist empathetic understanding: By actively listening and paying attention to the client’s thoughts and feelings, the therapist accurately understands the client’s life. One way to demonstrate this is by paraphrasing the client’s words.
6. Client perception: The client feels the therapist’s unconditional positive regard, empathetic understanding, and congruence.

According to Rogers, person-centered therapy interventions  create therapeutic conditions that lead to self-actualization through the client’s self-discovery. Specifically, the client directs the treatment by choosing their goals, sharing their self-reflections, and gaining insight into their core values, emotions, and behaviors.

Through this insight, clients experience personal growth, and they can make more informed decisions and self-directed changes in their lives.

Types of person-centered therapy techniques

Person-centered therapy interventions  include:

Active listening

The therapist demonstrates listening to the client’s verbal and nonverbal communication to help clients feel heard and understood.

Congruence

By transparently communicating authentic thoughts and feelings, the therapist builds trust and encourages the client to be transparent.

Reflection

Through mirroring, the therapist reflects the client’s thoughts and feelings to give the client greater insight into their emotions and how they express themselves.

Encouraging self-exploration

Therapists may ask clarifying questions to enable clients to explore their thoughts, feelings, and values to develop insight and self-awareness.

Unconditional positive regard

The therapist’s role is to provide a safe, nonjudgmental, and accepting environment where the client feels valued and understood. Cultivating this environment may make the client feel comfortable exploring their feelings without criticism or judgment.

Expressive techniques

Using specific mediums, like art, journaling, or crafting, helps clients express themselves creatively in new ways. This technique is helpful because it can be used outside therapy, such as in the client’s home, to help them process a stressful day.

Exploring self-concept

Therapists can help clients examine their self-concept and how it relates to their mental health symptoms. They can also provide helpful insights into specific triggers, potential ways to reframe the situation, or things they may want to change in their lives.

Person-centered therapy examples

Person-centered therapy techniques can treat several mental health diagnoses, including depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

For example, person-centered therapy techniques for depression might include encouraging self-reflection, providing unconditional positive regard, and showing empathy, active listening, and congruence.

Here are examples of how to employ person-centered therapy techniques with clients: :

Active listening example

Client: I feel so overwhelmed with everything at home. It’s like I’m constantly falling behind. I can’t keep up with the house chores and my health, not to mention my childcare responsibilities. I just can’t spread myself thinly enough.

Therapist: It sounds like you’re feeling swamped and like nothing you do is ever quite enough. That must be incredibly frustrating and exhausting.

Accurate empathy example

Client: I’ve been feeling really sad, and I don’t know why. It’s like a dark cloud is always hanging over me, and it just won’t shift.

Therapist: It seems like this sadness is pervasive for you, impacting every part of your life. Understandably, you might feel sad when dealing with so much right now.

Accepting negative emotions example

Client: I feel like I’m so angry all the time. I hate myself. I’m terrible because I can’t control my anger. I should know better at my age.

Therapist: It sounds like you’re struggling with a lot of anger right now, causing you to feel like you’re failing somehow. It’s important to know that feeling angry doesn’t make you a bad person or that you should know better. Anger is a valid emotion. It can indicate underlying issues, deeper emotions, unmet needs, or that someone has crossed a personal boundary. Let’s explore what might be underneath this anger and how it’s affecting you.

Unconditional positive regard example

Client: I messed up again in my relationship. I feel like such a failure. I don’t think I’m ever going to meet her expectations. I’m just so terrified of losing her.

Therapist: No matter what happens in your relationship, I want you to know you’re valuable and deserving of love. Mistakes don’t define your worth.

Reflection example

Client: I keep thinking that if I just push harder, I’ll eventually get everything under control.

Therapist: So you feel that putting in more effort will help you manage everything better. It sounds like you’re trying to find a way to feel more in control.

Self-exploration encouragement example

Client: Why do I keep pushing people away? It’s like I’m afraid of getting close to anyone.

Therapist: I’d love to understand more about the fear of closeness you describe. What do you think might be driving this pattern in your relationships?

Client-led Process example

Client: I want to discuss my relationship with my parents today.

Therapist: Absolutely, we can focus on that. What aspects of your relationship with your parents are most important to discuss now?

Person-centered group therapy techniques

Similar to individual therapy, person-centered therapy techniques for group therapy appointments include the key concepts outlined by Rogers.

In practice, person-centered therapy techniques for groups might look like:

• Providing a safe and supportive environment: This involves setting group intentions around confidentiality, members’ ability to share without interruption, and the importance of positive regard and acceptance.
• Active listening: Group exercises could involve role playing, in which members observe a statement and reflect on what they hear.
• Promoting empathy: By members sharing their experiences seeking group therapy, and providing warmth and positive regard, other members may be open to sharing their own challenges.

Limitations of person-centered therapy

The main limitations of person-centered therapy are:

• Self-exploration may not address specific symptoms
• Lack of structured approach compared to other models, like EMDR or DBT
• Limited focus on self-exploration as opposed to behavioral change
• May be unsuitable for more complex presentations, or clients with intellectual or developmental disabilities
• Lacks the ability to challenge unhelpful thought processes or provide specific solutions or interventions

Sources

• Barkham M, Saxon D, Hardy GE, Bradburn M, Galloway D, Wickramasekera N, et al. (2021). Person-centred experiential therapy versus cognitive behavioural therapy delivered in the English Improving Access to Psychological Therapies service for the treatment of moderate or severe depression (PRaCTICED): a pragmatic, randomised, non-inferiority trial.
• Farber BA, Suzuki JY, Lynch DA. (2018). Positive regard and psychotherapy outcome: A meta-analytic review.
• Kim, S. K., & Park, M. (2017). Effectiveness of person-centered care on people with dementia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
• National Institute of Health. (2021). Person-centered care. In A guide to patient and family engagement in hospital care. National Center for Biotechnology Information.
• UKEssays. (2018). Strengths And Weaknesses of Person-Centred Therapy. 

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